FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                 Contact:
July 5, 2012                                                                            NCLR Conference Press Office:
                                                                                                  (702) 322-5587 (as of July 6)
                                                                                                  Camila Gallardo
                                                                                                  (305) 215-4259
                                                                                                  cgallardo@nclr.org

Dora the Explorer joins NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía for ribbon cutting Expo inauguration ceremony

LAS VEGAS—The National Latino Family Expo, one of the largest events in the country focused on resources and activities for the Latino family, is making its Las Vegas debut with more than 200 exhibitors from across the country and an array of free activities and entertainment for the family to enjoy. Dora the Explorer, one of the nation’s most beloved television characters, will welcome families from the Las Vegas metropolitan area on Saturday, July 7, to kick off the celebration. The National Latino Family Expo is held in conjunction with the 2012 NCLR (National Council of La Raza) Annual Conference.

The Expo opens on Saturday, July 7 and runs through Monday, July 9 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer will help NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía cut the ribbon to open the National Latino Family Expo. The event is free of charge and open to the public, and attendees will have the chance to enjoy live music, dancing, cooking demonstrations, exercise classes, prizes, and free health screenings.

UPS is the Title Sponsor of this year’s National Latino Family Expo. Press may register to attend the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference, free of charge, at www.nclr.org/pressregistration.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHO:               Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO
                          Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer

WHAT:             Great visuals at Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for the 2012 NCLR NationalLatino Family Expo: local celebrities, live music, dancing, games and prizes, health screenings, cooking demonstrations,    exercise classes, and more

WHEN:             Saturday, July 7, at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE:           Mandalay Bay Hotel and Convention Center
                          3950 Las Vegas Boulevard, South
                          Las Vegas, NV 89109

A GREAT PHOTO OPPORTUNITY!

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.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                           Contact:
July 5, 2012                                                     Camila Gallardo
                                                                           (305) 573-7329
                                                                           cgallardo@nclr.org
                                                                           NCLR Press Office in Las Vegas (as of July 6)
                                                                           (702) 322-5587

LAS VEGAS—The foreclosure epidemic and tight credit continue to slow down our nation’s housing recovery. Many families of color have been steered toward toxic mortgages; others lost their jobs in the economic downturn resulting in unprecedented home loss. In the last three years alone, communities of color have lost almost than half of their wealth. But in the midst of these setbacks, borrowers have also won some crucial victories over the past year, including the recent Attorneys General settlement, the opening of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the appointment of Richard Cordray as Director of the CFPB.

Join NCLR (National Council of La Raza) on Monday, July 9, at the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference in Las Vegas for a town hall featuring high-profile housing panelists and officials, including Cordray, who will discuss how to better stabilize the market by making it more accessible, equitable, and sustainable.

To cover this event, press can register for the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference, free of charge, at the press registration website.

MEDIA ADVISORY
 

WHAT:           Town Hall: Don’t Quit the Dream: A Vision for Homeownership Beyond 2012

WHO:              Moderator
                         Maria Elena Salinas, Co-Host, Noticiero Univision and Aquí y Ahora

                         Featured Speakers
                         Shaun Donovan, Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
                         Richard Cordray, Director, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

                         Respondents
                         Gerardo Ascencio, President, National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals
                         Maria Cabildo, President, East LA Community Corporation

WHEN:             Monday, July 9, 2012; 3:00–4:30 p.m.

WHERE:          Mandalay Bay Convention Center
                         Mandalay Bay Ballroom E
                         3950 Las Vegas Boulevard, South
                         Las Vegas, NV 89109

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.

###
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                           Contact:
July 5, 2012                                                     Camila Gallardo
                                                                           (305) 573-7329
                                                                           cgallardo@nclr.org
                                                                          NCLR Press Office in Las Vegas (as of July 6)
                                                                          (702) 322-5587

U.S. Ambassador Raul Yzaguirre, mun2’s Yarel Ramos, DREAM activist Astrid Silva, and youth leaders to participate in youth town hall event

LAS VEGAS—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) will host hundreds of Latino youth leaders at the 2012 Líderes Summit as part of the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference held July 7–10 in Las Vegas. The Summit’s mission is to equip, empower, and enable young people to create positive change in their communities. The unique program of workshops, forums and discussions, cultural artistic presentations, and professional development sessions will challenge the youth to become solution-oriented thinkers and forward-thinking leaders.

The Summit runs July 6–9 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Convention Center. One of the central events of the Summit will focus on examining advocacy campaigns within the Latino community over the past 50 years.

The Honorable Raul Yzaguirre, U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, will deliver the key note address during the Lideres Town Hall. The Town Hall, titled “We Have Seen the Future, and the Future Is Ours,” will be live-streamed through the NCLR website (www.nclr.org). The Conference-wide forum will review the many creative ways through which Hispanic American youth are keeping alive the social justice legacy of activist Cesar Chavez. Panelists will share their views and thoughts on the role of new technology and social media in the evolution of modern social justice campaigns. The panel’s moderator, mun2 host of “Reventón con Yarel,” Yarel Ramos, will tweet and post on Facebook leading up to and during the event.

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 lideres.nclr.org.

To cover this event, press can register for the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference, free of charge, at the press registration website. Follow events on Twitter at #Lideres12 and #NCLR12.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:                  Líderes Town Hall—“We Have Seen the Future, and the Future Is Ours”

 
WHO:                    Yarel Ramos, Host of mun2’s “Reventón con Yarel”
                               Eric Rodriguez, Vice President, Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation, NCLR
                               Astrid Silva, Founding member, DREAM Big Vegas; President, Clark County Young Democrats
                               Renata Soto, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Conexión Américas
                               Cindy Zavala, Co-Director of the Latino and American Student Organization at American University, 2012 NCLR Líderes Summit Staff, Miss Sister City 2008

WHEN:                 Saturday, July 7, 10:45 a.m.

WHERE:               Mandalay Bay Convention Center South
                              Room Palm H
                              3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South
                               Las Vegas, NV 89119

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.

###
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Camila Gallardo
(305) 573-7329
cgallardo@nclr.org

NCLR Press Office in Las Vegas
(702) 322-5587

LAS VEGAS—The foreclosure crisis and tight credit continue to slow down our nation’s housing recovery. Many families of color were steered toward unsustainable mortgages; others lost their jobs in the economic downturn resulting in unprecedented home loss. In the last three years alone, communities of color have lost almost or more than? half of their wealth. But in the midst of these setbacks, borrowers have also won some crucial victories over the past year, including the recent Attorneys General settlement, the opening of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the appointment of Richard Cordray as Director of the CFPB. 

Join NCLR (National Council of La Raza) on Monday, July 9, at the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference in Las Vegas for a town hall featuring high-profile housing panelists and federal officials, including Cordray, who will discuss how to fix the broken mortgage market by making it more transparent, fair, and accountable.

To cover this event, press can register for the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference, free of charge, at the press registration website.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT: Town Hall: Don’t Quit the Dream: A Vision for Homeownership Beyond 2012

WHO: Moderator
Maria Elena Salinas, Co-Host, Noticiero Univision and Aquí y Ahora

Featured Speakers
Richard Cordray, Director, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Shaun Donovan, Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Respondents
Gerardo Ascencio, President, National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals
Maria Cabildo, President, East LA Community Corporation

WHEN: Monday, July 9, 2012; 3:00–4:30 p.m.

WHERE:
Mandalay Bay Convention Center
Mandalay Bay Ballroom E
3950 Las Vegas Boulevard, South
Las Vegas, NV 89109

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.

###
   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 Contact:
July 6, 2012                                                           Joseph Rendeiro
                                                                                 jrendeiro@nclr.org
                                                                                NCLR Conference Press Office
                                                                                (702) 322-5587

LAS VEGAS—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) President and CEO Janet Murguía invites press to join her for a question and answer session on Monday, July 9, following her President’s Message during the Monday Luncheon at the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference. Murguía will be available to respond to questions about important topics such as the key role the Hispanic electorate will play in the upcoming election, outreach to the Latino community from both political parties, and the significance of both the Health Care Reform and SB 1070 Supreme Court decisions for Latinos. If you plan to participate in this event, RSVP to Joseph Rendeiro at jrendeiro@nclr.org.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:           Question and answer session following President’s Message

WHO:             Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO
                       Jorge Plasencia, NCLR Board Chair

WHEN:           Monday, July 9, 2012, 2:30–3:00 p.m.

WHERE:        Mandalay Bay Convention Center South
                       NCLR Press Office
                       Level 2, Room Reef DE 
                      3950 Las Vegas Boulevard, South
                      Las Vegas, NV 89109

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.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                       Contact:
July 6, 2012                                                 Julian Teixeira
                                                                       jteixeira@nclr.org
                                                                      NCLR Conference Press Office:
                                                                      (702) 322-5587

LAS VEGAS—U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will deliver the keynote address before the 2012 NCLR (National Council of La Raza) Annual Conference at the National Affiliate Luncheon on SATURDAY, JULY 7, 2012, at 12:30 p.m. PDT at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:              Remarks to the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference

WHO:                Eric Holder, Attorney General of the United States
WHEN:              Saturday, July 7, 2012; 12:30 p.m. PDT

WHERE:           Mandalay Bay Convention Center South
                          Mandalay Bay Ballroom
                          3950 Las Vegas Boulevard, South
                          Las Vegas, NV 89109

NOTE: All media must present government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license) as well as valid media credentials. Upon arrival, members of the media must register and receive credentials at the NCLR Press Office in room Reef DE. For security purposes, media check-in and equipment setup must be completed by 11:15 a.m. PDT for an 11:30 a.m. PDT security sweep. Once the security sweep is completed, additional media equipment will NOT be permitted to enter and swept equipment will NOT be permitted to exit. Press inquiries regarding logistics should be directed to Julian Teixeira at jteixeira@nclr.org or (202) 365-2273.

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.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                            Contact:
July 6, 2012                                                        Camila Gallardo
                                                                              (305) 573-7329
                                                                              cgallardo@nclr.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) issued its Monthly Latino Employment Report following today’s release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) job growth numbers. In the month of June, the nation experienced a net gain of only 80,000 new jobs, more bad news for the Hispanic community, which is among the hardest hit. In May, the Hispanic workforce witnessed its highest unemployment numbers so far this year—11%—and that remained unchanged in June.

NCLR’s report focuses on one of the nation’s most affected states, Nevada, which consequently is host to this year’s NCLR Annual Conference, the largest and most important yearly gathering of the nation’s most influential individuals, organizations, institutions, and companies working with the Hispanic community. Latinos are an integral part of Nevada’s workforce, accounting for 23% of the state’s total labor force. Here, and in other states where Hispanics have been disproportionately affected by the housing market crash and the loss of construction-sector jobs, sluggish job growth means a longer road to recovery for Latino families.

“Nevada still has a long way to go, due in large part to the scar left by the housing market crash in a state where construction was a mainstay of the state’s economic engine,” said Catherine Singley, Senior Policy Analyst with NCLR’s Economic and Employment Policy Project.

The most recent numbers available, show that the Las Vegas–Paradise area ranked fourth among other major Hispanic metropolitan areas in terms of Hispanic unemployment in 2011.

“Nevada clearly has enormous challenges ahead. Key to the state’s recovery will be finding unique ways to diversify its industries and put talented, hardworking Latinos back to work,” concluded Singley.

Click here for the full Monthly Latino Employment Report.

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.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                Contact:
July 6, 2012                                                          Julian Teixeira 
                                                                                (202) 776-1812
                                                                                 jteixeira@nclr.org

Actor Wilson Cruz to be honored at LGBT and Allies Reception

LAS VEGAS—Marriage equality, bullying, and workplace discrimination are just a few of the important issues that the Latino LGBT community is grappling with in both the political arena and their daily lives. For the first time, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) will include a LGBT track in its workshop lineup at the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference, offering participants the chance to hear from leading experts on LGBT policy issues and giving them the opportunity to make their voices heard.

“This year, we are committed to creating an even more inclusive Conference that addresses the unique struggles that LGBT Latinos face in this country,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “We have seen major gains in the past couple of years for the LGBT community, but there is still much more to be done to achieve full equality and we want to ensure that NCLR is part of the discourse that will lead us there.”

Additionally, NCLR will host an LGBT and Allies Reception, sponsored by American Airlines and the Gill Foundation, honoring actor, activist, and ALMA Award® recipient Wilson Cruz on Sunday evening, July 8 as part of the Annual Conference. John Berry, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, will also receive a special recognition from NCLR during the reception.

The Gill Foundation has generously sponsored the LGBT and Allies Reception at the NCLR Annual Conference for the past three years and continues to fund the important LGBT-focused policy work that NCLR has undertaken. This reception comes just one month after the NCLR Board, as well as Murguía, backed President Obama’s endorsement of marriage equality. NCLR has also recently pushed the Obama administration to issue an executive order to eliminate workplace discrimination for contractors who work with the federal government, and spoke out against the National Organization for Marriage’s divisive strategies to pit the Latino community against the LGBT community in the debate over same-sex marriage. In fact, a study released by NCLR in April shows that Latinos overwhelmingly support pro-LGBT policies.
For more information about the workshops offered at the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference, as well as the LGBT and Allies Reception, please visit the NCLR website.

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.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
jrendeiro@nclr.org
NCLR Conference Press Office:
(702) 322-5587

LAS VEGAS—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) recognized two community organizations at the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference held July 7–10 in Las Vegas, Nev., for their excellence in serving Latino families. The 2012 Family Strengthening Awards were presented to the Latin American Coalition of Charlotte, N.C., and Hacienda Community Development Corporation of Portland, Ore., at the National Affiliate Luncheon on Saturday, July 7.

The NCLR Family Strengthening Awards are presented annually to NCLR Affiliate community-based organizations that have demonstrated exemplary work in the Hispanic community and made a measurable impact in strengthening Latino families. The award winners will each receive a cash award of $15,000 and will have an opportunity to share their winning program’s best practices with other organizations in the NCLR Affiliate Network.

“The Family Strengthening Awards offer us an opportunity to honor organizations in the NCLR Affiliate Network that are diligently and effectively serving Latino families, to recognize Affiliates’ specific programs that demonstrate a holistic approach to strengthening families, and to showcase their work to other Affiliates attending Conference,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR. “The Latin American Coalition and Hacienda Community Development Corporation have each designed winning programs that connect parents to the resources, social networks, and support that provide a solid economic grounding for their families and help their children succeed.” 

The Latin American Coalition’s Immigrant Welcome Center was recognized for its crucial work in helping more than 6,000 immigrants integrate each year into local communities in North Carolina. The program moves Latino families through an intentional path that includes crisis intervention, victim assistance, and integration support, all building toward full civic and economic participation in their communities. 

“We are honored to be recognized for our commitment to immigrant integration,” said Jess George, Executive Director of the Latin American Coalition. “Winning the Family Strengthening Award from NCLR is more than a validation of our model: it is an opportunity to share what we have learned with our fellow Affiliates across the country.”

Hacienda Community Development Corporation—Portland’s only Latino affordable housing developer and the largest Latino-serving and Latino-led nonprofit in Oregon—was recognized for its after-school program Expresiones, which serves youth in grades K–9 and their families. Established in 2006, the program provides a combination of bilingual academic support, culturally appropriate personal enrichment activities, and service-learning opportunities, while also offering parents resources to help them navigate the U.S. education system and support their children’s academic success. 

“At Hacienda, we believe that a good life begins with a strong family, a safe and affordable place to call home, and tools to navigate our educational system. Through our various initiatives, Hacienda works to develop quality and sustainable neighborhoods that empower Oregon’s Latino community,” stated Victor Merced, Executive Director of Hacienda Community Development Corporation. “The NCLR Family Strengthening Award represents national acknowledgement of our success in serving youth and their families. Hacienda is proud and honored to receive this award.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                        Contact:
July 7, 2012                                                  Joseph Rendeiro
                                                                      jrendeiro@nclr.org
                                                                      NCLR Conference Press Office
                                                                      (702) 322-5587

LAS VEGAS—Join NCLR (National Council of La Raza) for a special Latinas Brunch on Sunday, July 8, at the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The event, which focuses on empowering women to live a healthy, financially secure, and balanced life, features a line-up of esteemed speakers that includes Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO; Suze Orman, Financial Advisor, Author, and Television Personality; Nely Galán, Founder of the Adelante Movement; and Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevada Attorney General. The brunch is open to the press at no charge.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:                          Latinas Brunch: ¡Salud, Riqueza y Felicidad!...And the Time to Enjoy Them.

WHO:                            Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO
                                      Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevada Attorney General
                                      Nely Galán, Founder, The Adelante Movement
                                      Suze Orman, Financial Advisor, Author, and Television Personality

WHEN:                          Sunday, July 8, 2012, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

WHERE:                        Mandalay Bay Convention Center South
                                      Mandalay Bay Ballroom
                                      3950 Las Vegas Boulevard, South
                                      Las Vegas, NV 89109

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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Read on for the conference's biggest events, surprises, trends and comments from our hosts and attendees. The opening ceremonies were spectacular with lots of special appearances, cool giveaways, and meaningful awards.

NCLR 2012 Conference in Las Vegas Day 1 Wrap-Up

Read on for the conference's biggest events, surprises, trends and comments from our hosts and attendees. The opening ceremonies were spectacular with lots of special appearances, cool giveaways, and meaningful awards.

Storified by NCLR · Sat, Jul 07 2012 18:17:53

As you’d expect from our conference schedule, today’s events shed light into timely women issues; speakers predicted a world in which women would lead advances limited only by imagination and not resources.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Camila Gallardo
(305) 215-4259
cgallardo@nclr.org
NCLR Conference Press Office:
(702) 322-5587

Immigration Narrowly Behind

LAS VEGAS—A survey of 804 respondents, attendees of the 2012 NCLR (National Council of La Raza) Annual Conference, the largest yearly gathering of Latino leaders in the nation, participated in the annual straw poll meant to measure policy and issue priorities in the Latino community. A 36 percent plurality of those surveyed identified jobs and the economy as the most important issues to the community; immigration was narrowly behind at 29 percent, and education continued to be a top priority for 21 percent of attendees.

Over the course of the past weekend, attendees at the NCLR Annual Conference were invited to participate in the mobile straw poll conducted via text message. This year’s number of survey respondents almost doubled that of last year, most likely a result of heightened awareness of policy issues due to the upcoming presidential election, as well as the site of this year’s Conference being Nevada—a state hit hard by the housing and employment crisis. This year’s results differ significantly from last year’s, in which nearly half (45 percent) of Conference participants cited immigration as their top issue while jobs and the economy were identified as top-tier concerns for only one-quarter (25 percent).

While immigration slipped as the top issue, anti-immigrant measures such as Arizona’s SB 1070 and Alabama’s HB 56 are not going unnoticed; an overwhelming 77 percent of those surveyed said these laws have served as a motivating factor for them to turn out to the polls in November.

“The fact that Latinos are motivated to turn out in November is welcome news considering how important this year’s election is,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “Our community is clearly spurred by the desire to speed up their own economic recovery, and they are motivated to turn out by the attempts to marginalize the community through anti-immigrant legislation. They’ve made it clear that their voices in the electoral process will not be silenced.”

“Nearly half of respondents (48 percent) say that representing the Latino community is their chief criterion, above partisanship; those who plan to vote primarily to support a political party prefer Democrats over Republicans by a substantial margin (36 percent to 5 percent). These data only provide more fuel for the argument that candidates for office at all levels should heed the priorities of the growing and politically significant Latino electorate,” noted Celinda Lake of Lake Research Partners, the firm that analyzed the results of the straw poll.

Additional highlights from the poll:
• A majority (73 percent) strongly support the Supreme Court decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, while only 8 percent disagree.
• President Barack Obama was overwhelmingly the candidate of choice garnering 80 percent of the support of Conference attendees; Gov. Mitt Romney netted 10 percent support.
• Nearly half of the respondents (48 percent) said that supporting and representing the Latino community is more important than supporting one particular political party.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2012 NCLR ALMA AWARDS®, AIRING FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 (8:00–9:00 p.m. EDT) ON NBC, AND ONLINE VOTING LAUNCHES AT ALMAAwards.com
Nominees include Diego Boneta, Eva Mendes, Christina Aguilera, Bruno Mars, and Jennifer Lopez

LOS ANGELES—The nominees for the 2012 NCLR (National Council of La Raza) ALMA Awards® have been announced, and fans can now vote for their favorite stars online at ALMAAwards.com. There, they can also enter for the chance to attend the show as an ALMA Awards VIP during the taping of the one-hour prime-time special to air Friday, September 21 at 8:00 p.m. EDT on NBC.

The NCLR ALMA Awards will kick off Hispanic Heritage Month as a celebration of the entertainers who have upheld and promoted a socially proactive image of Hispanic culture in today’s media. The telecast will showcase the spirit and accomplishments of some of the most prolific Latinos in the entertainment industry, spanning music, television, and film.

With the online voting system, fans will now have the power to drive in enough votes to see their favorite stars, musical performers, and shows receive the recognition and prestige that have become hallmarks of the famed awards show. Additionally, fans who cast their votes will get the chance to win a VIP experience for two including airfare, hotel, VIP tickets to the show, and an invitation to the VIP Post-Party. To vote, please go to www.almaawards.com; voting ends on September 7, 2012.

Winners of the NCLR ALMA Awards will be determined by evaluating votes cast as well as box office, Nielsen, and Billboard rankings, and in consultation with the NCLR ALMA Awards Production Leadership Team. Selection rules and eligibility are posted at www.almaawards.com. Not all awards will be presented on-air during the NBC special. However, viewers can watch the remaining award presentations during the preshow streamed online via telemundo.com/almaawards.

This year the show will be produced by Dick Clark Productions’ executive producers Orly Adelson and Barry Adelman along with Eva Longoria and Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. NBC will air the initial broadcast; mun2 will present the ALMA Awards Red Carpet special and rebroadcast the show; Telemundo will host the official ALMA Awards website at www.telemundo.com/almaawards; and Comcast will leverage its cable outlets to both promote and provide the show to viewers via video on demand.

“Along with our partners NBCU/Comcast, PepsiCo, and of course, Eva Longoria, NCLR is revving up for what will surely be a fabulous show. With their partnership and with our strong and varied slate of nominees this year, we’re looking forward to presenting an amazing show for our viewers and fans,” stated Janet Murguía.

“We’re excited to partner once again with the NCLR ALMA Awards to showcase the outstanding contributions and achievements of Latino performers,” said Doug Vaughan, NBC’s Senior Vice President, Specials and Late Night Programming.

Stated Orly Adelson, “We strongly believe in the message surrounding the ALMA Awards and are looking forward to working with Eva, Janet, and NBC to produce an exciting, meaningful, and prestigious show.”

PepsiCo joins NBCU in renewing its partnership with the ALMA Awards, returning as the show’s Presenting Sponsor.

For additional information, including announcements about the presenters and performers at this year’s ceremony, please visit www.almaawards.com or follow the show on Twitter at @almaawards. Information is also available at www.nbc.com/alma-awards/.

2012 NCLR ALMA Awards Categories and Nominees

Favorite Movie

Act of Valor
For Greater Glory
Girl in Progress
Puss in Boots
The Way

Favorite Movie Actor

Diego Boneta, Rock of Ages
Benicio Del Toro, Savages
Andy Garcia, For Greater Glory
Rodrigo Santoro, What to Expect When You're Expecting
Martin Sheen, The Way

Favorite Movie Actress—Drama/Adventure

Salma Hayek, Savages
Eva Longoria, For Greater Glory
Eva Mendes, Girl in Progress
Roselyn Sanchez, Act of Valor
Zoe Saldana, Colombiana

Favorite Movie Actress—Comedy/Musical

Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Penelope Cruz, To Rome With Love
Cameron Diaz, What to Expect When You're Expecting
Jennifer Lopez, What to Expect When You're Expecting
Aubrey Plaza, Safety Not Guaranteed

Favorite Movie Actor—Supporting Role

Demián Bichir, Savages
Rubén Blades, For Greater Glory
Emilio Estevez, The Way
Oscar Isaac, For Greater Glory
Édgar Ramírez, Wrath of the Titans

Favorite Movie Actress—Supporting Role

Mia Maestro, Savages
Cierra Ramirez, Girl in Progress
Genesis Rodriguez, Man on the Ledge
Harmony Santana, Gun Hill Road
Sofía Vergara, The Three Stooges

Favorite TV Reality, Variety, or Comedy Personality or Act

Christina Aguilera, The Voice (NBC)
Gabriel Iglesias, Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-Up Revolution (Comedy Central)
George Lopez, Take Me Out (FOX)
Jennifer Lopez, American Idol (FOX)
William Levy, Dancing with the Stars (ABC)

Favorite TV Actor

Benjamin Bratt, Private Practice (ABC)
Danny Pino, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC)
Tyler Posey, Teen Wolf (MTV)
James Roday, Psych (USA)
Charlie Sheen, Anger Management (FX)

Favorite TV Actress—Drama

Jordana Brewster, Dallas (TNT)
Julie Gonzalo, Dallas (TNT)
Cote de Pablo, NCIS (CBS)
Lana Parrilla, Once Upon a Time (ABC)
Madeleine Stowe, Revenge (ABC)

Favorite TV Actress—Comedy

Victoria Justice, Victorious (Nickelodeon)
Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Naya Rivera, Glee (FOX)
Belle Thorne, Shake It Up (Disney Channel)
Sofía Vergara, Modern Family (ABC)

Favorite TV Actor—Supporting Role in a Drama

Guillermo Diaz, Scandal (ABC)
Carlos Gomez, The Glades (A&E)
Jon Huertas, Castle (ABC)
Michael Trevino, The Vampire Diaries (CW)
David Zayas, Dexter (Showtime)

Favorite TV Actor—Supporting Role in a Comedy

Hector Elizondo, Last Man Standing (ABC)
Ian Gomez, Cougar Town (TBS)
Adam Irigoyen, Shake It Up (Disney Channel)
Oscar Nuñez, The Office (NBC)
Rico Rodriguez, Modern Family (ABC)

Favorite TV Actress—Supporting Role

Constance Marie, Switched at Birth (ABC Family)
Sara Ramirez, Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
Sarah Ramos, Parenthood (NBC)
Gina Torres, Suits (USA Network)
Lauren Vélez, Dexter (Showtime)

Favorite Male Music Artist

Bruno Mars
Pitbull
Ricky Martin
Romeo Santos
Santana

Favorite Female Music Artist

Gloria Estefan
Jennifer Lopez
Demi Lovato
Naya Rivera
Esperanza Spalding

MEDIA CONTACTS

For NBC:
Jill Carmen, NBC Publicity, 805/376-1962, jcge@earthlink.net

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

For Dick Clark Productions:
Brian Rubin, PMK•BNC, (310) 854-4800, Brian.Rubin@pmkbnc.com.

###

PARA DIVULGACIÓN INMEDIATA

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

SE ANUNCIARON LOS NOMINADOS A LOS PREMIOS ALMA® 2012 DEL NCLR, SE EMITIRÁN EL VIERNES 21 DE SEPTIEMBRE (8:00–9:00 PM EDT) EN NBC, Y SE LANZA LA VOTACIÓN EN LÍNEA EN ALMAAwards.com
Entre los nominados están Diego Boneta, Eva Mendes, Christina Aguilera, Bruno Mars, y Jennifer López

LOS ANGELES—Se han anunciado los nominados a los premios ALMA® 2012 del NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza) y ahora, los admiradores de los artistas pueden votar en línea por sus estrellas favoritas en ALMAAwards.com. También ahí, pueden inscribirse para intentar ganar una entrada a la grabación del programa especial, de una hora en horario estelar, como VIP de los premios ALMA y que se emitirá el viernes 21 de septiembre a las 8:00 PM tiempo estándar del este (EDT) en la cadena NBC.

Los premios ALMA del NCLR darán comienzo al Mes de la Herencia Hispana y son una celebración para honrar a los artistas que han mantenido y promovido una imagen proactiva a nivel social de la cultura hispana en los medios de comunicación de hoy. La emisión televisiva mostrará el espíritu y los logros de algunos de los latinos más prolíficos de la industria del entretenimiento, la música, la televisión y el cine.

Con el sistema de votación en línea, ahora los admiradores de los artistas tendrán el poder de enviar votos suficientes para que sus estrellas, artistas musicales y programas favoritos reciban el reconocimiento y prestigio que se han convertido en sello de la famosa entrega de premios. Además, los que voten tendrán la oportunidad de ganar una experiencia VIP para dos personas incluyendo pasajes aéreos, hotel, entradas VIP para el espectáculo y una invitación para después de la fiesta VIP. Para votar, por favor visite www.almaawards.com; la votación terminará el 7 de septiembre de 2012.

Los ganadores de los premios ALMA se determinarán mediante la evaluación de los votos emitidos y la taquilla, Nielsen y los rankings de Billboard, y con el asesoramiento del Equipo de Liderazgo de Producción de los premios ALMA del NCLR. Las reglas de selección y elegibilidad están publicadas en www.almaawards.com. No todos los premios se entregarán al aire durante el programa especial de la cadena NBC. No obstante, los espectadores podrán ver la entrega de los premios restantes durante el pre-show de televisión transmitido en línea a través de telemundo.com/almaawards.

Este año el espectáculo será producido por los productores ejecutivos Orly Adelson y Barry Adelman de Dick Clark Productions junto con Eva Longoria y Janet Murguía, presidenta y directora general del NCLR. NBC emitirá la emisión inicial; mun2 presentara el especial de la Alfombra Roja y retransmitirá el programa; Telemundo será el anfitrión oficial de la página de internet de los premios ALMA en www.telemundo.com/almaawards; y Comcast aprovechará sus canales de cable para promover y pasar el espectáculo en su servicio de video bajo demanda

“Junto con nuestros socios NBCU/Comcast, PepsiCo, y por supuesto, Eva Longoria, el NCLR calienta motores para lo que seguramente será un espectáculo fabuloso. Con su colaboración y con nuestra variada y sólida lista de nominados de este año, esperamos presentarle a todos nuestros televidentes y admiradores de los artistas un espectáculo increíble”, declaró Janet Murguía.

“Estamos muy emocionados de colaborar una vez más con los premios ALMA del NCLR para mostrar las excelentes contribuciones y logros de los artistas latinos”, dijo Doug Vaughan, vicepresidente sénior de Programas Especiales y Nocturnos de NBC.

Orly Adelson declaró, “creemos firmemente en el mensaje que dan los premios ALMA y esperamos poder trabajar con Eva, Janet, y la NBC para producir un espectáculo emocionante, significativo y prestigioso”.

PepsiCo se une a NBCU en la renovación de su asociación con los premios ALMA y vuelve a ser el patrocinador presentador del programa de este año .

Para información adicional, incluyendo el anuncio de los presentadores y artistas de la ceremonia de este año, por favor visite www.almaawards.com o siga el programa en Twitter en @almaawards. También hay información disponible en www.nbc.com/alma-awards/.

Categorías y nominados de los premios ALMA 2012 del NCLR

Película favorita

Act of Valor
For Greater Glory
Girl in Progress
Puss in Boots
The Way

Actor de cine favorito

Diego Boneta, Rock of Ages
Benicio Del Toro, Savages
Andy García, For Greater Glory
Rodrigo Santoro, What to Expect When You're Expecting
Martín Sheen, The Way

Actriz de cine favorita—Drama/aventura

Salma Hayek, Savages
Eva Longoria, For Greater Glory
Eva Mendes, Girl in Progress
Roselyn Sánchez, Act of Valor
Zoe Saldana, Colombiana

Actriz de cine favorita—Comedia/musical

Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Penélope Cruz, To Rome With Love
Cameron Díaz, What to Expect When You're Expecting
Jennifer López, What to Expect When You're Expecting
Aubrey Plaza, Safety Not Guaranteed

Actor de cine favorito—Papel secundario

Demián Bichir, Savages
Rubén Blades, For Greater Glory
Emilio Estévez, The Way
Oscar Isaac, For Greater Glory
Edgar Ramírez, Wrath of the Titans

Actriz de cine favorita—Papel secundario

Mia Maestro, Savages
Cierra Ramírez, Girl in Progress
Génesis Rodríguez, Man on the Ledge
Harmony Santana, Gun Hill Road
Sofía Vergara, The Three Stooges

Personalidad o actuación favorita de reality show, variedad o comedia en TV

Christina Aguilera, The Voice (NBC)
Gabriel Iglesias, Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-Up Revolution (Comedy Central)
George López, Take Me Out (FOX)
Jennifer López, American Idol (FOX)
William Levy, Dancing with the Stars (ABC)

Actor de televisión favorito

Benjamin Bratt, Private Practice (ABC)
Danny Pino, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC)
Tyler Posey, Teen Wolf (MTV)
James Roday, Psych (USA)
Charlie Sheen, Anger Management (FX)

Actriz de televisión favorita—Drama

Jordana Brewster, Dallas (TNT)
Julie Gonzalo, Dallas (TNT)
Cote de Pablo, NCIS (CBS)
Lana Parrilla, Once Upon a Time (ABC)
Madeleine Stowe, Revenge (ABC)

Actriz de televisión favorita—Comedia

Victoria Justice, Victorious (Nickelodeon)
Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Naya Rivera, Glee (FOX)
Belle Thorne, Shake It Up (Canal Disney)
Sofía Vergara, Modern Family (ABC)

Actor de televisión favorito—Papel secundario en drama

Guillermo Díaz, Scandal (ABC)
Carlos Gómez, The Glades (A&E)
Jon Huertas, Castle (ABC)
Michael Trevino, The Vampire Diaries (CW)
David Zayas, Dexter (Showtime)

Actor de televisión favorito—Papel secundario en comedia

Hector Elizondo, Last Man Standing (ABC)
Ian Gómez, Cougar Town (TBS)
Adam Irigoyen, Shake It Up (Canal Disney)
Oscar Núñez, The Office (NBC)
Rico Rodríguez, Modern Family (ABC)

Actriz de televisión favorita—Papel secundario

Constance Marie, Switched at Birth (ABC Family)
Sara Ramírez, Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
Sarah Ramos, Parenthood (NBC)
Gina Torres, Suits (USA Network)
Lauren Vélez, Dexter (Showtime)

Artista musical favorito

Bruno Mars
Pitbull
Ricky Martin
Romeo Santos
Santana

Artista musical favorita

Gloria Estefan
Jennifer López
Demi Lovato
Naya Rivera
Esperanza Spalding

CONTACTOS PARA LOS MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN

Para NBC:
Jill Carmen de NBC Publicity, 805/376-1962, jcge@earthlink.net

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

Para Dick Clark Productions:
Brian Rubin de PMK•BNC, (310) 854-4800, Brian.Rubin@pmkbnc.com. 

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It was an electrifying day with accomplished speakers and lots of important information for Latinos everywhere.

NCLR Conference 2012 Day 3 Wrap-Up

There was loads going on during the third day of conference. Attendees heard from fantastic speakers, enjoyed in-depth workshops, and made new contacts with the strongest in their industry.

Storified by NCLR · Tue, Jul 10 2012 08:19:49

PARA DIVULGACIÓN INMEDIATA                            Para más información:
10 de julio de 2012                                                      Julián Teixeira
                                                                                     (202) 776-1812
                                                                                     jteixeira@nclr.org

LAS VEGAS—Esta noche, el NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza) presentó seis premios honrando a personas y organizaciones que han demostrado logros ejemplares, tanto en su campo como en el servicio a la comunidad hispana de los Estados Unidos. Janet Murguía, presidenta y directora general del NCLR, felicitó a los ganadores en la gala anual de premios de la organización, que es el acto de clausura de la Conferencia Anual 2012 del NCLR que se llevó a cabo del 7 al 10 julio en Las Vegas, Nevada.

Los ganadores de este año incluyeron al afiliado del NCLR Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA por sus siglas en inglés), una organización no lucrativa con sede en Texas; los reverendos James Manship y Ángel Fernández-Chavero de la iglesia católica St. Rose of Lima de New Haven, Connecticut; el honorable Reynaldo L. Martínez, ex jefe de personal del senador Harry Reid de Nevada; Rossana Rosado, editora y directora general del periódico El Diario-La Prensa; Jesse James Leija, ex campeón mundial de boxeo y partidario de la Miracle League de San Antonio; y Christine M. Owens, vicepresidenta de comunicaciones y manejo de marca de UPS.

“Es un placer para el NCLR dar un reconocimiento a las personas que han hecho tan excelentes contribuciones a la comunidad hispana y a nuestro gran país. Han demostrado que no hay límites para lo que se quiere lograr si se trabaja duro. Ahora más que nunca, los latinos necesitan el tipo de campeones que honramos este año”, dijo Murguía. “Felicitamos a todos los premiados y les agradecemos ser una inspiración para todos nosotros”.

Los ganadores de los premios de este año son:

La organización AAMA, receptora del premio Afiliado del Año del NCLR, es una de las organizaciones no lucrativas más influyente en Texas. Ofrece una gama completa de programas y servicios innovadores a más de 22,000 personas cada año. Con un enfoque principalmente en la educación y la juventud, AAMA tiene una trayectoria estelar de servicio a la comunidad latina a través de programas como el de la escuela preparatoria George I. Sánchez Charter, que ayuda a abordar el problema de abandono escolar en Houston; el programa Adelante, que proporciona a los adultos las habilidades y la educación necesarias para entrar y progresar en el mercado laboral; y una serie de servicios de intervención, tales como Barrios Unidos, para los jóvenes latinos en riesgo de involucrarse en pandillas, consumo de drogas, problemas familiares, y abandono escolar. El Afiliado del Año es el honor más alto otorgado a una organización afiliada no lucrativa por su manejo ejemplar, servicio a su comunidad, y para reconocer la participación activa de la misma en la promoción de las iniciativas programáticas y legislativas del NCLR.

Los reverendos James Manship y Ángel Fernández-Chavero de la iglesia católica St. Rose of Lima de New Haven, Connecticut fueron honrados con el Premio Graciela Olivarez La Raza. Los reverendos Manship y Fernández-Chavero, líderes en el consejo pastoral de la iglesia, fueron fundamentales para sacar a la luz el abuso que reciben de la policía los miembros de la comunidad en la ciudad vecina de East Haven –paradas arbitrarias de la policía, palizas, disparos de armas paralizantes, calumnias discriminatorias, y cateo ilegal– y que en última instancia llevó a la detención de cuatro oficiales de la policía de East Haven. También fundaron el Grupo de Trabajo sobre Educación de St. Rose of Lima, que proporciona apoyo vital a los jóvenes en su camino a la universidad, y estuvieron fuertemente involucrados en la aprobación de la ley “DREAM Act” en Connecticut. El NCLR otorga este premio anualmente a una persona u organización que haya contribuido considerablemente a la promoción de los intereses de los estadounidenses de origen hispano.

El honorable Reynaldo L. Martínez, ex jefe de personal del senador Harry Reid, recibió el Premio al Liderazgo Maclovio Barraza. Durante toda su carrera, Martínez se ha asegurado de que los latinos sean considerados justamente para los puestos clave dentro del personal de la oficina del senador y que los estudiantes latinos estuvieran representados en el programa de bacarios. Ayudó a establecer la Latino Youth Leadership Conference en 1993, cuyo objetivo es aumentar el número de estudiantes hispanos que asisten a la universidad y desarrollar sus habilidades de liderazgo, así como la Hispanic Political Academy, que le proporciona a los líderes de la comunidad latina las habilidades que necesitan para trabajar en campañas y presentar su candidatura. También implementó un plan para realizar a nivel estatal varias Cumbres de Liderazgo Hispano, las reuniones más grandes de líderes latinos en Nevada para debatir sobre los asuntos que afectan a los latinos en el estado. Este premio reconoce a aquellos que han trabajado por el mejoramiento de la comunidad hispana a nivel local y cuyo liderazgo ha servido como una fuente de fortaleza y apoyo para dicha comunidad.

Rossana Rosado recibió el Premio de Comunicaciones Rubén Salazar. Como editora y directora general de El Diario-La Prensa, el periódico en español más grande de Nueva York y el más antiguo del país, ha sido verdaderamente una líder en el mercado de medios de comunicación más grande del país y ha utilizado su imagen para sacar a la luz asuntos que afectan a sus lectores en todo Nueva York. En 1995, fue la primera mujer en desempeñar el puesto de editora en jefe desde que se fundó La Prensa en 1913. Solamente algunos años después fue nombrada editora, y ahora supervisa las operaciones diarias y es responsable de un ingreso anual de $22 millones de dólares. Este premio se otorga a una persona que haya dedicado su vida profesional a describir los problemas, preocupaciones y/o noticias relevantes para los hispanos en los Estados Unidos, así como a promover las contribuciones positivas que los latinos han hecho a la sociedad estadounidense.

El Premio de Excelencia en el Deporte Roberto Clemente fue otorgado a Jesse James Leija, un boxeador de clase mundial con dos títulos mundiales de peso pluma de WBC junto con nueve peleas y triunfos de título mundial contra 15 rivales mundiales y tres olímpicos. Desde que se retiró, Leija ha sido un gran partidario de la Miracle League de San Antonio, una organización de beneficencia de su ciudad natal que da la oportunidad de jugar al béisbol, en un equipo de una liga organizada, a niños con problemas mentales y/o físicos. Ayudó a recaudar dinero para construir un complejo de cuatro acres que cuenta con canchas y pistas con superficies especiales para jugadores con diferentes necesidades, incluyendo a veteranos heridos bajo tratamiento en una instalación médica militar. Este premio se otorga a una persona de renombre en el mundo del deporte y que esté comprometido con el progreso de los estadounidenses hispanos.

El Premio del Presidente Raúl Yzaguirre fue dado a Christine M. Owens, vicepresidenta sénior de comunicaciones y manejo de marca de UPS. Aunque su ámbito se extiende a 214 países y más de 400,000 empleados a nivel mundial, Owens ha dedicado considerable tiempo a fortalecer la marca del NCLR, imagen que influye en la percepción externa de la organización. Su orientación ha sido fundamental en la manera en que el NCLR se da a conocer, y en la mejora de la forma en que comunica los asuntos a las personas que no están familiarizadas con la comunidad latina. Este premio se presenta cada año a un individuo u organización que ha demostrado un gran apoyo a la misión, las metas y la filosofía del NCLR.

La Gala de Entrega de Premios del NCLR fue copatrocinada este año por Eli Lilly and Company, Ford Motor Company, UPS, y Walmart.

El NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza) es la organización nacional más grande de apoyo y defensa de los derechos civiles de los hispanos en los Estados Unidos y trabaja para mejorar sus oportunidades. Para más información sobre el NCLR, por favor visite www.nclr.org o síganos en Facebook y Twitter.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         Contact:
July 10, 2012                                                 Julian Teixeira
                                                                       (202) 776-1812
                                                                       jteixeira@nclr.org

LAS VEGAS—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) presented six awards this evening to honor individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exemplary accomplishments, both in their fields and in service to the Hispanic community in the United States. NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía congratulated the winners at the organization’s annual Awards Gala, which is the closing event of the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference held July 7–10 in Las Vegas, Nev.

This year’s winners include NCLR Affiliate the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA), a nonprofit community organization based in Texas; Rev. James Manship and Angel Fernandez-Chavero of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in New Haven, Conn.; the Honorable Reynaldo L. Martinez, former Chief of Staff to Senator Harry Reid of Nevada; Rossana Rosado, Publisher and CEO of El Diario-La Prensa newspaper; Jesse James Leija, former world champion boxer and supporter of the Miracle League of San Antonio; and Christine M. Owens, Senior Vice President of Communications and Brand Management at UPS.

“NCLR is honored to recognize individuals who have made such outstanding contributions to the Hispanic community and to our great nation. They have shown that there are no limits to what can be achieved through hard work, vision, and perseverance. Now more than ever, Latinos need the kind of champions we are honoring this year,” Murguía said. “We congratulate all awardees and thank them for being an inspiration to us all.”

This year’s awardees:

AAMA, the recipient of NCLR’s Affiliate of the Year Award, is one of the most influential nonprofits in Texas, offering a comprehensive array of innovative programs and services to more than 22,000 individuals each year. With a particular focus on education and youth, AAMA has a stellar track record of outreach to the Latino community through programs such as the George I. Sanchez Charter High School, which helps address Latino dropout rates in Houston; the Adelante program, which provides adults with the skills and education necessary to enter and advance in the workplace; and a number of intervention services, such as Barrios Unidos, offered to Latino youth at risk for gang involvement, drug use, family difficulties, and dropping out of school. The Affiliate of the Year Award is the highest honor bestowed upon an Affiliate for exemplary nonprofit management, service to its community, and active engagement in and promotion of NCLR’s programmatic and advocacy initiatives.

Reverend James Manship and Angel Fernandez-Chavero of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in New Haven, Conn. were honored with the Graciela Olivarez La Raza Award. Rev. Manship and Fernandez-Chavero, a leader on the church’s pastoral council, were instrumental in bringing to light the abuses that members of the community received from police in the neighboring town of East Haven—arbitrary police stops, beatings, stun-gun shots, racial slurs, and illegal searches—which ultimately led to the arrest of four East Haven police officers. They also founded the St. Rose of Lima Education Task Force, which provides crucial support for DREAMers on the journey to college, and were heavily involved in the passage of the Connecticut “DREAM Act.” NCLR presents the Graciela Olivarez La Raza Award annually to an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to promoting the interests of Hispanic Americans.

The Honorable Reynaldo L. Martinez, former Chief of Staff to Senator Harry Reid, received the Maclovio Barraza Award for Leadership. Throughout his career, Martinez has ensured that Latinos were fairly considered for key positions on the senator’s staff and that Latino students were represented during each internship session. He helped establish the Latino Youth Leadership Conference in 1993, which aims to increase the number of Hispanic students attending college and build their leadership skills, as well as the Hispanic Political Academy, which gives Latino community leaders the skills they need to work on campaigns and run for office. He also implemented a plan to hold several statewide Hispanic Leadership Summits—the largest gatherings of Latino Leaders from across Nevada to discuss vital issues impacting Latinos in the state.  The Maclovio Barraza Award for Leadership recognizes those who have worked for the betterment of the Hispanic community at the grassroots level and whose leadership has served as a source of strength and support to the Hispanic community.

Rossana Rosado was presented with the Ruben Salazar Award for Communications. As the Publisher and CEO of El Diario-La Prensa, the largest Spanish-language newspaper in New York and the oldest Spanish-language newspaper in the country, she is truly a leader in the largest media market in the country and has used that visibility to bring to light issues that affect her readers and all of New York. In 1995, she was the first woman to hold the position of editor in chief since La Prensa’s founding in 1913. Only a few years later she was named publisher, and now oversees day-to-day operations and is responsible for more than $22 million in annual revenue. The Ruben Salazar Award for Communications is given to an individual who has dedicated his or her professional life to portraying issues, concerns, and/or news relevant to contemporary Hispanic America and promoting the positive contributions that Latinos have made to U.S. society.

The Roberto Clemente Award for Sports Excellence went to Jesse James Leija, a world-class boxer with two world titles for WBC super featherweight along with nine world title fights and wins against 15 world contenders and three Olympians. Since retiring, Leija has been an important supporter of the Miracle League of San Antonio—a charitable organization in his hometown that provides children with mental and/or physical challenges the opportunity to play baseball as a team member in an organized league. He helped raise money for a fully-lit four-acre complex that offers fields and courts with special surfaces to accomodate players of all needs, including wounded veterans in treatment at local military medical facilities. The Roberto Clemente Award for Sports Excellence is presented to an individual renowned in the world of sports and committed to the advancement of Hispanic Americans.

The Raul Yzaguirre President’s Award was given to Christine M. Owens, Senior Vice President of Communications and Brand Management at UPS. Although her purview at UPS extends to 214 countries and more than 400,000 employees worldwide, Owens has dedicated considerable time to strengthening NCLR’s brand—the image that influences external perceptions of the organization. Her guidance has been instrumental in shaping how NCLR tells its story and in improving the way it communicates issues to others who are not familiar with the Latino community. The Raul Yzaguirre President’s Award is presented each year to an individual or organization that has shown outstanding support for NCLR’s mission, goals, and philosophy.

The NCLR Awards Gala was cosponsored this year by Eli Lilly and Company, Ford Motor Company, UPS, and Walmart.

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

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PARA DIVULGACION INMEDIATA

Para más información:
Camila Gallardo
(305) 215-4259
cgallardo@nclr.org

NCLR Conference Press Office
(702) 322-5587

Queda a la zaga y con escaso margen de atención el tema de inmigración

LAS VEGAS-Un sondeo de opinión a 804 entrevistados se llevo a cabo entre los asistentes a la Conferencia Anual 2012 del NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza); la mayor reunión anual de líderes latinos en el país. La encuesta extraoficial anual mide las tendencias política y los temas de prioridad para la comunidad latina. Una pluralidad de 36 por ciento de los entrevistados identificaron al trabajo y la economía como los temas de mayor importancia para la comunidad, mientras que el tema de la inmigración alcanzó el 29 por ciento y la educación sigue manteniéndose como una prioridad para el 21 por ciento de los asistentes.

En el transcurso del pasado fin de semana, los asistentes a la Conferencia Anual de NCLR fueron invitados a participar en el sondeo de opinión llevado a cabo mediante un dispositivo móvil a través de mensajes de texto. El número de la encuesta de este año llevada a cabo por los encuestados casi duplicó la cifra del año pasado. Probablemente el resultado refleje una mayor conciencia del público asistente sobre temas de política debido a las próximas elecciones presidenciales, así como también el lugar de la Conferencia de este año que se realizó en Nevada, un estado muy afectado por los problemas vinculados con las viviendas y la crisis del empleo. Los resultados de este año difieren significativamente de las cifras arrojadas el año pasado. En esa conferencia anterior casi la mitad (45 por ciento) de los participantes de la conferencia citaron la inmigración como su tema clave, mientras que el tema del trabajo y la economía, identificados como temas prioritarios, apenas alcanzaron un cuarto (25 por ciento) en los resultados finales arrojados por esa encuesta.

Aunque se mencionó la inmigración como tema clave, las medidas antiinmigrantes como la SB 1070 de Arizona y HB Alabama 56 no pasaron desapercibidas. Un abrumador 77 por ciento de los encuestados dijo que estas leyes han servido como un factor que los motiva a ir a las urnas de votación en noviembre.

"El hecho de que los latinos se sienten motivados a salir a votar en noviembre es una buena noticia teniendo en cuenta la gran importancia de las elecciones de este año para los latinos", dijo Janet Murguía, Presidenta y CEO del NCLR. "Nuestra comunidad está, sin dudas, impulsada por el deseo de acelerar su propia recuperación económica, y se siente motivada a luchar para contrarrestar los intentos de marginalizar a la comunidad hispana a través de legislación anti-inmigrante. La comunidad hispana ha dejado bien claro que sus voces no serán silenciadas durante el proceso electoral".

"Casi la mitad de los encuestados (48 por ciento) dicen que la buen representación de la comunidad hispana es el criterio principal para elegir un candidato, y no su partido político; aquellos que si planean apoyar a un candidato basado en su partido político, prefieren los Demócratas sobre los Republicanos por un margen considerable (36 por ciento al 5 por ciento). Estos datos sólo proporcionan mas apoyo para el argumento de que los candidatos que ocuparán cargos en todos los niveles deben prestar atención a las prioridades del creciente electorado latino el que ha adquirido un gran significado en la arena política", señaló Celinda Lake de Lake Research Partners, la firma que analiza los resultados de esta encuesta extraoficial.

Otros puntos destacados de la encuesta:

• La mayoría (73 por ciento) apoyan firmemente la decisión del Tribunal Supremo para defender la Ley de Cuidado de Salud Asequible, mientras que sólo el 8 por ciento no está de acuerdo con la decisión.
• El presidente Barack Obama ha sido elegido por abrumadora mayoría como el candidato preferido obteniendo el 80 por ciento del apoyo de los asistentes a la conferencia, mientras que el gobernador Mitt Romney solamente alcanzó el 10 por ciento.
• Casi la mitad de los encuestados (48 por ciento) dijeron que apoyar y representar la comunidad latina es más importante que dar su apoyo a un candidato basado en su partido político.

El NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza) es la organización nacional más grande de apoyo y defensa de los derechos civiles de los hispanos en los Estados Unidos y trabaja para mejorar sus oportunidades. Para más información sobre el NCLR, por favor visite www.nclr.org o síganos en Facebook y Twitter.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                Contact:
July 11, 2012                                                        Joseph Rendeiro 
                                                                                (202) 776-1566
                                                                                jrendeiro@nclr.org

LAS VEGAS—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) presented the 2012 Affiliate of the Year Award to the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA), an organization committed to making a difference in the lives of at-risk Latino youth and families. AAMA was recognized at the Awards Gala on July 10 at the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“As one of the largest and best-run nonprofits in the country, AAMA has served as a model and mentor to many other community-based organizations in the NCLR Affiliate Network,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR. “As an active, committed participant in NCLR’s advocacy initiatives at the local and national level, AAMA has been one of our most engaged and dedicated allies. And our ongoing partnership in programs such as education and leadership development has helped expand NCLR’s reach into the Texas Latino community.”

Founded in 1970, AAMA has grown into one of the most influential nonprofits in Texas, offering a comprehensive array of innovative programs and services to more than 22,000 individuals each year in Houston, San Antonio, and Laredo. Some of the organization’s crowning achievements include:

• The creation of the Adelante education program which serves more than 1,200 adult students each year and operates four locations in Houston’s East End and North Side, offering a comprehensive curriculum to provide adults with the skills and education necessary to enter and advance in the workplace

• The founding of the George I. Sanchez (GIS) School a charter school designed to more effectively address the growing Latino dropout rate in Houston’s East End through a unique education model that incorporates small class sizes, an innovative curriculum, and support services

• The establishment of numerous counseling, prevention, and treatment programs for Texas youth and adults

In addition to honoring AAMA—an Affiliate in NCLR’s Texas Region—with a $25,000 cash award, NCLR also recognized a Regional Honoree from each of its five other regions. Each honoree was presented with a $5,000 cash award on Monday, July 9, at the Affiliate Leadership Breakfast. The 2012 Regional Honorees included Community HousingWorks (California Region); Valle del Sol (Far West Region); Sociedad Latina (Northeast Region); El Barrio, Inc. (Midwest Region); and Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (¡HICA!) (Southeast Region).

The Affiliate of the Year Award, sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund, is the highest honor bestowed on an NCLR Affiliate for exemplary nonprofit management, service to its community, and active engagement in and promotion of NCLR’s programmatic and advocacy initiatives. Presented annually, the award provides NCLR with an opportunity to showcase the achievements of the winning Affiliate and the positive impact it has made on the lives of Latinos.

“At Ford we are committed not only to a thriving and successful company, but also to thriving and successful communities. This is why we are proud to support the NCLR Affiliate of the Year Award,” said Joedis Avila, Community Outreach Manager, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “We trust that our support will help AAMA and the rest of the regional winners continue their hard work serving their communities and making a difference in the lives of Latinos.”

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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