PARA DIFUSIÓN INMEDIATA

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

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

El NCLR y Families USA se asocian para difundir las disparidades destacadas en una hoja informativa y anuncian el “día de las llamadas” para formar aliados y evitar los recortes

Washington, D.C.— Los recortes en el presupuesto de Medicaid que se avecinan podrían dejar a millones de familias de bajos ingresos, personas de mayor edad y personas con discapacidad sin acceso a la crucial cobertura y atención médica que necesitan. Un informe publicado hoy conjuntamente por el Consejo Nacional de La Raza (NCLR, por sus siglas en inglés) y Families USA revela que los recortes a Medicaid podrían tener un efecto desproporcionadamente perjudicial para las familias latinas.

“El significado del Medicaid: un desglose por estado” (The Meaning of Medicaid: A State-by-State Breakdown) proporciona un análisis exhaustivo del número de latinos, a nivel nacional y en cada estado, que tienen cobertura médica a través de Medicaid. El informe muestra que Medicaid proporciona cobertura médica imprescindible a millones de familias trabajadoras latinas de bajos ingresos, que de lo contrario, se quedarían sin seguro y tendrían dificultades para obtener atención médica asequible.

“La cobertura médica privada, que se obtiene a través del empleo o se compra directamente a una compañía de seguros, es inalcanzable para las familias latinas, y el problema sólo se ha empeorado ahora cuando el país lucha contra la recesión económica”, dijo hoy Ron Pollack, director ejecutivo de Families USA. “Hacer recortes al Medicaid significa mucho más que cambiar la idea fundamental del debate acerca del presupuesto; implica también recortar el tiempo de vida sana de millones de estadounidenses que más lo necesitan”.

El informe destaca principalmente el gran número de niños y personas de mayor edad hispanos que dependen de este programa para obtener atención médica. A nivel nacional, la mitad de todos los niños hispanos dependen de Medicaid y del Programa de Seguro de Salud para Niños para tener cobertura médica.

El NCLR y Families USA anunciaron hoy que están organizando, a nivel nacional, el “día de las llamadas”, con el objetivo de crear una coalición de aliados para oponerse a los recortes propuestos a los fondos del Medicaid. El evento está planeado para realizarse el miércoles 20 de julio, y enfocará principalmente en informar al Congreso sobre el grave impacto que la pérdida de esta fuente vital de asistencia sanitaria podría ocasionar a las comunidades latinas en todo el país.

“Medicaid juega un papel clave en proteger a las familias latinas contra la falta de seguro médico en todos los estados de la Unión ", dijo Eric Rodríguez, vicepresidente de la Oficina de Investigación, Defensa y Legislación del NCLR. "Los latinos son una parte importante del futuro de nuestro país y llevarán la carga de nuestra desenfrenada deuda. Pero hacer recortes en los programas que precisamente mantienen sanos a los más vulnerables, es no ver más allá. Nuestra nación vivirá los graves efectos de los recortes al programa Medicaid por varias generaciones".

El NCLR y Families USA están comprometidos en proteger el programa Medicaid para los latinos y para todos los estadounidenses que dependen de esta cobertura. Las organizaciones continuarán trabajando para crear un plan que implemente una reforma sanitaria robusta.

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 hispanos en los Estados Unidos– trabaja para mejorar las oportunidades de los estadounidenses hispanos. Para mayor información sobre el NCLR, por favor visite www.nclr.org o síganos en Facebook y Twitter.

Families USA es una organización nacional, sin fines de lucro y sin afiliación política para los consumidores de servicios de la salud. Su misión es asegurar la alta calidad, la cobertura y atención de salud asequibles para todos los estadounidenses.

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By Kara D. Ryan, Senior Research Analyst, Health Policy Project, NCLR

One day in late March, I visited a southwestern Idaho farmworker housing complex with April Flores Mason. April is a Nutrition Services Specialist for a Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program run by Community Council of Idaho, a nonprofit organization and NCLR Affiliate that provides services to farmworker families across the state.

For families in this Idaho community, buying affordable, healthy food is a significant challenge. Food insecurity is a common struggle for workers who depend on agricultural jobs, particularly during the winter months when there is little work. Yet even when families have enough income to buy sufficient food, April explained, the healthiest items are simply not sold in their neighborhood.

We stood near a small shop that services the rural housing complex. Similar to a convenience store, it stocks a variety of goods for residents. For those without reliable transportation, this store is the only source of food—other than a gas station down the street—for hundreds of families. “The last time I went in,” April said, “there only were about two kinds of fresh produce for sale.” Families who want to buy fresh fruits and vegetables often must drive or find a ride into town, miles down the highway, to shop at a supermarket or discount food retailer.

My colleagues and I heard many stories like these from Latino families who agreed to take part in a video and storybanking project. Nearly all of the participants described their difficulties in putting healthy food on their tables. They described wanting to buy nutritious foods for their children but confronted multiple barriers that made purchasing sufficient healthy food difficult or impossible. The Idaho farmworker village is just one example of a “food desert,” where supermarkets and other food retailers are not easily accessible in neighborhoods where families live. In other areas, such as San Antonio, Texas, many grocery stores were present, but those in low-income Latino neighborhoods often stocked poorer quality and less affordable foods compared to the stores in more affluent parts of town. In these latter cases, despite the presence of food retailers, healthy food may not be affordable or easily accessible.

Access to healthy foods is often at the crux of child hunger and childhood obesity—both problems that plague the Latino community. I am excited to announce that on Sunday, July 24, we will premiere a short film and a story booklet at the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference that showcase Latinos describing these food issues from their personal perspectives. These materials also feature community-based strategies to better address the current nutrition crisis among Latino children.

Throughout the summer, we will continue to hear directly from Latino parents, grandparents, and community experts who, in their own words through short video clips, illuminate an important perspective in the child nutrition conversation. Stay tuned—and sign up to have all ten weekly updates delivered right to your inbox so you can learn more about what we need to do to ensure that Latino families can better access the healthy foods that are so critical to their children’s growth, development, and well-being.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Washington, D.C.—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) will host nearly 500 Latino youth leaders at the 2011 Líderes Summit as part of the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference. The Summit will take place July 22–25 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. The youth conference will bring young people from across the country together to participate in educational peer-led workshops, artistic cultural presentations, and a youth-focused Líderes Town Hall, to be live-streamed through the NCLR website (www.nclr.org).

This year’s Líderes Town Hall, titled “Forward Thinking: Discussing a Blueprint for Future Leadership,” focuses on the personal stories of leaders from a broad cross-section of professions who recognize the value of the potential impact of Latino youth. Panelists will share their views and thoughts on current challenges that Hispanic youth face and will inspire Summit attendees with ideas to advance the common mission of opening the doors of opportunity to the millions of Latino youth living in the United States.

A total of 24 youth groups representing 17 different states will travel from across the nation to attend the Summit and hear from the speakers at the Town Hall. Speakers include José Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO, Hispanic Heritage Foundation; Victor R. Ramirez, Esq., Maryland State Senator; Norelie Garcia, Associate Vice President, AT&T; Felix W. Ortiz III, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Viridis Learning, Inc.; Guillermo Torres, Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, MTV Networks; and Delia de la Vara, Vice President, California Region, NCLR.
The NCLR Líderes Initiative is a national youth leadership program designed to increase opportunities for Latino youth to elevate their influence as leaders in the United States. To learn about other NCLR leadership and education opportunities for young people, please visit the Líderes Initiative website at lideres.nclr.org.

The 2011 NCLR Annual Conference along with the NCLR National Latino Family Expo® is expected to unite more than 25,000 people. To cover this event, please register, free of charge, at www.nclr.org/pressregistration.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:             Líderes Town Hall—“Forward Thinking: Discussing a Blueprint for Future Leadership”

WHO:              Moderator
                       José Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO, Hispanic Heritage Foundation

                       Panelists
                       Victor R. Ramirez, Esq., Maryland State Senator
                       Norelie Garcia, Associate Vice President, Federal and Public Affairs, AT&T
                       Felix W. Ortiz III, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Viridis Learning, Inc.
                       Guillermo Torres, Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, Nickelodeon/MTV
                       Networks

WHEN:            Saturday, July 23, 10:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

WHERE:          Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
                       2660 Woodley Road, NW
                       Washington, D.C. 20008
                       Metro: Red Line to Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan

To cover this event, please register at www.nclr.org/pressregistration.

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Are you a blogger attending the NCLR Annual Conference? If so, you won’t want to miss the inaugural NCLR Annual Conference Blogger Meetup.

This informal meetup will provide you with an opportunity to chat with NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía about issues related to NCLR’s work on various fronts such as immigration reform, economy, education, and health. It will also be your chance to talk with her about what she hopes to hear from President Obama when he addresses NCLR Conference attendees. Other NCLR staff, including our Vice President of the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation, will be on hand as well. Refreshments will be provided.

Details:
Sunday, June 24, at 2:00 p.m.
Press Interview Room of the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
Email dcastillo@nclr.org to RSVP

See you there!
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Kathy Mimberg
(202) 776-1714

Press Room (beginning on July 22)
(202) 745-2128

Speakers will include U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, U.S. Senator Mark Warner,
U.S. Asst. Attorney General Thomas Perez, FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn,
Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, Congressman George Miller, Arianna Huffington, and Eva Longoria

Washington, D.C.—President Barack Obama will join national leaders from the business, government, and nonprofit sectors in addressing the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference to be held July 23–26 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. The NCLR Annual Conference—with TOYOTA as the title sponsor—will feature issues vital to the Latino community and all Americans: education, the economy, health care, immigration reform, and more.

The more than 50 workshops and four town halls are free and open to the public, as is the 2011 NCLR National Latino Family Expo®, which has UPS as the title sponsor and runs July 23–25. Members of the general public can register for all other events on-site at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, located at 2660 Woodley Road, NW, in the District of Columbia (20008).

All members of the media interested in attending any of the following events at no cost can register on-site or online at www.nclr.org/pressregistration. For information about the more than 50 workshops offered, please visit www.nclr.org/conferenceworkshops.

Please note that, beginning July 22, the NCLR press team can be reached on-site at (202) 745-2128 for the duration of Conference.

The Woodley Park Metro Red Line station is located one block from the hotel. The Woodley Park/Adams Morgan Circulator also serves the hotel. On-site parking is limited.

UPDATED SCHEDULE OF KEY SPEAKERS AND EVENTS

Saturday, July 23

10:30 a.m. National Latino Family Expo Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony. Atrium, Lobby
Level.
• Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO
• Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer
• Latin American Youth Center (LAYC)
• Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School

10:30 a.m. National Latino Family Expo. Title Sponsor, UPS. Atrium, Exhibit Hall A-C, Exhibition Level.
Featuring more than 200 exhibitors and six themed pavilions showcasing art, entertainment, health screenings, technology, career resources, and more.

10:45 a.m. Líderes Town Hall: Forward Thinking: Discussing a Blueprint for Future
Leadership. Lead Sponsor, Best Buy Co, Inc. Thurgood Marshall Ballroom.
• Moderator: José Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO, Hispanic Heritage Foundation.
• Norelie Garcia, Associate Vice President, AT&T
• Felix W. Ortiz III, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Viridis Learning, Inc.
• Victor R. Ramirez, Esq., State Senator, 47th District (D–MD)
• Guillermo Torres, Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, MTV Networks
• Delia de la Vara, Vice President, California Region, NCLR

12:30 p.m. National Affiliate Luncheon: Embrace Now. Co-sponsored by Citi, FedEx
Corporation, PepsiCo, Inc., Southwest Airlines Co., State Farm. Marriott
Ballroom.
• Introductory Remarks: Daniel R. Ortega, Jr. Chair, NCLR Board of Directors
• Welcome and Awards Presentation: Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO
• Keynote Speaker: Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice

3:00 p.m. Town Hall: Giving Up on the Middle Class? Not So Fast! Thurgood
Marshall Ballroom.
• Moderator: Bertha Coombs, Reporter, CNBC
• 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

Sunday, July 24

10:30 a.m. National Latino Family Expo. Title Sponsor, UPS. Atrium, Exhibit Hall A-C, Exhibition Level.

11:00 a.m. Latinas Brunch. Co-Sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company, GEICO Insurance
Company, General Mills, TOYOTA, and Wells Fargo. Marriott Ballroom.
• Emcee: Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO
• Featured Speaker: Eva Longoria, Actress, Activist, Philanthropist, and Executive Producer of the 2011 NCLR ALMA Awards®
• Keynote Speaker: Arianna Huffington, President and Editor-in-Chief, The Huffington Post Media Group
• Moderator: Monica C. Lozano, CEO of Impremedia, LLC, and Publisher and CEO of La Opinión
• Galina Espinoza, Co-President and Editorial Director, Latina Media Ventures
• Jacqueline Hernández, Chief Operating Officer, Telemundo Communications Group, LLC
• Julissa Marenco, President, ZGS Station Group
• Lisa Quiroz, Senior Vice President, Time Warner Inc.
• Special Remarks: Steve St. Angelo, Managing Officer, Toyota Motor Corporation, and Chief Quality Officer, North America

1:30 p.m. Workshop: Not in My State: The Success and Failure of Arizona Copycat Bills in 2011 and Beyond. Wilson Room AB.
• Moderator: A. Elena Lacayo, Immigration Field Coordinator, NCLR
• Vivek Malhotra, Advocacy and Policy Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union
• Darcy Tromanhauser, Program Director, Immigrant Integration & Civic Participation Program, Nebraska Appleseed
• Kim Propeack, Director of Community Organizing and Political Action, CASA de Maryland

3:30 p.m. Town Hall: A Plateful of Paradox: Childhood Hunger and Obesity. Lead Sponsor, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health. Thurgood Marshall Ballroom.
• Moderator: Sonia M. Pérez, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, NCLR
• Hon. Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Dr. Garth 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
• Dr. Amanda Navarro, Associate Director, PolicyLink

Monday, July 25

10:00 a.m. Career/Tus Oportunidades Pavilion. Co-Sponsor, Morgan Stanley Smith
Barney. Atrium, Exhibit Hall A-C, Exhibition Level.
Featuring career resources, a direct connection to employers, networking
opportunities, and clinics on interview best practices and résumé tips

10:00 a.m. National Latino Family Expo. Title Sponsor, UPS. Atrium, Exhibit Hall A-C, Exhibition Level.

12:30 p.m. Monday Luncheon. Co-Sponsored by AT&T, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Kraft
Foods, McDonald’s Corporation, and Time Warner Inc. Marriott Ballroom.
• Emcee: Teresa Rodriguez, Broadcast Journalist and Best-selling Author
• Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States

3:00 p.m. Town Hall: Hispanic Education in the 21st Century: The Federal Role. Co-
Lead Sponsors, Darden Restaurants, The Nielsen Company, and Univision
Communications Inc. Co-Sponsored by AT&T. Thurgood Marshall Ballroom.
• Welcome: Senator Mark R. Warner (D–VA)
• Moderator: Delia Pompa, Senior Vice President of Programs, NCLR
• Daniel 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

Tuesday, July 26

8:30 a.m. Workshop: Latinos and the Internet: Jobs, Education, and Empowerment
in a Digital Economy. Virginia Suite A.
• Moderator: Jason A Llorenz, Esq., Executive Director, Hispanic Technology and Telecommunications Partnership (HTTP)
• Hon. Mignon Clyburn, FCC Commissioner
• Brent Wilkes, National Executive Director, LULAC
• Gus West, Board Chair, The Hispanic Institute
• Henry Rivera, Esq. Board Chair, Minority Media and Telecommunications Partnership

10:30 a.m. Featured Workshop: Protecting Our Rights, Confronting the Extremists.
Maryland Suite AB.

12:30 p.m. Tuesday Luncheon. Co-Sponsored by Bank of America, Hyundai Motor
America, Shell, Sodexo, Inc., and Walmart. Marriott Ballroom
• Featured Speaker: U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II, Chair, Congressional Black Caucus (D–MO), 5th District
• President’s Message: Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO
• Military Tribute: Heroes & Heritage Award, Presented by Fernando Rey, President & Chief Executive Officer, Heroes & Heritage

3:00 p.m. Featured Session: A Dónde Vamos? New Directions for Community
Involvement in HIV/AIDS Prevention and Research. Lead Sponsors, National
Institutes of Health Office of AIDS Research; NCLR/CSULB Center for Latino
Community Health, Evaluation, and Leadership Training. Thurgood Marshall
Ballroom.
• 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), Director of the NCLR/CSULB Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation, and Leadership Training
• 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

7:30 p.m. Awards Gala. Co-Sponsored by Amtrak, Eli Lilly and Company, Ford
Motor Company, and UPS. Marriott Ballroom.
Awardees:
• Affiliate of the Year Award: Mary’s Center
• Graciela Olivarez La Raza Award: Maria Otero, Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs
• Maclovio Barraza Award for Leadership: Jorge Muñoz
• Ruben Salazar Award for Communications: Ignacio E. Lozano, Jr.
• Roberto Clemente Award for Sports Excellence: Thomas R. “Tom” Flores
• Raul Yzaguirre President’s Award: José H. Villarreal

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.

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 us on Facebook and Twitter.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2011

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

NCLR backs President Obama’s nominee for CFPB Director

Washington, D.C.—One year ago, Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Act, a sweeping financial reform law designed to overhaul the nation’s financial regulatory system. And today, on the anniversary of its passage, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) congratulates the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) as it opens its doors for the first day of business.

This agency, created under Dodd-Frank, is the first federal entity solely devoted to fighting financial crime on behalf of Americans. CFPB has already stood up for Latino consumers on important issues by fighting to make lending terms clearer and advocating for commonsense disclosures that plainly detail fees for money transfers.

“Predatory mortgage lending was central to the housing crisis and disproportionately impacted communities of color, including Latinos,” said Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. “We welcome the oversight that CFPB will provide over products and services that will help families secure financial stability.”

The power granted to CFPB under Dodd-Frank enables the agency to be the strong and independent entity consumers need. The president’s newly announced nominee to lead the agency will also be a tremendous ally. Former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray went to bat for families and took on deceptive mortgage servicing practices that were robbing people of their homes. In the process, he also recaptured $2 billion for retirees.

However, 44 Senators have already planned to block the appointment of a CFPB Director. Instead, they endeavor to dilute CFPB’s authority by handing decision-making power to a committee. Diffusing authority through a committee threatens to bloat bureaucracy and weaken the agency’s performance; this will only harm honest lenders and American consumers.

We must not let the CFPB become a victim of politics during the upcoming elections. We need a strong CFPB to enforce our nation’s consumer protection laws for America’s families.

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.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566

Conference Press Room
(202) 745-2128

Washington, D.C.—Join NCLR (National Council of La Raza) for a special Latinas Brunch on Sunday, July 24 at the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference. Arianna Huffington, President and Editor-in-Chief of the Huffington Post Media Group, will deliver the keynote address, and 2011 NCLR ALMA Awards® Executive Producer and Host Eva Longoria will be a featured speaker. The event culminates in a panel discussion featuring some of the most influential women in English and Spanish media, including top executives from Telemundo, Time Warner, Inc., and La Opinión. The brunch is open to the press and is free of charge.

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

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHO:                Emcee: Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO
                         Featured Speaker: Eva Longoria, Actress, Activist, Philanthropist, and Executive Producer of the 2011 NCLR ALMA Awards
                         Keynote Speaker: Arianna Huffington, President and Editor-in-Chief, The Huffington Post Media Group
                       
                         Moderator: Monica C. Lozano, CEO of Impremedia, LLC, and Publisher and CEO of La Opinión
                   
                         Panelists:
                         Galina Espinoza, Co-President & Editorial Director, Latina Media Ventures
                         Jacqueline Hernández, Chief Operating Officer, Telemundo Communications Group, LLC
                         Julissa Marenco, President, ZGS Station Group
                         Lisa Quiroz, Senior Vice President, Time Warner Inc.

WHAT:               Latinas Brunch. Co-Sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company, GEICO Insurance
                         Company, General Mills, TOYOTA, Wells Fargo.

WHEN:             Sunday, July 24, 2011, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

WHERE:           Washington Marriott Wardman Park
                        Marriott Ballroom
                        2660 Woodley Road, NW
                        Washington, DC 20008

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PARA DIFUSIÓN INMEDIATA

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

Washington, D.C. —El Consejo Nacional de la Raza (NCLR por sus siglas en inglés) otorgará el codiciado premio “Afiliado del Año 2011” al Mary’s Center, organización afiliada al NCLR establecida en Washington, D.C. Mary’s Center es una organización dedicada a mejorar el acceso a cuidado integral de salud para mujeres embarazadas y niños de bajos recursos y sin seguro médico. El reconocimiento se llevará a cabo durante la Gala de Premiación el 26 de julio como clausura de la Conferencia Anual del NCLR en el Hotel Marriott Wardman Park en Washington, DC.

“En sólo dos décadas, el Mary’s Center se ha convertido en una de las principales instituciones de beneficencia de la capital. Estamos encantados de tener la oportunidad de reconocer a esta aclamada organización y a su incansable líder, María Gómez, como parte de los eventos de nuestra conferencia anual”, concluyó Janet Murguía, presidenta del NCLR.

La labor del Mary’s Center en 1988 respondía a la necesidad de cuidado materno infantil para las mujeres inmigrantes de América Central que residían en los barrios latinos del Distrito de Columbia. Hoy, el Mary’s Center es un centro de salud completamente acreditado a nivel local y federal que provee cuidado primario y servicios de salud a inmigrantes marginados y sin seguro médico. En 2010, proveyó servicios a más de 18,000 personas de más de 40 países--aproximadamente 10,000 adultos y 8,000 niños. El Mary’s Center ofrece una gran variedad de servicios tales como cuidado prenatal, visitas a domicilio, planificación familiar, cuidado primario para niños y adolescentes, y ayuda con la escuela e inserción laboral.

Además de reconocer al Mary’s Center con un premio de $25,000, NCLR también reconocerá a cinco organizaciones a nivel regional. Estas recibirán un premio de $5,000 y serán reconocidas durante el almuerzo de inauguración el sábado 23 de julio de 2011. Las organizaciones ganadoras al nivel regional son Youth Policy Institute (región de California); HELP-New Mexico, Inc. (región oeste); Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha, Inc. (APM) (región noreste), The Resurrection Project (región del medio oeste), y The Concilio (región de Texas).

El premio de Afiliado del Año, patrocinado por el Ford Motor Company Fund, es el honor más alto que se otorga a una organización afiliada del NCLR en reconocimiento de su trabajo ejemplar en servicio a su comunidad y por su apoyo a las iniciativas programáticas y legislativas del NCLR. Los premios, otorgados anualmente, dan la oportunidad al NCLR de reconocer los logros de las organizaciones afiliadas ganadoras y demostrar el impacto positivo que han logrado en las vidas de los latinos.

“Ford reafirma su compromiso con la comunidad hispana de apoyar programas que fortalecen a nuestras comunidades, aún en tiempos difíciles”, afirmó el señor Jim Vella, presidente del Ford Motor Company Fund y Community Services “Estamos sumamente orgullosos de patrocinar este premio que reconoce a aquellas organizaciones que contribuyen al progreso de la comunidad hispana”.
 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Washington, D.C.—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) will present the 2011 Affiliate of the Year Award to Mary’s Center, an organization dedicated to improving access to comprehensive bilingual care for low-income, uninsured pregnant women and their children. Mary’s Center will be recognized on July 26, 2011 at the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference Awards Gala in Washington, D.C. at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.

“In just two decades, Mary’s Center has evolved from a small neighborhood organization into one of the capital’s premier nonprofit institutions. We are delighted to have the opportunity to honor this acclaimed organization and its tireless, nationally recognized leader, Maria Gomez, in their hometown,” said Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.

Founded in 1988, Mary’s Center initially focused on maternal and child care for immigrant women from Central America in the predominantly Latino areas in the District of Columbia. Today, Mary’s Center is a federally qualified health center that provides primary care and enabling services to underserved, underinsured, and uninsured immigrants from various countries around the world. In 2010, it served more than 18,000 clients from over 40 countries, including roughly 10,000 adults and 8,000 children. It provides immigrants with services such as prenatal care, home visits, family planning, and primary care for children and adolescents, as well as help with school and job placement.

In addition to honoring Mary’s Center—an Affiliate in NCLR’s Southeast Region—with a $25,000 grant, NCLR will also recognize a Regional Honoree from each of its five other regions. They will each receive a $5,000 award on Saturday, July 23, at the National Affiliate Luncheon. The 2011 Regional Awardees are Youth Policy Institute (California Region); HELP–New Mexico Inc. (Far West Region); Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha, Inc. (APM) (Northeast Region); The Resurrection Project (Midwest Region); and The Concilio (Texas Region).

The Affiliate of the Year Award, sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund, is the highest honor bestowed on an NCLR Affiliate in recognition of exemplary work in serving its community and supporting NCLR’s policy and programmatic initiatives. Presented annually, the award provides NCLR with an opportunity to showcase the achievements of the winning Affiliate and spotlight the positive impact it has made on the lives of Latinos.

“Ford has a legacy of commitment toward the Hispanic community by supporting programs that bolster communities even in challenging times,” said Jim Vella, President, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “We are proud to support an award that recognizes those organizations that contribute to the advancement of the Hispanic community.”

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By Catherine Pino, NCLR Board Member
(This was originally posted to The Bilerico Project)

If you haven't heard by now, the 2010 U.S. Census revealed that the United States Hispanic population now numbers 50 million and accounts for more than half of the nation's growth. Latinos make up one of the fastest growing segments of our population and will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the future of the United States. Indeed, nearly 500,000 Latinos will turn 18 every year for the next 10 years. The 2010 Census also revealed that Latinos are living in every region of the country and in every type of community one might think of - from large urban centers to small rural towns.

LGBT Latinos, like me, are hopeful for what these numbers could mean to the broader LGBT struggle for equality. As a member of the Board of Directors for the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights organization, I am passionate about exploring how my two communities can find commonality and work to promote a better life for more people. Unfortunately, the dialogue between these two communities has, at times, been adversarial. Despite the realities of the past, I still believe Latinos and LGBT people can come together and forge an alliance that will benefit both groups.

Before delving into how the two communities can mutually benefit each other, it is worth noting that life for LGBT Latinos can be especially difficult. Perhaps the most disturbing trend is the uptick in violence against LGBT people of color in recent years. Earlier this month, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs published a report that showed that in 2010 queer people of color were disproportionately susceptible to being attacked for their sexual orientation. In fact, 70 percent of the victims of anti-LGBT and HIV-affected murders were people of color. This sobering fact is compounded by the recent news of the more than 18 murders of LGBT Puerto Ricans in the last year and a half. It is plain to see that the Latino community has a vested interest in undoing anti-LGBT policies, which have a direct connection to the sort of violence inflicted upon queer people of color.

The figures are just as grim when it comes to health disparities. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Latinos accounted for 17 percent of new HIV infections in 2006 and 21 percent of new AIDS diagnoses in 2009. The same study found that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is high among gay and bisexual Latino men. According to the report, a study of five major cities in America showed that 17 percent of Latino gay and bisexual men were infected with HIV. Perhaps most alarming is the rate at which our young LGBT Latinos are contracting the virus. Newly infected Hispanic gay and bisexual men between the ages of 13 and 29 account for 43 percent of new infections compared to just 25 percent of their White counterparts. These findings are compounded by other data, which suggest that Latinos are more likely to be uninsured than Whites and less likely to receive treatment.

Of course, the immigration debate that has been raging in this country for years is another issue that has made life more challenging for the Hispanic community. Immigration, however, is also an intersection between the two communities that has the potential to build lasting bridges. I was especially heartened to read about this happening last month at the Netroots Nation conference in Minneapolis. The country's most prominent LGBT bloggers and reporters came together to hear the stories and experiences of DREAM students, all of whom happened to be gay. They heard stories about how those LGBT Latinos who are also undocumented have to, in effect, come out twice. Going public with their immigration status is often a more harrowing event. This meeting was an important first step in establishing relationships with a segment of the population that has often been forgotten and overlooked. I'm looking forward to watching how the conversations started in Minneapolis continue to take place online.

For its part, NCLR is working to foster those conversations. It will continue to build on its history of LGBT outreach, which dates back to the 1980s when the organization was the very first Latino organization to take on the HIV/AIDS issue. That work played a key role in launching what is now known as the Institute for Hispanic Health. To help us continue this tradition of outreach, NCLR has recently partnered with the Gill Foundation, which will support the organization's efforts to establish and foster stronger ties between the Latino community and the LGBT community. The beginning of this new partnership will be showcased this coming Sunday when the Gill Foundation and NCLR will host a reception for LGBT allies at its Annual Conference.

In the coming months, NCLR will also make more announcements about its work with the Gill Foundation and the LGBT community. I will be sure to keep you abreast of those developments.

I am proud to serve NCLR and the millions of Latinos it represents all over the country. I look forward to helping this fine organization build better relationships with the LGBT community and to find ways to enhance the important work that is being done all in the name of equality.

Catherine M. Pino is a member of the NCLR Board of Directors, The Arcus Foundation, and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. She is also a Co-Founder and Principal of D&P Creative Strategies, a company founded in 2004 with her partner Ingrid. Catherine's aim is to advance corporate, philanthropic, and legislative efforts that mirror her deep commitment to social justice and civil rights issues. 

Washington, 22 Jul (Notimex).- El Consejo Nacional de La Raza (NCLR), la organización hispana más grande de Estados Unidos, inauguró hoy aquí su conferencia anual con una ceremonia de naturalización de unos 30 inmigrantes de 18 países.

Los inmigrante juramentaron como nuevos ciudadanos estadunidenses en un acto en la escuela internacional Carlos Rosario, donde asiste una gran cantidad de estudiantes hispanos.

El encargado de tomar la juramentación fue el director del Servicio de Inmigración y Ciudadanía (USCIS), Alejandro Mayorkas, quien destacó el privilegio de la naturalización estadunidense que trasciende razas y grupos étnicos.

La presidenta del NCLR, Janet Murguía, pidió a los nuevos ciudadanos, entre ellos personas procedentes de Perú, El Salvador y Honduras, que se inscriban para votar "lo más pronto posible" y que insten a sus familiares y amigos a hacer lo mismo.

"Hoy se les ha dado una voz y quiero que la usen en cada oportunidad que tengan", afirmó la dirigente hispana, quien recordó que sus padres inmigrantes "llegaron a este país hace más de 50 años" con muy poco dinero.

La conferencia anual del NCLR y la feria de la familia latina, que tienen lugar hasta el 26 de julio en el hotel Marriott, incluirá el lunes próximo un discurso del presidente estadunidense Barack Obama.

También participarán altos funcionarios del gobierno, congresistas, líderes empresariales y representantes de medios de comunicación, entre otros.

Los paneles gratuitos abiertos al público incluyen talleres sobre las leyes estatales similares a la antiinmigrante SB1070 de Arizona, hambre infantil y obesidad, la función del gobierno federal en la educación hispana e internet.

En la ceremonia del corte de cinta el sábado para la feria de la familia latina participará el personaje infantil "Dora, la exploradora", que interpreta a una niña hispana.

Varios eventos de la conferencia, incluyendo el discurso de Obama, se transmitirán en vivo en internet en el enlace www.livestream.com/nclrannualconference.

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Home for Good Blog Carnival. We asked bloggers to join us in urging folks to send an e-postcard to U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner demanding an end to wrongful foreclosures, insisting on providing affordable homes to rent, and asking him to keep safe home ownership available.

Thanks to everyone who participated! The good news is that if you haven't written your post yet, there's still time! The bad news is that the crisis is far from over—we still need your help.

The posts from the roundup:

Over at the Chicago-based Metropolitan Planning Council, Sylvia Puente, executive director of the Latino Policy Forum, notes that June marks the celebration of National Homeownership Month, but few Latinos are at the party. Puente notes that according to a Latino Policy Forum analysis of home mortgage data, there were more than 10,000 foreclosure filings in predominately Latino communities in Chicago and its suburbs in 2010. But surely with all the refinancing options available, folks can get now get some relief, right? Wrong. One in three Latino refinance applications is denied in metropolitan Chicago, compared with just 17% of applications from non-Latinos. “Until Latinos have access to affordable mortgage options and appropriate housing counseling services, foreclosures will continue to ravage neighborhoods across the state,” Puente concludes.

From our friends at Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, an Out of the Spotlight post notes that despite a recent uptick in home construction, millions of Americans remain at risk of losing their homes. We've all heard that one in six Latino homeowners—more than one million people—is at imminent risk of or has already lost his or her home to foreclosure. Did you know that the same is true for one in nine Black homeowners?

The post also notes that, according to a recent report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, not only are many Americans not purchasing homes—many cannot afford rental housing either.

Meanwhile, Tax Credits for Working Families makes a strong case for Property Tax Circuit Breakers in A Fix for the Home Ownership Crisis. Though the funky name may be off-putting, the concept behind this state tax instrument is sound: Just as an electric circuit breaker stops the flow of electricity to prevent a circuit overload, a property tax circuit breaker protects taxpayers from a property tax “overload,” reducing tax liability for individuals and families whose property tax payments are too large a percentage of family income.

The post also points out that rising property taxes are an often unrecognized factor in the homeownership crisis—even affecting renters, as costs are typically passed on to tenants in the form of rent increases.

And to our friends at Hispanicize: Many thanks for the shout-out!

To submit a post, just drop us an email here, including the URL. Thanks to all who participated! 

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Home for Good Blog Carnival. We asked bloggers to join us in urging folks to send an e-postcard to U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner demanding an end to wrongful foreclosures, insisting on providing affordable homes to rent, and asking him to keep safe home ownership available.

Thanks to everyone who participated! The good news is that if you haven't written your post yet, there's still time! The bad news is that the crisis is far from over—we still need your help.

The posts from the roundup:

Over at the Chicago-based Metropolitan Planning Council, Sylvia Puente, executive director of the Latino Policy Forum, notes that June marks the celebration of National Homeownership Month, but few Latinos are at the party. Puente notes that according to a Latino Policy Forum analysis of data from the Woodstock Institute, there were more than 10,000 foreclosure filings in predominately Latino communities in Chicago and its suburbs in 2010. But surely with all the refinancing options available, folks can get now get some relief, right? Wrong. One in three Latino refinance applications is denied in metropolitan Chicago, compared with just 17% of applications from non-Latinos. “Until Latinos have access to affordable mortgage options and appropriate housing counseling services, foreclosures will continue to ravage neighborhoods across the state,” Puente concludes.

From our friends at Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, an Out of the Spotlight post notes that despite a recent uptick in home construction, millions of Americans remain at risk of losing their homes. We've all heard that one in six Latino homeowners—more than one million people—is at imminent risk of or has already lost his or her home to foreclosure. Did you know that the same is true for one in nine Black homeowners?

The post also notes that, according to a recent report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, not only are many Americans not purchasing homes—many cannot afford rental housing either.

Meanwhile, Tax Credits for Working Families makes a strong case for Property Tax Circuit Breakers in A Fix for the Home Ownership Crisis. Though the funky name may be off-putting, the concept behind this state tax instrument is sound: Just as an electric circuit breaker stops the flow of electricity to prevent a circuit overload, a property tax circuit breaker protects taxpayers from a property tax “overload,” reducing tax liability for individuals and families whose property tax payments are too large a percentage of family income.

The post also points out that rising property taxes are an often unrecognized factor in the homeownership crisis—even affecting renters, as costs are typically passed on to tenants in the form of rent increases.

And to our friends at Hispanicize: Many thanks for the shout-out!

To submit a post, just drop us an email here, including the URL. Thanks to all who participated! 

Janet Murguia, the president and CEO of National Council of La Raza, joined Viewpoint to discuss her organization's mission to improve the lives of Hispanics.

Janet Murguia, the president and CEO of National Council of La Raza, joined News4's Jum Handly on Viewpoint to discuss her organization's mission to improve the lives of Hispanics. Murguia discussed the role of the NCLR, the nation's growing Hispanic population, and the changing perceptions of that demographic. The NCLR will host its annual conference and National Latino Family Expo, from July 23 to July 26. You can find out more about the even here.
 

Ciudadanía espera mensaje sobre la reforma migratoria y otros temas de actualidad
 

En medio de creciente expectativa, la opinión pública del país, y muy especialmente la comunidad hispana, se disponen a escuchar el discurso que pronunciará el presidente Barack Obama este lunes 25, durante la Conferencia Anual 2011 del Consejo Nacional de La Raza (NCLR, por sus siglas en inglés), que tiene su sede en un gran hotel de Washington, DC.

Asuntos de actualidad como la marcha de la economía, los problemas del presupuesto, el cuidado de salud y la educación deben girar en el esperado discurso, pero el tema más esperado por todos “será indudablemente lo que diga Obama acerca de la reforma migratoria”, según coincidieron varios líderes de la comunidad.

Los analistas políticos recordaron que hace tres años, también en julio, en una cita similar del NCLR efectuada en San Diego, California, el mandatario se comprometió a hacer de la reforma migratoria “una prioridad en mi primer año como presidente de Estados Unidos”.

La crisis económica que derivó en la gran recesión del 2009 y la férrea oposición republicana en la Cámara de Representantes a dicha reforma –a la que calificaron de “amnistía disfrazada”-, han impedido hasta el momento que se cumpla esa promesa.

La alocución presidencial ha sido programada para iniciarse a las 12:30 p.m., en un Gran Salón del Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, localizado en la zona Noroeste de la capital de la nación. Centenares de delegados e invitados formarán parte del auditorio.
Amplio programa
De esta manera, el presidente Obama se unirá a una constelación de líderes nacionales de negocios, de gobierno y de organizaciones no gubernamentales que participará en la Conferencia Anual 2011 del NCLR, que será inaugurada el sábado 23 y se prolongará hasta el martes 26.

Entre los oradores principales, además de Obama, se encuentran el Secretario de Agricultura, Tom Vilsak; el Senador federal Mark Warner; el Fiscal General para los Derechos Civiles, Thomas Pérez; el jefe de la Comisión Federal de Comunicaciones (FCC, por sus siglas en inglés), Mignon Clyburn; el presidente del Caucus Afroamericano del Congreso, representante Emmanuel Cleaver II; el congresista George Miller, la periodista Arianna Huffington, y la filántropa Eva Longoria.

La enorme sede ha sido acondicionada para el funcionamiento de unos 50 talleres y la presentación de cuatro audiencias ciudadanas, que permanecerán abiertos libremente al público: sólo deben registrarse en la sede del hotel, localizado en el 2660 de Woodley Road, NW del Distrito de Columbia.

Para llegar al Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, los organizadores recomendaron utilizar la Línea Roja del tren de Metro y bajar en la estación de Woodley Park, que está localizada a sólo una cuadra de la sede del magno evento. El parqueo de vehículos en el lugar es muy limitado, advirtieron.
 

Una feria para toda la familia

Este sábado 23 y domingo 24, el Consejo Nacional de La Raza (NCLR, por sus siglas en inglés) realizará una feria gratuita para las familias en el hotel Marriott Wardman Park en DC. La feria se llevará a cabo en el marco de la conferencia nacional que realiza el NCLR cada año y que en esta oportunidad contará con la participación del presidente Barack Obama como principal orador.

Latinos de todo el país viajarán hasta la capital para poder participar en más de 50 talleres que se estarán impartiendo este año. Entre esos talleres están: salud, desarrollo en el trabajo, política, comunidad, educación, igualdad de derechos y más.

La feria nacional familiar contará con pabellones en dónde las personas tendrán acceso a exámenes médicos, clases de cocina, consejos de salud, y clases de Zumba. Esto será sábado y domingo de 10:30 am a 6 pm, sin costo alguno.

También, el lunes 25 se realizará una feria de trabajo en el pabellón “Tus oportunidades” desde las 10 am hasta las 3 pm. Ese día no sólo habrá oportunidades de trabajo pero también talleres informativos para mejorar curriculums y consejos prácticos sobre cómo salir airoso de una entrevista de trabajo, entre otras.

Entre otros personajes que participan en la convención anual se encuentran la actriz Eva Longoria, la secretaria de Trabajo Hilda Solís y el futbolista Andy Najar, del DC United.
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Julian Teixeira
Conference Press Room
(202) 745-2128

Washington, D.C.—Immediately following President Barack Obama’s address to the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference at Monday’s Luncheon, NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía will provide her response to the President’s speech to the media in the press overflow room.

Because Monday’s luncheon is a ticketed event and space is extremely limited, access to the ballroom is restricted. Press will be directed to an overflow room, where they can watch a live feed of the President’s speech. Janet Murguía will address those reporters in attendance at the press conference following the luncheon and will be happy to take questions from the media.

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

To watch a live stream of some of the biggest events at the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference, including town halls, luncheons, and the Awards Gala, please visit www.livestream.com/nclrannualconference.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHO:                          Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO

WHAT:                        Press conference addressing President Barack Obama’s speech

WHEN:                        Monday, July 25, 2011, 2:05 p.m.

WHERE:                     Washington Marriott Wardman Park
                                   Press Overflow Room, Wilson A & B
                                   2660 Woodley Road, NW
                                   Washington, DC 20008

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Julian Teixeira
(202) 745-2128
(202) 776-1812
jteixeira@nclr.org

NCLR DENOUNCES LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL TO CURTAIL PRESIDENT OBAMA’S AUTHORITY

Washington, D.C.—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) condemns the “Hinder the Administration’s Legalization Temptation Act (HALT Act)” (H.R. 2497) introduced by Republican Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas. The Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement of the House Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing today on legislation that would eliminate President Obama’s authority to set priorities for immigration enforcement and to suspend the deportation of individuals who do not fall within the enforcement priorities.

“It is obvious that this legislation is a cheap political stunt that will do nothing to address the serious problems of our broken immigration system. It is designed to only affect this president and goes against Representative Smith’s own stance when he signed a bipartisan letter to President Clinton urging him to use his authority to suspend a deportation when it would cause extreme hardship to American citizens,” said Clarissa Martínez De Castro, NCLR Director of Immigration and National Campaigns. “It is fine for presidents to have this authority apparently—just not this president.”

Instead of focusing immigration enforcement efforts on serious criminals, the sponsors of this bill seek to deport young students like Ivan, who has lived in Ohio since he was an infant, and separate him from his four siblings who are U.S. citizens. Ivan’s hardworking father has never committed a crime but was among the record-level numbers of deportations occurring over the past two years.

“The Obama administration should use its authority to suspend deportations of people who pose no risk to public safety and continue to urge Congress to focus on real solutions that will fix our immigration system,” Martínez De Castro concluded.

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PARA DIFUSIÓN INMEDIATA

Contacto:
Kathy Mimberg
(202) 745-2128
(202) 776-1714
kmimberg@nclr.org

Washington, D.C.— El NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza) reconoció, en su Conferencia Anual 2011 del 23 al 26 de julio en Washington, D.C., a tres organizaciones comunitarias por la excelente ayuda que proporcionan a las familias latinas. Los premios Fortalecimiento de la Familia del NCLR se otorgaron al Centro Hispano del Condado de Dane en Madison, Wisconsin; Centro de la Mujer para el Autoempleo en San Francisco, California; y el Mary’s Center en Washington, DC, por sus programas que abarcan desde iniciativas para jóvenes, clases para padres, servicios sanitarios, hasta formación empresarial.

Los premios Fortalecimiento de la Familia del NCLR se otorgan anualmente a las organizaciones que pertenecen a la Red de Afiliadas del NCLR y que han demostrado una labor ejemplar en la comunidad hispana, además de un impacto medible que enfoca el fortalecimiento de las familias latinas. Cada una de las organizaciones ganadoras del premio recibirán una subvención de $16,500. Durante el próximo año, las mencionadas organizaciones ofrecerán talleres a otras Afiliadas en su región destacando las mejores prácticas de sus programas y proporcionarán información para que otras organizaciones puedan comenzar o ampliar programas similares.

"Las Afiliadas del NCLR tienen un papel fundamental en conectar a las familias con las redes de servicios sociales y de apoyo", dijo el Dr. José Velázquez, vicepresidente de servicios a miembros afiliados del NCLR. "Estamos orgullosos de reconocer los extraordinarios esfuerzos de estas organizaciones, así como su trabajo para fortalecer las oportunidades económicas, sociales y sanitarias disponibles para las familias latinas en los Estados Unidos".

El Centro Hispano del Condado de Dane en Madison, ofrece recursos –incluyendo asistencia en la búsqueda de empleo, programas para jóvenes y clases para padres– para ayudar a los latinos a desarrollarse como individuos, familias y comunidades. Su programa ganador, ComVida, ayuda a jóvenes en riesgo, y sus familias, cuando tales jóvenes han sido acusados por ausentismo escolar, hurto, alteración del orden público, consumo de alcohol y allanamiento de morada.

El Mary’s Center provee a las comunidades culturalmente diversas de Washington, DC, asistencia médica y social de calidad, independientemente de su capacidad de pago. Comienzo Saludable y Familias Sanas (HSHF, por sus siglas en inglés) es el esfuerzo conjunto del modelo de visitas a domicilio de Healthy Families America, un movimiento a nivel nacional para prevenir el abuso y abandono infantil, y el programa federal de Healthy Start, una iniciativa para reducir la mortalidad infantil. El HSHF colabora con las familias a través de visitas domiciliarias y enlaces a recursos comunitarios para asegurar que los niños estén sanos, seguros y listos para la escuela.

La Iniciativa de la Mujer para el Autoempleo fue fundada en el área de San Francisco Bay con el objetivo de ayudar a desarrollar la capacidad emprendedora de las mujeres para superar las barreras económicas y sociales y llegar a ser autosuficientes. Su programa, Alternativas para Latinas en Autosuficiencia (ALAS), es el primer programa bilingüe de capacitación empresarial de su tipo en el norte de California, que proporciona sesiones de capacitación empresarial y potenciación personal para ayudar a sus clientes a lograr sus sueños de tener su propio negocio y desarrollar las capacidades necesarias para tener éxito.

“El NCLR está comprometido a fortalecer la capacidad de las organizaciones afiliadas y la forma en que éstas sirven a la comunidad latina”, dijo Velázquez. “La capacitación entre iguales es una iniciativa importante que promueve la colaboración y el intercambio de las buenas prácticas con otras afiliadas de todo el país”.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Kathy Mimberg
(202) 745-2128
(202) 776-1714
kmimberg@nclr.org

Washington, D.C.—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) recognized three community organizations at the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference held July 23–26 in Washington, D.C., for their excellence in helping Latino families. NCLR’s Family Strengthening Awards were presented to Centro Hispano of Dane County in Madison, Wisconsin, the Women’s Center for Self Employment in San Francisco, California, and Mary’s Center in Washington, D.C., for programs that include youth initiatives, parenting classes, health services, and business training.

The NCLR Family Strengthening Awards are presented annually to organizations that belong to the NCLR Affiliate Network and which have shown exemplary work in the Hispanic community and made a measurable impact in strengthening Latino families. The award winners will each receive a grant of $16,500. Throughout the next year, the awardees will offer workshops that highlight best practices from their programs to other Affiliates in their region and provide information so that other organizations can start or expand similar programs.

“NCLR Affiliates play a vital role in linking families with social and support service networks,” said Dr. José Velázquez, NCLR Vice President of Affiliate Member Services. “We are proud to recognize the extraordinary efforts of these organizations and their work in strengthening the health, social, and economic opportunities available to Latino families in the United States.”

Centro Hispano of Dane County offers resources—including job-search assistance, youth programs, and parenting classes—to help Latinos develop as individuals, families, and communities. Its winning program, ComVida, helps at-risk youth—and their families—who are facing charges such as truancy, retail theft, disorderly conduct, underage drinking, and trespassing.

Mary’s Center provides the culturally diverse communities of Washington, D.C., with high-quality medical and social care, regardless of the ability to pay. Healthy Start Healthy Families (HSHF) demonstrates a combined effort of the national Healthy Families America home visiting model, a national movement to prevent child abuse and neglect, and the federal Healthy Start program, an initiative to reduce infant mortality. HSHF partners with families to ensure that children are healthy, safe, and ready for school through home visitation and links to community resources.

Women’s Initiative for Self Employment was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area to help build the entrepreneurial capacity of women to overcome economic and social barriers and achieve self-sufficiency. Its program, Alternativas para Latinas en Autosuficiencia (ALAS), is the first bilingual business training program of its kind in Northern California to provide business management training and personal empowerment sessions to support clients in their dreams of business ownership and developing the skills necessary for them to succeed.

“NCLR is committed to strengthening the capacity of Affiliate organizations and the way they serve the Latino community,” said Velázquez. “The peer-to-peer trainings represent an important initiative that promotes collaboration and the sharing of best practices with other Affiliates around the country.”

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