More than 500 mostly young Latina participants are expected to take part in "Adelante Mujer Latina," the conference co-sponsored by the San Fernando Valley chapter of Comision Femenil and Los Angeles Mission College. About 400 participants are students from local high schools; about 100 from Mission and other colleges.

"Young Latinas are the group most likely to drop out of high school, and even when they start college, most never complete their studies," said conference organizer Maria Reza. "This conference is about inspiring and motivating young women to finish their education and fulfill their dreams."

Mission College is the perfect host for the event. Two-thirds of its 8,900 students are women; 68 percent of the enrollment is Latino.

In addition to Huerta's keynote address, the conference will feature workshops led by professional women. They will discuss careers in medicine, law, social services, journalism and the media, politics, education, law enforcement, engineering, and the arts.

The resilient Dolores Huerta, who has been fighting for the rights of farm workers since the 60's, will have an inspirational affect on conferees, Reza predicted.

Comision Femenil is a non-profit corporation dedicated to improving the quality of life of Latinas. Los Angeles Mission College is a member of the Los Angeles Community College District.

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