Calleros, law-school community assist with CCLI event

Professor Charles Calleros recently led several students and staff from the College of Law in providing information, inspiration, and skill-building for about 50 high school students participating in the ASU Cesar Chavez Leadership Institute.

On June 8, at the downtown ASU campus, 2L Rob Gordon led a session on debate techniques, followed by a workshop by Calleros on legal method. Both programs were interactive, requiring students to develop and present persuasive arguments. Also assisting were Kristine Reich, the College's Director of Student Affairs and Public Interest, and Marisol Diaz, a 2009 law school graduate.

"Between the two workshops, we even taught them some Latin dance, just as a fun exercise," Calleros said.

On June 9, the CCLI students visited the College of Law for a mentoring program organized by Calleros, Reich and Lydia Montelongo, the College's Director of Career Services. A panel of members of the Phoenix chapter of the Hispanic National Bar Association National Mentoring program talked about higher education, careers in law, and the kinds of academic achievement and community service that help prepare students for college, law school and the practice of law. Panel members included ASU undergraduate students Ileana Salinas and Gladys Contreras, 2L Jamaar Williams, Diaz, and attorneys Jessica Sanchez (Class of 2006), Christina Noyes (Class of 1996), Steven Rendell (Class of 1978), and Barbara Pashowski, all of Gust Rosenfeld.

"In the HNBA mentoring program, we like to reach students at the K-12 level," Calleros explained, "so that we can help them make choices that will keep them on the path to higher education and perhaps to a career in law.

"Most of these high school students are aiming for a college education, but our workshops may provide the first occasion for them to begin to set their sights on graduate school," Calleros said. "The Cesar Chavez Leadership Institute, led by Van Ornelas and Courtney McCune, was a perfect partner in this mentoring opportunity, and we look forward to working with them again."

In an e-mail to Calleros, Contreras, the newest member of the HNBA mentoring program and the first member of her family to go to college, said she enjoyed the experience.

"The group I was with was incredibly bright and fun; they truly are a group of future leaders," she said. "Once in a smaller group, I was able to answer questions regarding overcoming stereotypes and statistics, questions I suppose I would have had in high school as well. It's funny but I saw a lot of myself in them."

Janie Magruder, Jane.Magruder@asu.edu
(480) 727-9052
Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law

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