WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an historic night for the Hispanic community, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the nation’s premier Latino youth leadership development and educational organization, welcomed the Hispanic members of the 114th Congress at a ceremonial swearing-in on Tuesday, January 6, 2015, at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C.  More than 400 people turned out to see seventeen Hispanic members, including newly-elected CHCI Chair Rep. Linda Sanchez, stand shoulder to shoulder and be sworn in as leaders of their communities by the Honorable Judge Terry J. Hatter, Jr., Chief Judge, Central District of California.

“My goal for CHCI is simple: empower the next generation to realize their potential and to lead,” said Sanchez. “There are so many talented Latino youth that only need a door of opportunity to open for them. CHCI opens that door. I’ve been fortunate to have had great mentors, like Judge Hatter, who taught me not to accept others’ limited expectations for what I could be or achieve.  CHCI does the same thing.”

Complete remarks by CHCI Chair Linda Sanchez.

CHCI’s President & CEO Esther Aguilera provided welcome remarks and outgoing Chair Rep. Rubén Hinojosa shared brief remarks about his work and the various accomplishments during his tenure. During the ceremony, Rep. Hinojosa handed the ceremonial gavel to the newly elected Chair, Rep. Linda Sánchez, officially initiating her term.  Rep. Sanchez also took the opportunity to provide Rep. Hinojosa with an award for all his years of service.

CHCI welcomed the largest class of Hispanic members of Congress in our nation’s history with 37 members of Hispanic descent elected or returning to Senate and House seats in January. 

CHCI is the only national Latino organization that offers a wide range of programs and activities to support the educational and professional aspirations of Latino youth from high school through graduate school and into their chosen careers.  CHCI programs serve more than 1,700 young Latinos annually. Many are first in their family to go to college, and the majority comes from families with annual incomes below $30,000. CHCI's unique model of educational services and leadership development – promoting college readiness, supporting college attainment and providing direct access to the most powerful network of Latino leadership – helps ensure career success and has put thousands of young people on a pathway to achieving the American Dream.

About CHCI

CHCI is the premier Hispanic nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) leadership development organization in the country that educates, empowers, and connects Latino youth by providing leadership development programs and educational services. CHCI directly impacts the lives of more than 1,600 students and young professionals each year through its fellowships,  congressional internships, scholarships, Ready to Lead (R2L^®) college readiness program, and R2L NextGen program.The CHCI Board of Directors is comprised of Hispanic members of Congress, nonprofit, union and corporate leaders. Visit www.chci.org, or join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.