Over 20 years of leadership formation

For over 20 years, the Hispanic Youth Leadership Academy (HYLA), in partnership with The United Methodist Church and The Episcopal Church, has supported Latinx high school and college students as they explore their calls to ministry and higher education, strengthen their faith, and serve their churches and communities. HYLA identifies, recruits, and facilitates the leadership formation of these students while helping them discover and embrace their relationship with God throughout their education.

HYLA students gather each summer to consider Christian discipleship, vocational development, leadership in the church, college resources, and other issues relevant to the development of Latinx leaders in the church universal.

Additionally, HYLA connects students with clergy, academics, seminarians, and other Latinx leaders in the Methodist and Episcopal traditions for mentorship and support.

HYLA

Our mission

“The Hispanic* Youth Leadership Academy is a coalition of Latinx youth and young adult student leaders. We discern our calls to ministry through the pursuit of higher education, awareness of social issues, spiritual and mental growth, and our awakening as leaders. We develop our leadership skills as we discover our passions through practice within the church and our individual communities. We unite together in solidarity through our common Latinx experience and are committed to help the Pueblo Latino,** regardless of legal status, in order to transform the world.”

THE Hispanic Youth Leadership Academy in the united states is a registered 501(c)(3) organization with the secretary of the commonwealth of massachusetts. Hyla is overseen by the board of directors and run by the national staff with support from the Raíces latinas program in theology, leadership, and research at the boston university school of theology.

NATIONAL STAFF

  • The Rev. Cristian De La Rosa, PH.D.

    Executive Director

    Cristian is an associate dean and a professor of Practical Theology at the Boston University School of Theology. She is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church.

  • The Rev. Paola Marquez

    Programs Director

    Paola is a Ph.D. student at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary studying Christian Education. They are ordained in the Methodist Church of Colombia.

  • Maria Gorrett Nampiima

    Events Coordinator

    Maria is a graduate student at the Boston University School of Theology pursuing a dual Master of Divinity and Master of Social Work. She has worked with youth across the U.S., Spain, and Uganda.