Latinos In Transit (LIT) announced the fourth annual Leadership Summit will be hosted by TriMet in Portland, Ore., from September 12 to 14.

In response to overwhelming demand, this year marks the first year the summit will be expanded from a single day to two and a half days of impactful programming.

"This year's program has been expanded to meet the overwhelming demand LIT has received through its rapidly growing membership base and community need," said LIT Executive Director Christina Villarreal.

LIT’s Leadership Summit

The summit kicks off with a mentorship hour designed to foster relationships between newcomers and industry professionals.

The first night’s opening reception will be hosted by TriMet in a historic building, featuring a performance by DJ OneG — the official DJ of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers.

Friday’s schedule highlights several firsts, including the first-ever live "Café Con LIT" session, sponsored by Sound Transit, which features notable speakers such as Goran Sparrman, CEO of Sound Transit; Ozzie Gonzalez, former board president of TriMet; and Karol Orozco, ERG president & sr. project manager in TriMet’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access office.

The day will also include committee meetings, a workforce development taskforce workshop, and a special industry ERG meeting with groups from Sound Transit, TriMet, and WeDriveU to strategize on initiatives.

More Highlights of the Summit

Another summit first will see LIT hosting all of its key programming on a single day. This includes LIT’s annual membership meeting sponsored by HNTB, a presentation of capstone projects from Leadership Academy participants, and concluding with the Leadership Academy and Awards ceremony — sponsored by WeDriveU — to celebrate the accomplishments of LITLA participants and announce LIT Scholarship Award winners.

Summit sessions begin Saturday morning with a plenary, featuring a special welcome from TriMet GM Sam Desue Jr., and remarks from Commissioner Carmen Rubio and Rep. Ricki Ruiz.

Concurrent morning and afternoon breakout sessions will complement the keynotes and plenaries. The leadership luncheon will feature a keynote address by Metro Councilor Juan Carlos Gonzalez, who has made significant contributions as the youngest and first Latino Metro Councilor in the history of Metro.

The closing plenary, hosted by the National Transit Institute, will feature a training session by NTI's Executive Director Billy Terry.

“Greater Portland is honored to host the fourth annual Latinos In Transit Leadership Summit in the City of Roses and we’re eager to highlight our unique tapestry of cultures, communities, and experiences that guide how we envision a just transportation system,” Councilor Gonzalez said. “Our region’s transit history has inspired many cities and regions across the country by leading with a clear set of values. Today, Latinos and communities of color are rapidly breaking barriers to have a seat at the decision-making table and define what these values are for our future. I look forward to sharing our stories in contribution to the many catalytic moments certain to happen at the summit.”

Registration Now Open

Registration for the summit is now open and spots are filling up quickly.

For more information on registering for the summit, please visit latinosintransit.org. Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, please contact LIT Executive Director Christina Villarreal.