FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

 

Telecast co-hosted by Eva Longoria and George Lopez, with PepsiCo as the Premier Sponsor, to pay tribute to Latino performers promoting positive images of Hispanics

Universal City, Calif.—In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Comcast and NBC are pleased to announce that NBC will broadcast the 2011 NCLR (National Council of La Raza) ALMA Awards on Friday, September 16 from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. EDT in a ceremony celebrating the nation’s Latino performers who promote accurate and positive images of Hispanics in entertainment. Eva Longoria and George Lopez will co-host the one-hour primetime special.

Since 1995, the NCLR ALMA Awards has honored outstanding Latino artistic achievements in television, film, and music. The show is an integral part of NCLR’s mission to open doors and create greater opportunities for Latino families in the U.S. As a national primetime television entertainment special with a cause, the NCLR ALMA Awards demonstrates how diversity strengthens our country and inclusion strengthens the entertainment industry.

The announcement was made by Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios, and Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR.

“NBC is proud to join with the NCLR ALMA Awards so that we can recognize the outstanding achievements of Hispanic artists with this national showcase,” said Telegdy. “As a company, NBCUniversal encourages diversity at every level of the entertainment industry, and serving as the new home for this awards show will help further realize that goal.”

“Thanks to Eva Longoria and PepsiCo, both among our long-time partners, and our new partners Comcast and NBCUniversal. We look forward to having the biggest and best NCLR ALMA Awards yet,” Murguía said. “We can think of no better time to put a spotlight on the many contributions that Latinos are making in the entertainment industry. I am especially grateful that all of our partners are making unprecedented commitments to ensure the continued success of this most valuable program. ”

The executive producers of the ALMA Awards will be Bob Bain, Eva Longoria, and Janet Murguía. NBCUniversal and its parent company, Comcast Corporation, which has had a national partnership with NCLR since 2006, will contribute to the production costs of the awards show.

“Comcast’s long-standing partnership with NCLR has been an important connection to the Hispanic community,” said David L. Cohen, Executive Vice President of Comcast Corporation. “We’re proud to join them in bringing the ALMA Awards and the positive images they highlight to NBC.”

Two other important NBCUniversal media assets—Telemundo and mun2—will join NBC in celebrating the ALMA Awards across all of their platforms. Telemundo News will feature highlights of the star-studded event and mun2 will re-broadcast the awards show at a later date. In addition, Telemundo.com will be the official ALMA Awards website offering exclusive behind-the-scenes content from rehearsals and backstage, as well as extensive coverage from the red carpet. mun2 will also produce a two-hour special as part of its weekly music variety show, 18 & Over, from the ALMA Awards red carpet, spotlighting the fashion and star arrivals and showcasing some of the biggest music videos of the year. The 18 & Over pre-awards show special will air Friday, September 16 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. EDT and mun2.tv will preview the 18 & Over ALMA Awards special online one week prior to its airdate.

For additional information, including announcements about the nominees and performers at this year’s ceremony, please visit www.almaawards.com or follow the show on Twitter at #almaawards. For embeddable clips and full episodes from NBC shows, please visit NBC.com’s official show site: http://www.nbc.com/shows.

MEDIA CONTACTS
For NBC:
Sharon Pannozzo, NBC Entertainment Publicity, (212) 664-5152

For the NCLR ALMA Awards:
Jennifer Price-Keith, The Lippin Group, (323) 965-1990, jprice@lippingroup.com
Julian Teixeira, Director of Communications, NCLR, (202) 776-1812, jteixeira@nclr.org
 

PARA DIFUSIÓN INMEDIATA

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

Transmisión televisiva co-presentada por Eva Longoria y George López, con PepsiCo como patrocinador principal, para homenajear a los artistas latinos que promueven una imagen positiva de los hispanos

Universal City, Calif.—En celebración del Mes de la Herencia Hispana, Comcast y NBC se complacen en anunciar que NBC transmitirá los premios ALMA 2011 del NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza) el viernes 16 de septiembre de 8:00 a 9:00 PM EDT (hora del este). La transmisión seguirá la ceremonia de premiación para homenajear a los artistas latinos de la nación que promueven una imagen precisa y positiva de los hispanos en el mundo del entretenimiento. Eva Longoria y George López serán los anfitriones del programa especial de una hora durante el horario de mayor audiencia.

Desde 1995, los premios ALMA del NCLR han reconocido los extraordinarios logros artísticos de los latinos en la televisión, el cine y la música. El programa es una parte integral de la misión del NCLR de abrir puertas y crear mayores oportunidades para las familias latinas en los Estados Unidos. Como programa especial de entretenimiento a nivel nacional, en horario de mayor audiencia y con una causa, los premios ALMA del NCLR demuestran cómo la diversidad fortalece nuestro país y la inclusión fortalece la industria del entretenimiento.

El anuncio fue hecho por Paul Telegdy, vicepresidente ejecutivo de programación alternativa de NBC y Universal Media Studios, y Janet Murguía, presidenta y directora general del NCLR.

“NBC está orgulloso de unirse a los premios ALMA del NCLR para que podamos reconocer los extraordinarios logros de los artistas hispanos por medio de esta presentación televisiva nacional” dijo Telegdy. “Como compañía, NBCUniversal fomenta la diversidad en todos los niveles de la industria del entretenimiento, y al servir como el nuevo hogar de esta entrega de premios, le ayudará aún más a alcanzar esa meta”.

“Gracias a Eva Longoria y PepsiCo, entre nuestros socios desde hace mucho tiempo, y a nuestros nuevos socios Comcast y NBCUniversal esperamos tener la mejor y más grande entrega de premios ALMA del NCLR que hayamos tenido hasta la fecha", dijo Murguía. "No podemos pensar en un mejor momento para destacar las muchas contribuciones que los latinos están haciendo en la industria del entretenimiento. Estoy especialmente agradecida porque todos nuestros socios están haciendo compromisos sin precedentes para asegurar el continuo éxito de este programa tan valioso".

Los productores ejecutivos de los premios ALMA serán Bob Bain, Eva Longoria y Janet Murguía. NBCUniversal y su empresa matriz, Comcast Corporation, que ha sido una organización afiliada a nivel nacional del NCLR desde 2006, contribuirán con los costos de producción del programa para la entrega de premios.

"La larga colaboración de Comcast con el NCLR ha sido una conexión importante con la comunidad hispana", dijo David L. Cohen, vicepresidente ejecutivo de Comcast Corporation. "Estamos orgullosos de unirnos a ellos en la transmisión de la entrega de los premios ALMA y las imágenes positivas que estos reflejan para NBC".

Otros dos importantes medios de comunicación de NBCUniversal, Telemundo y mun2, se unirán a NBC en la celebración de la entrega de los premios ALMA a través de todas sus plataformas. El Noticiero Telemundo destacará los componentes de mayor relieve de este gran evento y mun2 volverá a transmitir la entrega de los premios en una fecha posterior. Además, Telemundo.com será la página Web oficial de los premios ALMA donde ofrecerá contenido exclusivo detrás de las cámaras de los ensayos y tras bastidores, así también una amplia cobertura de la alfombra roja. También mun2 producirá un especial de dos horas de la alfombra roja de los premios ALMA como parte de su programa semanal de variedad musical 18 & Over. En ese programa especial se destacará la caracteríticas de la moda, la llegada de las estrellas y algunos de los vídeos de los grandes éxitos musicales del año. El programa especial 18 & Over previo a la premiación, se transmitirá el viernes 16 de septiembre de las 6:00 a las 8:00 PM y mun2.tv presentará en Internet el preestreno del especial 18 & Over de los premios ALMA una semana antes de su fecha de transmisión.

Para información adicional, incluyendo el anuncio de los nominados y artistas de la ceremonia de este año, por favor visite www.almaawards.com o siga el programa en Twitter en #almaawards. Para clips embebidos y episodios completos de los programas de NBC, por favor visite la página de programación oficial de NBC.com: http://www.nbc.com/shows.

CONTACTOS PARA LOS MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN
Para NBC:
Sharon Pannozzo, NBC Entertainment Publicity, (212) 664-5152

Para los premios ALMA del NCLR:
Jennifer Price-Keith, The Lippin Group, (323) 965-1990, jprice@lippingroup.com
Julián Teixeira, director de comunicaciones del NCLR, (202) 776-1812, jteixeira@nclr.org
 

Yesterday we told you about our Best Buy Emerging Latino Leaders Scholarship recipients.  Today you get to meet them! We wanted to get into the minds of tomorrow’s leaders, so we asked each of our award recipients to tell us a little bit about themselves. 

Today, meet Marcos Montalvo.  He will be attending the University of Houston to study civil engineering.

Q: What part of society needs to be improved and why?
A: I think that the public education in America needs to be revised. The way children learn and the quality of many teachers needs a lot of improvement.

Q: What impact does winning this scholarship have on you? How about your family? What about others?
A: This scholarship is a huge blessing to my family, teachers, and friends; it doesn’t only serve as a way of paying for college, but it also shows that one’s passionate dedication for a great cause does have its reward. My loved ones know how passionate I am about the “DREAM Act,” so they were extremely happy that I was rewarded.

Q: Who has been the most influential person in helping you get to where you are today?
A: I’d have to say my dad. The tremendous amount of pain and hard work he has done to allow his family to live a comfortable, decent life is admirable. He’s one of my main motivations to study hard and advance in life.

Q: What advice would you give incoming high school freshmen?
A: Now is the right time for any freshman, regardless of ethnicity, to step up and let their voice be heard. By keeping a good record and being known as trustworthy people among their friends and superiors, students make a big impact when they stand up for something they feel is worth fighting for. High school becomes a great time for leadership to develop, so get started!

Q: Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
A: Honestly, I don’t like setting the bar so early, but if there is something I can see clearly, it’s that I’m not going to stop being a leader for my community. Wherever I may be, standing up for my people will always be a part of me. Who knows, maybe I’ll end up in politics. Only God knows.

Q: If you could invite three people to dinner (living, dead, or fictional), who would you invite and why?
A: I would invite César Chávez because he is a testimony of Latino advocacy, Javier Hernandez because he is the best Mexican soccer player in Europe, and Nelson Mandela because he exemplifies perseverance.

Q: If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
A: I would be a cheetah because they’re insanely fast, but they also know when to relax.

Q: What are your ultimate career plans?
A: My plan is to become an engineer. As of now, I want to study either civil engineering or industrial engineering, but time and God’s will have the final say. As long as my profession deals with making people’s lives comfortable, I’ll be happy. 

NCLR congratulates Marcos on his graduation and on this particular acheivement.  It looks like Marcos has a bright future ahead of him and we are all eager to see what becomes of this emerging Latino scholar. Check back tomorrow to meet our next scholarship recipient!

By Janet Murguía
(originally posted to The Huffington Post)

On Tuesday night, millions of Latino baseball fans will watch with pride as players with names like Gonzalez, Ortiz, and Reyes take the field at the 82nd Annual All-Star Game. But as the camera pans across Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, it will also be a painful reminder that when he had the chance, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig failed to stand up for his Latino players, coaches, and fans by not speaking out against Arizona's war on the Hispanic community.

It's not as if Selig didn't know about the controversy. Last year, when Arizona enacted SB 1070, a discriminatory racial profiling law, the outrage was swift and overwhelming. A coalition of civil rights organizations called both for a tourism boycott of the state and for baseball to move the All-Star Game. Players like Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista both said the law concerned them. Gonzalez told The San Diego Union-Tribune, "It's immoral. They're violating human rights. In a way, it goes against what this country was built on. This is discrimination." In addition, the MLB Players Association issued a strong statement denouncing Arizona's legislation.

The public responded: Dozens of civil rights, faith, and business organizations joined the call to boycott, costing the state an estimated $752 million in lost convention and tourism revenue. A group of 60 Arizona CEOs signed a letter opposing the state legislature's harmful approach to immigration. Basketball's Phoenix Suns supported the Latino community by wearing "Los Suns" jerseys on Cinco de Mayo, a move endorsed by the NBA Commissioner and NBA players union. Yet from baseball's top official there has been only a deafening silence.

While it is true that SB 1070 is currently tied up in the courts, it is also true that Arizona's assault on its two million Latino residents continues unabated. The state is in dire economic straits, but Governor Jan Brewer vowed to fight SB 1070 all the way to the Supreme Court, spending money that Arizona doesn't have to save a piece of legislation that does nothing to solve the immigration crisis.

Nearly one-third of baseball's players are Latino. Without them, no team can compete in the major or minor leagues. Millions of Hispanic fans buy tickets and spend millions of dollars each year at the ballpark, and they are all at risk of harassment and abuse in Arizona simply because of the way they look or sound. The solution for Selig should be as simple as two plus two: a place inhospitable to Latinos is a place inhospitable to baseball.

It's not too late. Selig can still use one of baseball's most high-profile events to denounce what is going on in Arizona or wear a white ribbon in support of the thoughtful dialogue being organized locally by the Unite AZ coalition. The choice is his, but he should also know that the Hispanic community has the choice to stop supporting a sport that will not stand with us.

In case you missed it, yesterday we introduced you to Marcos Montalvo. Our next scholar comes to us, from the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico. Max Frequez will be attending New Mexico Highlands University in the fall where he intends to major in Pre-engineering.

Q: If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?
A: If a movie was made of my life, it would be about inspiring others through the eventual triumph over harsh adversities, such as losing three homes to fire and not having a car, and the ultimate fulfillment of my dreams. I think I would be played by Tom Hanks because I believe he has the deep emotional capacity necessary to portray my life in a film; he has acted in other inspiring films such as Forrest Gump.

Q: What part of society needs to be cleaned up and why?
A: Our public school system is the part of society that needs to be cleaned up because school is the foundation of our great nation. Students should be allowed to expand and explore new ways of learning instead of the traditional methods. Today, more and more schools are converting to alternative methods of teaching because they are more effective than the old ways and better capture students’ attention.

Q: What prompted you to become a leader among your peers with regard to Latino civic engagement?
A: The thing that prompted me to become a leader among my peers in regard to Latino civil engagement is education. I believe in the phrase "knowledge is power." The best way for Latinos to be successful and stand up against criticism is to get educated and accomplish our dreams. More and more of us are getting educated and maintaining our culture at the same time.

Q: Who has been the most influential person in helping you get to where you are today?
A: The most influential person in helping me get to where I am today is Juan Archuleta, my mariachi teacher. He taught me so many things about our culture that I didn't know and inspired to reach higher to achieve my goals. He was patient with me since the first day I joined mariachi and never stopped believing in me.

Q: What has been the most challenging aspect of being a leader? Describe a situation where your leadership skills came in handy.
A: The most challenging aspect of being a leader is leading by example. One situation where my skills came in handy was when I was serving on student council. So many people were afraid to bring their concerns to the council so I had to show them what student council was all about, that we were just regular students like them.

Q: What are your ultimate career plans?
A: My ultimate career plans are to get a master’s degree in engineering and my doctorate in physics. I would ultimately like to work with NASA and work with new state-of-the-art technology to bring the world into the future.

Q: What advice would you give incoming high school freshmen?
A: Advice I would give to incoming freshman is "keep up your grades." Getting good grades doesn't mean that you're a nerd—it means that you're willing to do what it takes to accomplish your dreams. This is the first step.

Q: If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get?
A: If I could have an endless supply of food, I would have pizza from Pizza Hut or Dominos because it's awesome. Pizza is so awesome because you can put anything on it and it still tastes great. More people should be like pizza; just be yourself, no matter what labels are stuck on you, and you'll be great!

Q: If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
A: If I could be any animal, I would be an eagle. Eagles can soar high above the land and see what no other animals can see; eagles have been spotted flying at altitudes of over 20,000 feet. To me, an eagle is also symbolic because it means soaring above the criticisms of others.   

It seems the state of Alabama wants its complete intolerance of undocumented immigrants to be crystal clear. Just last week, Rep. Mo Brooks (R–AL) told his constituents in a town hall meeting that he would, “…do anything short of shooting them, anything that is lawful.” These comments came on the heels of the state’s passage of a new immigration law, HB 56, which is even more severe than Arizona’s now infamous SB 1070.

Check out the video to see Brooks in action.

As NCLR’s Elena Lacayo noted earlier this week, “[Alabama] Republican Governor Robert Bentley signed HB 56 into law, seizing the title of harshest anti-immigrant legislation in the nation from Arizona’s widely reviled SB 1070. This sweeping anti-Hispanic bill mimics the draconian Arizona legislation, providing local law enforcement with an overly broad license to investigate residents’ immigration statuses, thereby opening the doors to racial profiling. Alabama’s bill goes a step further by requiring schools to collect information on the citizenship or immigration status of their students, bringing discrimination back into Alabama’s classrooms.”

This distinction, however, seems to have not been enough for the state legislature. Alabama’s new law already includes a provision that would bar landlords from renting to undocumented immigrants, but a lesser-known tenant law passed on the last day of the state legislature could intensify the effects of the housing provision in HB 56.

From The American Independent:

The bill amended Alabama’s Landlord and Tenant Act, making it easier for landlords to terminate rental agreements and shortening the time tenants have to appeal before they are evicted from their homes.

Alabama’s landlord-tenant law was passed in 2006 under a Democratic legislature (before its passage, Alabama was the only state in the country not to have a tenants’ rights law). The law allowed tenants to more easily compel their landlords to provide necessary services in their dwellings, and protected them from retribution from their landlords for complaining about poor living conditions. It also streamlined the process by which landlords could collect unpaid rent, establishing a seven-business-day waiting period after landlords notify their tenant before they can begin the eviction process. In short, the law benefited both tenants and landlords to a certain extent.

HB 423 (PDF), which was passed on June 9, gave new powers to landlords, allowing them to terminate rental agreements after a fourteen-day waiting period if a tenant commits “an intentional misrepresentation of a material fact in a rental agreement or application,” meaning the landlord believes that the tenant lied or misled the landlord on some issue relevant to the lease. The power is granted only to landlords; tenants have no equal power to cancel their lease because of a landlord’s “misrepresentation of a material fact.”

A landlord can knowingly rent to an undocumented immigrant, says Alabama Appleseed’s legal director Shay Farley, and on any particular day use a tenant’s undocumented status as an excuse to invalidate their rental agreement with only a fourteen-day waiting period to contest the decision. That period can be shortened to seven days if the tenant accused of being undocumented is also late on their rent.

“If you knew all along that Jose Gonzalez was an undocumented immigrant, but if you don’t like him as a tenant because he pays on the seventh and not the fifth, you can go back and say ‘you misrepresented material fact’, and that will validate terminating his lease,” Farley says.

HB 423 also does not include any guidance as to what facts could be construed as relevant to the rental agreement. A misrepresentation of facts could be anything that the landlord deemed relevant and would be considered a “noncurable offense.” This essentially means that the tenant would have no recourse to remedy the offense and would have to prove to the landlord that the misrepresented “fact” is irrelevant to the rental agreement.

The law doesn’t stop there.

The American Independent goes on to report that in addition to the “material fact” offense, the new law lists three other offenses that would serve as grounds for ending the lease: “possession or use of illegal drugs on the rental property or ‘common area’; discharge of a firearm on the property (except in cases of self-defense or defense of a third party); and criminal assault of another tenant or guest while on the property. Farley believes that the “possession or use” offense could lead, for example, “to a grandmother being evicted because her grandson is smoking pot in the backyard.”

HB 423 sailed through the Alabama legislature with virtually no opposition. No senators and just six state representatives voted against the reform law that completely gutted the state’s only tenant’s rights protections. Now, with one fell swoop, the state of Alabama has at once threatened landlords with up to 20 years in prison for renting to undocumented immigrants (HB 56) while also providing them legal recourse necessary to terminate lease agreements with little notice using the suspicion of one’s immigration status (or any other “materially relevant fact”) as the reason for termination (HB 423).

It seems Rep. Brooks won’t have to resort to shooting immigrants after all. His home state seems to be taking care of it just fine through harmful—yet “lawful”—legislation.  

The 2012 election cycle is heating up and the media has already started its nonstop coverage of the political horserace. The NCLR communications team can certainly attest to this; we receive numerous requests each week from members of the press interested in hearing what our leaders have to say about a number of issues as they relate to the election. The volume of those requests will surely intensify as Election Day draws near. Yet while news outlets scramble to deliver news about the Latino community, it is rare that those delivering the news are Latino or people of color.

CNN has all but admitted that it lacks diversity. Recently, the cable news giant made a conscious decision to look for more qualified people of color to fill their daily lineup of anchors and sent one of its newest executives, Mark Whitaker, to talk to the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) about finding qualified candidates. NABJ President Kathy Times was especially critical of the news network for announcing a new primetime lineup that was completely devoid of any people of color.

In an effort to highlight this inequity, NCLR—together with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), the LIBRE Initiative, Being Latino and the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (NHFA)—has launched the Art of Politics campaign.

From the NHFA website:

“This initiative is designed to address the absence of Latino voices in leading news and public affairs television programming, beginning with the Sunday morning news talk shows on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC. As part of this initiative, we are collecting quarterly information on the race, ethnicity and gender of guests and commentators on these shows and asking the networks to partner with us to correct a situation that amounts to segregation by omission in the digital age.”

The graph below also highlight the lack of diversity found on the Sunday morning talk shows every week.

(Graph courtesy of NHFA)

You can certainly expect to see more from Art of Politics as it begins to collect this data in earnest and develops an advocacy strategy for promoting Hispanic participation and issues in leading news and public affairs programming.

Today's scholar is Lucero Sifuentes, who will be attending the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in the fall.

Q: What impact does winning this scholarship have on you? How about your family? What about others?
A: This NCLR scholarship has given me the chance to further my education and my dream to help the Latino community. It has made me more confident to know that there are others that have faith that I can help others. This scholarship has given me more determination to represent my community and accomplish my goals in the name of the entire Latino population. My family is happy that they will be able to watch me grow through my education and prove wrong every person who has ever doubted my abilities as a Latina woman. My teachers and peers are proud of me because they know how passionate I am about racial equality and working to achieve a better rapport between people of all ethnicities.

Q: What advice would you give incoming high school freshmen?
A: My biggest mistake as a freshman was that I was afraid to be myself, which made me more reserved. If I could give incoming freshmen advice, I would tell them to be themselves and not worry about being popular. It is much easier and more satisfying to be oneself. Then one attracts true friends that are accepting and can help one no matter what situation may come his or her way. Beauty comes from the differences in each person. Therefore, it is not necessary to emulate others. Just be yourself!

Q: What has been the most challenging aspect of being a leader? Describe a situation where your leadership skills came in handy.
A: The most difficult part of being a leader is removing oneself from a situation and accepting opinions of others even when one doesn't agree with it. When I was leading a discussion on cultural diversity, I had to accept that some students didn't want to change or accept others. I had to respect their opinion and not force my views on them. I had to focus on the majority of the students who were willing to accept that they formed irrational judgments about others but wanted to change in order to treat others with the same respect they command.

Q: If you could invite three people to dinner (living, dead, or fictional), who would you invite and why?
A: If I could invite three people to dinner, I would invite Nelson Mandela, Wilma Rudolph, and Luis Rodriguez. Nelson Mandela is inspirational because of his persistence in ending apartheid in South Africa. He sacrificed 27 years of his life in order to make a change in his country. Wilma Rudolph overcame adversity, and despite having Polio disease, she soon became one of the greatest sprinters in the world. Luis Rodriguez is one of my favorite authors. He wrote the book Always Running. It is a true story about his life in a Los Angeles gang. I was able to sympathize with him and respect him for removing himself from the gang life and becoming an accomplished author. His book is one on the list of top 100 books banned in schools. It is very graphic, but it is a true story. Sometimes society tries to hide the truth from students, but in order to understand other people and their motives without forming judgments, we must know their stories. I am appreciative that my teacher gave me the opportunity to read his book, and I would love to speak to him more about his experiences. All three of these people display extraordinary characteristics and are role models.

Q: If you could be anybody besides yourself, who would you be?
A: I've learned that I don't want to be anyone else. I am appreciative of everything I have and I am proud of where I come from. There are qualities that I admire in others, but I am who I am. If I could trade spots with anyone for a day, I would want to be a child in a third-world country. I often take my life for granted, and I don't appreciate the small things in life. I would have a more beautiful perspective on life after realizing that others truly have to struggle daily, not just for happiness, but for survival. I want to work with poverty-stricken children in the future. I would be able to help them more if I knew what they endure in their daily lives.

Q: What are your ultimate career plans?
A: I ultimately just want to help others in my career. I'm not sure what career that will be just yet, but I will be changing lives. I would like to focus on working with children and teens that are poverty-stricken or just need guidance in life. I would like to work with an organization that focuses on helping children with their self-esteem. I would like to do it all, but I must take one step at a time and accomplish one goal at a time.

Q: What has been the greatest invention during your lifetime thus far?
A: One of the greatest inventions of my lifetime is social networking. If used properly, it can be beneficial to keep in touch with friends even when one is not with them. I am able to contact family in Texas and Mexico easily. As I leave for college, I will be able to keep in contact with the great friends I have made from elementary school to high school.

Q: If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?
A: If a movie was made about my life, it would be about a young, timid girl trying to find her place in the world. She would grow up extremely self-conscious and embarrassed of her ethnicity and culture. She would live her entire life in a small town and then move on to college. She would grow comfortable with herself and go on to break barriers of racism not only in her community but in her country. I would want America Ferrera to play my role. She embodies a strong, independent Latina woman. She doesn't feel the need to conform to the rest of Hollywood. She accepts her body the way it is and she accepts her ethnicity. She shows her Latin flavor in many of her films. She is a role model for Hispanic woman and when people watch my film, I want them to take it seriously. America Ferrera is a role model herself so it would be realistic.  

Homeownership is one of the cornerstones of the American Dream and the linchpin of economic stability and opportunity. Yesterday, NCLR's Janis Bowdler, Director of the Wealth-Building Policy Project, testified at a congressional hearing on the impact of new changes to the nation's mortgage laws. At the center of the hearing was H.R. 2446, known as the “Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act Home Warranty Clarification Act of 2011.” This bill would ensure that consumers throughout America have access to and are provided with clear information about the cost of mortgage settlement. H.R. 2446 would also serve to protect consumers from unnecessarily high settlement charges, which are generally the result of predatory financial practices. Bowdler made her case for the protections provided by the legislation, which would improve financial markets for Hispanics, immigrants and other consumers of color. Her testimony highlighted three aspects of the mortgage origination process that are currently under consideration by Congress, and she offered recommendations for creating a responsible and accessible mortgage market.

Below are Bowdler’s opening remarks. You can read the full text of her testimony here.

“For the last four decades, NCLR has been committed to improving opportunities for the nation s 50.5 million Latinos. To this end, NCLR conducts research, policy analysis, and advocacy on a variety of financial services issues that affect the ability of Latinos to build and maintain assets and wealth. I would like to thank Chairwoman Judy Biggert and Ranking Member Luis Gutierrez for inviting me to participate in today’s hearing.

For more than two decades, NCLR has engaged in public policy issues that focus on supporting strong fair housing and fair lending laws, increased access to financial services for low-income people, and promoting homeownership in the Latino community. And for more than ten years, the NCLR Homeownership Network (NHN)—a network of 50 community-based counseling providers—has been providing first-time homebuyers with the advice and guidance they need to navigate the mortgage process. NHN counselors have produced more than 25,000 first-time homebuyers over the last 13 years. NCLR's subsidiary, the Raza Development Fund (RDF), is the nation’s largest Hispanic Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Since 1999, RDF has provided $500 million in financing to community-based development projects throughout the country, building the capacity of local nonprofits and creating opportunities for Latino communities. Our research, programs, and market investments have increased NCLR’s institutional knowledge of how Latinos interact with the mortgage and financial markets and the impact on their communities.

NCLR strongly supports the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. This landmark legislation includes new protections that will improve financial markets for Hispanic and immigrant consumers, a number of which will be under the jurisdiction of the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). In addition, regulators are drafting rules that will guide the implementation of new remittance protections, underwriting standards, and mortgage reform. Though the majority of rules have yet to be finalized, NCLR has high hopes that the new rules will further the goals of Dodd-Frank by protecting consumers while maintaining market access.

In my brief comments today, I will draw your attention to three critical aspects of the mortgage origination process that are currently under consideration by Congress and federal regulators: the new Truth in Lending Act (TILA) disclosure being developed by CFPB; the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Housing Counseling Program; and the Federal Reserve’s pending rule to prohibit unfair steering practices.

NCLR's final scholarship recipient is Isabella Giraldo. Isabella will be attending Lenoir-Rhyne University where she intends to major in International Business.

Q: Who has been the most influential person in helping you get to where you are today?
A: My mom—she has always pushed me to try my best and she is a great mentor.

Q: What impact does winning this scholarship have on you? How about your family? What about others?
A: It motivates me to keep getting involved in the Latino community and my parents to keep supporting and teaching me about the Colombian culture.

Q: What has been the most challenging aspect of being a leader? Describe a situation where your leadership skills came in handy.
A: The most challenging aspect of being a leader is not letting people down and always motivating the community to do their best to succeed in life. When I do speeches or when I am in charge of a project, the skills I have learned have helped me to be confident and get the work done.

Q: If you could go back in time, which time period would you choose and why?
A: The ’60s: anti-war movements, Martin Luther King, Jr., The Beatles, the first man on the moon, the rise of women’s rights and liberation.

Q: If you could invite three people to dinner (living, dead, or fictional), who would you invite and why?
A: Juanes, Kathryn Bigelow, and Michelle Obama.

Q: If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get?
A: Milk and oatmeal raisin cookies.

Q: If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?
A: The movie would be about my journey of moving back and forth from the U.S. to Colombia. Natalie Portman would play me because she is a great actress and she understands what it feels to adjust to different cultures. 

PARA DIFUSIÓN INMEDIATA

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

Treinta residentes de Virginia se convertirán en ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos en la ceremonia de la escuela charter presidida por Alejandro Mayorkas, director de USCIS y Janet Murguía, presidenta y directora general del NCLR

Washington D.C.—La escuela pública charter Carlos Rosario International será la anfitriona de la ceremonia especial de naturalización el viernes 22 de julio a las 10:00 AM. Treinta residentes de Virginia procedentes de 18 países prestarán su juramento para convertirse en ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos. El evento iniciará la Conferencia Anual 2011 del NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza) que tendrá lugar del 23 al 26 de julio en el hotel Marriott Wardman Park en el Distrito de Columbia.

Janet Murguía, presidenta y directora general del NCLR, pronunciará el discurso de apertura y Alejandro Mayorkas, director del Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglés), recitará el Juramento de Lealtad. La Guardia de la Bandera de las Fuerzas Armadas realizarán una presentación de los colores. Después de la ceremonia habrá una recepción a la que podrán asistir amigos y familiares de los nuevos ciudadanos.

La escuela pública charter Carlos Rosario International ubicada en 1100 Harvard Street, NW, ha trabajado con más de 60,000 estudiantes desde que fue fundada en 1970 y es miembro de la Red de Afiliadas del NCLR. Se espera que la Conferencia Anual y la Feria Nacional de la Familia Latina del NCLR de este año atraiga a más de 25,000 personas. Para asistir gratis a la Conferencia Anual, los miembros de la prensa se pueden registrar en www.nclr.org/pressregistration.

AVISO DE PRENSA

QUÉ:                      Ceremonia de naturalización de 30 residentes de Virginia procedentes de 18 países—un evento especial para inaugurar la Conferencia Anual 2011 del NCLR

DÓNDE:                 Escuela Carlos Rosario International
                              1100 Harvard St NW 
                              Washington, DC 20009
Metro:                    Línea Verde/Amarilla hacia Columbia Heights

CUÁNDO:              Viernes 22 de julio a las 10:00 AM

QUIÉNES:              Janet Murguía, presidenta y directora general del NCLR
                             Alejandro Mayorkas, director de USCIS
                             Kimberly Zanotti, directora de la oficina del Distrito de Columbia de USCIS
                             Allison R. Kokkoros, directora de la escuela pública charter Carlos Rosario International

¡UNA GRAN OPORTUNIDAD PARA TOMAR FOTOGRAFÍAS!

###
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Thirty Virginia residents will become U.S. citizens at charter school ceremony with
USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas and NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía

Washington D.C.—The Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School will host a special naturalization ceremony on Friday, July 22, at 10:00 a.m. Thirty residents from Virginia who come from 18 countries will take the oath to become United States citizens. The event will launch the 2011 NCLR (National Council of La Raza) Annual Conference, to be held July 23–26 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in the District of Columbia.

NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía will deliver the keynote speech, and Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), will administer the Oath of Allegiance. The U.S. Armed Forces Color Guard will perform a presentation of the colors. A reception with families and friends will follow the ceremony.

The Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, located at 1100 Harvard Street, NW, has worked with more than 60,000 students since it was founded in 1970 and is a member of the NCLR Affiliate Network. The 2011 NCLR Annual Conference and the 2011 NCLR National Latino Family Expo are expected to draw over 25,000 people. Press may register to attend the NCLR Annual Conference, free of charge, at www.nclr.org/pressregistration.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:             U.S. naturalization ceremony for 30 Virginia residents from 18 countries—a special event to launch the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference

WHERE:          Carlos Rosario International School
                         1100 Harvard St NW
                         Washington, DC 20009
                         Metro: Green/Yellow Lines to Columbia Heights

WHEN:             Friday, July 22, 10:00 a.m.

WHO:               Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR
                         Alejandro Mayorkas, Director, USCIS
                         Kimberly Zanotti, District of Columbia Field Office Director, USCIS
                         Allison R. Kokkoros, Principal, Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School

A GREAT PHOTO OPPORTUNITY!
 

The Líderes Summit brings together nearly 500 youth from across the nation to engage in a four-day program aimed to stimulate their minds, hone leadership skills and teamwork abilities, support discussions focusing on issues that plague the Latino community and help them examine ways to become more active and empower others in their communities.

We have a different way doing things, too. Each year a group of young people from across the country are chosen to lead the Summit. This year’s 12 Latino youth have been selected to lead what is sure to be an exciting Summit. Scroll down to meet the 2011 Líderes Summit Staff. We’ll see you at the Summit July 22–25 in Washington, DC!
 

Name: Angela Vivar
Hometown: Stillwater, OK
Education: Oklahoma State University, 2008
Major: Liberal Studies and Spanish
 

Name: Daisy Cuellar
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Education: Wellesley College, 2011
Major: Political Science 
 

Name: Danny Martinez
Hometown: Houston, TX
Education: University of Texas at the Permian Base, 2014
Major: Mechanical Engineering
 

Name: Edy Dominguez
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Education: Northeastern Illinois University, 2012
Major: Communication and Media & Theatre
 

Name: Victoria Ramirez
Hometown: Oceanport, NJ
Education: Brookdale Community College, 2011
Major: Ethnic Studies
 

Name: Erica Ruiz
Hometown: Stockton, CA
Education: University of the Pacific, 2012
Major: Psychology and Spanish

 

Name: Herson Bautista
Hometown: Wheaton, MD
Education: Montgomery College
Major: Business Administration
 

Name: John Michael Melendez
Hometown: Gurabo, Puerto Rico
Education: Texas A&M University—Commerce, 2012
Major: Mathematics, MA
 

Name: John Paul Ramirez
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Education: Loyola Marymount, 2014
Major: Pastoral Theology, MA
 

Name: Julianna Hernandez
Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK
Education: University of Central Oklahoma, 2012
Major: Business Administration

 

Name: Qoc'avib Revolorio
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Education: Aurora University, 2013
Major: Business Commerce and Spanish
 

Name: Teresa Rodriguez
Hometown: San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Education: Our Lady of the Lake University, 2012
Major: Bilingual Education

Today, NCLR launched the Home for Good blog carnival for all bloggers to add their voice to the growing commentary on the homeownership crisis. This carnival, along with a postcard campaign and other calls to action, helps shed light on the disproportionate effect that the crisis has had on the Latino community and minority populations as a whole. It also reminds decision-makers that the crisis is far from over for our families.

It’s easy to participate! Just follow these steps:

• Write a blog post by Saturday, July 23 about ending the housing crisis.
• In your post, ask your readers to take action by sending an e-card to U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
• Email jeanne@thehatchergroup.com:
o The permalink to your post
o Your Twitter and Facebook usernames, if applicable
• Visit the NCLR blog on Saturday, July 23, and eagerly hit “refresh” until the carnival goes live!

Suggested writing points:
• Experts estimate that one in six Latino homeowners—more than one million people—is at imminent risk of losing their home or has already lost their home to foreclosure.
• The federal government has zeroed out funding for housing counseling, one of the only tools that decreases a borrower’s chances of defaulting on a loan.
• We can and must improve the housing finance market to better serve honest lenders and families.
• We need a comprehensive strategy to prevent needless foreclosures.
• Our leaders have the power to take action.
• For instance, the White House recently established a new policy allowing Federal Housing Administration homeowners to put their mortgage payments on hold for up to 12 months while they secure new employment.
• Send an e-card to Secretary Geithner asking him to take action to stop wrongful foreclosures, protect affordable housing, and keep safe homeownership available. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org

Conference Press Room
(202) 745-2128

Public Invited to Attend Free Events on Key Issues

Washington, D.C.—Anti-immigrant legislation, foreclosure prevention, higher education, and job quality are just some of the topics that will be discussed in the more than 50 workshops that are open to the public during the 2011 NCLR (National Council of La Raza) Annual Conference, set for July 23–26 in Washington, D.C. at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. The Conference will bring together experts, policymakers, and activists in these fields, as well as in health care, housing, community organizing, women’s issues, legislative policy concerns, and other areas of priority for the Latino community. The workshops are all open to the public and are free of charge.

Members of the press may register to attend the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference, free of charge, at www.nclr.org/pressregistration.

In addition to the workshops and special events listed below, the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference will offer sessions on community empowerment, technology, nonprofit management, financial security, leadership, fundraising, health care implementation, and much more. For a complete schedule of events and information on speakers, please visit www.nclr.org/conference.

Economy

Forging a Bill of Rights for Latino Workers: How to Fight for Safe and Fair Workplaces
Sunday, July 24, 1:30–3:00 p.m., Hoover Room
NCLR Affiliates and partners will present their advocacy efforts on expanding workplace rights and improving job quality for Latinos and other vulnerable workers.

Latinos Making an Impact in the Workforce: A Proven, Innovative Career Pathway Approach
Tuesday, July 26, 10:30 a.m.–Noon, Hoover Room
Learn about a viable, replicable career pathway program pioneered by a unique collaboration between a higher education institution and a national advocacy organization.

Education

Meeting the Needs of Young Dual-Language Learners
Saturday, July 23, 9:00–10:30 a.m., Wilson Room C
This workshop explores culturally and linguistically appropriate strategies—with a special focus on the Core Qualities for early childhood education—for serving dual-language learners.

Closing the Latino Gap in Higher Education: A Community-Based Approach
Sunday, July 24, 1:30–3:00 p.m., Maryland Suite C
Gain a greater understanding of the issues that Latino students face at the college level and the benefits of collaboration among community-based organizations.

Educational Resources: How Do We Reverse the College Dropout Rate?
Tuesday, July 26, 10:30 a.m.–Noon, Wilson Room AB
This interactive session will discuss how to increase student retention and present strategies and programs designed to obtain a higher education.

Health

Creating Policies and Environments to Promote Active Living and Healthy Eating in Latino Communities
Sunday, July 24, 9:00–10:30 a.m., Coolidge Room
Hear about the latest findings on policy and environmental factors related to physical activity and food among Latinos, as well as strategies for promoting active living and healthy eating.

Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Health Care Reform for Immigrants and Their Families
Tuesday, July 26, 10:30 a.m.–Noon, Virginia Suite B
Learn about post–health care reform insurance options for immigrant families, national eligibility rules, and potential threats to coverage and hear what advocates are doing to promote expansion of health care and coverage for immigrants.

Housing

Protecting the Dream: Effective Foreclosure Prevention Programs
Saturday, July 23, 9:00–10:30 a.m., Harding Room
Learn about effective community-based models to confront the foreclosure crisis and discover how to access the growing number of services to stem foreclosure.

The Impact of Anti-Immigrant Ordinances on the Housing Rights of Everyone: Lessons from Manassas, Virginia
Sunday, July 24, 9:00–10:30 a.m., Virginia Suite B
Learn about the impact of Manassas’s restrictive ordinance on Latino families, as panelists discuss the spread of discriminatory ordinances across the country.

Immigration

Employee Rights: Employment Verification and Immigration Practices
Saturday, July 23, 9:00–10:30 a.m., Maryland Suite AB
Panelists from the federal government discuss employment verification programs and practices and offer information on employee rights.

The Power of Narrative: Telling the Real Story about Latinos
Sunday, July 24, 9:00–10:30 a.m., Maryland Suite C
Learn what leaders in film and television are doing to fight discrimination and combat the negative narrative about Latinos in the United States.

Not in My State: The Success and Failure of Arizona Copycat Bills in 2011 and Beyond
Sunday, July 24, 1:30–3:00 p.m., Wilson Room AB
Local leaders and activists discuss the factors that made it possible to stop Arizona copycat laws and offer advice on how to combat anti-immigrant bills for the 2012 legislative session.

Youth

Teen Pregnancy Prevention in the Latino Community: Empowering Young Latinas
Sunday, July 24, 1:30–3:00 p.m., Virginia Suite B
Panelists share best practices, lessons learned, and effective programs that help reduce the rates of teen pregnancy among Latinas.

From the Principal’s Office to Lockup: The Criminalization of Our Students
Sunday, July 24, 1:30–3:00 p.m., Harding Room
Panelists share personal experiences with suspensions and school-based arrests and identify strategies for ending the school-to-prison pipeline.

###
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org

Conference Press Room
(202) 745-2128
 

Public Invited to Attend Free Events on Key Issues

Washington, D.C.—The 2011 NCLR Annual Conference—which will be held July 23–26 in Washington, D.C. at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel—will feature a number of events focused on the challenges that the Latino community faces regarding their health and well-being. The Conference will bring together experts, policymakers, and activists in the health field to discuss crucial topics, such as diabetes prevention, HIV/AIDS prevalence, childhood hunger and obesity, and the impact of health care reform on Latino families. The workshops and health town hall meeting are all open to the public and are free of charge.

Members of the press may register to attend the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference, free of charge, at www.nclr.org/pressregistration.

In addition to the workshops and special events listed below, the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference will offer sessions on community empowerment, technology, nonprofit management, financial security, leadership, fundraising, health care implementation, and much more. For a complete schedule of events and information on speakers, please visit www.nclr.org/conference.

Town Hall

A Plateful of Paradox: Childhood Hunger and Obesity
Sunday, July 24, 3:30–5:00 p.m., Thurgood Marshall Ballroom
Children who experience hunger and obesity have increased risk of developing serious health conditions, while also raising their odds of growing into adults with poor physical and mental health outcomes. Panelists offer insight into the urgency of engaging Hispanics on this issue and integrating the community’s concerns in efforts to eliminate childhood hunger and obesity.

Moderator
• Sonia M. Pérez, Senior Vice Prsident, Strategic Initiatives, NCLR

Panelists
• Dr. Garth N. Graham, MD, MPH, FACP, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Lawrence A. Soler, President and CEO, Partnership for a Healthier America
• Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Dr. Amanda Navarro, Associate Director, PolicyLink

Featured Session

¿A Dónde Vamos? New Directions for Community Involvement in HIV/AIDS Prevention and Research
Tuesday, July 26, 3:00–4:30 p.m., Thurgood Marshall Ballroom
Hear from community-based researchers and state and government experts regarding the latest information about HIV/AIDS rates and the multiple and unique contexts of Hispanic risk.

Welcome
• Jack Whitescarver, PhD, NIH Associate Director for AIDS Research and Director of the Office of AIDS Research, National Institutes of Health

Moderator
• Britt Rios-Ellis, MS, PhD, Professor, Department of Health Science at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and Director of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR)/CSULB Center for Community Health, Evaluation, and Leadership Training

Panelists
• Margarita Figueroa González, MD, MPH, Director, Division of Community-Based Programs, HAB/HRSA
• Kurt C. Organista, PhD, Associate Dean and Professor, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley
• Mario J. Pérez, Director, Office of AIDS Programs and Policy (OAPP), County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Health

Workshops

Creating Policies and Environments to Promote Active Living and Healthy Eating in Latino Communities
Sunday, July 24, 9:00–10:30 a.m., Coolidge Room
Hear about the latest findings on policy and environmental factors related to physical activity and food among Latinos, as well as strategies for promoting active living and healthy eating.

Teen Pregnancy Prevention in the Latino Community: Empowering Young Latinas
Sunday, July 24, 1:30–3:00 p.m., Virginia Suite B
Panelists share best practices, lessons learned, and effective programs that help reduce the rates of teen pregnancy among Latinas.

Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Health Care Reform for Immigrants and Their Families
Tuesday, July 26, 10:30 a.m.–Noon, Virginia Suite B
Learn about post–health care reform insurance options for immigrant families, national eligibility rules, and potential threats to coverage and hear what advocates are doing to promote expansion of health care and coverage for immigrants.

###
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org

Conference Press Room
(202) 745-2128

Public Invited to Attend Free Events on Key Issues

Washington, D.C.—The 2011 NCLR Annual Conference—which will be held July 23–26 in Washington, D.C. at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel—will feature a number of events focused on the economic challenges that the Latino community faces. The Conference will bring together experts, policymakers, and activists to discuss a number of crucial economic topics that affect Latinos, such as the recession, job quality, unemployment, and foreclosure prevention. The workshops and economy town hall meeting are all open to the public and are free of charge.

Members of the press may register to attend the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference, free of charge, at www.nclr.org/pressregistration.

In addition to the workshops and special events listed below, the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference will offer sessions on community empowerment, technology, nonprofit management, financial security, leadership, fundraising, health care implementation, and much more. For a complete schedule of events and information on speakers, please visit www.nclr.org/conference.

Town Hall

Giving Up on the Middle Class? Not So Fast!
Saturday, July 23, 2011, 3:00–4:30 p.m., Thurgood Marshall Ballroom
Unemployment, the housing crisis, and the credit crunch during the economic recession disproportionately affect communities of color. Attend this town hall for a discussion on the policies that can create jobs, save homes, and restore opportunities for the Latino community.

Moderator
Bertha Coombs, Reporter, CNBC

Panelists
• Lawrence Mishel, President, Economic Policy Institute
• Francisco J. Sánchez, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration
• Gabriela Lemus, PhD, Senior Advisor and Director of the Office of Public Engagement, U.S. Department of Labor
• Eric Rodriguez, Vice President, Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation, NCLR

Workshops

Protecting the Dream: Effective Foreclosure Prevention Programs
Saturday, July 23, 9:00–10:30 a.m., Harding Room
Learn about effective community-based models to confront the foreclosure crisis and discover how to access the growing number of services to stem foreclosure.

The Impact of Anti-Immigrant Ordinances on the Housing Rights of Everyone: Lessons from Manassas, Virginia
Sunday, July 24, 9:00–10:30 a.m., Virginia Suite B
Learn about the impact of Manassas’s restrictive ordinance on Latino families, as panelists discuss the spread of discriminatory ordinances across the country.

Forging a Bill of Rights for Latino Workers: How to Fight for Safe and Fair Workplaces
Sunday, July 24, 1:30–3:00 p.m., Hoover Room
NCLR Affiliates and partners will present their advocacy efforts on expanding workplace rights and improving job quality for Latinos and other vulnerable workers.

Latinos Making an Impact in the Workforce: A Proven, Innovative Career Pathway Approach
Tuesday, July 26, 10:30 a.m.–Noon, Hoover Room
Learn about a viable, replicable career pathway program pioneered by a unique collaboration between a higher education institution and a national advocacy organization.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org

Conference Press Room
(202) 745-2128

Public Invited to Attend Free Events on Key Issues

Washington, D.C.—The 2011 NCLR Annual Conference—which will be held July 23–26 in Washington, D.C. at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel—will feature a number of events focused on the challenges that the Latino community faces in achieving a high-quality education. The Conference will bring together experts, policymakers, and activists to discuss a number of crucial education topics that affect Latinos, such as achievement gaps, Common Core Standards, dropout rates, and strategies for improving dual-language-learner education. The workshops and education town hall meeting are all open to the public and are free of charge.

Members of the press may register to attend the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference, free of charge, at www.nclr.org/pressregistration.

In addition to the workshops and special events listed below, the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference will offer sessions on community empowerment, technology, nonprofit management, financial security, leadership, fundraising, health care implementation, and much more. For a complete schedule of events and information on speakers, please visit www.nclr.org/conference.

Town Hall

Hispanic Education in the 21st Century: The Federal Role
Monday, July 25, 2011, 3:00–4:30 p.m., Thurgood Marshall Ballroom
Hear from policymakers and Obama administration officials about their proposals to improve Hispanic education—and thereby prepare Hispanic students for college and the workplace—and their views on the federal role in education.

Welcome
• Senator Mark R. Warner (D–VA)

Moderator
• Delia Pompa, Senior Vice President of Programs, NCLR

Panelists
• Daniel A. Domenech, Executive Director, American Association of School Administrators
• Amy Wilkins, Vice President for Government Affairs and Communications, The Education Trust
• Pedro Noguera, Peter L. Agnew Professor of Education, New York University
• Congressman George Miller (7th District–CA), Ranking Democrat, Education and Labor Committee, U.S. House of Representatives

Workshops

Meeting the Needs of Young Dual-Language Learners
Saturday, July 23, 9:00–10:30 a.m., Wilson Room C
This workshop explores culturally and linguistically appropriate strategies—with a special focus on the Core Qualities for early childhood education—for serving dual-language learners.

From the Principal’s Office to Lockup: The Criminalization of Our Students
Sunday, July 24, 1:30–3:00 p.m., Harding Room
Panelists share personal experiences with suspensions and school-based arrests and identify strategies for ending the school-to-prison pipeline.

Closing the Latino Gap in Higher Education: A Community-Based Approach
Sunday, July 24, 1:30–3:00 p.m., Maryland Suite C
Gain a greater understanding of the issues that Latino students face at the college level and the benefits of collaboration among community-based organizations.

Educational Resources: How Do We Reverse the College Dropout Rate?
Tuesday, July 26, 10:30 a.m.–Noon, Wilson Room AB
This interactive session will discuss how to increase student retention and present strategies and programs designed to obtain a higher education.

###
 

The Obama administration is taking a fresh look at the housing crisis. This is welcome news to NCLR. We have been working for some time with our partners to deliver calls and petitions that challenge the White House and the Department of the Treasury to extend its relief beyond just investors to include families and their neighborhoods. Finally, it seems they may have gotten the message. President Obama has conceded that the wait-and-see approach is not working, and he has introduced new policies to stabilize the market.

Not a moment too soon, the recent change in tide will bring relief to unemployed homeowners in particular. The Treasury established a new policy allowing homeowners to put their mortgage payments on hold for up to 12 months while they secure new employment. This gets at the heart of temporary unemployment being a main cause for losing one’s home. It also acknowledges the new post-crisis reality that Americans are out of work months longer than in times prior to the meltdown.

Monday’s announcement that the President intends to nominate former Ohio Attorney General Rich Cordray is yet another step in the right direction. As Ohio’s AG, Cordray went to bat for families and took on deceptive mortgage servicing practices that were robbing families of their homes. In the process, he recaptured $2 billion for retirees.

The renewed focus on the troubles plaguing the housing market signifies a win for families and validates advocates’ efforts. While NCLR certainly applauds the administration for this new approach, decision-makers, bloggers, and the public must capitalize on the momentum to inject fresh ideas and ensure that the progress made thus far is not undone by opponents. There is still work to be done. Working families throughout the nation continue to face foreclosure each day. Many are harassed by their banks that lose or even fabricate fraudulent documents. It is irresponsible and troubling that in such a time the federal government has zeroed out funding for housing counseling—one of the only tools that has been known to decrease a borrower’s chances of defaulting on a loan.

NCLR will continue to closely examine how President Obama guides the recovery of the housing market. In early 2011, we launched the Home for Good campaign that highlighted the great need for sweeping changes and issued a plea for decision-makers to use their leadership. So far, more than 6,000 individuals have signed a petition to Treasury Secretary Geithner, urging him to stop wrongful foreclosures, protect affordable housing, and keep safe homeownership available. This newly found spotlight on housing opens up a real opportunity to empower homeowners and clean up the housing industry for borrowers and honest businesses.
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
jrendeiro@nclr.org
(202) 776-1566

Dave Lemmon
dlemmon@familiesusa.org
(202) 628-3030
 

NCLR and Families USA partner to release fact sheet spotlighting disparities, announce “call-in day” to build partnerships to prevent cuts
 

Washington, D.C.—Looming budget cuts to Medicaid could leave millions of low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities without access to critical health coverage and care. A report released jointly today by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and Families USA reveals that cuts to Medicaid would have a disproportionately harmful effect on Latino families.

The Meaning of Medicaid: A State-by-State Breakdown provides an in-depth look at the number of Latinos covered by Medicaid nationally and in each state. The report shows that Medicaid provides essential coverage to millions of low-income working Latino families, who might otherwise go uninsured and have difficulty accessing affordable health care.

“Private health coverage, obtained through the workplace or purchased directly from an insurance company, is often unattainable for these Latino families, and the problem has only deepened as the nation struggles with an economic recession,” Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA, said today. “Cutting Medicaid does much more than just change bottom lines in budget debates—it also cuts the health lifeline for millions of Americans who need it the most.”

The report highlights the especially high numbers of Hispanic children and seniors who rely on this program for insurance. Nationally, half of all Hispanic children rely on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program for coverage.

NCLR and Families USA announced today they are organizing a national “call-in day,” aimed at bringing together a coalition of allied partners to oppose cuts to Medicaid funding. Set for Wednesday, July 20, the event will focus on educating members of Congress about the devastating impact that losing this vital source of health care would have on Latino communities across the country.

“Medicaid plays a key role in protecting Latino families from uninsurance in every state in the Union,” said Eric Rodriguez, Vice President, Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation at NCLR. “Latinos are an important part of our country’s future and will carry the legacy that comes with our runaway debt. But to cut the very programs that keep our most vulnerable healthy is shortsighted. Our nation will feel the severe effects of Medicaid cuts for generations to come.”

NCLR and Families USA are committed to protecting the Medicaid program for Latinos and for all Americans who rely on this coverage. The organizations will continue to work toward building an agenda for strong health care reform implementation.

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan, and its mission is to secure high-quality, affordable health coverage and care for all Americans.

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