AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Mayor Steve Adler helped kick off a summit aimed at empowering young Latinas to pursue higher education. The 23rd Con Mi Madre Leadership Summit started Friday.

Rosie Castro, the mother of U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro and Congressman Joaquin Castro, spoke about the importance of civic engagement and making your voice heard.

The purpose of Con Mi Madre is to help young Latinas pursue college education with the support of their mothers.

“Latinas are growing in the community but not necessarily the higher levels of the political world,” said Teresa Granillo, executive director of Con Mi Madre. “We want to see them continue to raise expectations and to move into place we hopefully deserve to be standing.”

Con Mi Madre takes three college trips a year to allow both mother and daughters to experience life on campus.