PARA DIVULGACIÓN INMEDIATA

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

COMO COPRESENTADORES Y LA SUPERESTRELLA DE LA MÚSICA CHRISTINA AGUILERA RECIBIRÁ EL PREMIO AL MÉRITO POR SU CARRERA ARTÍSTICA EN LA ENTREGA DE LOS PREMIOS ALMA® 2012 DEL NCLR, QUE SE EMITIRÁ EN LA CADENA NBC ELVIERNES 21 DE SEPTIEMBRE A LAS 8 PM/7 CENTRO

America Ferrera, Michael Peña, Nicole Richie y Wilmer Valderrama están confirmados como presentadores

La red de cable hispano mun2 presentará el Especial de la Alfombra Roja de los Premios ALMA; la cadena de televisión en español Telemundo será la anfitriona oficial de la página de Internet de los Premios ALMA y los clientes de Xfinity de Comcast podrán ver el programa bajo demanda

UNIVERSAL CITY, California—Los artistas famosos Eva Longoria y George López volverán a ser los copresentadores de los Premios ALMA 2012 del NCLR, un comienzo estelar del Mes de la Herencia Hispana que se emitirá en la cadena NBC el viernes 21 de septiembre de 8:00 PM a 9:00 PM tiempo estándar del este (EDT). Christina Aguilera, ganadora de cinco Premios Grammy y asesora de The Voice, popular serie de la NBC nominada a los Premios Emmy, recibirá el Premio al Mérito por su increíble carrera artística y extraordinaria labor filantrópica. America Ferrera, Michael Peña, Nicole Richie y Wilmer Valderrama estarán entre los muchos presentadores que celebrarán los logros de algunos de los latinos más prolíficos de la industria del entretenimiento, la música, la televisión y el cine.

Este año es la tercera vez que Longoria y López copresentarán los Premios ALMA del NCLR después de compartir el escenario en 2009 y 2011. Longoria –actriz, productora, empresaria, filántropa– nominada al Premio Globo de Oro y ganadora del Premio SAG (Asociación de Actores de Pantalla) y del Premio ALMA es la productora ejecutiva de la próxima serie de citas amorosas Ready for Love de la NBC. También, recientemente terminó su octava y última temporada de Desperate Housewives. La estrella de cine y televisión ganó el Premio People’s Choice como “Actriz de televisión favorita”, fue nombrada una de las “50 Personas más Bellas” de la revista People, elegida por tres años consecutivos “Celebrity 100” de la prestigiosa revista Forbes y reconocida “Filántropa del Año” por la revista The Hollywood Reporter.

López es un comediante polifacético cuya carrera abarca cine, televisión, comedia en vivo y televisión nocturna. Anfitrión de dos temporadas del programa de tertulia nocturno López Tonight, después de cocrear, escribir, producir y protagonizar la innovadora serie cómica George López, que se emitió durante seis temporadas y que sigue siendo un éxito entre los televidentes de programas en sindicación. Este verano fue anfitrión de la serie de citas amorosas Take Me Out y debutó en solitario su tercer comedia en vivo. López ha sido nombrado uno de los “25 hispanos más influyentes de Estados Unidos” de la revista Time, y la Harris Poll lo nombró en la lista de las primeras diez personalidades favoritas de la televisión.

Aguilera, una de las artistas más destacadas de la última década, ha vendido más de 30 millones de álbumes en todo el mundo y ganado cinco Premios Grammy. Ha grabado siete álbumes con éxitos como “Beautiful”, “Genie in a Bottle” y “Dirrty”, y recientemente comenzó su tercera temporada de tutoría de talento musical como asesora de The Voice. No es ajena a los Premios ALMA, Aguilera ha recibido 10 nominaciones y se ha llevado tres de estos premios. Ha sido la portavoz mundial de Yum! Brands para la campaña World Hunger Relief desde 2009, donde su participación ayudó a recaudar casi $80 millones de dólares para el Programa Mundial de Alimentos (WFP por sus siglas en inglés) y para otras agencias de lucha contra el hambre. Ha sido nombrada “Embajadora de la lucha contra el hambre” para el WFP y ha realizado viajes de apoyo con la organización a Haití y Guatemala. Aguilera continua también luchando por los derechos de los homosexuales y lesbianas, así como ayudando a las víctimas de violencia doméstica, una causa que no le es ajena.

Los admiradores de los artistas podrán votar en línea por sus artistas favoritos nominados para los Premios ALMA 2012 del NCLR hasta el 7 de septiembre de 2012 en www.ALMAAwards.com. Aquellos que voten tendrán la oportunidad de ganar una experiencia VIP para dos personas en los Premios ALMA del NCLR que incluye pasajes aéreos, hotel, entradas VIP para el espectáculo y una invitación para la fiesta VIP que sigue.

Los ganadores de los premios se determinarán mediante la evaluación de los votos emitidos y la los rankings de taquilla, Nielsen y 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 televidentes podrán ver la entrega de los premios restantes durante el preshow transmitido en línea vía www.telemundo.com/almaawards y en www.nbc.com/alma-awards.

La presentación de los Premios ALMA 2012 del NCLR será producida 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. La cadena NBC emitirá la emisión inicial y mun2 presentará el Especial de la Alfombra Roja de los premios y reemitirá el programa. Telemundo será el anfitrión oficial de la página bilingüe de Internet de los Premios ALMA en www.telemundo.com/almaawards, con las redes sociales jugando un papel integral en el espectáculo repleto de estrellas, gestionando las conversaciones entre los admiradores y presentando contenido exclusivo y entrevistas entre bambalinas. Comcast aprovechará sus canales de cable para promover y pasar el espectáculo en su servicio de video bajo demanda. Pepsi volverá a ser el patrocinador presentador del espectáculo.

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/.

CONTACTOS PARA LOS MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN

Para NBC:
Jill Carmen, publicidad para NBC, (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,
Julián Teixeira, director de comunicación del NCLR, (202) 776-1812, jteixeira@nclr.org.

Para dick clark productions:
Brian Rubin, PMK•BNC, (310) 854-4800, Brian.Rubin@pmkbnc.com.

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.

###      

By Hope Gillette, VOXXI

Originally published by VOXXI as "Immunization: U.S. Hispanics skipping life-saving vaccines"

When it comes to life-saving immunizations, Hispanics in the U.S. receive fewer vaccines compared to non-Hispanics whites.

According to the Office of Minority Health (OMH), Hispanics are less likely to take part in pneumococcal vaccinations, influenza vaccinations, hepatitis vaccinations, childhood vaccinations and human papilloma vaccinations.

The low rates of immunization might be related to lack of insurance and lack of awareness on which vaccines are important.

Pneumococcal vaccination
Pneumococcal vaccines prevent against a lung infection caused by Streptococcus pneumonia. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 85 percent of pneumococcal cases in the United States are in adults, and 15 to 20 percent of cases are fatal.

People with Pneumococcal meningitis can develop paralysis, blindness, seizures and hearing loss. Other symptoms include disorientation, neck stiffness, shortness of breath, chills, fever, cough and light sensitivity.

The most recent data indicates, within the 19 to 64 age group, 14.8 percent of Hispanics received the pneumococcal vaccine compared to 19 percent of non-Hispanic whites.

Hepatitis B vaccination
Hispanics are less likely to take part in pneumococcal vaccinations, influenza vaccinations, hepatitis vaccinations, childhood vaccinations and human papilloma vaccinations. 

The hepatitis B vaccine protects against hepatitis B, an infection which causes liver inflammation. People with hepatitis B generally make full recoveries; however, some individuals manifest severe symptoms which can include: vomiting, fatigue, fever, joint pain, jaundice and abdominal pain.

Some individuals with hepatitis B never know they are infected, and because of this asymptomatic status, they can spread the disease to others.

The OMH states 33.8 percent of Hispanics between the ages of 19 and 49 received three or more doses of the hepatitis B vaccines compared to 44.5 percent of non-Hispanic whites.

Influenza vaccination
The influenza vaccine is an important part of preventing the flu. Older individuals are at particular risk for complications from this illness. The disease is caused by a virus, which causes respiratory illness in most individuals.

Symptoms include: fever, chills, headaches, sore throat, fatigue, headaches, body aches, cough and runny or stuffy nose.

The CDC states getting a flu vaccination is the best method of prevention for this illness; however, only approximately 40 percent of Hispanics over the age of 18 have received the flu vaccination compared to 52.7 percent of non-Hispanic whites.

Human papilloma virus
Symptoms of the flu include: fever, chills, headaches, sore throat, fatigue, headaches, body aches, cough and runny or stuffy nose. 

Known as a sexually transmitted infection, the human papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the attributed causes for cervical cancer. Unlike many of the other diseases Hispanics can receive inoculations for, HPV is usually without symptoms until it has caused a more serious issue, such as cancer.

Hispanic women are twice as likely to develop cervical cancer when compared to non-Hispanic whites, and are 1.4 times as likely to die from the disease.

According to the OMH, only 15.1 percent of Hispanics between the ages of 19 and 26 have received the HPV vaccine compared to 22.4 percent of Hispanics.

Childhood vaccines
When it comes to childhood vaccines, Hispanics are only slightly below non-Hispanic whites; 84.4 percent of Hispanics got their children the universally recommended vaccination — 4 doses of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) — compared to 84.5 percent of non-Hispanic whites.

DTaP protects against two contagious diseases as well as tetanus which is spread through cuts or wounds. According to the CDC, DTaP is an important vaccine for children, but adults should also seek inoculation if they were never given the 5-dose series during childhood.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Washington, D.C.—With the presidential conventions and the upcoming elections looming, and the selection of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) as the Republican Vice Presidential candidate, the Ryan budget will continue to receive attention and be the subject of debate. Rep. Ryan has proposed versions of his budget and tax plans in the past three years, some of which passed in the House of Representatives but did not pass into law. With his selection as Vice Presidential candidate, there is new demand for analysis of these older Ryan budget plans. NCLR (National Council of La Raza) policy experts today hosted a webinar to shed light on how the Ryan budget would affect the nation’s Latinos if it were to become law.

“NCLR is deeply concerned about the potential impact of the Ryan budget on numerous critical programs that directly help millions of average Americans—including Latinos—who are striving to get an education, access health care, improve their jobs skills and provide for their families in a difficult job market, and save for their retirement,” said Leticia Miranda, Senior Policy Advisor at NCLR. “The proposals by Rep. Ryan do not advance the common good of our nation, but rather make the ax fall hardest on the most vulnerable in our society.”

Of concern is that the Ryan budget would take from those in most need in our society in order to give, for example, $265,000 in additional tax breaks—above and beyond the Bush-era tax cuts—to each of America’s millionaires. It also would make an immediate 19 percent unspecified cut to all non-defense discretionary programs—which include education, nutrition assistance, workforce development, housing, transportation, and other critical programs. Furthermore, the Ryan budget proposes specific damaging cuts and fundamental changes to essential programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, which serve tens of millions of Americans who often depend on them for their very survival.

In particular, the Ryan budget and tax plans would affect Latinos in the following ways:

• Health care. The Ryan budget would cut $810 billion from Medicaid, which provides health care coverage to half of all Latino children. Medicaid would be block-granted and no longer be available for everyone who qualifies, dropping more than 19 million Americans from the program. The budget would also turn Medicare into private insurance and cap the coverage amount—threatening the highly vulnerable and disabled. The average senior would pay $1,200 more out-of-pocket annually in order to receive the same care. One in four Latinos is eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare and is especially vulnerable to these cuts.
• Education. The Ryan budget would cut 200,000 slots from Head Start. Over a third of the children enrolled in Head Start are Latino. More than two million Latino youth enrolled in colleges would see their pathway to higher education obstructed, as the Ryan budget would force the Pell Grant system to serve 865,000 fewer students, cut Pell Grants by $830 per student, and wipe out 125,000 work-study positions.
• Social Security. The Ryan budget would slash Social Security benefits, making the monthly benefit average fall from $1,249 today to $759 if the Ryan budget became law. More than half of Latino seniors depend on Social Security for at least 90 percent of their income. In addition, the Ryan budget calls for privatizing Social Security by sending part of our payroll taxes to Wall Street for private retirement accounts.
• Tax credits. The Ryan budget cuts tax credits so that a minimum-wage worker with two kids would see their Child Tax Credit (CTC) drop from $1,725 to $173. A married couple with three children earning $27,713 would receive $1,934 less in CTC and Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) benefits combined. These cuts would affect 26 million children—including millions of Latino kids—who benefit from these two refundable tax credits which boost income for low-wage workers. An estimated 33 percent of hard-working Latino families use the EITC.

“NCLR supports a budget that grows the economy, contains sufficient revenue to invest in children and our future, and protects vulnerable people. The Ryan budget, unfortunately, fails all of these tests. Instead, it would cut services to vulnerable people and disinvest in our nation’s children—hurting our economy while at the same time giving massive tax cuts to the wealthy,” concluded Miranda.

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.

###

PARA DIFUSIÓN INMEDIATA

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

Perjudicaría a las familas de bajos ingresos mientras que daría más exenciones impositivas a los estadounidenses más ricos

Washington, D.C.—Con las convenciones presidenciales, las próximas elecciones que se avecinan, y la selección del representante Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) como candidato republicano a la vicepresidencia, el presupuesto de Ryan continua llamando la atención y se ha convertido en tema de discusiones. El representante Ryan ha propuesto versiones de su presupuesto y sus planes de impuestos en los últimos tres años. Algunos de tales propuestas se aprobaron en la Cámara de Representantes, pero no fueron aprobadas como ley. Al haber elegido a Paul Ryan como candidato a la vicepresidencia, se plantea una inminente demanda que exige analizar los antiguos planes presupuestarios de Ryan. Los expertos en política del NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza) llevaron a cabo hoy un seminario para esclarecer mejor cómo el presupuesto de Ryan afectaría a los latinos de la nación si se convirtiese en ley.

“El NCLR está profundamente preocupado por el potencial impacto del presupuesto de Ryan sobre los programas críticos que directamente ayudan a millones de estadounidenses—incluyendo los latinos—quienes se esfuerzan por obtener una educación, tener acceso a atención de la salud, mejorar sus capacidades laborales en sus puestos de trabajo y mantener a sus familias en un mercado laboral difícil, y ahorrar para su jubilación”, dijo Leticia Miranda, Asesora Principal de Políticas de NCLR. “Las propuestas del representante Ryan no promueven el bien común de nuestra nación, sino que dejan que el golpe del hacha caiga sobre los individuos más vulnerables de nuestra sociedad”.

Lo preocupante del presupuesto de Ryan es que planifica tomar de los individuos más necesitados de nuestra sociedad para dar, por ejemplo, $265.000 de recortes de impuestos adicionales—mucho más allá de la reducción de impuestos que se hicieron durante la era de Bush—a cada uno de los millonarios estadounidenses. También impondría un inmediato recorte del 19 por ciento no especificado a todos los programas discrecionales que no son para defensa, los cuales incluyen la educación, la asistencia nutricional, el desarrollo de la fuerza laboral, la vivienda, el transporte y otros programas críticos. Por otra parte, el presupuesto de Ryan propone recortes perjudiciales específicos y cambios fundamentales en programas esenciales, tales como Medicare, Medicaid y Seguridad Social. Estos programas sirven a decenas de millones de estadounidenses que a menudo dependen de esos servicios para sobrevivir.

En particular, el presupuesto y los planes tributarios de Ryan afectarían a los latinos de las siguientes maneras:

• Cuidado de la salud. El presupuesto de Ryan recortaría $810 mil millones de Medicaid; programa que provee cobertura de salud a la mitad de los niños latinos. Medicaid se convertiría en subvenciones en bloque y no estaría disponible para todas las personas que califican para este servicio, eliminando de esta manera más de 19 millones de estadounidenses del programa. El presupuesto también haría cambios para que Medicare fuese un seguro privado y pondría límites a los montos de la cobertura—poniendo de esta manera en peligro a las personas más vulnerables y a los discapacitados. Una persona de mayor edad pagaría $1.200 más por año de su propio bolsillo para recibir el mismo cuidado. Uno de cada cuatro latinos es elegible tanto para Medicaid como para Medicare, y sufriría si se realizaran estos recortes.
• Educación. El presupuesto de Ryan reduciría 200.000 asignaciones de Head Start. Más de un tercio de los niños matriculados en Head Start son latinos. Más de dos millones de jóvenes latinos matriculados en universidades verían obstruido su camino hacia la educación superior, ya que bajo el presupuesto de Ryan unos 865.000 estudiantes menos recibirían las becas Pell, estas becas se reducirían por $830 por estudiante, y se eliminarían 125.000 puestos para estudiantes que ocupan posiciones para sostener el costo de sus estudios.
• Seguridad Social. El presupuesto de Ryan reduciría los beneficios del Seguro Social, puesto que disminuiría el promedio mensual de $1.249 a $759. Más de la mitad de los latinos de la tercera edad depende del Seguro Social ya que representa al menos el 90 por ciento de sus ingresos. Además, el presupuesto de Ryan propone privatizar la Seguridad Social mediante el envío de parte de nuestros impuestos a Wall Street para establecer cuentas de jubilación privadas.
• Créditos fiscales. Con los recortes a los créditos fiscales propuestos por Ryan, un trabajador de salario mínimo con dos niños sufriría una reducción del beneficio de su Crédito Tributario por Hijo (CTC) de $1.725 a solo $173. Una pareja casada con tres hijos que gana $27.713 recibiría $1.934 dólares menos de los beneficios del CTC y del Crédito Tributario de Ingresos (Earned Income Tax Credits o EITC) combinados. Estos recortes afectarían a 26 millones de niños, incluyendo millones de niños latinos, que se benefician de estos dos créditos fiscales reembolsables puesto que aumentan los ingresos de las familias de los trabajadores de bajos ingresos. Se estima que el 33 por ciento de las familias trabajadoras latinas utilizan el beneficio del EITC.

“NCLR apoya un presupuesto que haga crecer la economía, que contenga suficientes ingresos para invertir en los niños y en nuestro futuro, y que proteja a las personas vulnerables. Desafortunadamente, el presupuesto de Ryan no pasa estas pruebas. Al contrario, recortaría los servicios a las personas vulnerables y se dejaría de invertir en los niños de nuestro país, perjudicando nuestra economía mientras que al mismo tiempo se otorgarían enormes recortes tributarios a los ricos”, concluyó Miranda.

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.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
Camila Gallardo
(305) 573-7329
Cell: (305) 215-4259

MIAMI—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) applauds the U.S. District court’s ruling to permanently remove the harsh restrictions on third-party voter registration groups, which have made it difficult for organizations such as NCLR to register potential voters in the state of Florida. NCLR’s Mobilize to Vote campaign is working in Florida to register Hispanic voters this election year and was one of the groups that joined Florida State Senator Arethia Joyner and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in filing an administrative petition against the state.

“This order is a significant victory not only for Hispanic voters, but for all voters in Florida,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “Thanks to the judge’s commonsense ruling, we can now focus on engaging all of Florida’s voters in the electoral process, particularly Hispanic voters, who would have been compromised had the restrictions remained.”

Last year the Florida state legislature passed a sweeping voter reform bill that drastically cut early voting and imposed restrictive measures on third-party voter registration groups, such as NCLR, that caused many to cease operations in the state. NCLR and its partners filed suit at that time, alleging that those restrictions in particular violated the Voting Rights Act because they unfairly targeted minority voters.

“In Florida we were facing challenges to minority voter participation that were unparalleled in recent history and would have restricted the ability of millions of the state’s Hispanics to vote,” continued Murguía. “Yesterday’s ruling ensures that those wanting to vote in the upcoming election won’t have burdensome and unnecessary obstacles to exercising their basic American right, which is to participate in our democracy and vote.”

Mobilize to Vote (M2V), the voter registration and mobilization campaign central to NCLR’s civic engagement efforts, maintains full-time operations in Florida—its flagship state—Colorado, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. Through NCLR’s vast Affiliate Network, M2V also maintains a presence in California, North Carolina, and Texas.

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.

###  

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer loves the spotlight and never misses a chance to get her name—and her mean-spirited policies—into the news cycle. Just consider her announcement on Aug. 15, the same day deferred action for DREAMers went into effect, which directed all state agencies to deny public benefits to anyone eligible for the new policy.

This week she's in Tampa for the Republican National Convention spewing her contemptible immigration position. Politics is the art of compromise and it's a necessity for any system of government to function properly—that is, unless you're Jan Brewer. Last night she denied any intention of getting to an agreement with immigration rights supporters. The Brewer administration appears to be a lost cause.

Watch it all go down in an interview with MSNBC's Chris Matthews and Rachel Maddow below.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact:
August 31, 2012                                                            Camila Gallardo
                                                                                          (305) 573-7329/cell: (305) 215-4259
                                                                                          cgallardo@nclr.org
                                                                                          Dave Lemmon
                                                                                          (202) 628-3030                                                                               

Panelists help separate fact from fiction at well-attended Miami community forum

MIAMI—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) and Families USA were joined today by Leon Rodriguez, Director of the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and a panel of health policy experts to answer questions from the community on key provisions of the health reform law.  The breakfast gathering took place at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium.  Rodriguez, who led the Latino community town hall, confronted the myths surrounding the law and focused on its benefits and protections for Latino families.

“The Affordable Care Act will expand coverage for millions of Latinos, seniors, children, and working people who need comprehensive health coverage.  It is an absolute honor to be able to come home and discuss this vital program with my fellow South Floridians,” said Rodriguez, a native of Miami. 

The town hall comes in the wake of the Supreme Court decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act—the sweeping health care reform law signed by President Obama in March of 2010. 

“There has been a concerted effort to mislead people about what health care reform means.  We came together today to correct the record.   The new rights and consumer protections in the health care law are real and unprecedented.  This is particularly true in the Latino community which has the highest rate of uninsured in the country,” said Jennifer Ng’andu, Deputy Director, Health Policy Project for NCLR as she explained several key provisions.  The law ensures patients won’t be turned away because of preexisting conditions and expands coverage for our young adults.  

The new health care law will help expand Medicaid access to an additional 3.1 million Hispanics.  “In a community in which one-third of us are uninsured, Medicaid is the safety net that makes sure our most vulnerable can see a doctor or get a prescription filled.  The economic downturn has underscored Medicaid’s importance and highlights the pressing need to expand access to it,” explained Sinsi Hernández-Cancio, Health Equity Director, Families USA.

Over the years, as employers dropped health insurance coverage and state legislatures made cuts to their health budgets, Americans from every walk of life have been left struggling to pay for the care that keeps them healthy.  This has been especially true for the Latino community which is less likely to have employer-sponsored insurance and more likely to get care through Medicaid.  The health reform law will help reverse that trend—millions more will be eligible for tax credits to purchase affordable insurance, will qualify to enroll in Medicaid, and will gain unprecedented consumer protections against abusive insurance companies. 

NCLR, Families USA, and partner groups who helped bring together today’s town hall believe in the critical importance of demystifying the new law for Latinos, a group that stands to benefit most from the new protections it offers. 
                 
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.

###
 

Every year, our country celebrates Labor Day with parades, rallies, and picnics as a way to acknowledge and commemorate the contributions of our nation’s workers. But lately it seems that for many, Labor Day serves as a reminder of an economy that feels like it’s hardly working.

As of July 2012, 12.8 million people are unemployed, while at the same time, American employers continue to slash or outright deny workers a minimum wage and benefits like paid sick leave. In this economy, many low-wage workers have been left with limited bargaining leverage and fear taking action because they are worried about preserving their jobs.

Lately it’s been tough for American workers, particularly Latinos, who confront additional unique barriers in the labor market. They face not only high unemployment but also the assumption that they don’t belong in this country. Anti-immigrant rhetoric has helped fuel the scapegoating of Latino workers, limiting the possibility of increased economic security and a stronger America. But, the truth is that our economy won’t work without the workers we currently have.

Today, 22 million Latinos are at work in the U.S. It is projected that by 2018 Hispanics will represent 18 percent of the U.S. labor force, and by 2050 one in three American workers will be Latino. The Hispanic workforce is now the fastest-growing segment of our labor market. In many ways they represent the future of America’s economy. As demonstrated by their high labor participation rate and overrepresentation in growth industries, Latino workers are helping bolster our economic recovery. That’s something worth celebrating this Labor Day.

So let’s applaud our nation’s working men and women this Labor Day. But let’s also remember why America’s workers form the backbone of our nation’s economic growth. The comments that follow give voice to people throughout the country who acknowledge their role and importance in today’s labor market. We’d like to hear from you too.

Please read and share with us why our economy won’t work without you here!

Viviana: I help care for the children of my city’s government employees.

Carlos: Every day I repair our nation’s highways and bridges, making sure that American workers and their families are able to travel to work and school safely.

Natalie: Our economy won’t work without my family and I because we pick and gather fruits in California’s fields. Without our labor, many Americans would not be able to enjoy so many of our nation’s delicious produce.

Robert: I work on a team with other engineers who design semiconductors for medical devices that improve the care of millions of people around the world.

Virginia: Yo soy la única persona en mi familia que trabaja. Si no tuviera trabajo mi familia estaría viviendo en la calle y mis hijos no tendrían fe que puedan mejorar sus vidas.

Ursula: I work in one of our nation’s largest ports making sure that the goods traveling in and out of our country are timely and safe.

Paul: I have worked in this country as a teacher for 20 years and I'm here to stay!

Margie, Berkeley, Calif: - Our economy won't work without the dedication of low income Immigrant Latinos to other families homes, children, food supplies, and wellbeing. Our economy cannot flourish while some within it do not have access to the benefits and challenges that others have.

William, Philadelphia: - I one of those IT professions filling and empty market niche, keeping the computer systems, helping as many other immigrants to make this nation stronger and more productive.

Jamie, Hoover, Ala.: - The economy won't work without me because I am a legal documented worker that pays taxes like all other Americans.

Roger H., Hermosa Beach, Calif.: - Our economy won't work without me because I'm a retired person who needs to consume products made here by people here, regardless of how one spells their last name.

Alex, Honloulu, Hawaii: - I am a consumer and I pay taxes.

Rose, Minneapolis: - I am the strong middle class!!!

Every year, our country celebrates Labor Day with parades, rallies, and picnics as a way to acknowledge and commemorate the contributions of our nation’s workers. But lately it seems that for many, Labor Day serves as a reminder of an economy that feels like it’s hardly working.

As of July 2012, 12.8 million people are unemployed, while at the same time, American employers continue to slash or outright deny workers a minimum wage and benefits like paid sick leave. In this economy, many low-wage workers have been left with limited bargaining leverage and fear taking action because they are worried about preserving their jobs.

Lately it’s been tough for American workers, particularly Latinos, who confront additional unique barriers in the labor market. They face not only high unemployment but also the assumption that they don’t belong in this country. Anti-immigrant rhetoric has helped fuel the scapegoating of Latino workers, limiting the possibility of increased economic security and a stronger America. But, the truth is that our economy won’t work without the workers we currently have.

Today, 22 million Latinos are at work in the U.S. It is projected that by 2018 Hispanics will represent 18 percent of the U.S. labor force, and by 2050 one in three American workers will be Latino. The Hispanic workforce is now the fastest-growing segment of our labor market. In many ways they represent the future of America’s economy. As demonstrated by their high labor participation rate and overrepresentation in growth industries, Latino workers are helping bolster our economic recovery. That’s something worth celebrating this Labor Day.

So let’s applaud our nation’s working men and women this Labor Day. But let’s also remember why America’s workers form the backbone of our nation’s economic growth. The comments that follow give voice to people throughout the country who acknowledge their role and importance in today’s labor market. We’d like to hear from you too.

Please read and share with us why our economy won’t work without you here!

Margie, Berkeley, Calif: - Our economy won't work without the dedication of low income Immigrant Latinos to other families homes, children, food supplies, and wellbeing. Our economy cannot flourish while some within it do not have access to the benefits and challenges that others have.

William, Philadelphia: - I one of those IT professions filling and empty market niche, keeping the computer systems, helping as many other immigrants to make this nation stronger and more productive.

Jamie, Hoover, Ala.: - The economy won't work without me because I am a legal documented worker that pays taxes like all other Americans.

Roger H., Hermosa Beach, Calif.: - Our economy won't work without me because I'm a retired person who needs to consume products made here by people here, regardless of how one spells their last name.

Alex, Honloulu, Hawaii: - I am a consumer and I pay taxes.

Rose, Minneapolis: - I am the strong middle class!!!

Wanda, La Crosse, Wis.: - We help build our nation in many ways. We work hard and we also stimulate the economy by buying the foods.

Avery, Portland, Ore.: - My work as a dispatcher keeps my cab company running. It is a collectively owned small business, with about 100 owners, and 200 lease drivers…Our business stimulates the local economy; the revenue does not leave the state, but rather goes back into the community.

Miguel, Dallas: - I am the economy! Small business man, stock market investor, author and college administrator…I consider the American Dream an activity NOT a pastime. I would hope that America grasp how important Latinos are to this country's continued success.

Roger, Portland, Wis.: - It takes all of us to make it work and the workers are the ones that are the back bone of this country and the ones that buy the products that make the profits for the wealthy.

Patricia, Denver: - As the former Colorado District Director (lst Latina in this position in the country) of the U.S. Small Business Administration and retired 4 years ago --- I feel my experience, knowledge and expertise in assisting small businesses in Colorado has and currently is helping strengthen the economy. I currently have a small business to assist any and all small business owners with resources and basic information on how to succeed in their business, hiring employees, etc.

Russel, Madison, Wis.: - Because if I don't spend some money, businesses will not survive.

Helen, Oregon City, Ore.: - I help people learn, and people with learning minds are essential for an economy that works.

Last week, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and members of his party hammered home the point that this country needs leaders who will do what is essential to preserve the “American Dream”; not only for ourselves, but for future generations. Governor Romney said that he was running for president “to help create a better future. A future where everyone who wants a job can find a job. Where no senior fears for the security of their retirement.” We at NCLR have no argument there. The problem, however, seems to be that this candidate either doesn’t remember all that encompasses the “American Dream” or, more troubling, doesn’t have a plan to fix one of its basic elements—homeownership.

In the run-up to the election, the economy has, rightfully, taken center stage. There’s no doubt that this will be the key issue for both parties, as both Governor Romney and President Obama spar over how to get Americans, including many Latinos, back to work. A job is only one part of the “American Dream,” though. Indeed, everybody should have the opportunity to earn a better living for themselves through hard work. However, as old as apple pie is the promise for those workers to have a chance at affordable homeownership. A home is key to building a better life and finding a safe place to settle down and raise a family.

Americans have been inundated with the candidates’ overtures about how to solve the economic crisis, yet nobody appears to be willing to tackle the housing crisis that is simultaneously consuming our nation. Both problems are deeply connected. In a time when we needed recovery, the collapse of the housing market severely crippled the economy, depleting the value of millions of Americans homes. And without jobs, how are homeowners supposed to pay off their mortgages and avoid foreclosure?

Still, the proposed solutions from the campaign trail have conspicuously excluded the housing market from economic recovery. Housing is an entirely different beast that requires its own fixes. It is incredibly worrisome that throughout the three days of the Republican National Convention there was nearly no mention of one of the biggest problems in this country. And from the Republican presidential contender, the silence is deafening.

Where in Mitt Romney’s platform is housing reform?

Millions of people have lost their homes or are at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure. The Latino community has seen its wealth completely decimated by the housing crisis. We do not need a silver bullet, but we do need to hear from the potential leader of this country how he is going to repair our mortgage market and preserve what’s left of our neighborhoods. Americans cannot afford to ignore the troubled housing system.

Heading into this week, the Democrats will have the opportunity to address this issue at their convention. Unfortunately, housing is conspicuously absent from President Obama’s platform as well. It is clear we need solutions to end this crisis. NCLR and its Home for Good partners have detailed solutions and successful models that can be taken to scale. And there are many. All we need now is someone willing to stand up for American homeowners. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Camila Gallardo (305) 573-7329/cell: (305)215-4259
cgallardo@nclr.org

Law would have disenfranchised over one million Latino and minority voters just months from November election

Washington, D.C.—Last week, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) applauded the decision of a federal three-judge panel to strike down the Texas voter ID law which threatened to disenfranchise millions of minorities just months from the upcoming presidential election. The Voting Rights Act requires certain states with egregious histories of voter disenfranchisement to have any voting laws precleared by the Justice Department or a panel of three federal judges. The panel in this case made their decision to deny preclearance claiming that the law would impose “strict, unforgiving burdens on the poor.”

“We are encouraged by yesterday’s decision to deny preclearance to the Texas voter ID law, one of the most stringent in the nation. Voter fraud in Texas, as in many other states that have passed similar laws, is virtually nonexistent; it’s clear that the intent of those pushing these new requirements is to keep minorities from the polls,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 32 states have some sort of voter ID law. Many of the states with the strictest laws are also places where, according to Census figures, minority populations have shown tremendous growth.

Latino voters in Texas are a significant group; the state is home to the nation’s second-highest Hispanic population, which comprises 38 percent of the state’s total population and one-quarter of the state’s electorate. This growth may have alarmed some and led to the series of attacks on Latino voting rights in the past year. Just last week, a separate federal panel found that Texas’s new redistricting maps discriminated against Black and Hispanic voters by drawing the districts in a way that diluted minority voting power.

“This election is a critical one for Latinos; we cannot and will not be kept from exercising our constitutional right to elect our government. NCLR and its partner organizations in the Latino and Black communities will continue to fight against these efforts to silence our voices and are committed to registering and encouraging our community to turn out to vote in significant numbers,” concluded Murguía.

NCLR has helped register over 60,000 new Latino voters through its multistate campaign, Mobilize to Vote (M2V). M2V is at the core of NCLR’s Civic Engagement Program, which aims to build and support long-term Latino participation in the democratic process.

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.

###                                        

By Edward Carlson, Policy Analyst, Civil Rights Project

The recent Supreme Court decision in Jackson v. Hobbs and Miller v. Alabama was a victory for juvenile justice advocates around the country. The court, while splitting 5–4, made clear in the majority opinion that age and mitigating factors should have been considered in the sentencing of two juveniles to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Particularly given the offenders were only 14 when they committed their respective crimes, their diminished capacity to distinguish between right and wrong, vulnerability to peer pressure, and ability to change all should have been factors considered during the sentencing phase of their trials. This consideration could have made all the difference in the punishment that was ultimately meted out.

But what the decision also highlights is the problem with harsh youth sentencing overall, including the mandatory minimums that continue to be doled out. The Supreme Court’s decision highlights the extreme stakes that a person may face with a mandatory sentence. Every day, strict sentences are passed down without any consideration for mitigating circumstances such as age. More needs to be done to determine whether mandatory sentencing is fair, whether it is worth the financial cost, and whether it works as a deterrent against crime.

Particularly for juveniles, where mandatory sentencing applies, the sentencing can be especially tough. The young petitioners in Jackson v. Hobbs would have faced unusually long sentences given their age. Moreover, as the amicus brief submitted by the American Psychological Association asserts, juveniles are generally less cognitively able to appreciate the wrongfulness of their actions and are less likely to possess the experience and maturity to navigate problematic situations. Bryan Stevenson, the lead attorney arguing against the mandatory life sentence in the two cases, notes that we don’t allow youth to drive, drink alcohol, or vote when they are underage, no matter how mature they may prove to be. It makes sense, then, to think about whether giving harsh punishments to the very same youth is warranted.

This issue resonates deeply within the Hispanic community. We are increasingly concerned about whether our backgrounds will negatively impact our dealings with the criminal justice system. Whether a Hispanic youth is subjected to excessive use of force by police, stopped and frisked for wearing certain clothes, or transferred to the adult court from the juvenile court, many Latino youths’ first interactions with law enforcement are becoming increasingly negative.

The Supreme Court ruling in Jackson and Miller is therefore a momentous occasion. The majority decision allows for an opportunity to provide evidence on behalf of a youth before the sentencing phase of the trial. More work needs to be done, however, to determine whether mandatory sentencing is the right thing to be doing in the first place. We hope that this initial step forward can galvanize greater change in the juvenile justice system, and that we can ultimately tackle sentencing reform by keeping it in the public view and on the conscience of those who care about the future of our youth. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Washington, D.C.—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) is extremely disappointed by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton’s decision yesterday to allow the ‘show me your papers’ provision of Arizona’s anti-immigrant law to go forward. This law requires police officers to check the immigration status of people they stop whom they suspect to be undocumented immigrants. Although Bolton declined to block the provision, she underscored the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the law may be challenged after it goes into effect.

However, in an important victory for the Latino community, Judge Bolton also blocked provisions of the Arizona law that criminalized routine interactions with undocumented immigrants, based on the recent decision of the 11th Circuit Court on similar laws passed in Alabama and Georgia.

“It is outrageous that in the 21st century, a law that blatantly encourages racial profiling and civil rights violations is allowed to stand—for now,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “But yesterday’s decision to strike down yet another provision in this law makes it obvious that SB 1070 is riddled with problems. As federal courts continue to dismantle this law piece by piece, we are confident that it is only a matter of time before the unjust and discriminatory ‘show me your papers’ provision meets its end.”

A coalition of civil rights organizations argued that the ‘show me your papers’ provision should be blocked based on evidence that it was passed with discriminatory intent and will result in illegal detentions.

“This decision serves as a reminder to our community about what is at stake this November,” added Murguía. “Latinos must send a message through the ballot box that our community will stand up for respect and stand against laws that promote intolerance.”

###



 

By Clarissa Martinez de Castro, Director, Civic Engagement and Immigration

(This was first posted in the Tides Online Magazine, Momentum.)

As November nears, the direction of the ever-growing money tide at play in the election reminds us that voter registration does not play a starring role in the electoral landscape. In the last presidential election, admittedly one where registration played a larger role, three of every ten citizens of voting age were not registered to vote. Among Latino voting-age citizens, two in five were not registered. Notably, Latinos represent the fastest growing segment of our electorate, but given population growth and other factors, their registration gap is also growing. This makes voter registration a critical factor for America’s Hispanic community, as well as for a system of democracy that accurately reflects the nation.

However, the most considerably resourced outreach in our elections is not focused on electoral expansion. Resources are largely connected to traditional political campaigns—candidate, party or partisan efforts—which broadly speaking are focused on winning 50%+1 of the electorate, with much of the focus being on getting habitual voters out to the polls, particularly in districts within battleground states. As such, these campaigns tend to not target Hispanic voters extensively (many of whom are new voters or building a voter history), nor are they designed to close the gap between the number of eligible voters and those who are registered and voting. After all, adding more voters to the rolls would increase the number of people campaigns have to contact and persuade to vote for their candidates.

Thus, much of the energy behind voter registration activity has been left to less well-resourced efforts. And such a concerted, energetic push is now even more important to put voters back in the driver’s seat, since participation gaps will be exacerbated by the displacement resulting from the economic and foreclosure crises and state laws that make it more difficult for eligible Americans to register and vote—factors that will have an impact beyond this election.

Given limited resources and the size and composition of the registration gap—in 2010, 73.5 million Americans of voting age were not registered to vote, 10.3 million of them Latino—there must be a multifaceted approach to engage potential voters. A single model is unlikely to work everywhere or for everyone. Therefore, approaches that advance what works while testing alternatives and innovation to improve effectiveness, reduce costs, reach underrepresented communities, and increase access and opportunity to register, are paramount.

As part of its work to strengthen the nonpartisan foundation for greater Latino participation in the political process, NCLR, the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the country, is implementing canvassing, digital and service-provider electoral programs.

The longest-standing of these programs, the Latino Advocacy and Empowerment Project (LEAP), began in 2002. (For a detailed look at the LEAP program, its trajectory, outcomes and findings, see LEAP: A Model for Increasing Latino Civic Participation.) Through its work with its national network of affiliates, NCLR started working with community-based organizations, mostly service providers, to identify effective ways to incorporate electoral participation into their operations. In 2010, the program worked with 22 partners who registered 19,391 voters. The potential to register and engage new voters through direct-service providers and community organizations normally outside the electoral realm is much greater.

Community partners can contribute their cultural competency, access to hard-to-reach-communities, credibility, established operational footprint and long-term presence to the task of engaging potential voters. As opposed to stand-alone electoral campaigns that need to find prospective voters, community members come through these organizations’ doors. And while these organizations may not be able to produce the high-intensity drives that are the focus of cyclical campaign activities, they are able to produce small but steady outcomes which can also help build a platform to advance other activities and efforts.

By its very nature, this approach is intensive on technical assistance. Participating groups are not focused on electoral participation, and many started work in that area through LEAP. They include community health clinics, home counseling centers, workforce development agencies, and education programs, among others. Each organization receives training and tailored assistance to determine realistic goals based on assessment of their existing programs and constituents, aiming to integrate activities rather than create a stand-alone, separate civic-engagement program. This also means that participating organizations leverage their operational footprint by contributing staff time and resources in addition to the support received through the program. LEAP provides access to tools and data support; guidance and legal expertise on nonpartisan activities; integration strategies; funding support; as well as a dedicated staff partner.

In realizing that potential, it is important to recognize the challenges. The integration process is slow and results are rarely immediate. Staff and program continuity are factors so support for multi-year funding training for multiple staff are essential. To tackle those challenges, LEAP builds on the on-the-ground expertise of local partners combined with tailored technical assistance support from NCLR staff. The focus of technical assistance is on 1) organizational buy-in techniques and staffing structure, 2) access to legal expertise and information about permissible 501(c)(3) activities, 3) individualized campaign planning and goal setting, 4) technical knowledge and access to tools, including voter tracking mechanisms and volunteer recruitment and management, and 5) ongoing funding.

This community-grounded approach offers great potential for nurturing a broader view of civic engagement (one that goes beyond elections), and of community wellbeing (one that includes active civic life). As organizations gain experience in incorporating these voter engagement activities, some have used the same platforms to build citizenship-assistance activities and advocacy or other efforts. Those results are promising because electoral participation is crucial, but alone is not enough. To achieve accountability participation has to be sustained and multi-faceted. This cross-pollination helps create a participation continuum —linking immigrants to citizenship, citizens to voting, and the community at large to leadership development and civic action—that by strengthening civil society can lead to transformational policy change. And seeing themselves as part of that change, even if sometimes slow, is what gives people a reason to get and stay involved.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Program to enhance access to financial knowledge and vital banking services for Latinos

EL PASO—In order to manage their finances successfully, families need not only access to banking services but the information and education to understand them. Latinos are one of the most un- and under-banked communities in the nation, often experiencing barriers to the range of financial services—from something as basic as opening a checking account to understanding how to apply for a home mortgage. To help bridge this gap, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) and the YWCA El Paso del Norte Region are joining together to launch the Effective Money Management program to provide one-on-one financial coaching and information about banking products to qualified low- and moderate-income individuals in the El Paso region.

“Latino families have been disproportionately affected by the economic downturn, which has depleted their savings and knocked them out of the banking system,” said Lot Diaz, Vice President of Housing and Community Development at NCLR. “One of the first steps toward recovery is to become financially stable by reducing debt levels and building a cash reserve. However, many in our community can’t do this because it requires not only financial tools but education and guidance. We created the Effective Money Management program to help Hispanic families access the proper tools to promote financial decisions that not only build wealth but improve their lives overall.”

Participants in the Effective Money Management program will enroll in money management courses and meet one-on-one with financial coaches provided through the YWCA El Paso del Norte Region. The course and coaching will focus on increasing knowledge and developing skills in budgeting, banking services, establishing and maintaining credit, savings, insurance, and protecting one’s assets. Counselors will work with participants to assess their current financial situations, help tailor a financial action plan to both short- and long-term financial goals, and track progress over a 12-month period.

“We are very excited to be partnering with NCLR on the Effective Money Management program,” said Sandra Braham, CEO of the YWCA El Paso del Norte Region. “Our clients will greatly benefit from this program given our community’s limited access to basic banking services and knowledge of how to build emergency savings. We believe that the program is an important step in helping El Paso Latino families better manage their money, putting them on the right path to improve their financial situation.”

A recent NCLR survey of Hispanics in California shows that 21 percent of Latinos are unbanked—mirroring national 2009 FDIC data, which reported 19.3 percent of all Latinos as unbanked. Those who do not have a bank account, or those who are not effectively using their current accounts, typically rely on costly alternative financial services such as check cashing stores. Individuals with less access to traditional financial products can spend an average of $700 annually on transaction services charges.

“The data clearly show the need for this program,” said Diaz. “If we can get Latino families into the banking system, they can avoid costly fees associated with nontraditional financial institutions and begin saving regularly, both of which are critical steps toward building a more stable financial future.”

The YWCA El Paso del Norte Region is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. For more information, go to www.ywcaelpaso.org.

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.

### 

For the last two weeks, one politico after another has railed about our damaged economy and declared their intention to solve the problem. Without question, unemployment remains a serious issue that must be dealt with head-on. However, one issue that has been conspicuously missing from all this talk about our economy is the ongoing Home Opportunity crisis. There have been two million foreclosure filings this year alone and over 15 million homeowners are underwater, meaning that their home is worth less than they owe on their mortgage. That’s millions of senior citizens losing their economic security, children and families uprooted, neighborhoods blighted with vacant properties, and a continued drag on our economy. Given the level of attention it’s received at the conventions, though, you wouldn’t know that.

Enter Kamala Harris. The California Attorney General has been a relentless champion of homeowners in her state and has worked tirelessly to find viable solutions to ending wrongful foreclosures. Harris knows that we will not see full economic recovery without addressing the state of our housing market, and she drove that point home in her remarks before the Democratic National Convention. To date, she’s been one of the only public officials to address this crisis.

Harris understands that we didn’t get here by accident. Our housing turmoil is rooted in wrongdoing by lenders and Wall Street and inadequate rules and enforcement. That’s why she led the fight against the big banks and lobbyists intent on maintaining the status quo and continuing to line their pocketbooks. As she said at the convention:

“I’ve seen all that happens when you roll back those rules. What happens are rows of foreclosure signs…mountains of family debt…a middle class that’s hurting. That’s what we’ve seen in towns across California and across this country.”

Harris is a partisan Democrat, of course, and her remarks were aimed at GOP candidate Mitt Romney. But, the truth is that neither party has said much about how they propose to get us out of this foreclosure crisis and back on track toward prosperity. If they’re looking for ideas, both candidates just need to look at what Harris has done in her post as Attorney General.

The housing crisis was preventable, but politicians and regulators were asleep at the wheel. We cannot afford to make the same mistake again. We have it in our power as a nation to put housing, homeownership, and our economy back on track. We have practical solutions that will promote successful homeownership, help Americans repair their finances and communities, and build a more fair and prosperous economy.

Indeed, thousands have already come together to urge the candidates to present their path forward. Why are they shying away from putting forth a concrete plan to stop wrongful foreclosures and ensure that we have affordable homes to rent and real access to homeownership? The Home for Good Campaign has been asking these very questions but has yet to get an answer. There are no easy answers, but ignoring the problem won’t make it go away.

Capping off the Democratic National Convention and officially ushering in the election season, President Barack Obama took to the podium last night to lay out his vision for America’s future. And while there are points in his speech, as there were in his challenger’s, that paint an encouraging picture for Latinos of the next four years under his leadership, there is yet again one prominent omission—what about housing?

At last week’s Republican National Convention, there was hardly a whisper about how Gov. Mitt Romney planned to solve the housing crisis. Since the housing bubble burst, home values have plummeted, leaving millions of Americans paying off mortgages that are worth more than the actual houses they own. Couple that with the millions of families all across the country who have either already lost or face the very frightening possibility of losing their homes to foreclosure, and you have a very real problem that needs to be dealt with now. And while Gov. Romney and President Obama lay out their cases for how they plan to guide this country through the economic crisis to recovery, they seem comfortable leaving families in the dark about how they plan to stem the bleeding in the housing market.

To be fair, Democrats did turn the mic over to California Attorney General Kamala Harris, who highlighted one of the administration’s crowning housing achievements—the historic $25 billion Department of Justice settlement between five of the nation’s largest mortgage servicers and 49 state attorneys general. Perhaps we can take this as an indication that the incumbent plans to run on his record. Certainly, Obama has had victories worth mentioning—the historic Countrywide settlement as well as the opening of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau both show that this administration is attempting to hold banks accountable for unfair lending practices and is working to prevent consumers from once again becoming victims of fraud.

Still, these are just a few of the building blocks necessary to create a stronger, safer housing market, and quite frankly, these blocks alone will not do the job. President Obama needs to lay out a plan for American homeowners explaining how he is going to turn this housing crisis around. Is housing counseling for struggling homeowners going to be funded or will it succumb to budget cuts? How does principal reduction factor into housing policy and is it even on the table? American homeowners don’t know because the two candidates running for office won’t talk about it.

Last night, the President acknowledged the uphill challenge of healing the economy: “When the house of cards collapsed in the Great Recession, millions of innocent Americans lost their jobs, their homes, their life savings, a tragedy from which we’re still fighting to recover.” But the eerie silence from both President Obama and Mitt Romney inspires more concern than confidence over their ability to muster enough political will to grapple with solutions. And what homeowners need more than anything is the confidence that the leader of this country is in their corner.

We need a commitment from both candidates that they will work to make homeownership viable for all Americans. We need a plan from both candidates for how they are going to stem foreclosures and protect American consumers from fraud. And most importantly, we need an acknowledgement that this problem exists and is worth talking about during this election.
 

Every year, our country celebrates Labor Day with parades, rallies, and picnics as a way to acknowledge and commemorate the contributions of our nation’s workers. But lately it seems that for many, Labor Day serves as a reminder of an economy that feels like it’s hardly working.

As of July 2012, 12.8 million people are unemployed, while at the same time, American employers continue to slash or outright deny workers a minimum wage and benefits like paid sick leave. In this economy, many low-wage workers have been left with limited bargaining leverage and fear taking action because they are worried about preserving their jobs.

Lately it’s been tough for American workers, particularly Latinos, who confront additional unique barriers in the labor market. They face not only high unemployment but also the assumption that they don’t belong in this country. Anti-immigrant rhetoric has helped fuel the scapegoating of Latino workers, limiting the possibility of increased economic security and a stronger America. But, the truth is that our economy won’t work without the workers we currently have.

Today, 22 million Latinos are at work in the U.S. It is projected that by 2018 Hispanics will represent 18 percent of the U.S. labor force, and by 2050 one in three American workers will be Latino. The Hispanic workforce is now the fastest-growing segment of our labor market. In many ways they represent the future of America’s economy. As demonstrated by their high labor participation rate and overrepresentation in growth industries, Latino workers are helping bolster our economic recovery. That’s something worth celebrating this Labor Day.

So let’s applaud our nation’s working men and women this Labor Day. But let’s also remember why America’s workers form the backbone of our nation’s economic growth. The comments that follow give voice to people throughout the country who acknowledge their role and importance in today’s labor market. We’d like to hear from you too.

Please read and share with us why our economy won’t work without you here!

Margie, Berkeley, Calif: - Our economy won't work without the dedication of low income Immigrant Latinos to other families homes, children, food supplies, and wellbeing. Our economy cannot flourish while some within it do not have access to the benefits and challenges that others have.

William, Philadelphia: - I one of those IT professions filling and empty market niche, keeping the computer systems, helping as many other immigrants to make this nation stronger and more productive.

Jamie, Hoover, Ala.: - The economy won't work without me because I am a legal documented worker that pays taxes like all other Americans.

Roger H., Hermosa Beach, Calif.: - Our economy won't work without me because I'm a retired person who needs to consume products made here by people here, regardless of how one spells their last name.

Alex, Honloulu, Hawaii: - I am a consumer and I pay taxes.

Rose, Minneapolis: - I am the strong middle class!!!

Wanda, La Crosse, Wis.: - We help build our nation in many ways. We work hard and we also stimulate the economy by buying the foods.

Avery, Portland, Ore.: - My work as a dispatcher keeps my cab company running. It is a collectively owned small business, with about 100 owners, and 200 lease drivers…Our business stimulates the local economy; the revenue does not leave the state, but rather goes back into the community.

Miguel, Dallas: - I am the economy! Small business man, stock market investor, author and college administrator…I consider the American Dream an activity NOT a pastime. I would hope that America grasp how important Latinos are to this country's continued success.

Roger, Portland, Wis.: - It takes all of us to make it work and the workers are the ones that are the back bone of this country and the ones that buy the products that make the profits for the wealthy.

Patricia, Denver: - As the former Colorado District Director (lst Latina in this position in the country) of the U.S. Small Business Administration and retired 4 years ago --- I feel my experience, knowledge and expertise in assisting small businesses in Colorado has and currently is helping strengthen the economy. I currently have a small business to assist any and all small business owners with resources and basic information on how to succeed in their business, hiring employees, etc.

Russel, Madison, Wis.: - Because if I don't spend some money, businesses will not survive.

Helen, Oregon City, Ore.: - I help people learn, and people with learning minds are essential for an economy that works.

Text Responses:

I am a full time student that works 3 part time jobs to one day become a successful health professional.

I pay my fair share of taxes and work to support education for all.

I help people make good decisions about their finances.

I help keep others healthy by helping individuals apply for public sponsored health care programs, including lihp (affordable care act).

Our economy won't work without me because I educate the decision makers of the future.

My service in the social sector creates important skills gathering for young people and families who take those skills and learn how to be active contributors to the economy.

I work to keep women and children safe from violence.

I manage a $20 million dollar retail store.

I help out those with labor related issues with their pay.

I am a Latino working hard, providing for my wife and taking absolutely no governmental aid. My wife and I are also teaching our youth in church and school to stay focused and break the stereotype for our people! Somos Latino, Estamos Unidos.

I help put housing back in active use and assist people and organizations serve the economic and personal needs in their lives.

I’m an entrepreneur supplying jobs for people that want to work. Providing work opportunities to help the economy.

I shop at local businesses which have fair labor practices.

I am a strong, determined and educated Latino woman that contributes faithfully to my country through my taxes and vote!

We are part of a 1st generation of Latinos who are building financial institutions and financial capacity for our community, our kids and grandkids.

I’m helping Illinois residents preserve their homes thru foreclosure prevention programs.

I am an advocate for women working to eliminate the wage gap, to create healthy and safe workplaces for women, and to ensure women have economic security.

I am doing the jobs others don’t want to do.

I’m the president of a Hispanic chamber and a driving force to help with the language gap our business need me to lead our chamber to successfully promote and advocate for them.

I help US armed forces veterans start small businesses & create jobs. I also help veterans find work & file V.A. benefits claims. This takes time, helps our vets and adds to our economy.

PARA DIVULGACIÓN INMEDIATA:                   Contacto:
11 de septiembre, 2012                                      Camila Gallardo
                                                                               (305) 573-7329/cell: (305)215-4259
                                                                               cgallardo@nclr.org

Siguiente la clausura de las convenciones políticas, la campaña de NCLR, Movilizados al Voto, renueva esfuerzos para inscribir a los latinos para votar

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Siguiente la clausura de las convenciones Republicana y Demócrata, el NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza por sus siglas en inglés) anunció hoy que ha inscrito a más de 65,000 Latinos para votar en las próximas elecciones del 2012 a través de su campaña Movilizados al Voto (M2V), un esfuerzo multi-estatal con propósito de promover la participación cívica latina.  M2V ha concentrado sus esfuerzos en inscribir a latinos elegibles al voto y proveer oportunidades para intercambio de opinión en foros públicos que han cubierto los temas de la vivienda, los trabajos, y el cuidado de salud, entre otros, y a la vez ha patrocinado foros similares en el internet. Mientras que se acerca la fecha limita de inscripción para los votantes, M2V está renovando sus esfuerzos para alentar a los Latinos que se inscriban a tiempo.

“Los resultados que hemos logrado en inscribir a  los votantes latinos elegibles son muy positivos, pero aun nos queda trabajo por delante.  Este período después de la convenciones es cuando las personas realmente empiezan a enfocar su atención en la elección y esperamos que entre hoy y la fecha límite de inscripción, podemos llegar a un número significativo de latinos,” dijo Clarissa Martinez-De-Castro, NCLR Directora de Participación Cívica e Inmigración.

Movilizados al Voto esta inscribiendo a votantes hispanos en California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, y Nevada, atrevés de una campaña de tocar puertas y colaboraciones con la Red de Afilados del NCLR.  Un sitio web www.nclr.org/register  expande el alcance de los latinos para que puedan inscribirse en línea. 

“El voto latino tiene un potencial increíble para poder afectar la política y el tono de los debates; queremos instar a la comunidad latina que se informe sobre los temas, que se inscriban y salgan a votar.  Es la mejor forma de influenciar las políticas que afectan a nuestras vida diaria y de tener una voz en el proceso,” concluyó Martinez-De-Castro. 

NCLR también a lanzado una campaña por internet—Reto Movilizados al Voto—donde los usuarios pueden ayudar a sus familiares o amigos inscribirse en el www.nclr.org/challenge.  Aquellos quienes quieren unirse a la campaña pueden textear Power al 62571.

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 http://www.nclr.org/ o síganos en Facebook y Twitter.

###