Campus Progress National Speaker Conference: WATCH The Student Speakers

Yesterday, more than 1,000 students convened in Washington, D.C. to take part in the Campus Progress National Speaker Conference. Among them were the three winners of HuffPost College and Campus Progress's Keynote Speaker contest, who spoke on issues ranging from poverty to immigration to youth violence. WATCH their speeches below. And tell us -- which one is your favorite?

Jamira Burley

David Cho

Kevin Sanchez

Comments

[Sheelue Yang]

08:37 PM on 07/08/2010

My favorite is David Cho -- because his speech is so important to our society.

[November2008]

10:03 AM on 07/11/2010

Kevin Sanchez wins the day for me. His topic is fundamentally relevant to today's minority youth who are being taught that there is 'no value' to human life. If we can rescue this generation from that type of thinking then perhaps they will learn to care about the lives of those impacted by immigration, health reform, financial greed. Self-respect, self-love needs to be a part of the agenda for today. Maybe this will lead to the respect and love of others. There once was a mantra declared in the African American community years ago, "I am Somebody." Though the work needed to instill the meaning of those words seem to have ceased, it remains true. Kevin's generation and those who are following need to bring life and meaning back to those words in the lives of his target group. Much success, Kevin.

[jonrice]

07:33 PM on 07/08/2010

David Cho was an excellent speaker, and those who are discrediting him simply because he is undocumented are not looking at the unbelievable story he has to tell on how one piece of legislation could change the outlooks of millions of young people in the United States and the country as a whole. I went to the entire conference, and although I didn’t agree with everyone there, was inspired.

[scat]

06:31 PM on 07/08/2010

Kudos for Kevin S, for a true heartfelt speech.

The other two gave nothing more than political stump speeches, poor ones at that. Loved the first one, got some Jesse Jackson going on there.

[Duppy]

05:24 PM on 07/08/2010

I am sure Republicans will say "she speaks well" or "she is articulate" as if blacks are suppose to be all dumb

[scat]

06:32 PM on 07/08/2010

hows this. she didn't speak well at all. Her mannerisms were childish and she was rhyming.

[tyger]

09:37 PM on 07/08/2010

Could you please scat

[MsWoman]

02:47 PM on 07/10/2010

You are lying, she spoke very well. Oh! you are judging her color. Gottcha!

[ColoradoBrad]

11:29 PM on 07/08/2010

I'm you will eventually realize how dumb it is to assume

[America2011]

05:07 PM on 07/08/2010

If Huffpost was not as ideologically rigid I would have applied for this contest, but I know any argument with any tinge of conservatism would have been thrown out. I'll stick to posting.

[OIF2009]

04:45 PM on 07/08/2010

Young collectivists calling for revolution and getting this much attention. A young girl who wants new laws that sentence people for crimes they havent commited yet and bans on firearms, an illegal alien who wants special favors for breaking the law, and a gang banger who wants to lead America to a new totalitarian empire.

This is the best America can do in terms of its youth? Pathetic!

[gubbi]

05:38 PM on 07/08/2010

Yes. They are part of America and they have come forward with solutions and proposals, asking adults to act and help them shape a better future.

[scat]

06:33 PM on 07/08/2010

problem is, there was no solutions proposed. pure stump speeches you hear every election year.

And the first girl was awful.

[OIF2009]

03:38 AM on 07/09/2010

Help them shape an America of entitlements you mean. Look at the nightmare act. Why should we give illegals better educational opportunities than American youth? Why would we want to tell the entire third world south of the border that just joining our military gets them instant citizenship? want the outcome of that? Security clearances for people we cant get an accurate background check done on. From there we get a monocultural military composed only of one ethnic group being entrusted with our latest weapons systems and charged with preserving a way of life they arent familiar with or feel downright hostile toward. I dont think I want to help progressive revolutionary youth with that one for some odd reason.

A "better" future with fewer liberties in order to keep us nice and safe under a military composed of people who dont like us very much. Whos future is that really better for?

[Angelia Dillard]

05:57 PM on 07/08/2010

Its so easy to throw stones. These young people are taking those stones and attempting to build. You are a part of the problem not the solution.

[OIF2009]

03:49 AM on 07/09/2010

Build what? The first speaker spent her speech shredding individual liberty and our constitution. The second spent his demanding the moon, sun, and stars for all illegal aliens. The third was a gangbanger telling the rest of us how to live moral lives.

I grew up dirt poor yet never wanted to burn the constitution, give the country away to the entire third world, or join a gang so I could show America how to live a clean and moral life.

You arent building anything, you are destroying something and leaving us with options only for collectivist totalitarianism or anarchy.

[kite38]

04:27 PM on 07/08/2010

What awesome young speakers!

[GeorgeP922]

03:38 PM on 07/08/2010

Next time, don't invite Jim Messina and if you do, challenge him.

One of the key killers of health care reform got free time at this event.

You know it and I know it Messina or Rahm would NEVER show up to the grown up's Netroots Nation or Americas Future Now conferences.

[Lex10]

03:15 PM on 07/08/2010

srsly?

[otop016]

03:38 PM on 07/08/2010

You 'srsly' posted that? What a monumental dolt you are...

[Lex10]

08:39 PM on 07/08/2010

LOL