By Jennifer Ng'andu, Deputy Director, Health Policy Project

Stop Extreme Cuts to the WIC Program

The Latino community’s access to WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children, is under immediate threat. The House of Representatives’ Appropriations Committee has voted to cut WIC funding by nearly $650 million, which will result in up to 350,000 mothers, infants, and children falling off the program. Given that Latinos make up two-fifths (42%) of all program participants, the Hispanic community is expected to be among the hardest hit.

WIC has been an essential nutrition assistance program for Latinos and has long been proven to prevent many of the costly conditions that result from hunger and malnutrition. In fact, nearly nine out of ten Latino infants born in the United States participated in WIC in 2008. This program has been especially important for Hispanic expectant mothers, who are less likely to have access to prenatal care and medical information.

Hispanic families became the hungriest families in 2008, and Latino children now make up nearly 40% of all children living with hunger in the U.S. The last thing we need is to take food out of the mouths of vulnerable mothers, babies, and young children.

The full House will have a chance to reject these cuts.

Tell your member of Congress to save our babies and reject harmful cuts to the WIC program.  

Today's post headline is Twitter friendly. That's becuase several NCLR staffers will be attending the sixth annual Netroots Nation conference this week in Minneapolis. This annual gathering brings together bloggers, activists, reporters, and organizations to exchange ideas and talk about how to advance a whole range of policy issues. Many of these issues are central to NCLR’s mission, including immigration reform, economic recovery, and education.

If you’re in Minneapolis, be sure to stop by the Latino Caucus on Thursday afternoon. This year, NCLR is joining forces with VotoLatino to lead this session, and we have an exciting event in store. You won’t want to miss the spirited discussion that is sure to take place.

If you can’t make it this year, look for our tweets throughout the week for updates. We’ll be using the official Netroots Nation hash tag: #NN11.

PARA DIFUSIÓN INMEDIATA

Contacto:
Kathy Mimberg
(202) 776-1714
kmimberg@nclr.org

Entre las veinticinco organizaciones sin fines de lucro más destacadas de esta nación, la revista Hispanic Business nombra a doce de las organizaciones afiliadas al NCLR

Washington, D.C. —El Consejo Nacional de La Raza (NCLR) desea felicitar a las doce organizaciones afiliadas que forman parte del grupo de veinticinco organizaciones Hispanas de mayor impacto en la nación. Estas organizaciones fueron escogidas por la revista Hispanic Business en base a sus ingresos anuales, y los servicios que ofrecen a la población latina de los Estados Unidos.

"Nos sentimos sumamente orgullosos de que casi la mitad de las organizaciones que figuran en esta lista sean entes afiliadas al NCLR. Esto resalta la excelente labor que estas instituciones están llevando a cabo", dijo José Velázquez, vicepresidente de Servicios a Organizaciones Afiliadas del NCLR. "Estas instituciones figuran entre las mejores en nuestro país y desempeñan un papel clave en la comunidad latina".

En el primer lugar de la lista figura AltaMed Health Services Corporation, una organización que desde 1969 provee servicios de salud en el área este de Los Ángeles. Siguiendo el orden de la lista figuraron las siguientes: Mexican American Opportunity Foundation en Montebello, California; Southwest Key Programs en Austin, Texas; La Clínica de la Raza en Oakland, California; San Ysidro Health Center en San Ysidro, California; Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. en Phoenix, Arizona; Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Inc. en Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; The Unity Council en Oakland, California; United Community/Centro de la Comunidad Unida en Milwaukee, Wisconsin; HELP-New Mexico, Inc. en Albuquerque, New Mexico; Latin American Youth Center en Washington, DC, y la Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha, Inc. en Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Estas organizaciones prestan servicios especializados que incluyen: cuidado de la salud, desarrollo comunitario, educación y capacitación laboral, cuidado de niños y ancianos, servicios para jóvenes, y programas recreativos y culturales, y otros campos afines. La red de organizaciones afiliadas al NCLR incluye casi 300 organizaciones comunitarias que proveen servicios directos a más de cinco millones de hispanos anualmente.

"Dada la crisis presupuestaria nacional y los retos económicos que las organizaciones sin fines de lucro han tenido que enfrentar este año, este logro es realmente impresionante", agregó Velázquez. "No sólo celebramos a doce instituciones afiliadas al Consejo Nacional de la Raza por este reconocimiento, sino que también por primera vez las veinticinco organizaciones latinas alcanzaron un total de ingresos de $1 mil millones de dólares".

####
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Julian Teixeira
(202) 776-1812
jteixeira@nclr.org

Washington, D.C.—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) condemns the introduction of the “Legal Workforce Act” (H.R. 2164) by Republican Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas. The legislation would require all employers in the United States to use the E-Verify program, an Internet-based system that relies on error-ridden, outdated databases to check the employment eligibility of workers. This dramatic expansion of the flawed program would have a detrimental impact on Hispanic workers who are incorrectly identified as unauthorized to work.

“This legislation is another example of putting cheap political maneuvers ahead of the interests of American workers. It will do nothing to create jobs, it will place a burden on all job-seeking U.S. citizens and legal immigrants, and it will not fix our broken immigration system,” said Clarissa Martínez De Castro, NCLR Director of Immigration and National Campaigns. “At a time when we are facing an unemployment rate of 11.9 percent in the Latino community, putting obstacles between eligible workers and jobs is simply unconscionable.”

Evaluations of E-Verify as well as a fact sheet by NCLR, Dangerous Business: Implications of an EEVS for Latinos and the U.S. Workforce, have consistently found that foreign-born U.S. citizens and legal immigrants would be significantly impacted by a national employment eligibility verification system because they are 30 times more likely than native-born workers to be wrongly flagged as ineligible to work. The Latino community is further impacted because workers with “ethnic” names, regardless of their immigration status, are likely to be victims of data entry mistakes and discrimination since they are frequently perceived to be “foreign.” The “Legal Workforce Act” would increase this discrimination since it allows employers to use E-Verify before hiring an employee.

“Workers cannot afford to lose jobs in this economy because of database errors or employer misuse of a verification system, and layering the mass expansion of this flawed program on top of our broken immigration laws will neither address concerns about immigration nor solve our unemployment problem. It is time to stop playing with the issue of immigration and with the needs of the American workforce,” Martínez De Castro concluded.

###
 

PARA DIFUSIÓN INMEDIATA

Contacto
Eileen Peterson, bibliotecaria voluntaria de la escuela
(310) 795-3833 ó (323) 850-5452

Kathy Mimberg, NCLR, (202) 776-1714

Sarah-Frances Wallace, Lowe’s Companies, Inc.,
(704)758-4339
 

La Fundación de Beneficencia y Educación de Lowe’s y el Consejo Nacional de La Raza contribuyen para que una escuela secundaria tenga un futuro más promisorio

LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles Leadership Academy será la anfitriona de la ceremonia de apertura de la renovación de la biblioteca de la escuela el miércoles 22 de junio a las 11:00 AM. La celebración se realizará en la escuela secundaria situada en 234 East Avenue 33 de Los Angeles. Durante la ceremonia hablarán Mona Field, miembro de la Junta Directiva de la escuela y del Consejo Directivo de Los Angeles Community College District; Carolina Salcedo, líder de la comunidad de Lincoln Heights, cuyo hijo es alumno de Los Angeles Leadership Academy; Roger Lowenstein, fundador y director ejecutive de Los Angeles Leadership Academy; y un representante de la sucursal de Lowe’s en Burbank.

La renovación de la biblioteca pudo realizarse gracias a la subvención de $25,000 otorgada por el Consejo Nacional de La Raza (NCLR, por sus siglas en inglés) y la Fundación de Beneficencia y Educación de Lowe’s. Los fondos de la subvención se destinaron para la renovación de la biblioteca de la escuela y el laboratorio equipado con computadoras para realizar investigaciones, así como también para adquirir nuevas estanterías, sillas, alfombras, carritos, libros y periódicos.

Los Angeles Leadership Academy es una escuela en donde el 75% del alumnado es latino. Fue fundada en 2002 y actualmente asisten más de 400 estudiantes en los grados 6–12. Según una investigación citada por la American Library Association, el hecho de que una biblioteca cuenta con buenos programas y recursos contribuye a cerrar la brecha de rendimiento escolar de los estudiantes pobres y de los procedentes de minorías, especialmente en los puntajes correspondientes a lectura a nivel de la escuela secundaria.

Los Angeles Leadership Academy es la primera de cuatro escuelas que renovaron este año sus bibliotecas con fondos provistos por la Fundación de Beneficencia y Educación de Lowe’s. Cada escuela recibió $25,000 para la renovación de su biblioteca. Las otras escuelas que recibieron este subsidio son las siguientes: Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, situada también en Los Angeles, East Austin College Prep Academy en Austin, y George I. Sanchez Charter High School en Houston.

AVISO DE PRENSA

QUÉ:            Celebración comunitaria por la renovación de la biblioteca de Los Angeles Leadership Academy

CUÁNDO:    Miércoles 22 de junio a las 11:00 AM

DÓNDE:       Los Angeles Leadership Academy
                    234 East Avenue 33
                    Los Angeles, CA 90031

QUIÉNES:   Mona Field, miembro de la Junta Directiva de Los Angeles Leadership
                  Academy, y del Consejo Directivo de Los Angeles Community College
                  District
                  Carolina Salcedo, líder de la comunidad de Lincoln Heights y madre de un alumno de Los Angeles Leadership Academy
                  Roger Lowenstein, fundador y director ejecutivo, Los Angeles
                  Leadership Academy
                  Representante de la sucursal de Lowe’s en Burbank
                  Representante de la oficina del Consejal Ed Reyes de la Ciudad de Los Angeles (invitado)
                  Charlotte Kandel, autora de libros para niños (invitada)

A solicitud de la prensa, estarán disponibles fotos del evento para lo que se ruega ponerse en contacto con Eileen Peterson a los teléfonos (310) 795-3833 ó (323) 850-5452.

###

Acerca de LOWE’S
Lowe’s apoya a las comunidades a través de sus programas dirigidos a la educación pública de los grados K–12 y proyectos de mejoras de la comunidad. La empresa tiene un programa de becas para la educación: Lowe’s Toolbox for Education. Desde 2005, cuando inició este programa, ha donado anualmente más de $5 millones de dólares en becas para los grados K–12 de las escuelas públicas. Los “Héroes de Lowe’s” son empleados voluntarios que apoyan los proyectos comunitarios locales y colaboran con organizaciones sin fines de lucro como Habitat for Humanity International y la Cruz Roja Americana. En 2010, Lowe’s y su Fundación de Beneficencia y Educación contribuyeron con más de $30 millones de dólares para apoyar a comunidades en los Estados Unidos, Canadá y México. Para obtener más información, visite Lowes.com/socialresponsibility.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Eileen Peterson, volunteer school librarian,
(310) 795-3833 or (323) 850-5452

Kathy Mimberg, NCLR, (202) 776-1714

Sarah-Frances Wallace, Lowe’s Companies,
Inc., (704)758-4339
 

NCLR and Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation help a high school build brighter futures

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Leadership Academy will host a community celebration at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 22 to unveil its newly renovated school library. The celebration will take place at the high school, located at 234 East Avenue 33 in Los Angeles. Remarks will be made by Mona Field, member of the school’s board of directors and the board of trustees at Los Angeles Community College District; Carolina Salcedo, a Lincoln Heights community leader whose child attends the Los Angeles Leadership Academy; Roger Lowenstein, Founder and Executive Director of Los Angeles Leadership Academy; and a representative from the Lowe’s Burbank branch.

The library renovations were made possible through a $25,000 grant from NCLR (National Council of La Raza) and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. Funds were used to refurbish the school’s library and associated computer research lab, as well as to purchase new library display racks, chairs, carpeting, carts, books, and periodicals.

The Los Angeles Leadership Academy, where 75 percent of the student body is Latino, was founded in 2002 and currently serves more than 400 students in grades 6–12. According to research cited by the American Library Association, strong library media programs help close the achievement gap for poor and minority students, particularly when it comes to reading scores at the high school level.

The Los Angeles Leadership Academy is the first of four schools to have its library renovated this year with funds provided by the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. Each school received a $25,000 grant for its library renovation. The other schools are Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, also in Los Angeles, the East Austin College Prep Academy in Austin, and the George I. Sanchez Charter High School in Houston.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:                      Community celebration of the renovation of the Los Angeles Leadership
                                 Academy library

WHEN:                      Wednesday, June 22, 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:                   Los Angeles Leadership Academy
                                234 East Avenue 33
                                Los Angeles, CA 90031

WHO:                       Mona Field, Member, Board of Directors, Los Angeles Leadership
                                Academy, and Member, Board of Trustees, Los Angeles
                                Community College District
                                Carolina Salcedo, Lincoln Heights community leader and parent of a Los
                                Angeles Leadership Academy student
                                Roger Lowenstein, Founder and Executive Director, Los Angeles
                                Leadership Academy
                                Representative from Lowe’s, Burbank branch
                                Representative from the office of Los Angeles City Councilman Ed Reyes
                                (invited)
                                Charlotte Kandel, author of children’s books (invited)

Event photos will be available to the press upon request. Please contact Eileen Peterson at (310) 795-3833 or (323) 850-5452 for photos.

###

ABOUT LOWE’S
Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K–12 public education and community improvement projects. The company’s signature education grant program, Lowe’s Toolbox for Education, has brought more than $5 million in grants to K–12 public schools every year since its inception in 2005. “Lowe’s Heroes” employee volunteers support local community projects and national nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity International and the American Red Cross. In 2010, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $30 million to support communities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/socialresponsibility.

America is still in the middle of a job crisis and unemployment is at 11.9% for Latinos. Are members of Congress doing anything about these problems? If you were paying attention to Congress yesterday, you might think they were trying to make these problems worse. How else could they explain the introduction of legislation that curbs the rights of workers?

Yesterday, Rep. Lamar Smith (R–TX) introduced HR 2164, the “Legal Workforce Act,” better known as the E-Verify bill. The legislation would require all employers in the United States to use the E-Verify program, an Internet-based system that relies on error-ridden, outdated databases to check the employment eligibility of workers.

Supporters of the flawed system claim that E-Verify ensures that jobs are reserved for those workers who are legally eligible and that concerns for abuse and errors are misguided at best. The Government Accountability Office’s evaluation and NCLR’s own fact sheet on the measure say otherwise. In Dangerous Business: Implications of an EEVS for Latinos and the U.S. Workforce, as well as other evaluations, NCLR has consistently found that foreign-born U.S. citizens and legal immigrants would be significantly impacted by a national employment eligibility verification system because they are 30 times more likely than native-born workers to be wrongly flagged as ineligible to work.

“This legislation is another example of putting cheap political maneuvers ahead of the interests of American workers. It will do nothing to create jobs, it will place a burden on all job-seeking U.S. citizens and legal immigrants, and it will not fix our broken immigration system,” said Clarissa Martínez De Castro, NCLR Director of Immigration and National Campaigns.

At a time of high unemployment and when families are losing their homes, it seems unthinkable that some members of Congress would busy themselves with making it harder for people to find and keep their jobs. But that’s exactly what is happening. With the support of advocates like you, NCLR works to stop the tide of useless legislation.
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Luis Barrera
(213) 489-3428
lbarrera@nclr.org

ALTAMED HEALTH SERVICES CORPORATION HONORS NCLR ESCALERA PROGRAM GRADUATES

Los Angeles—With its partner AltaMed Health Services Corporation, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) is pleased to honor the graduating class of the 2011 NCLR Escalera Program: Taking Steps to Success. Escalera Program graduates will be recognized on Wednesday, June 15 at 6:00 p.m. PDT. Seventy-three students from East Los Angeles have successfully earned their high school diplomas and completed the Escalera Program.

In 2001, with support from PepsiCo Foundation and PepsiCo Inc., the NCLR Escalera Program was created as a national after-school program to promote economic mobility for Latino youth. The program aims to increase educational achievement and career planning by providing opportunities for students to access resources and achieve educational goals. Students are eligible to enroll in the Escalera Program during the second semester of their junior year and must work toward a high school diploma or GED, complete a minimum of 80 hours of internship or other work experience, and start the enrollment process for a postsecondary institution. All 73 Escalera Program graduates at AltaMed have been accepted to college and have received a combined $83,300 in scholarships.

The AltaMed-NCLR Escalera Program partnership connects students with internships and mentorship opportunities each year through a network of 28 clinics throughout the Los Angeles area. Students are also directly linked to all of AltaMed’s health services, including mental health and teen pregnancy prevention programs. Through its family-centric model, AltaMed ensures that students and their families have access to services that support the students on their journey through high school.

“We are extremely proud of all the young people who will be moving on to the next stage in their education and wish them continued success throughout their college experience. We are equally proud of the AltaMed Escalera Program staff for their hard work and dedication and for this great accomplishment,” said Simon Lopez, NCLR Senior Director of Workforce and Leadership Development. “As the oldest and largest site of the Escalera Program, AltaMed continues to prove itself a powerful and effective resource for Latino youth and their families.”

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHO:        Diana Hernandez, Escalera Program Coordinator, AltaMed Health Services Corporation

WHAT:      Class of 2011 AltaMed Escalera Program graduation ceremony

WHEN:      June 15, 2011, 6:00 p.m. PDT

WHERE:    Luminarias Restaurant
                 3500 W Ramona Boulevard
                 Monterey Park, CA 91754

CONTACT: To interview an Escalera Program student, contact Luis Barrera at lbarrera@nclr.org.

For more information on the NCLR Escalera Program, please visit www.nclr.org/escalera.

###
 

Just when it seems like anti-immigrant rhetoric can't get any more offensive, something like this happens. From our friends at VotoLatino:

This weekend at a sparsely attended rally in Austin, Texas, Rebecca Forest, co-founder of the Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas, explained why Texas hasn’t passed anti-immigrant legislation like Arizona and Alabama. Her explanation: Texas has too many Hispanic legislators – 37 to be exact. Here’s what she says in the video: [posted below]

“If you really want to know why in Texas we don’t get immigration legislation passed, it’s because we have 37, 36, Hispanic legislators in the Texas Legislature. All of the states that have passed legislation have a handful and I mean literally, some of them have no Hispanic legislators, well, maybe 3 or 5. So that’s part of our problem and we need to change those numbers. Umm, we need to do something about that.”

Has Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas not heard the news that the Hispanic population grew to 50.5 million in the last ten years, or that in Texas Latinos accounted for nearly two-thirds of the population growth this past decade! Clearly their strategy is short-sighted, but I guess short-sightedness is the best we can expect from folks interested in turning back the clock on civil rights.

Check out the video of Rebecca Forest below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Julian Teixeira
(202) 776-1812
jteixeira@nclr.org

Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II, Arianna Huffington, Eva Longoria and Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis also slated to speak

Washington, D.C.—The White House has confirmed that President Barack Obama will speak at the 2011 NCLR (National Council of La Raza) Annual Conference, NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía announced today. The NCLR Annual Conference and National Latino Family Expo, the single largest national Latino event of the year, will be held in Washington, D.C., July 23–26, at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. More than 25,000 participants are expected to attend the four-day event.

Also confirmed as Conference speakers are Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II of Missouri, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus; author, columnist, and president and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group Arianna Huffington; renowned actress and NCLR ALMA Awards® host and executive producer Eva Longoria; and Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. Republican presidential candidates also have been invited to speak. Times and dates for all speakers, including President Obama, will be released in the coming weeks.

“We are very proud to have the President of the United States join us at this important event,” Murguía said. “Our attendees are eager to hear from President Obama on the key issues faced by the country and the Latino community, including the accomplishments and other unfinished business of his administration.”

“Our lineup of acclaimed speakers has always been one of the highlights of the Conference, and this year is no exception,” continued Murguía. “It is the largest gathering of and serves as the meeting ground for more than 25,000 community leaders, activists, and volunteers; elected and appointed officials; members of the corporate, philanthropic, and academic communities; senior citizens; college students; and youth.” Murguía added, “It also provides a forum for corporate representatives and government officials to become better acquainted with ongoing and emerging issues in the Latino community.”

For additional information, please visit www.nclr.org/events.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Carlos De Los Ramos (Latin Center)
(302) 655-7338 ext. 7707

Kathy Mimberg (NCLR)
(202) 776-1714

Enrique Cortez (LSR)
(202) 525-7411

 

Wilmington forum to addresses Latinos and Social Security as part of the ¡Tu Futuro Cuenta! campaign

Wilmington—On Tuesday, June 28, the Latin American Community Center (the Latin Center), NCLR (National Council of La Raza), and Latinos for a Secure Retirement (LSR) will host a town hall to address myths and concerns about Social Security and its importance to Latino families and the state of Delaware. Members of the growing Wilmington Latino community, local elected officials, and national Latino leaders will meet at the Latin Center, located in the Los Jardines Building at 1000 West 5th Street, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Social Security is widely recognized as a successful, efficient public program that serves as a powerful safety net for Americans who cannot work because of age or disability. However, it has come under attack under the guise of deficit reduction, despite the fact that Social Security has not contributed one dime to the federal deficit and will remain financially solvent without any changes until 2037.

Latino seniors are particularly vulnerable to the most recent proposed cuts and changes to Social Security. Although the program keeps millions of seniors out of poverty, the average yearly Social Security benefit for Hispanic seniors is only $12,213 for men and only $9,536 for women. These benefits represent nearly all of the income for most Latino seniors; cuts would be disastrous.

In Wilmington, Social Security contributes more than $1.2 billion to the local economy by paying benefits to more than 86,580 residents, including 55,655 retirees, 12,630 disabled workers, and 6,965 children. Social Security prevents 39,000 residents in Delaware from living in poverty. The Wilmington forum is the second in a series being held across the country as part of the Latinos and Social Security ¡Tu Futuro Cuenta! campaign. In addition to experts on this issue, Latino seniors at the event will be available for interviews.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:                Town hall on Social Security and its importance to keeping Delaware’s Latino seniors and disabled workers out of poverty

WHO:                  Carlos De Los Ramos, Public Relations Director, Latin Center
                           Leticia Miranda, Associate Director, Economic and Employment Policy Project, NCLR
                           Jeff Cruz, Executive Director, LSR

WHEN:                Tuesday, June 28, 2011
                           Dinner, 5:00 p.m. EDT
                           Town Hall, 5:30–7:00 p.m. EDT
                           Media Availability, 4:30–5:30 p.m. EDT

WHERE:              Latin American Community Center
                           Los Jardines Building
                           1000 West 5th Street
                           Wilmington, DE 19805
                           (302) 655-7338

Space is limited. Please contact Carlos De Los Ramos to RSVP for this event or to get more information at cdlosramos@thelatincenter.org or call (302) 655-7338 ext. 7707.

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For more information about the Latin American Community Center, visit www.thelatincenter.org.

For more information about Latinos for Secure Retirement, visit http://lulac.org/about/Latinos_for_a_Secure_Retirement.
 

PARA DIFUSIÓN INMEDIATA

Contacto:
Carlos De Los Ramos (Centro Latino)
(302) 655-7338 ext. 7707

Kathy Mimberg (NCLR)
(202) 776-1714

Enrique Cortez (LSR)
(202) 525-7411


 

El foro de Wilmington aborda el tema Latinos y el Seguro Social como parte de la campaña ¡Tu Futuro Cuenta!

Wilmington—El martes 28 de junio, el Centro Comunitario Latinoamericano (Centro Latino), el Consejo Nacional de La Raza (NCLR, por sus siglas en inglés) y Latinos para una Jubilación Segura (LSR, por sus siglas en inglés) serán los anfitriones de una reunión municipal donde se abordarán los mitos y las preocupaciones acerca del Seguro Social, así como su importancia para las familias latinas y para el estado de Delaware. Los miembros de la creciente comunidad latina de Wilmington, funcionarios electos locales y líderes latinos a nivel nacional se reunirán a partir de las 5:30 pm en el Centro Latino, situado en el edificio Los Jardines en 1000 West 5th Street. El evento es gratuito y estará abierto al público.

El Seguro Social está ampliamente reconocido como un programa público exitoso y eficiente que sirve como una poderosa red de seguridad para los estadounidenses que no pueden trabajar por su edad o su discapacidad. Sin embargo, el programa ha sido atacado usando el pretexto de la reducción deficitaria, a pesar de que el Seguro Social no ha contribuido ni con un centavo al problema del déficit federal y permanecerá como un programa solvente sin ningún cambio hasta el 2037.

Las personas latinas de mayor edad son especialmente vulnerables a los últimos recortes propuestos y a los cambios hechos al Seguro Social. Aunque el programa mantiene a millones de personas fuera de la pobreza, el ingreso anual promedio que reciben del Seguro Social los hombres y mujeres hispanos está entre $12,213 y $9,536 respectivamente. Estos beneficios representan casi todo el ingreso de la mayoría de las personas latinas de mayor edad y los recortes resultarían desastrosos para todas ellas.

En Wilmington, el Seguro Social contribuye con más de $1.2 miles de millones de dólares a la economía local a través de los beneficios que reciben 86,580 residentes, incluyendo 55,655 jubilados, 12,630 trabajadores con discapacidades, y 6,965 niños. El Seguro Social evita que 39,000 residentes en Delaware vivan en la pobreza. El foro de Wilmington es el segundo de la serie que se está llevando a cabo en el país como parte de la campaña Latinos y el Seguro Social ¡Tu Futuro Cuenta! Para realizar entrevistas, aparte de los expertos en este tema, estarán disponibles personas latinas de mayor edad para ser entrevistadas.

AVISO A LOS MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN

QUÉ:

Reunión municipal acerca del Seguro Social y su papel importante de mantener a las personas latinas de mayor edad y a los trabajadores latinos con discapacidades de Delaware arriba del nivel de pobreza.

QUIÉN:

Carlos De Los Ramos, director de relaciones públicas del Centro Latino
Leticia Miranda, directora adjunta del proyecto de política económica y empleo del Consejo Nacional de La Raza.
Jeff Cruz, director ejecutivo de LSR

CUÁNDO:

Martes 28 de junio de 2011
Cena: 5:00 pm EDT (Hora del este)
Reunión municipal: 5:30–7:00 pm EDT
Disponibilidad para reunirse con los medios de comunicación: 4:30–5:30 pm EDT

DÓNDE:

Centro Comunitario Latinoamericano
Edificio Los Jardines
1000 West 5th Street
Wilmington, DE 19805
(302) 655-7338

El espacio es limitado. Para hacer una reservación para este evento u obtener mayor información, por favor póngase en contacto con Carlos De Los Ramos en el correo electrónico cdlosramos@thelatincenter.org o llamar al (302) 655-7338 ext. 7707.

###

Para mayor información sobre el Centro Comunitario Latinoamericano, visite www.thelatincenter.org.

Para mayor información sobre Latinos para una Jubilación Segura, visite http://lulac.org/about/Latinos_for_a_Secure_Retirement.
 

Last week at the Netroots Nation conference in Minneapolis, Public Interest Projects presented awards to 15 “ordinary people” for extraordinary acts of courage on behalf of immigrants and refugees. These and other unsung heroes are recipients of the first Freedom from Fear Awards, honoring ordinary people who have committed extraordinary acts of courage on behalf of immigrants and refugees—individuals who have taken a risk, set an example, and inspired others to awareness or action.

The Freedom from Fear Awards included four students who walked from Miami to Washington, DC in support of the “DREAM Act” and to illustrate the difficulties that undocumented immigrants face every day in America. Each recipient received $5,000 as well as a commissioned art piece from fellow activist and artist Favianna Rodriguez. The four DREAM students are Gaby Pacheco, Juan Rodriguez, Felipe Matos, and Carlos Roa.

These four students, two of whom are gay, walked 1,500 miles from Miami to Washington to bring attention to the barriers faced by undocumented young people and their families. For five months they overcame constant fear of arrest and deportation, anti-immigrant protesters including the Ku Klux Klan, and their own physical exhaustion. Known as the Trail of DREAMs, this journey inspired communities throughout the Southeast as well as tens of thousands of other DREAMers and policymakers. In the year since the Trail concluded at the White House, the four walkers have remained outspoken leaders against the criminalization of immigrants and in support of humane immigration reform.

Sponsors of the awards pointed out that they were particularly fitting as they fell on the 50th anniversary of the freedom rides that helped dismantle segregation in the South, and on the heels of the Arab Spring that has shown the power of ordinary people overcoming their fear.

You can read more about the Freedom from Fear Awards and the award recipients here or watch the video below. 

Over the weekend, Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona claimed that the wildfires raging through his state were caused by “illegal” immigrants who were looking to “signal others… keep warm and…divert law enforcement agents and agencies from them.”

It's unconscionable that Sen. McCain is using a devastating, emergency situation to score cheap political points in the immigration debate. Just a few years ago, he spoke so movingly and eloquently about the plight of the undocumented that it brought many of our Annual Conference attendees to tears. This is a man who knew and talked frequently about the sacrifice and dedication of Latinos in uniform and who made Latino audiences glow with pride about our community’s many heroes. Sen. McCain seemed to be the last best hope in his party to get bipartisan immigration reform enacted.

While his constituents are scrambling to save their homes, the one-time Republican presidential nominee seems to be most interested in using rhetoric that is, as NCLR's Clarissa Martínez De Castro told ABC News, “intended to demonize immigrants and to demonize Latinos.” Watch the ABC News story below:

After enduring much criticism from the Latino community, Sen. McCain told Ann Curry of NBC’s Today Show that he was not referring to the wildfires burning across Arizona. Instead, he says that he was only talking about the reports that immigrants have been known to set fires in the past. Watch him backpedal below, courtesy of the Political Correction project at Media Matters for America:

Whatever Sen. McCain believes he was talking about, the reality is that his comments are all the provocation that some people need in order to harm innocent people. Scapegoating an entire community for political gain is completely irresponsible and unbefitting a senator with as distinguished a career as John McCain.

It is painful to see the senator join in on the immigrant-bashing that has become priority number one for too many in his party. Many figured that McCain’s behavior was just an unprincipled but short-term episode designed to fuel his reelection campaign. They could not understand how a man who had previously deemed a border fence an expensive and ineffective boondoggle could now stand on the border saying “build the danged fence”; it just had to be an election year aberration. But with his fact-free and dangerous claim about the wildfires, it is now clear that his hatred is chronic.

In 2009, the Latino community grieved the loss of one of its greatest champions, Senator Ted Kennedy. Little did we know that we should have been also mourning the loss of another champion, Senator John McCain.
 

Jose Antonio Vargas is many things. Among them, a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, an out-and-proud gay man, Filipino. He is also an undocumented immigrant.

Today, in the pages of The New York Times, he revealed to the world the secret that he has been hiding for more than a decade—that he has been undocumented since arriving in California at the age of 12. His powerful piece of journalism tells a story of being stuck in the shadows because of our broken immigration system.

Vargas has also founded Define American, which is aimed at changing the conversation around immigration reform. Watch his video below. You might want to keep some tissues handy.
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Julian Teixeira
(202) 776-1812
jteixeira@nclr.org

Immigration legislation is an urgent call for Congress to address the national interest

Washington, D.C.—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) commends Sens. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., Harry Reid, D-Nev., Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and John Kerry, D-Mass., for introducing the “Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2011,” legislation that provides a real, effective, and humane fix to our broken immigration system.

“We thank these Senate leaders for introducing this legislation and striving to resolve this problem at the federal level, where the immigration debate should be taking place,” said Clarissa Martínez-De-Castro, NCLR Director of Immigration and National Campaigns. “With this legislation, Sen. Menendez and the Democratic leadership are sending a clear signal to their colleagues, particularly those who represent states that have passed draconian immigration laws that they should come to the table to deliver real policy solutions that work.”

The “Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2011” would restore the rule of law by requiring the 11 million undocumented people in our country to come forward, obtain legal status, learn English, and assume the rights and responsibilities of citizenship while also creating smart enforcement policies that uphold national security and the Constitution. In addition, it would restore our legal immigration system, allowing citizens and legal residents to reunite with their families and permitting future workers to legally enter the nation under conditions that safeguard the American workforce.

“This is a bill that articulates a serious policy solution, and it should be seen as an invitation to other members of Congress to come forward to address this problem,” said Martínez-De-Castro. “We know that immigration enforcement measures alone will not solve this issue. We commend Sen. Menendez and his colleagues for providing real leadership, not expensive Band-Aid fixes to a problem that has been ignored for more than a decade.”
 

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PARA DIFUSIÓN INMEDIATA

Contacto:
Jennifer Occean
(202) 776-1732
joccean@nclr.org

Washington, D.C.— El Consejo Nacional de La Raza (NCLR, por sus siglas en inglés) —la organización nacional más grande de apoyo y defensa de los derechos civiles de los latinos en los Estados Unidos— celebrará la herencia hispana aquí en el área metropolitana de la capital de la nación, trayendo por primera vez en veintiún años la Conferencia Anual 2011del NCLR y la Expo Nacional de la Familia Latina.

La Expo Nacional de la Familia Latina, patrocinada por UPS, que se llevará a cabo del 23 al 25 de julio, es una atracción que no deben perderse los residentes ni los que visitan el área metropolitana de Washington, D.C. El programa de esta celebración ofrece actividades y entretenimiento para toda la familia: las mamás podrán divertirse tomando una clase de Zumba o echando un vistazo al desfile de modas de TJX, mientras que los papás podrán participar en sorteos y ganar entradas para el juego de DC United o del Barcelona contra Manchester United, o quizás hacerse un exámen de la vista en el Pabellón Tu Salud/Salud y Bienestar. Mientras tanto, los niños se divertirán muchísimo cuando salgan a darles la bienvenida: Dora la Exploradora, el Gato en el Sombrero y Clifford el Gran Perro Rojo. Si sus hijos son mayores y necesitan más interacción, ¡no se preocupe! Un área de juegos Xbox de Microsoft y un stand fuera de serie presentado por la NASA, junto con otra área con juegos interactivos para niños ofrecida por UPS estarán listos para entretenerlos.

La Expo Nacional de la Familia Latina es la feria comercial más grande en la nación para los consumidores latinos, que contará con más de 200 expositores y que se espera atraiga a más de 25,000 asistentes. Dentro de los servicios más importantes que se ofrecerán a los asistentes se incluyen los exámenes de salud, una Feria de Diversidad de Carreras, demostraciones de cocina y la presencia de celebridades que firmarán autógrafos.

Los pabellones que exhibirán productos y servicios este año serán:

Pabellón El Barrio/Comunidad: Celebre y experimente los vecindarios donde viven los hispanoamericanos. Este pabellón presentará a representantes de pequeñas empresas, compañías de seguros, tiendas de abarrotes y universidades. Visite este pabellón para ver las demostraciones y presentaciones, y para participar en los sorteos de premios.

Pabellón El Museo/Cultura e Historia: Entre a este pabellón para explorar la diversidad de la cultura e historia de los latinos. Este pabellón presentará artistas locales, un centro cultural, y medios de comunicación latinos. Venga y aprenda sobre el pasado y el futuro de la presencia de los latinos en esta nación.

Pabellón Tu Salud/ Salud y Bienestar: Mantenga un estilo de vida saludable mientras disfruta de la maravillosa cocina latina. Visite este pabellón para aprender sobre nutrición y cómo mantener un estilo de vida activo y saludable. Aproveche los exámenes de salud gratuitas de la vista, los pulmones, la presión arterial y las pruebas confidenciales de VIH/SIDA. Habrá clases de ejercicios físicos para grupos y demostraciones de cocina saludable. ¡Este es un pabellón que no querrá perderse!

Pabellón El Futuro/Tecnología y Medio Ambiente: Explore la tecnología interactiva y ambiental. Venga a este pabellón para conocer más sobre cómo formar parte del movimiento de la ecología mundial, y eche un vistazo a las áreas interactivas donde podrá jugar con el último de los videojuegos Xbox de Microsoft y navegar en Internet.

Pabellón Familia/Familia de NCLR: Obtenga la información esencial sobre las iniciativas actuales del NCLR sobre salud, educación, desarrollo de la fuerza laboral y políticas. Este pabellón cuenta con las últimas publicaciones e informes del NCLR y sus afiliados, y también con un kiosko informativo en el que se anunciará la entrega de premios.

Pabellón Tus Oportunidades/Carrera (abierto sólo el lunes 25 de julio): Actualice su currículum y extienda sus contactos. Este pabellón auspicia la Feria de la Diversidad de Carreras y brinda la oportunidad de establecer contactos, recursos profesionales y clínicas donde se ofrecerán prácticas y modelos para mejorar la presentación de su currículum.

Calendario del evento

Qué:             Servicios comunitarios y entretenimiento gratuitos para la familia en la Expo Nacional de la Familia Latina 2011 del NCLR.

Admisión:   La entrada a la Expo Nacional de la Familia Latina es gratis y está abierta al público. El estacionamiento de vehículos es limitado y
                     por ello, se aconseja utilizar los servicios del Metro. La estación de la Línea Roja de Woodley Park queda tan sólo a una cuadra del
                     hotel. El servicio de omnibus Woodley Park/Adams Morgan Circulator también pasa por el hotel.

Dónde:       Hotel Marriott Wardman Park
                    Salas de exposición A–C
                    2660 Woodley Road, NW
                    Washington, D.C. 20008

Cuándo:    Sábado 23 de julio de 10:30 AM a 6:00 PM
                   Domingo 24 de julio de 10:30 AM a 6:00 PM
                   Lunes 25 de julio de 10:00 AM a 3:00 PM

Para obtener las credenciales de prensa para la Conferencia Anual 2011 del NCLR, deberá registrarse en www.nclr.org/pressregistration. Para más información, por favor póngase en contacto con Jennifer Occean enviando un correo electrónico a joccean@nclr.org o llamando al teléfono (202)776-1732.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jennifer Occean
(202) 776-1732
joccean@nclr.org

Washington, D.C.—NCLR (National Council of La Raza)—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—will celebrate Latino heritage here in the nation’s capital by bringing the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference and the National Latino Family Expo to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area for the first time in 21 years.

The UPS-sponsored National Latino Family Expo, that runs from July 23 to July 25, is a must-see attraction for area residents and visitors to the Washington metropolitan area. It offers activities for family members of all ages: moms can have fun at a Zumba class or check out the latest styles at the TJX fashion show, while dads can enter raffles to win tickets to a DC United or Barcelona vs. Manchester United game or get their eyes checked at the Health and Fitness/Tu Salud Pavilion. And kids will have a blast; Dora the Explorer, the Cat in the Hat, and Clifford the Big Red Dog will greet visitors. If your kids are older and need more interaction, no worries! A Microsoft Xbox gaming area and an out-of-this-world NASA booth, along with an interactive UPS kids’ zone, will be set up to entertain them.

The free National Latino Family Expo is the largest Hispanic consumer show in the country, featuring more than 200 exhibitors, and it is expected to attract more than 25,000 attendees. Special highlights include health screenings, a Diversity Career Fair, cooking demonstrations, and celebrity autograph signings.

The pavilions showcasing products and services this year are:

Community/El Barrio Pavilion: Celebrate and experience the neighborhoods that Hispanic Americans live in. This pavilion introduces representatives from small businesses, insurance companies, grocery stores, and universities. Stop by to see demonstrations and performances and partake in giveaways.

Culture and History/El Museo Pavilion: Step into your own little getaway and explore the diversity of Latino culture and history. This pavilion features local artists, a cultural center, and Latino media outlets. Come learn about the past and future of the American Latino presence.

Health and Fitness/Tu Salud Pavilion: Maintain a healthy lifestyle while still enjoying wonderful Latino cuisine. Check out this pavilion to learn about nutrition and maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. Take advantage of free health screenings, including vision, lung, blood pressure, and confidential HIV/AIDS testing. Group exercise classes and healthy cooking demonstrations will also be available; this is one pavilion that you do not want to miss!

Technology and Environment/El Futuro Pavilion: Explore environmental and interactive technology. Come to this pavilion to learn more about how to go green and check out the interactive areas where you can play the newest Microsoft Xbox video games and surf the web.

NCLR Family/Familia Pavilion: Get essential information about current NCLR initiatives in health, education, workforce development, and policy. This pavilion features the latest publications and reports from NCLR and its partners as well as an informational booth where we will announce prize giveaways.

Career/Tus Oportunidades Pavilion (Monday, July 25 only): Network and update your résumé! This pavilion hosts the Diversity Career Fair for networking opportunities, career resources, and clinics for best writing practices and résumé building.

Calendar Listing

What:              Free community services and fun family events at the 2011 NCLR National Latino Family Expo

Admission:  Admission to the National Latino Family Expo is free and open to the public. Parking is limited; it is advised to use the Metro.
                       The Red Line Woodley Park station is located one block from the hotel. The Woodley Park/Adams Morgan Circulator also passes
                       by the hotel.

Where:         Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
                      Exhibit Halls A–C
                      2660 Woodley Road, NW
                      Washington, D.C. 20008

When:          Saturday, July 23, 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
                      Sunday, July 24, 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
                      Monday, July 25, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

To obtain media credentials for the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference, press may register at www.nclr.org/pressregistration. For more information, please contact Jennifer Occean at joccean@nclr.org or (202)776-1732.

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\

PARA DIFUSIÓN INMEDIATA

Contacto:
Julián Teixeira
(202) 776-1812
jteixeira@nclr.org

La legislación sobre inmigración es un llamado urgente al Congreso
para que responda al interés nacional.

Washington, D.C.— El NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza) felicita a los senadores Robert Menéndez, D-N.J., Harry Reid, D-Nev., Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., y John Kerry, D-Mass., por presentar la "Ley de Reforma Integral de Inmigración de 2011", un proyecto de ley que proporciona una solución real, efectiva y humana a nuestro sistema disfuncional de inmigración.

"Agradecemos a los líderes del Senado por presentar esta propuesta y esforzarse por resolver este problema a nivel federal, donde el debate sobre el tema de inmigración debería tener lugar", dijo Clarissa Martínez De Castro, directora de campañas nacionales e inmigración del Consejo Nacional de La Raza. "Con este proyecto de ley, el senador Menéndez y el liderazgo demócrata están enviando a sus colegas un mensaje claro, especialmente a aquellos que representan a los estados donde se han aprobado leyes de inmigración draconianas, ya que en su lugar se deberían ofrecer soluciones políticas reales que funcionen".

La "Ley de Reforma Integral de Inmigración de 2011" restablecería el estado de derecho al exigir a los 11 millones de indocumentados de nuestro país que se presenten, obtengan un estatus legal, aprendan inglés, y asuman los derechos y responsabilidades de la ciudadanía, al mismo tiempo que se crearían políticas inteligentes de aplicación de la ley que defiendan la seguridad nacional y la Constitución. Además, restauraría nuestro sistema de inmigración legal, permitiendo a los ciudadanos y residentes legales reunirse con sus familias y a los futuros trabajadores entrar legalmente al país bajo condiciones que salvaguarden la fuerza laboral estadounidense.

"Este es un proyecto de ley que articula una solución política seria, y debería ser visto como una invitación para que otros miembros del Congreso enfrenten este problema", dijo Martínez De Castro. "Sabemos que las medidas de control de la inmigración por sí solas no van a resolver el problema. Elogiamos al senador Menéndez y a sus colegas por su verdadero liderazgo, en lugar de poner parches sobre un problema que ha sido ignorado por más de una década".

###

By Janet Murguía

(This was first posted at The Hill's Congress Blog)

Although we are only halfway through 2011, the 2012 election season is in full swing. The Latino community, like other voters, is waiting to hear from candidates on how they will address the critical issues that our country faces, including getting the U.S. economy back on track, creating jobs, fixing our troubled education system and enacting comprehensive immigration reform. But the campaign so far has not been promising. Few, if any, of the Republican candidates have set up Latino-focused initiatives within their campaigns. More disturbingly, no one has spoken out about the toxic atmosphere confronting Latinos today. Even worse, some have rushed to support the slew of draconian state immigration laws that do nothing to solve our problems, but do plenty to exacerbate racial profiling and harassment of immigrants and American citizens.

Yet there is still time for a dramatic shift in the relationship between the 2012 campaign and Hispanic voters. So we are offering a few nonpartisan dos and don’ts for aspiring candidates:

Do take the Latino vote seriously. Latinos are not only the fastest-growing population in the U.S., they are also the fastest-growing voter bloc. The Census results released this spring found that one in six Americans is Latin. More than one in four Americans under the age of 18 is Latino, 93 percent of whom are U.S. citizens. According to Democracia U.S.A., this means that half a million Latinos will turn 18 each year for the next 20 years.

Do take Hispanic concerns, especially immigration, seriously. The recent immigration debate among policymakers has been controversial, divisive, and corrosive, but it has not been serious about fixing the problem. Action on comprehensive immigration reform has been one of the sacrificial lambs of Washington gridlock. In the absence of federal action, states and localities have succumbed to extreme voices touting extreme proposals that score political points but do little more. Yet poll after poll shows that Hispanics and all Americans want Washington to stop politicizing or running away from the issue, get serious, and deal with immigration in a comprehensive, effective and humane way.

Do engage the Latino community. A good start is a solid, affirmative outreach operation that targets Latinos. However, Latinos should be involved at all levels of a campaign, especially in decision-making positions. The Hispanic community’s issues and concerns should also be addressed and incorporated into a candidate’s platform. And there should be a vision for what role Hispanics will play in any future administration or office.

Don’t write off the Latino vote. Candidates who believe that Hispanics are part of any party’s base are under a grave misapprehension. While it is true that most Hispanics are registered Democrats, history also shows that most are frequent ticket-splitters. Both President Ronald Reagan and President George W. Bush received more than 40 percent of the Hispanic vote in their reelection campaigns. Some analysts note that a Republican needs to receive 40 percent of the Latino vote to win the presidency. In fact, for many candidates in 2010, failing to engage the Latino voter cost them the election. So those who appeal to Latino voters early stand a better chance of ending strong.

Don’t demonize immigrants and Latinos. It is unconscionable to scapegoat a community and sow division and hate in American society. Pundits agree that the extreme anti-immigrant stances of several candidates in 2010 cost the Republican Party control of the Senate. Interviews with Latino voters in those key elections said they went to the polls to vote against such positions and tactics.

Don’t take the Hispanic vote for granted. Having an extreme, anti-immigrant opponent may lull some candidates into a false sense of security when it comes to the Hispanic vote, yet voter motivation and enthusiasm are critical in any election, and especially in 2012. Studies show that voters are more motivated when they have something to vote for rather than something to vote against.