FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact:
September 11, 2012                                                        Camila Gallardo
                                                                                       (305) 573-7329/cell: (305)215-4259
                                                                                        cgallardo@nclr.org

On the heels of political conventions, NCLR’s Mobilize to Vote campaign makes renewed push for Latinos to register

WASHINGTON, D.C.—On the heels of the Republican and Democratic conventions, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) announced today that it has registered over 65,000 Latinos to vote in the upcoming 2012 elections through its Mobilize to Vote (M2V) campaign, a multi-state effort aimed at encouraging Latino civic participation.  M2V has focused its efforts on registering eligible Latinos to vote and providing forums for discussion and exchange on issues important to the Latino community, including housing, jobs, immigration, and health care, through a series of webinars and town halls held in cities across the country.  As voter registration deadlines near, M2V is making an important push to encourage Latinos to register in time.  

“We’ve been encouraged thus far by what we’ve been able to accomplish in registering eligible Latino voters, but we still have work to do,” said Clarissa Martínez-De-Castro, NCLR Director for Civic Engagement and Immigration.  “The post–political convention period is the time when people really start to focus on the impending election, so we hope that we are able to reach a significant number of Latinos between now and the registration deadline.”

Mobilize to Vote is registering voters in California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas through canvassing operations and partnerships with NCLR’s Affiliate network.  A web portal at www.nclr.org/register expands that reach nationally by allowing potential voters to register online. 

“The Latino vote has incredible potential to shape the political landscape and the tone of policy debates; we want to encourage the community to get informed about the issues, register, and turn out to vote.  It’s really the best way to help influence policies that affect our everyday lives and to have a real voice in the process,” concluded Martínez-De-Castro. 

NCLR has also launched the online Mobilize to Vote Challenge, where users can gain rewards for helping to register friends and family, at www.nclr.org/challenge.  Those interested in joining the campaign can also text POWER to 62571.

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

JAKE GYLLENHAAL, RYAN LOCHTE, ROBERT RODRIGUEZ, ZOË SALDANA, NATALIE MORALES, ANDY GARCIA, AND RAFAEL AMAYA TO BE PRESENTERS AT THE 2012 NCLR ALMA AWARDS®, AIRING FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 (8–9 P.M. ET) ON NBC, ALONG WITH DEVIOUS MAIDS CAST MEMBERS ANA ORTIZ, JUDY REYES, DANIA RAMIREZ, AND EDY GANEM

RAP SUPERSTAR FLO RIDA TO PERFORM WITH ROSELYN SANCHEZ AT STAR-STUDDED SHOW FEATURING THEME MUSIC WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY MUSIC SENSATION PITBULL
LOCHTE TO BE HONORED ALONG WITH FIVE OTHER LATINO MEDAL WINNERS IN MOVING OLYMPIC TRIBUTE

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif.—Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Lochte, Robert Rodriguez, Zoë Saldana, Natalie Morales, Andy Garcia, and Rafael Amaya will be presenters at the 2012 NCLR ALMA Awards®, along with Devious Maids cast members Ana Ortiz, Judy Reyes, Dania Ramirez, and Edy Ganem. The star-studded special kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month airs Friday, September 21 (8–9 p.m. ET) on NBC.

Rap sensation Flo Rida will perform with Roselyn Sanchez during the high-energy show, which will feature theme music written and performed by music powerhouse Pitbull. In addition to serving as a presenter, Olympic Gold medalist Ryan Lochte will also be one of six Latino Olympic medal winners from this summer’s London Games saluted in a special Olympic tribute. Also honored will be Brenda Villa and Jessica Steffens (water polo), Danell Leyva (men’s gymnastics), Leonel Manzano (track and field), and Marlen Esparza (boxing).

As previously announced, Eva Longoria and George Lopez will return as co-hosts of the 2012 NCLR ALMA Awards, and five-time Grammy Award winner Christina Aguilera (NBC’s The Voice) will receive the 2012 NCLR Special Achievement Award for her incredible career and exceptional work in philanthropy. America Ferrera, Michael Peña, Nicole Richie, and Wilmer Valderrama will also be on hand to celebrate the accomplishments of some of the most prolific Latinos in the entertainment industry, spanning music, television, and film.

Hispanic cable network mun2 will present the ALMA Awards red carpet special, and Telemundo will host the official bilingual ALMA Awards website at www.telemundo.com/almaawards and stream the pre-show online. Comcast’s Xfinity TV customers will have access to the show on demand. Viewers can also watch the entire special online after it airs via http://telemundo.com/almaawards and at www.nbc.com/alma-awards.

The 2012 NCLR ALMA Awards is produced by dick clark productions’ executive producers Orly Adelson and Barry Adelman, along with Eva Longoria and Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR.

For additional information, including announcements about the presenters and performers at this year’s show, please visit www.almaawards.com and follow the show on Twitter @ALMAawards and #ALMA12. Information is also available at www.nbc.com/alma-awards.

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
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

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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PARA DIVULGACIÓN INMEDIATA

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

JAKE GYLLENHAAL, RYAN LOCHTE, ROBERT RODRIGUEZ, ZOË SALDANA, NATALIE MORALES, ANDY GARCIA Y RAFAEL AMAYA, JUNTO CON EL ELENCO DE “DEVIOUS MAIDS” ANA ORTIZ, JUDY REYES, DANIA RAMIREZ Y EDY GANEM SERÁN ALGUNOS DE LOS PRESENTADORES DURANTE LOS PREMIOS ALMA® 2012 DEL NCLR QUE SE EMITIRÁN EL VIERNES 21 DE SEPTIEMBRE A LAS 8 PM A TRAVES DE LA CADENA NBC.

La superestrella de la música rap Flo Rida presentará junto a Roselyn Sánchez un espectáculo cuyo tema ha sido compuesto y será presentado por la sensación musical Pitbull Se le rendirá homenaje mediante un emocionante tributo olímpico a Ryan Lochte y a otros cinco atletas latinos que fueron premiados durante las Olimpiadas de este año

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif.—Los actores Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Rodriguez, Zoë Saldana, Natalie Morales, Andy Garcia y Rafael Amaya y el famoso atleta olímpico Ryan Lochte son algunos de los famosos que participarán como presentadores de los Premios ALMA 2012 del NCLR. También presentarán durante los Premios ALMA 2012 el elenco de “Devious Maids” Ana Ortiz, Judy Reyes, Dania Ramirez y Edy Ganem. Este espectáculo especial celebrará el comienzo del Mes de la Herencia Hispana y se emitirá en la cadena NBC el viernes 21 de septiembre de 8:00 PM a 9:00 PM tiempo estándar del este (EDT).

La sensación de música rap Flo Rida presentará, junto a Roselyn Sánchez, un espectáculo especial que promete estar lleno de energía y el cual contará con un tema escrito por la sensación musical Pitbull.

Además de servir como presentador, Ryan Lochte, ganador de una medalla de oro durante las Olimpiadas de este año, será uno de los seis atletas latinos a quienes se les rendirá homenaje por haber ganado medallas durante las Olimpiadas de Londres 2012. Se le rendirá homenaje durante un tributo sumamente especial a los siguientes atletas latinos premiados durante estas olimpiadas: Ryan Lochte (natación), Brenda Villa y Jessica Steffens (polo acuático), Danell Leyva (gimnasia masculina), Leonel Manzano (campo traviesa) y a Marlen Esparza (boxeo).
Como fue anunciado anteriormente, Eva Longoria y George Lopez serán una vez más este año los presentadores del Premio ALMA 2012®. Además, Christina Aguilera, ganadora de cinco Premios Grammy y asesora de The Voice, serie popular de la NBC nominada a los Premios Emmy, recibirá el Premio al Mérito por la increíble trayectoria de su carrera artística y por su extraordinaria labor filantrópica.

América Ferrera, Michael Peña, Nicole Richie y Wilmer Valderrama también estarán entre los muchos actores famosos que celebrarán los logros de algunos de los latinos más prolíficos de la industria del entretenimiento, la música, la televisión y el cine.

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 de los Premios ALMA 2012. La cadena hispana de cable mun2 presentará el Especial de la Alfombra Roja de los premios ALMA. Telemundo será el anfitrión oficial de la página bilingüe de Internet de los Premios ALMA en www.telemundo.com/almaawards. Los televidentes también podrán ver el especial completo, después de su trasmisión al aire, a través de este sitio web. Además, los clientes de Comcast XFinity TV tendrán acceso a este espectáculo a través del servicio On Demand.

Para más información, 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 y #ALMA12. 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.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Support for low-income families still crucial

Washington, D.C.—The U.S. Census Bureau just released new data showing that nearly 300,000 Hispanics—mostly childless adults—left the ranks of the poor in 2011. The proportion of all Latinos living in poverty decreased from 26.5 percent in 2010 to 25.3 percent in 2011, thanks in part to more Hispanics finding employment. Latinos were the only racial or ethnic group to experience a decline in poverty in 2011. NCLR (National Council of La Raza) is encouraged to see an improvement in the economic situation for so many hardworking Latinos, and urges lawmakers to preserve critical policies that will help keep Latinos from falling back into poverty. The poverty level for a family of four in 2011 was $23,018.

“We’re very pleased to see a positive shift in these numbers; however, the data shows that there were still 13 million Latinos living in poverty in 2011, six million of whom were children who did not experience a significant reduction in poverty,” said Leticia Miranda, Senior Policy Advisor at NCLR. “We have more work to do to reduce poverty in the Latino community, especially among children and families.”

One reason for the improved economic situation among Hispanics is the declining Latino unemployment rate, which fell from 13.1 percent in 2010 to 11.5 percent in 2011, and has continued to drop to 10.2 percent in 2012. Still, the majority of jobs created since the recession are low-wage, and many Latinos lack the skills and training to find higher-paying employment. Support for adult education and retraining programs remains paramount to Latino workers’ ability to find better-paying jobs and pull their families out of poverty.

Anti-poverty programs that reach children—such as Head Start, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the Earned Income and Child Tax Credits—are also crucial for Latinos. With over one-third of Hispanic children living in poverty, support for these programs is essential to prevent many of these children from undergoing the damaging effects of growing up poor.

“Besides keeping people out of poverty, programs like the refundable tax credits or SNAP give a boost to local economies and help create jobs,” added Miranda. “Cutting programs like these—either through sequestration or enactment of the Ryan budget—would hurt our fragile economic recovery, lead us back into a recession, and throw millions of Americans, including many Latinos, back into poverty. Congress must produce a fair and responsible long-term budget plan that grows the economy, contains sufficient revenue to invest in children and in the future, and does not harm vulnerable people.”

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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Sitting at the epicenter of politics, it can sometimes be difficult for leaders in Washington to get a true sense of the homeowner’s struggle. Of course, you can point to statistics. More than 15 million homeowners are underwater and owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth. Meanwhile, there have been two million foreclosure filings this year, and millions more families are at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure. Nobody can deny that the outlook is bleak. But we cannot look at statistics to provide the answers; we need to examine the communities most severely impacted by the crisis to get at the heart of the matter and design a recovery strategy.

That’s why 150 homeowners, faith leaders, and housing advocates, including representatives from several of NCLR’s housing-focused Affiliates, convened at the White House yesterday to discuss possible solutions to the market challenges. These advocates shared personal stories about how their communities have been devastated, and more importantly, they offered strategies for resolving the problems that they see plaguing their communities.

While a variety of solutions were put forth during the half-day meeting, some of the more prominent included the need for principal reduction for families facing foreclosure, methods of ensuring the accessibility of safe credit products, and tactics to rejuvenate communities where foreclosures have caused blight and safety issues.

We appreciated the opportunity to speak with the White House and to give homeowners a platform to share their experiences. These firsthand accounts are critical to understanding what is truly going on in our neighborhoods. This meeting also provided an important venue to highlight recovery models that have been successful and can be taken to scale.

We look forward to a continued effort from the White House to improve the housing market and are very committed to working with them to develop concrete steps that will mend our communities and revive our economy.
 

Jobs, Votes, and Papers: This Week in Social Media

Storified by NCLR · Sun, Sep 16 2012 13:43:16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    Contact:
September 17, 2012                                Camila Gallardo
                                                                  (305) 573-7329
                                                                  cgallardo@nclr.org

Interactive town hall to discuss current education initiatives; challenges and opportunities in providing high-quality educational experiences for Latino students

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR (National Council of La Raza) will join U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on Tuesday, September 18, 6–7 p.m. to host an education town hall at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, Mo.  The town hall is part of the Education Drives America bus tour, a series of forums focusing on a range of issues including early childhood education, school reform, and the challenges of preparing students for an ever-evolving job market. 

This town hall will place particular emphasis on Latino students, who make up 22 percent of the nation’s pre-K–12 students and face slow progress in educational attainment, continuing to lag behind other ethnic groups.  Only about two-thirds (63 percent) of Latino students earn their high school diplomas on time, and only 13 percent of Latinos have obtained a bachelor’s degree.  The Kansas City town hall will provide an opportunity to discuss current initiatives and future proposals to improve these statistics.  

The town hall will engage an interactive format where participants will have the chance to ask questions and exchange ideas and impressions with the panel.  Several hundred community members, community leaders, teachers, and elected officials including Mayor Sylvester “Sly” James of Kansas City, Mo., and U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D–Mo., are expected to be in attendance.  

   

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:      Town Hall on Education and the Hispanic Community

WHO:        Introductory Remarks
                  Dr. Joe Seabrooks, President, Metropolitan Community College–Penn Valley
                  The Hon. Sly James, Mayor of Kansas City, Mo.
                  The Hon. Emanuel Cleaver, U.S. House of Representatives

                 Featured Speakers
                 The Hon. Arne Duncan, Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
                 Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR

WHEN:    Tuesday, September 18, 6–7 p.m.

WHERE:    Metropolitan Community College
                   Penn Valley Campus
                   3201 Southwest Traffic Way
                    Kansas City, MO 64111

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

                   
Foro público interactivo discutirá el estado de las iniciativas educacionales; los retos y oportunidades que existen para proveer una experiencia educativa de alta calidad para los estudiantes latinos.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Janet Murguía, Presidenta y Gerente General del NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza por sus siglas en inglés), se unirá al Secretario de Educación estadounidense Arne Duncan el martes 18 de septiembre de 6 a 7 p.m. en patrocino de un foro sobre la educación en el Metropolitan Community College en Kansas City, Mo.  El foro público es parte del tur Educación Drives América, una serie de foros enfocadas en temas sobre la educación tales como la educación temprana, reforma escolar, y los retos de prepara a la próxima generación para un mercado de trabajos que está en flujo constante. 

Este foro pondrá énfasis particular en los estudiantes latinos quienes componen el 22 por ciento de los niños en preK-12 en el país y se enfrentan a un progreso lento en el área de logros educativos comparado con otros grupos étnicos.  De acuerdo con las cifras del 2011, solo dos tercios (63 por ciento) de los estudiantes latinos obtuvieron su diploma de secundaria y solo 13 por ciento de los latinos obtuvieron un título universitario.  Este foro que tendrá lugar en Kansas City dará una oportunidad para discutir iniciativas y propuestas futuras para mejorar estas estadísticas.   

El foro tendrá un formato interactivo donde los participantes tendrán la oportunidad de participar en el intercambio de ideas e impresiones y hacer preguntas a los panelistas.  Cientos de miembros de la comunidad, líderes comunitarios, maestros, y oficiales electos asistirán, incluyendo al Alcalde de Kansas City, Mo., Sylvester “Sly” James, y el Congresista Emanuel Cleaver, D–Mo. 

AVISO DE PRENSA

QUÉ:    Foro sobre la educación y la comunidad Hispana 

QUIÉN:    Observaciones Introductorias
                 Dr. Joe Seabrooks, President, Metropolitan Community College–Penn Valley
                 El Hon. Sly James, Mayor of Kansas City, Mo.
                 El Hon. Emanuel Cleaver, U.S. House of Representatives

                 Panelistas
                El Hon. Arne Duncan, Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
                Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR

CUÁNDO:    Martes, 18 de septiembre, 6–7 p.m.

DÓNDE:     Metropolitan Community College
                   Penn Valley Campus
                   3201 Southwest Traffic Way
                   Kansas City, MO 64111

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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Today, we know Salma Hayek as a gorgeous and glamorous Latina actress in Hollywood, one who has been nominated for the Oscar for Best Actress and has gone on to produce and direct her own films and television shows. Among her other successes, though, is another achievement many aspire to, not just the hopefuls of Hollywood—United States citizenship. Born in Veracruz, Mexico, Salma Hayek became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 2004. This famous Latina has become an icon in American culture and worldwide. She fights for immigrant rights and has publicly opposed Arizona’s SB 1070. Today, she represents a greater population aspiring to citizenship, and her story is one many can admire. She is a prime example of how the United States of America is enriched by its diversity and immigrant population.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) defines naturalization as “the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).” Naturalization is more than a change in status, though—it’s an official confirmation of belonging to this country. Naturalized immigrants are finally lawfully recognized as belonging to a nation that they have strived and yearned to be a part of throughout a long and enduring process—a process that involves substantial paperwork and documentation, an interview, an exam of United States government and history, a hefty fee, and a long period of hopeful yet cautious anticipation.

The achievement of citizenship allows one to vote and fight for their beliefs as a citizen. It gives individuals a voice in our country and allows them to help shape its future. Before, they might have been in a state of limbo—neither a complete outsider nor a citizen with full rights and responsibilities to the nation. “More than anything, it’s that your vote is counted now,” says Gina Bonura, a Colombian immigrant who lives in Bristow, Virginia. “You feel you were a part of [this country] before you became a citizen [but] you were not counted…Now you are.”

This ultimate accomplishment of becoming a citizen sanctions and confirms the identity and sense of belonging to the United States of America. It is a powerful journey that ensures our full potential to achieve the American Dream, as citizens.

At NCLR, we believe that the immigrant population strengthens the vibrancy of this country as an economic power and icon of diversity, and that naturalization is the critical last step that new Americans take in order to participate fully in our nation’s civic life.

On Citizenship Day, September 17, the United States of America recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution and new citizens of the nation. We commemorate this day by releasing a short video in honor of new and aspiring citizens of the United States of America. We would also like to congratulate those who have achieved citizenship and commend those who remain on the enduring and powerful journey towards naturalization.

In the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, “As long as I live, I will never forget that day 21 years ago when I raised my hand and took the oath of citizenship. Do you know how proud I was? I was so proud that I walked around with an American flag around my shoulders all day long.”

For more resources on citizenship, the naturalization process, and other aspects of United States immigration services, please see www.nclr.org and www.uscis.gov.
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

HOLLYWOOD FAVORITES EVA LONGORIA AND GEORGE LOPEZ REUNITE FOR THIRD TIME AS CO-HOSTS; MUSIC SUPERSTAR CHRISTINA AGUILERA WILL RECEIVE SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AT THE 2012 NCLR ALMA AWARDS®, AIRING FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, (8:00-9:00 P.M. EST) ON NBC
America Ferrera, Michael Peña, Nicole Richie, and Wilmer Valderrama confirmed as presenters
Hispanic Cable Network mun2 to Present ALMA Awards Red Carpet Special; Spanish-language Telemundo to Host Official ALMA Awards Website and Comcast’s Xfinity TV Customers to Have Access to the Show on Demand

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif.—Popular performers Eva Longoria and George Lopez will return as co-hosts of the 2012 NCLR ALMA Awards, a star-studded kickoff to Hispanic Heritage Month that will air Friday, September 21 from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. EDT on NBC. Christina Aguilera, a five-time Grammy winner and popular coach on NBC’s Emmy-nominated hit series The Voice, will receive the 2012 NCLR Special Achievement Award for her incredible career and exceptional work in philanthropy. America Ferrera, Michael Peña, Nicole Richie, and Wilmer Valderrama will be among the many presenters on hand to celebrate the accomplishments of some of the most prolific Latinos in the entertainment industry, spanning music, television, and film.

This year marks the third time that Longoria and Lopez will co-host the NCLR ALMA Awards after sharing the stage in 2009 and 2011. Longoria, the Golden Globe–nominated, Screen Actors Guild Award– and ALMA Award–winning actress, producer, businesswoman, and philanthropist, is executive producer of the upcoming NBC dating series Ready for Love and just finished her eighth and final season of Desperate Housewives. The film and television star won a People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Female TV Star,” has been named one of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People,” and was selected three years in a row to the prestigious Forbes Celebrity 100, as well as being named “Philanthropist of the Year” by the Hollywood Reporter.

Lopez is a multitalented entertainer whose career spans film, television, stand-up comedy, and late-night television. He hosted the late-night talk show Lopez Tonight for two seasons, after co-creating, writing, producing, and starring in the ground-breaking sitcom George Lopez, which ran for six seasons and remains a hit with viewers in syndication. This summer, he hosted the dating series Take Me Out and debuted his third solo stand-up special. Lopez has been named one of the “25 Most Influential Hispanics in America” by Time Magazine, and the Harris Poll named him one of the Top Ten Favorite Television Personalities.

One of the most accomplished performers of the last decade, Aguilera has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and won five Grammy Awards. She has released seven albums, with pop hits that include “Beautiful,” “Genie in a Bottle,” and “Dirrty,” and recently began her third season mentoring music talent as a coach on NBC’s Emmy-nominated series The Voice. No stranger to the ALMA Awards, Aguilera has received 10 nominations and taken home three ALMAs. She has served as global spokesperson for Yum! Brands’ World Hunger Relief effort since 2009 where her participation has helped raise nearly $80 million for the World Food Programme (WFP) and other hunger relief agencies. She also serves as an Ambassador Against Hunger for WFP and has traveled on relief trips with the organization to Haiti and Guatemala. Aguilera continues to also fight for gay and lesbian rights as well as helping victims of domestic violence, a cause close to her heart.

Fans can cast their votes for their favorite nominees for the 2012 NCLR ALMA Awards online at www.ALMAAwards.com through September 7, 2012. Those who vote will be entered for a chance to win a VIP experience for two at the NCLR ALMA Awards, including airfare, hotel, VIP tickets to the show, and an invitation to the VIP Post-Party.

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 www.telemundo.com/almaawards. Viewers can also watch the entire special online after it airs via http://telemundo.com/almaawards and on www.nbc.com/alma-awards/.

The 2012 NCLR ALMA Awards 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 and mun2 will present the ALMA Awards Red Carpet special and rebroadcast the show. Telemundo will host the official bilingual ALMA Awards website at www.telemundo.com/almaawards, with social media playing an integral role in the star-studded crossover show, managing the fan conversations and curating exclusive content and behind-the-scenes interviews. Comcast will leverage its cable outlets to both promote and provide the show to viewers via video on demand. Pepsi will return 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/.

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,
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.

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PARA DIVULGACIÓN INMEDIATA

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

LAS ESTRELLAS FAVORITAS DE HOLLYWOOD EVA LONGORIA Y GEORGE LÓPEZ SE REUNIRÁN POR TERCERA VEZ 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.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

NCLR PRESIDENT AND CEO JANET MURGUÍA AND U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION ARNE DUNCAN DISCUSS STATE OF LATINO EDUCATION AT TOWN HALL IN KANSAS CITY
Town hall focuses on how to close the Latino education gap and prepare students to meet challenges of an ever-evolving future labor market

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) President and CEO Janet Murguía and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan hosted a town hall meeting about Latinos and education at the Metropolitan City College in Kansas City, Mo. The town hall is the latest stop on the “Education Drives America” bus tour, a U.S. Department of Education initiative which highlights important educational issues including school reform, student retention, and early childhood education. Today’s discussion focused on Latino students, who represent 23 percent of the nation’s schoolchildren.

“Latinos are vital to the future success and economic strength of this nation; their contributions to the labor force will help determine how competitive our nation remains in the world,” said Murguía. “It is fundamental that we ensure their fair shot at a high-quality education which will enable them to meet future challenges and fill future jobs.”

Education consistently ranks as a top priority for the nation’s Latinos, who are concerned about the quality of their children’s education and long-term prospects for success in the labor force. Recent Census numbers show that by 2050, Latinos will represent one-third of the nation’s workforce—all the more reason to focus on Latino educational success today.

Latinos students continue to lag at the bottom of the achievement gap. Only 63 percent of Latino students are graduating from high school in four years, compared to 78 percent of White students. Studies show that the achievement gap begins early in life—less than half of all Latino four-year-olds attend preschool, which puts them behind their counterparts when entering kindergarten and ultimately places them at risk for poor academic and social outcomes.

“We must lay the foundation for success early in life, and a critical part of that is access to high-quality preschool programs for Latinos,” added Murguía. “We also need to raise the bar for our elementary, middle, and high school students—we must set high standards, accurately monitor student learning, and provide effective instruction for all students, including English language learners.”

Common Core State Standards, teacher effectiveness, and school reform were among the topics also discussed during the hour-long town hall. For more information on Education Drives America, please visit Education Drives America. For information on NCLR Education programs and policy work and to access NCLR Education issue briefs, please visit www.nclr.org/index.php/issues_and_programs/education/.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Julian Teixeira
(202) 776-1566
jteixeira@nclr.org

GRAMMY WINNER MARTINA MCBRIDE PERFORMS WITH SINGING SENSATION LUIS FONSI FOR THE 2012 NCLR ALMA AWARDS®, AIRING FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 (8–9 P.M. EDT) ON NBC
Star-studded show kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month will feature messages from President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney
Aubrey Plaza and Taboo will also celebrate achievements of top Latino performers

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif.—Grammy-winning recording artist Martina McBride performs with Latin Grammy winner Luis Fonsi at the 2012 NCLR ALMA Awards®, airing Friday, September 21 (8–9 p.m. EDT) on NBC. The show will also feature special messages from President Barack Obama and Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Aubrey Plaza (NBC’s “Parks and Recreation”) and Taboo of The Black Eyed Peas join the all-star lineup of presenters for the high-energy special.

As previously announced, Flo Rida will perform with Roselyn Sanchez, and Christina Aguilera will receive a Special Achievement Award during the star-studded show featuring theme music written and performed by Pitbull. Jake Gyllenhaal, Nicole Richie, Zoë Saldana, Ryan Lochte, Robert Rodriguez and Natalie Morales are just a few of the many presenters in the one-hour special, hosted by Eva Longoria and George Lopez.

McBride is a Grammy-winning recording artist who has more than 18 million album sales and six #1 hit songs. She is the “most played female artist on country radio for the past 11 years,” according to both Mediabase and Broadcast Data Systems. Among her hits are such empowering songs as “Independence Day,” “This One’s for the Girls,” and “A Broken Wing,” all of which have underscored her incredible popularity as one of music’s preeminent female vocalists.

Latin Grammy winner Fonsi came on the music scene in 1998 with a debut album that was a hit on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart and made him a star in Puerto Rico and across Latin America. Seven albums later, Fonsi is an international sensation who has also recorded a duet with Christina Aguilera for her Spanish-language album, and with Emma Bunton of “Spice Girls” fame for her album “Free Me.” He won a Latin Grammy Award in 2009 for the song of the year, “Aquí Estoy Yo,” and has won numerous other awards, including Latin Billboard’s Tu Mundo Award. Currently on tour until 2013, Fonsi also performed in Oslo, Norway at the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize concert honoring winner Barack Obama.

Hispanic cable network mun2 will present the ALMA Awards red carpet special, and Telemundo is hosting the official bilingual ALMA Awards website at www.telemundo.com/almaawards and will stream the pre-show online. Comcast’s Xfinity TV customers will have access to the show on demand. Viewers can also watch the entire special online after it airs via www.telemundo.com/almaawards.

The 2012 NCLR ALMA Awards was produced by dick clark productions’s executive producers Orly Adelson and Barry Adelman, along with Eva Longoria and Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR.

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

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PARA DIVULGACION INMEDIATA

Contacto:
Julian Teixeira
(202) 776-1566
jteixeira@nclr.org

MARTINA MCBRIDE, GANADORA DEL PREMIO GRAMMY, SE PRESENTARA JUNTO A LA SENSACION MUSICAL LUIS FONSI DURANTE LOS PREMIOS ALMA® 2012 DEL NCLR, QUE SE EMITIRA EN LA CADENA NBC EL VIERNES 21 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 8:00 PM a 9:00 PM (EDT)

El especial celebrará el comienzo del Mes de la Herencia Hispana y durante el mismo se emitirán mensajes del presidente Barack Obama y del candidato republicano Mitt Romney

Aubrey Plaza y Taboo celebrarán también los logros de los artistas latinos más destacados

UNIVERSAL CITY, California.— Martina McBride, artista ganadora del Premio Grammy, se presentará junto a Luis Fonsi, ganador del Premio Latin Grammy, durante los Premios ALMA® 2012 del NCLR. Este espectáculo especial se emitirá en la cadena NBC el viernes 21 de septiembre de 8:00 PM a 9:00 PM tiempo estándar del este (EDT). Durante este espectáculo tanto el presidente de los Estados Unidos, Barack Obama, como el candidato republicano, Mitt Romney, emitirán mensajes especiales. Además, los famosos Aubrey Plaza, del programa “Parks and Recreation” que se emite por la cadena NBC, y Taboo, de la banda The Black Eyed Peas, participarán junto a muchísimas otras estrellas durante un especial que promete estar lleno de energía.

Como se anunciara anteriormente, Flo Rida se presentará juntó a Roselyn Sánchez, y la cantante Christina Aguilera recibirá el premio Special Achievement Award durante un espectáculo repleto de estrellas cuyo tema ha sido compuesto y será presentado por la sensación musical Pitbull. Además, los famosos Jake Gyllenhaal, Nicole Richie, Zoë Saldana, Ryan Lochte, Robert Rodriguez y Natalie Morales serán algunos de los muchos presentadores durante este evento. El especial tendrá una hora de duración y los anfitriones del mismo serán Eva Longoria y George López.

McBride, quien ha sido galardonada con del Premio Grammy, durante su trayectoria artística ha vendido más de 18 millones de discos y ha tenido seis canciones que han llegado a ser número uno. Se ha dicho que es “ la cantante femenina que más se escucha en las estaciones de radio de música country durante los últimos 11 años”, según Mediabase y Broadcast Data Systems. Entre sus éxitos más conocidos se encuentran las canciones “Independence Day,” “This One’s for the Girls,” y “A Broken Wing,” todas las cuales han solidificado su increíble popularidad y su lugar como una de las primeras y más importantes voces femeninas de la música.

Luis Fonsi, ganador del Premio Latin Grammy, se dió a conocer en el mundo musical en 1998 cuando lanzó su primer álbum que se convirtió en un éxito y llegó a ser uno de los primeros álbumes latinos de la revista Billboard. Este logro lo convirtió en una estrella no solo en Puerto Rico sino en toda Latinoamérica. Siete álbumes más tarde, Fonsi es una sensación internacional que ha grabado a dúo con artistas como Christina Aguilera, con quien grabó un tema para su disco en español, y con Emma Bunton de las conocidas “Spice Girls”, con quien grabó para su disco que se titula “Free Me.” Luis Fonsi, recibió un Premio Latin Grammy en el año 2009 por la canción del año “Aquí Estoy Yo”, y ha recibido muchos otros premios tales como el Premio Tu Mundo otorgado por Latin Billboard. Fonsi, quien se ha presentado en los más destacados escenarios internacionales se presentó en la ciudad de Oslo, Noruega durante el concierto del Premio Nobel de la Paz 2009 para rendir homenaje al presidente Barack Obama, quien recibió el Premio Nobel ese año. Actualmente el cantante se encuentra en una gira internacional hasta el año 2013.

La cadena hispana de cable mun2 presentará el Especial de la Alfombra Roja de los premios ALMA. Telemundo será el anfitrión oficial de la página bilingüe de Internet de los Premios ALMA a través de su página web: www.telemundo.com/almaawards. Los televidentes también podrán ver el especial completo, tanto el pre-show como el evento, a través de esta página. Además, los clientes de Comcast XFinity TV tendrán acceso a este espectáculo a través del servicio On Demand.

La presentación de los Premios ALMA 2012 del NCLR fue 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.

Para más información, 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 www.twitter.com/AlmaAwards. También puede encontrar más información disponible en www.nbc.com/alma-awards/.

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Dear President Obama and Governor Romney:

A decent home for everyone is core to the American promise of opportunity, a source of security and pride. The chance to one day own a home we can afford, under fair terms, is a fundamental part of the American Dream. Rebuilding that dream is in our national interest, and crucial to our economic recovery. With your campaigns now in full swing, we ask that you explain what specifically you will do, if elected in November, to restore and enhance Home Opportunity for all people in our nation. And we urge you to adopt the proven and practical solutions that we describe below.

We are part of the Home for Good campaign, an alliance of organizations and individuals around the country who together represent millions of people across our nation. We are calling on our political, business, and civic leaders, including our next president, for bold action to:

1. Stop needless foreclosures.
2. Expand affordable rental housing.
3. Revive a sustainable path to homeownership.

The foreclosure crisis continues to rob millions of people of their homes, resources, and sense of security, while the future of homeownership and affordable housing remains in grave jeopardy. 8.9 million people have lost their homes since 2007, and 2 million remain in jeopardy—senior citizens losing their economic security, children and families uprooted, neighborhoods blighted with vacant properties, lifetimes of economic security destroyed, and a continuing body blow to our national prosperity. Despite the progress that we’ve made as a nation, unequal opportunity and discrimination by banks, brokers, and others based on race and ethnicity have meant that communities of color are among those hardest hit by this crisis, with historic losses in assets and savings. The targeting of people and communities of color, of veterans and military service members, of senior citizens and others hurts us all and runs counter to our values as a nation.

Fortunately, there are many proven and practical solutions that can stem foreclosures, restore affected communities, protect fair housing and lending, and ensure that home ownership and affordable housing are accessible pillars of American opportunity into the 21st century. The Compact for Home Opportunity, a roadmap compiling solutions proposed by multiple groups, offers specific steps for policymakers, industry leaders, and everyday Americans.

As you ask to lead our nation out of this economic crisis, we ask you to explain your specific plans to address these challenges and uphold Home Opportunity for all people. What will you do to address the lender misconduct and inadequate rules and enforcement that led to the current crisis and continue to threaten our economy? How will you ensure that families or individuals with the resources and desire to be successful homeowners are not thwarted by future misconduct, arbitrary restrictions, or a lack of sound information? How will you help rejuvenate neighborhoods devastated by predatory lending and mass foreclosures? And how will you ensure that people of all races, ethnicities, and communities have an equal opportunity to pursue the American Dream?

We urge you to provide clear, specific answers, to endorse the pillars of the Home for Good campaign, and to incorporate the principles of the Compact for Home Opportunity into your campaign platform. We invite each of your campaigns to meet with representatives from our organizations to discuss these important steps.

We have not given up on the dream that so many people share of an affordable place to live, fair treatment, and the chance to one day own a home of their own in a neighborhood of their choice. Have you? We welcome an opportunity to discuss our priorities with you.

Sincerely,

Asset Building Strategies
California Reinvestment Coalition
Center for Responsible Lending
Greenlining Institute
Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD)
National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA)
National Urban League
PICO National Network
PolicyLink
The Opportunity Agenda
 

Make it Count in November

For National Voter Registration Day today, we’re joining hundreds of activists and organizations across the country to register as many new voters as possible.

We’ve been giving you lots of reasons to vote the past few months, but we know some of you may still not have gotten the message. So, to help us out, we thought we’d enlist the help of our good friend Taboo, from the Black Eyed Peas, to explain why it’s so important that you do it this year.

There are lots of ways for you to get involved, but first we want to make sure that YOU are registered. You can use the tool below to register to vote, print your form, and mail it in to your local officials. It’s easy! Try it out now.

So, now that you understand why you need to vote and now that you’re registered, how about you help us spread the word! Share this page on Facebook or email this link to all of your friends so they register today, too. There are a mere 42 days left until Election Day and this year, Latinos are poised now more than ever to determine the outcome. That’s power folks. Don’t let it go to waste.

In the near future, nearly half of the United States could experience increased mortgage fees. Ed DeMarco, acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), announced a proposal to change its standard practice of treating all states equally by creating a new mortgage fee structure that varies by state. The way it works is that you will be charged increased mortgage fees when purchasing a home if you live somewhere that uses the judicial system to process its foreclosures.

DeMarco’s reasoning for the proposal is that foreclosures settled in court cost the FHFA more time and money than foreclosures that are settled outside of court. By padding mortgage costs up front, he claims he’s reducing FHFA’s risk. Unfortunately, this complex fee structure misses the target. It will not save time or money or serve as a deterrent to servicers who pass the cost on to homeowners. Rather, it acts as a penalty for states that provide a judicial outlet for grievances between homeowners and lenders. An analysis by HousingWire found that the judiciary process does not equate to a drawn-out foreclosure. In fact, the states with the slowest processing of delinquencies—Washington, Alabama, and Mississippi—do not use the judicial process for foreclosures, while some of the states with the fastest foreclosure processing—Iowa, New Mexico, and Minnesota—do use the judicial process.

This proposed policy ignores the reality that servicers have monetary incentives to drag out foreclosure proceedings. To truly address the issue of prolonged foreclosures, the FHFA should focus on the way mortgages are serviced. DeMarco’s proposal will do little to change the realities of the mortgage servicing sector. Rather, the proposal will likely increase the cost of credit, leaving communities of color and low- and middle-income communities with fewer credit options.

A plan to increase fees for states that provide judicial recourse for delinquent homeowners fails to take into account the complexities of the foreclosure crisis. If implemented, it will affect the 21 states that are judicial, meaning that a substantial number of future homeowners could be affected. There is no need to punish a state for the protections it has put in place to safeguard homeowners from wrongful foreclosures.

This pattern of thinking underscores the urgent need to hear from both presidential candidates on the matter of housing. How do they feel about raising mortgage fees for specific states? Advocates and counselors in the trenches are speaking out and have initiated a drumbeat for effective and proven approaches to processing foreclosures smoothly and repairing the housing market. They have long recognized that troubled homeowners do not want to live in limbo, and that delays in the foreclosure process range widely based on the random inefficiencies of servicers’ bookkeeping. With this recent proposal, the FHFA has left us stunned yet again. This proposal signals a dismantling of the judicial process and the protections it affords both homeowners and lenders. Rather than assist a true economic recovery with a positive and lasting change, this proposal will further erode the ability of many homeowners to get back on their feet.

One ray of hope is that the FHFA will soon open up this proposal for comment. We strongly recommend that homeowners, advocates, and stakeholders follow this comment period very closely and be sure to submit their thoughts on where the FHFA should actually devote its energy—that is, toward making aggressive changes in servicing standards.

PARA DIVULGACIÓN INMEDIATA            Para más información:

25 de septiembre, 2012                             Camila Gallardo
                                                                 (305) 573-7329/celular: (305)215-4259
                                                                 cgallardo@nclr.org

Distribución de Anuncio de Servicio Público (PSA), ‘tweets’ de famosos, e inscripción de votantes todo parte de un esfuerzo agresivo para que los Latinos se inscriban en tiempo para las elecciones de noviembre

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Hoy,  en celebración del Día Nacional del Registro del Votante, la campaña Movilizados al Voto (M2V) del NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza, por sus siglas en inglés), participará en una serie de actividades en ciudades a través del país y en el internet con propósito de instar a los Hispanos que se inscriban a votar antes de las fechas límites en sus estados. 

Movilizados al Voto es una campaña multi-estatal que se enfoca en inscribir a los Latinos elegibles a votar y a proveer información y foros de participación donde la comunidad puede discutir y aprender sobre los temas que más los afectan.  Hoy, NCLR presentará un nuevo Anuncio de Servicio Público (PSA) donde aparece el músico Taboo, miembro del grupo Black Eyed Peas http://www.youtube.com/nclr y se espera que varias celebridades escriban ‘tweets’ a través de la red social Twitter, a sus seguidores, instándoles a inscribirse a votar para que se escuchen sus voces en noviembre.   Posibles votantes serán instados a unirse al Reto Movilizados al Voto donde podrán recibir premios por ayudar a inscribir a sus amistades y familiares.

“Hoy, en el Día Nacional de Inscripción del Votante, le instamos a todos los latinos en el país que hagan contacto con sus amistades y familiares y les anime a que tomen unos minutes para inscribirse a votar.  Con tantos temas de importancia para la comunidad latina en esta elección, ya es hora que se nos haga oír nuestras voces en el proceso,” dijo Clarissa Martinez de Castro, Directora de Participación Cívica e Inmigración, NCLR.

Actividades hoy, martes, 25 de septiembre, incluirán:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—Inscripción de Votantes, Confirmación de Registración, e información sobre los requerimientos  en la Escuela Charter Hostos, 4322 North 5th Street en Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Para más información, comuníquese con Rafael Collazo, Director Político Nacional, NCLR al (215) 432-6065
 
Miami, Florida—Inscripción de votantes en varias localidades en Miami-Dade County.  Para locales específicos, comuníquese con Natalie Carlier, Regional Field Coordinator, NCLR at (305)573-7329
Univisión Ya Es Hora-banco de teléfonos durante el noticiero de 5:00pm a 7:00pm, Univisión-Canal 23 en Miami

Orlando, Florida—Inscripción de votantes en varias localidades en el área Metro de Orlando.  Para locales específicos, comuníquese con Yanidsi Velez, Regional Field Coordinador, NCLR al (407) 406-1672

Participación Cívica—Evento comunitario con música, comida e intercambio, patrocinado por el NCLR, ACLU, Mi Familia Vota, NALEO, y DJ Chino, de 6:00 p.m. a 8:00 p.m. en el Poinciana Community Center, 395 Marigold Ave. en Poinciana, Florida. 

Las Vegas, Nevada—Inscripción de votantes, verificación de inscripción, e información para el votante de 9:00am a 5:00pm en la oficina regional del NCLR localizada en el 3230 E. Charleston Ave. Suite 117, Las Vegas, Nevada 89104.  Para más información llame a: Fernando Romero, Regional Field Coordinador, NCLR al (702) 596-9912

Denver, Colorado—Aprenda como usted puede ayudar a que los Latinos salgan a votar! De 9:00 a.m. a 2:00 p.m. en el Classroom Building Lobby.  También se hará inscripción de votantes.  Para más información llame a Jesús Altamirano, Regional Field Coordinador,  at (303)722-5150 ext. 102. 
 
Movilizados al Voto ha registrado a más de 70.000 nuevos votantes latinos en todo el país.

Para oportunidades de entrevista, por favor póngase en contacto con: Julián Teixeira a (202) 776-1812 o Camila Gallardo a (305) 573-7329.

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact:
September 25, 2012                                                     Camila Gallardo
                                                                                     (305) 573-7329/cell: (305) 215-4259
                                                                                      cgallardo@nclr.org

 
PSA unveiling, celebrity tweets and on-the-ground voter registration all part of aggressive push to get Latinos registered in time to vote in November

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, in celebration of National Voter Registration Day, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) will kick its Mobilize to Vote (M2V) campaign into high gear with a flurry of field and online activity aimed at encouraging Hispanics to register to vote as state deadlines approach.  The M2V campaign is a multi-state effort focused on registering eligible Latinos to vote and providing forums for discussion on the issues that most affect the community.  NCLR will unveil a new Public Service Announcement featuring The Black Eyed Peas musician Taboo (www.youtube.com/NCLR), and Latino celebrities are expected to join the push to register today by tweeting messages encouraging Latinos to make their voices heard in November.  Online, potential voters will be encouraged to join NCLR’s Mobilize to Vote Challenge where they can earn rewards for helping to get friends and family to register.

“Today, on National Voter Registration Day, we are urging Latinos across the nation to reach out to their family, friends and neighbors and encourage them to take a few minutes to get registered.  With so many issues at stake for Latinos in this election, it really is time that we make our voices heard through this process,” said Clarissa Martínez-De-Castro, Director of Civic Engagement and Immigration, NCLR. 

On-the-ground activities for today, Tuesday, September 25, include:

Philadelphia, Pa.—Voter registration and voter ID awareness at ASPIRA Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School 4322 North Fifth St., Philadelphia, Pa.  For more information, contact Rafael Collazo, Campaign Political Director, NCLR at (215) 432-6065.

Miami, Fla.—On-site voter registration at various locations throughout Miami-Dade County. 
For specific locations contact Natalie Carlier, Regional Field Coordinator, NCLR at (305) 573-7329.

Univision Ya Es Hora telephone bank live during the newscast, 6–7 p.m., Univision affiliate channel 23 in Miami.

Orlando, Fla.—On-site voter registration at various locations throughout the Orlando metropolitan area.  For specific locations contact Yanidsi Velez, Regional Field Coordinator, NCLR at (407) 406-1672.

Participacion Civica:  Music, food and discussion sponsored by NCLR, ACLU, Mi Familia Vota, NALEO and DJ Chino, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Poinciana Community Center, 395 Marigold Ave., Poinciana, Fla.

Las Vegas, Nev.—Voter registration, voter verification and voter education at NCLR’s office located at 3230 E. Charleston Ave., Suite 117, Las Vegas, Nev. 89104 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For more information contact Fernando Romero, Regional Field Coordinator, NCLR at (702) 596-9912.

Denver, Colo.— Find out how to get involved in turning Latinos out to vote!  CentreTech Campus at Aurora Community College 16000 East CentreTech Parkway, Aurora, Colorado 80011-9036
from 9am-2pm inside the Classroom Building Lobby.  Voter registration also available.   Contact Jesus Altamirano at (303) 722-5150 ext. 102. 

Mobilize to Vote has already registered over 70,000 new Latino voters nationwide.

For interview opportunities, please contact Julian Teixeira at (202) 776-1812 or Camila Gallardo at (305) 573-7329.

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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