FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Last week, President Obama announced his intent to nominate former Purdue University President France Córdova to be Director of the National Science Foundation. NCLR (National Council of La Raza) applauds the president for this outstanding selection. When she is confirmed, Dr. Cordova will become the first Latina and only the second woman to lead the Foundation.

“It is hard to imagine a better person for this post than France Córdova. Her record of achievement as not only an internationally recognized scientist who specializes in astrophysics but also a tremendously successful college administrator and, most recently, college president makes her an ideal choice for this post,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “Throughout Dr. Cordova’s distinguished career, she has been a pioneer for women and Hispanics in the sciences and technology. Among her numerous achievements, she was the first Latina to serve as Chief Scientist for NASA, and she was the first woman and first Latina to serve as President of Purdue University, a leading research institution noted for its discoveries in science, technology and engineering.”

“Córdova’s nomination is also a great step forward for those of us who want to see more minorities and women in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields,” added Murguía. “Dr. Córdova’s legacy includes years of strong advocacy on behalf of greater diversity in both science and higher education. As President of Purdue, she increased the number of women in senior administrative positions by 57% and the number of minorities by 80%. She has been a champion for our community all her life and we look forward to her tenure at the Foundation. We urge the Senate to confirm her as quickly as possible.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

This year’s LGBT and Allies Reception during the 2013 NCLR (National Council of La Raza) Annual Conference honored Sheriff Lupe Valdez, the first female, first Hispanic and first lesbian Sheriff of Dallas County, Texas. Sheriff Valdez, who has worked in law enforcement for over 30 years at both the federal and state levels, took office in 2005 and has been reelected twice to continue on in the role.

“I am honored and humbled to receive such recognition from the National Council of La Raza,” said Valdez. “I am committed to ensuring the humane and equal treatment of all people regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.”

In 2013, Valdez was included in “The Out List,” an HBO documentary exploring LGBT identity in America that featured prominent LGBT leaders such as talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, actor Neil Patrick Harris, financial guru Suze Orman and politician Christine Quinn.

“Sheriff Valdez has a unique story to tell—one that speaks to the strength of diversity in this nation,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “She is one of the top law enforcement officials in the country. She has made the streets of Dallas County safer and won reelection twice with broad support from many different communities. Sheriff Valdez is an inspiring leader for both the LGBT and Latino communities and embodies the spirit of working together to create a stronger nation that protects the rights of all of its citizens.”

The LGBT and Allies reception is held annually to honor the accomplishments of LGBT Latinos. Previous honorees include actor Wilson Cruz and activist and NCLR Board Member Catherine Pino.

This year’s reception was sponsored by American Airlines, Hilton, the Human Rights Campaign and Ketel One Vodka.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        Contact:
January 23, 2014                                                                                         Camila Gallardo, NCLR
                                                                                                                    (305) 215-4259
                                                                                                                    cgallardo@nclr.org
                                                                                                                    Lizette Escobedo, MFV
                                                                                                                    (858) 583-5014
                                                                                                                    lizettee@mifamiliavota.org

Groups seek to register one-quarter of a million new Latino voters before midterm elections

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) and MFV Ed Fund (Mi Familia Vota Education Fund) launched the initial phase of their “Mobilize to Vote 2014” campaign, a joint effort to register over one-quarter of a million new Hispanic voters by the midterm elections.

The non-partisan campaign is designed to reach Latinos in areas of the country where their population growth has been significant, yet the greatest gaps exist between potential voters and actual voters. While Latinos have increased their electoral participation in the last decade, today there are almost as many eligible but inactive Latino voters (11.1 million) as active Latino voters (12.2 million). To help close this gap, NCLR and MFV Ed Fund are implementing a large-scale register-by-mail program targeting eligible Latino voters in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah, with plans under development to expand registration efforts to Florida and California.

“Latinos have had an indelible impact on the nation’s political landscape in recent elections, and their untapped potential may exert even greater influence. To fully leverage this potential, we must push to register as many eligible Latino voters as possible, particularly as we approach a midterm election that will no doubt have an impact on how issues important to our community—such as immigration reform—are addressed moving forward,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR.

Approximately 8.6 million Latinos in the United States are eligible to vote, but have not yet registered; every month, nearly 64,000 young Latino citizens turn 18 and become newly eligible. That’s a treasure trove of potential voters whom are often not reached by traditional party or state outreach efforts. The mailings will target three pools of potential registrants—newly eligible 18 year olds, registered voters who have moved and need to re-register, and the broader Hispanic voting-age population. Voter registration materials will land in mailboxes as early as this month, again in May, and later in August, reaching more than 2.5 million potential new Hispanic registrants in the Southwest. The campaign will also contact eligible mail recipients by phone to remind them to fill out and return their registration forms.

"Mi Familia Vota Education Fund works to close the Latino civic participation gap from citizenship to voter registration to voter turnout, engaging voters year-round." said Ben Monterroso, Executive Director of Mi Familia Vota Education Fund. "Elected officials need to pay attention to our issues on a regular basis and consistently engage Latinos. How they react to key issues such as immigration reform will not be forgotten on Election Day. It is not enough to wait until six weeks before an election to pay lip service to Latino voters. We are too important to ignore."

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 and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Mi Familia Vota Education Fund is one of the premiere national Latino civic engagement organizations that unites Latino, immigrant, and allied communities to promote social and economic justice through increased civic participation, including citizenship promotion and assistance, voter registration and voter engagement. Visit us at www.mifamiliavota.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                         Media Contact: Cynthia Carrillo
January 23, 2014                                                            P: 602.417.1433

RAZA DEVELOPMENT FUND (RDF) RECEIVES $6 MILLION FROM JP MORGAN CHASE FOUNDATION TO INVEST IN VALLEY-WIDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE ADELANTE EN FAMILIA – THE GOAL: INVEST CAPITAL IN ORGANIZATIONS TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES IN LATINO AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OF SOUTH PHOENIX, TEMPE, AND MESA.

Phoenix, AZ- The JPMorgan Chase Foundation has awarded RDF a $6M dollar grant as part of its CDFI Collaboratives program, to fund the initiative Adelante en Familia. The foundation’s CDFI Collaboratives program is a new $33 million commitment to helping CDFIs across the US build capacity, foster collaboration and growth among CDFIs and enable them to serve more people and small businesses in low and moderate-income communities.

“At JPMorgan Chase, we are pleased to continue our commitment to helping CDFIs and building strong communities, through our new CDFI Collaboratives program,” said Seth Mones, Global Philanthropy Vice President and Relationship Manager in Arizona, JPMorgan Chase Foundation. “We look forward to working with this Collaborative of four nonprofit lenders, led by Raza Development Fund, to advance their transformative efforts to assist underserved communities in South Phoenix.” 

MariSol Federal Credit Union, Arizona MultiBank Corporation, and Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation will work with RDF to represent the cities of Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa and deploy capital as loans for small businesses, mortgages, and consumer products. 

“Bringing Latinos into the practice of engaging financial institutions to create savings, make purchases and manage their personal finances will be of huge benefit not just to their long-term success, but to the nation’s short- and long-term economic growth and stability,” stated Janet Murguía, President and CEO of National Council of La Raza, for whom RDF is a support corporation and an important lending partner for NCLR’s affiliate organizations.

The overall mission of Adelante En Familia is to plan, promote, and facilitate development of sustainable communities connected to rail and transit that comply with Transit Oriented Development (TOD) success standards for all income levels through work with public and private partners. Areas of focus will be entrepreneurship and small business development, housing, healthcare, and education in the Phoenix Metro Area along the Light Rail, with a special focus on South Phoenix. 

In addition to implementation of lending programs, an educational and mixed-use community development will be built in the heart of South Phoenix and is projected to bring life to numerous city, public, and private initiatives; while catalyzing progress for existing urban plans. Valley Metro’s Light Rail Expansion Plans, SoPho – Between the 7s, and developments funded by the Sustainable Communities Collaborative, are a few of the initiatives Adelante En Familia will capitalize on through its work. 

“The JPMorgan Chase Foundation’s shared vision with RDF to strengthen families through community development is timely”, stated Tommy Espinoza, President and CEO, Raza Development Fund. “South Phoenix, rich in its families and various cultures, is a community on the cusp of becoming the new face of America. Together we can build hope for the future of our communities and our city.” 

######

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

On Tuesday, January 28, at 9:00 p.m. EST, President Barack Obama will deliver his annual State of the Union Address to Congress. The president will offer a number of policy proposals focused on key issues facing the Latino community. NCLR (National Council of La Raza) will be listening closely to the president’s remarks, which will undoubtedly reflect his administration’s top priorities for 2014.

For an immediate reaction to the president’s speech, a number of NCLR spokespeople will be available for interviews on topics including health care, jobs and the economy, immigration, housing, education, civil rights, and the Latino electorate. If you are interested in speaking with an NCLR spokesperson after the State of the Union Address, please contact Julian Teixeira, Director of Communications, at (202) 776-1812 or jteixeira@nclr.org. He will put you in contact with the appropriate NCLR expert for an interview.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:     State of the Union Address

WHEN:     Tuesday, January 28, 2014; 9:00 p.m. EST

To arrange an interview after the State of the Union Address, please contact Julian Teixeira at (202) 776-1812 or jteixeira@nclr.org.

###
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

On the ground, on the phone and online, activists put immigration reform front and center

With Congress set to return to Washington in just a few short weeks, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) and its network of nearly 300 community organizations have joined forces with partners across the nation to ramp up efforts during the August recess to build support for comprehensive immigration reform. The vast majority of Americans, including an overwhelming majority of Latino voters, agree that immigration reform with a roadmap to citizenship for aspiring Americans is in the best economic and social interest of the country. And, with the Senate having already passed a bipartisan bill earlier this year, the fate of reform now lies in the hands of the House of Representatives.

“With our Affiliates and local partners, we are taking every opportunity possible to engage congressional representatives and send a clear message that their constituents demand a rational solution to fix our broken immigration system,” said Clarissa Martínez-De-Castro, Director of Immigration and Civic engagement at NCLR. “From an economic, moral and political perspective, this is a no-brainer.”

NCLR and its Affiliate Network have focused on areas with high Latino populations, some of those in congressional districts where members of Congress have been reluctant to state their support for reform. Just today, 28 members of Congress received letters from 37 of NCLR’s prominent Affiliate organizations and community partners as part of an effort to help educate them about the values of passing the reform bill.

Among the month’s activities:

• FROM CALIFORNIA TO FLORIDA—NCLR Affiliates and community partners held in-district visits with the offices of Rep. Darrell Issa (R–Calif.), Rep. Cory Gardner (R–Colo.), Rep. Daniel Webster (R–Fla.), Rep. Jeff Denham (R–Calif.), among others. Líderes Campesinas, an Emerging Latino Communities grantee in California, initiated a phone bank in Rep. Gary Miller’s (R–Calif.) district that led to over 100 constituent calls into the congressional office to highlight the importance of reform. NCLR joined its Affiliate organization El Concilio and dozens of community and student groups in a two-day march from Bakersfield to Sacramento that will culminate this Friday with a forum featuring Rep. Jeff Denham (R–Calif.) as a keynote speaker.

• FROM TEXAS TO NORTH CAROLINA—NCLR, its Affiliate Southwest Key Programs and other community partners will hold an immigration forum today in the city of Austin—home to the congressional districts of Rep. Michael Mccaul (R–Texas) and Lloyd Doggett (D–Texas). El Pueblo, an Emerging Latino Communities grantee in North Carolina, joined with the Latino Coalition of Randolph County to hold a rally in front of the offices of Rep. Renee Ellmers (R–N.C.), urging support for reform.

• In Washington, D.C., NCLR has been working with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and meeting with Democratic and Republican leadership and members to advance reform. During the recess blitz, NCLR has met with 20 congressional offices, with many more visits scheduled in the upcoming weeks.

• NCLR and its Affiliate organizations have taken to social media and online platforms to share the stories of families affected by our current broken immigration system and to bring attention to the important moral, economic and political imperatives to pass reform.

“There is unprecedented momentum behind immigration reform, and it has only intensified since passage of bipartisan legislation in the Senate,” added Martínez-De-Castro. “Our Affiliates and community partners are enthusiastic, engaged and ready to push reform past the finish line. Every segment of America is represented in the forces pushing for reform—civil rights, law enforcement, business, faith, labor groups—and it is time for the House to heed that call: America deserves a vote.”

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Camila Gallardo
(305) 215-4259
cgallardo@nclr.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Yesterday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers took the first step toward restoring the integrity of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) with the introduction of H.R. 3899, the “Voting Rights Amendment Act.” The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. John Conyers (D–Mich.) and Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R–Wis.) and in the Senate by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D–Vt.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. In a narrow decision (5–4) last year, the Supreme Court struck down Section 4(b), a provision of the VRA that sets forth a preclearance process for states or municipalities with prevalent histories of voting discrimination.

“We are very encouraged that a strong bipartisan group of policymakers has stepped up to introduce a measure that will make our Voting Rights Act whole again,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR (National Council of La Raza). “Our nation has made many advancements in civil rights since 1965, yet voter discrimination and voter suppression are unfortunately still part of our current reality. We have seen many examples of this discrimination in states across the nation during the last election, and surely without a strong preclearance provision we would embolden those efforts in this year’s elections.”

“We are concerned, though, that the bill introduced does not go far enough to stop the kind of voter suppression practices that particularly affect the fastest-growing groups of voters in this country. It is our hope and expectation that this will be addressed as quickly as possible as the bill goes through the congressional process,” Murguía concluded.

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 follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                          Contact:
January 28, 2014                                                                            Julian Teixeira
                                                                                                       (202) 776-1812
                                                                                                       jteixeira@nclr.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today NCLR (National Council of La Raza) was saddened to learn of the passing of Adelfa Callejo this past Saturday at the age of 90 after a long battle with brain cancer. 

Known as “La Madrina” (The Godmother) of the Hispanic community in Dallas, Adelfa Callejo had a storied career, beginning as the first Latina to graduate from Southern Methodist University law school. When she was unable to find work as a lawyer due to her ethnicity, she opened her own firm along with her husband, Bill Callejo. Thanks to the firm’s immense success, the Callejos were able to become fierce, independent, uncompromising advocates for the civil rights of Hispanics in Dallas and the state of Texas. She is one of only 12 lawyers to be named as a “Texas Legal Legend” by the State Bar of Texas.

“Not only was Adelfa Callejo a pioneer and a mentor to countless Hispanic attorneys through the years, she was also a formidable presence who was still fighting for and marching on behalf of her community until the day she died. She was a champion for improving the education of Hispanic students and fighting anti-immigrant policies such as the Farmers Branch ordinance. It was our privilege to honor her and her beloved husband, Bill, with the Graciela Olivarez La Raza Award in 2005. Our heartfelt condolences go to her family and Dallas’s Hispanic community. She will be much missed,” stated Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR.

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:
January 28, 2014                                               Camila Gallardo, NCLR
                                                                              (305) 215-4259
                                                                             cgallardo@nclr.org
                                                                              Lizette Escobedo, Mi Familia Vota
                                                                              (858) 583-5014
                                                                              lizettee@mifamiliavota.org


Mobilize to Vote 2014 campaign seeks to register 250,000 eligible Latinos nationally

DENVER—On Thursday, January 30, at 10:00 a.m. MST, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) and Mi Familia Vota Education Fund will announce the Colorado launch of their combined voter registration efforts at a press conference on the west steps of the State Capitol.  The goal of the Mobilize to Vote 2014 campaign is to register one-quarter of a million Latino voters before the 2014 elections.
 
In the initial phase of the campaign, registration efforts will primarily target southwestern states with a large number of unregistered Latino voters, including Colorado, and where there is potential to advance the national dialogue on issues important to Latinos, such as immigration reform.  Approximately 8.6 million Latinos in the United States are eligible to vote but have not yet registered; every year from now until 2028, over 900,000 Latino citizens turn 18 and become newly eligible.  With proper motivation and outreach, Latino voters can be a driving force in electoral outcomes in gubernatorial, state legislative and congressional races across the country in 2014.  

According to U.S. Census data, Colorado’s Latino population represented 42 percent of the state’s overall growth from 2000 to 2010.  There are 484,000 eligible Hispanic voters in Colorado, and in 2012 they represented 12 percent of the electorate; nationally, Latinos represented 10 percent of the U.S. electorate.  Latino voters have increasingly influenced the outcome of key elections nationally as well as in statewide and local elections.  Given that there are almost as many unregistered eligible Latino voters (11.1 million) as voting Latinos (12.2 million), however, campaigns such as Mobilize to Vote 2014 are designed to help the Latino electorate reach its full potential.


MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:             Mobilize to Vote 2014 launch

WHEN:             Thursday, January 30, 2014    10:00 a.m. MST

WHERE:            West steps of the State Capitol Building
                           200 E. Colfax Ave
                           Denver, Colo. 80203                     

WHO:              Jesus Altamirano, Regional Field Coordinator, NCLR
                         Derick Ruiz, Area Coordinator, Mi Familia Vota
                         Jill Toussaint, Director, GOAL Academy, and NCLR Education Fellow
                         Student, Goal Academy
                         Representative, El Comité de Longmont

Media interested in attending must RSVP to Camila Gallardo, NCLR, at cgallardo@nclr.org or (305) 215-4259 or Lizette Escobedo, Mi Familia Vota, at lizettee@mifamiliavota.org or (858) 583-5014.  This is an in-person press conference; telephonic capabilities will not be available.  

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.

Mi Familia Vota Education Fund is one of the premiere national Latino civic engagement organizations that unites Latino, immigrant and allied communities to promote social and economic justice through increased civic participation, including citizenship promotion and assistance, voter registration and voter engagement.  Visit us at www.mifamiliavota.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

###

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                           Contact:
January 28, 2014                                                                             Joseph Rendeiro
                                                                                                         (202) 776-1566
                                                                                                         jrendeiro@nclr.org

NCLR notes that policies such as increasing the minimum wage, boosting health and education and immigration reform will open the door to greater opportunities for all Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In response to tonight’s State of the Union address, in which President Obama spoke about issues such as growing income inequality in our nation, Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR (National Council of La Raza), has called on policymakers to recommit to creating jobs, rewarding work, and ensuring that our children are prepared to compete and excel in the 21st century economy.

“Tonight, President Obama laid out his vision for the future of this country, offering practical solutions to fight poverty and expand opportunity for more Americans,” Murguía said. “Like all Americans, Latinos hold fast to the belief that hard work should earn you the chance to build a better life for your children. We applaud the president for prioritizing boosting stagnant wages and investing in youth.”

During tonight’s address, the president announced an Executive Order to raise the minimum wage for federal contractors to $10.10 per hour. According to the Economic Policy Institute, this mandate on the minimum wage will set a floor on wages for the nearly 20% of all federal contractors earning below poverty-level wages, who are disproportionately minority and female.

“This is a win-win for workers and business,” Murguía said. “We hope that the president will continue working with Congress to finish the job by passing legislation that raises the minimum wage for all Americans.”

Latinos are expected to double their share of the American labor force from 15 percent to 30 percent by the year 2050. However, approximately one in five Latinos earns poverty-level wages.

“The seeds of inequality are too often sown early in life. We are pleased to see the president place a continued focus on investing in our future by raising standards for all of our children and investing in early childhood education,” Murguía said. “To ensure a prosperous future for all Americans, we must restore investments in programs that grant all children access to a quality and affordable education from preschool through college. We must also protect the vital gains made thanks to the Affordable Care Act that have given millions of Americans the opportunity to access health coverage for the first time.”

“Lastly, we echo the president’s call for Congress to finally deliver comprehensive immigration reform,” concluded Murguía. “Instead of forcing millions of aspiring Americans to continue to live and work in the shadows, we should pass legislation that establishes a fair and equitable immigration system, creates millions of jobs, boosts our economy, and aligns with our values as a nation.”

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

### 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

On Tuesday, January 28, at 9:00 p.m. EST, President Barack Obama will deliver his annual State of the Union Address to Congress. The president will offer a number of policy proposals focused on key issues facing the Latino community. NCLR (National Council of La Raza) will be listening closely to the president’s remarks, which will undoubtedly reflect his administration’s top priorities for 2014.

For an immediate reaction to the president’s speech, a number of NCLR spokespeople will be available for interviews on topics including health care, jobs and the economy, immigration, housing, education, civil rights, and the Latino electorate. If you are interested in speaking with an NCLR spokesperson after the State of the Union Address, please contact Julian Teixeira, Director of Communications, at (202) 776-1812 or jteixeira@nclr.org. He will put you in contact with the appropriate NCLR expert for an interview.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:     State of the Union Address

WHEN:     Tuesday, January 28, 2014; 9:00 p.m. EST

To arrange an interview after the State of the Union Address, please contact Julian Teixeira at (202) 776-1812 or jteixeira@nclr.org.

###
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

This week, both Congress and the White House are proposing new ways to provide a more secure retirement for millions of Americans. Yesterday, President Obama signed an Executive Order establishing a voluntary pilot program called MyRA, an individual retirement account (IRA) that first-time savers may use as a way to save for retirement. And, today, Sen. Tom Harkin (D–Iowa), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, introduced the “Universal, Secure, and Adaptable (USA) Retirement Funds Act of 2014,” legislation aimed at improving workers’ retirement security.

“We’re pleased to see both the president and members of Congress acknowledge the growing retirement crisis in this country and put forward potential solutions that will have a lasting impact for generations of Americans,” said Eric Rodriguez, Vice President, Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation, NCLR (National Council of La Raza). “Although the MyRA plan put forward by President Obama is a good first step toward providing Americans with an affordable retirement option, Congress needs to pass legislation. The bill introduced by Sen. Harkin takes a comprehensive approach to addressing this issue and would provide workers, including nearly two-thirds of Latino workers, with an opportunity to save for their future.”

Both proposals represent positive steps forward to ensure that 75 million Americans who lack access to a workplace retirement plan are able to earn a safe and secure pension benefit. These proposals will also make our retirement system more inclusive by ensuring that workers who earn lower incomes and who work for small companies are part of the new system.

“Latinos look forward to more opportunities for lower- and middle-income workers to save for retirement in a low-cost and safe manner,” said Rodriguez. “As one of the fastest-growing segments of the workforce, Latinos will play an important role in the future of this nation. We must ensure that they are able to save today in order to have a more secure retirement.”

###
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

This week, both Congress and the White House are proposing new ways to provide a more secure retirement for millions of Americans. Yesterday, President Obama signed an Executive Order establishing a voluntary pilot program called MyRA, an individual retirement account (IRA) that first-time savers may use as a way to save for retirement. And, today, Sen. Tom Harkin (D–Iowa), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, introduced the “Universal, Secure, and Adaptable (USA) Retirement Funds Act of 2014,” legislation aimed at improving workers’ retirement security.

“We’re pleased to see both the president and members of Congress acknowledge the growing retirement crisis in this country and put forward potential solutions that will have a lasting impact for generations of Americans,” said Eric Rodriguez, Vice President, Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation, NCLR (National Council of La Raza). “Although the MyRA plan put forward by President Obama is a good first step toward providing Americans with an affordable retirement option, Congress needs to pass legislation. The bill introduced by Sen. Harkin takes a comprehensive approach to addressing this issue and would provide workers, including nearly two-thirds of Latino workers, with an opportunity to save for their future.”

Both proposals represent positive steps forward to ensure that 75 million Americans who lack access to a workplace retirement plan are able to earn a safe and secure pension benefit. These proposals will also make our retirement system more inclusive by ensuring that workers who earn lower incomes and who work for small companies are part of the new system.

“Latinos look forward to more opportunities for lower- and middle-income workers to save for retirement in a low-cost and safe manner,” said Rodriguez. “As one of the fastest-growing segments of the workforce, Latinos will play an important role in the future of this nation. We must ensure that they are able to save today in order to have a more secure retirement.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          Contact:
January 31, 2014                                                                                           Joseph Rendeiro
                                                                                                                        (202) 776-1566
                                                                                                                        jrendeiro@nclr.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Earlier today, House Republicans unveiled a set of immigration principles that provide a framework for how they plan to tackle reforming the nation’s broken immigration system. While NCLR (National Council of La Raza) is encouraged that House Republicans have moved from ‘whether’ to address immigration reform to ‘how,’ lawmakers must take the critical next step to put forward a legislative solution. We welcome the forward movement, but the details of what the principles could mean are important, and we will not accept a solution that creates a group of people with second-class status and no chance to become Americans. Furthermore, while we understand that enforcement improvements are an essential component of any reform, these principles seem unduly focused on enforcement as if no real progress had been made on that front.

“Putting principles down on paper demonstrates that House Republican leadership is ready to get serious about working with their colleagues to find a long overdue solution,” stated Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR. “However, we won’t know what these principles mean until the House produces a legislative proposal that clearly outlines solutions to fix our broken immigration system and to address the 11 million aspiring Americans.”

“We have been urging the House leadership to come to the table with a proposal and we hope that this step will allow them to roll up their sleeves and get to work producing legislation that can garner votes from both sides of the aisle. The Latino community is interested in seeing workable solutions that are in the best interest of the country and that uphold our values as a nation,” concluded Murguía.

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:
31 de enero de 2014                                                                         Julian Teixeira
                                                                                                          (202) 776-1812
                                                                                                          jteixeira@nclr.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Hoy, los republicanos de la Cámara de Representantes expusieron una lista de principios de inmigración que proporciona un marco de cómo planean abordar la reforma del disfuncional sistema de inmigración del país. Aunque el NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza) está complacido porque los republicanos de la Cámara de Representantes han pasado de ‘si se debería’ abordar la reforma de inmigración a ‘cómo abordarla’, los legisladores deben dar el siguiente paso crítico y presentar una solución. Le damos bienvenida a este paso, pero los detalles de lo que estos principios podrían significar son importantes y no aceptaremos una solución que cree un grupo de gente con un estatus migratorio de segunda clase y sin la oportunidad de llegar a ser estadounidenses. Por otro lado, aunque entendemos que las mejoras en cómo hacer cumplir la ley son un componente esencial de cualquier reforma, estos principios parecen enfocarse excesivamente en la aplicación de la ley, como si no se hubieran hecho avances reales en este aspecto.

“Poner en papel los principios demuestra que el liderazgo republicano de la Cámara está listo para trabajar en serio con sus colegas para encontrar la solución tan necesitada desde hace tiempo”, declaró Janet Murguía, presidenta y directora general del NCLR. “No obstante, no sabremos lo que significan estos principios hasta que la Cámara elabore una propuesta legislativa que describa claramente las soluciones para arreglar el disfuncional sistema de inmigración y abordar los 11 millones de aspirantes a la ciudadanía estadounidense”.

“Hemos estado instando al liderazgo de la Cámara para que presente una propuesta, y esperamos que este paso les permitirá arremangarse las mangas y ponerse a trabajar en la elaboración de una legislación que consiga votos para ambos partidos. A la comunidad latina le interesa ver soluciones factibles que favorezcan los intereses del país y mantengan nuestros valores como nación”, concluyó Murguía.

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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PARA DIVULGACIÓN IMMEDIATA                                         Contacto:
17 de febrero de 2014                                                               Camila Gallardo
                                                                                                  (305) 215-4259
                                                                                                  cgallardo@nclr.org
                                                                                                  Ricky Garza
                                                                                                  (202) 776-1732
                                                                                                  rgarza@nclr.org

El evento será para informar a los latinos sobre el nuevo mercado de seguros e inscribirse  durante la semana de inscripción de los hispanos

WASHINGTON, D.C.— El jueves 20 de febrero de 2014, de 2: 00 a las 4:00pm hora estándar del Este, el Consejo Nacional de La Raza (NCLR, por sus siglas en inglés),  el Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) y La Clínica del Pueblo auspiciarán un evento para los jóvenes hispanos y sus familias con el objeto de proporcionar información y alentar a que los hispanos se inscriban en el seguro de salud disponible a través de la Ley del Cuidado de Salud Asequible (Affordable Care Act o ACA, por sus siglas en inglés).  Los latinos representan el sector de  población más numeroso que no tiene ningún seguro de salud. Este evento tiene como meta guiar a los participantes a través del proceso de inscripción del seguro de salud enfatizando que el periodo de inscripción del seguro vence el 31 de marzo próximo.  El evento tomara lugar en la sede de LAYC, 1419 Columbia Road NW en el Distrito de Columbia, el taller precede a la celebración del Día Nacional de Inscripción de los Hispanos.

Los expertos en salud de NCLR y de los Centros para Servicios de Medicare y Medicaid (CMS, por sus siglas en inglés) ofrecerán una visión global sobre los beneficios de la ley, incluyendo algunos exámenes preventivos que ahora están cubiertos bajo la ley, como también una guía o lineamiento para facilitar el proceso de inscripción para el seguro médico, cuyo período de inscripción expira el 31 de marzo próximo.  Durante el evento habrá personal de las organizaciones que hablarán con los jóvenes y sus familias para ofrecerles la oportunidad de conocer las opciones disponibles,  responder cualquier pregunta sobre situaciones específicas y facilitar el proceso de inscripción del seguro médico. En las instalaciones del evento se contará con computadoras lo que permitirá que los participantes visiten los sitios www.HealthCare.gov o www.CuidadodeSalud.gov.  Los oradores instarán a que los jóvenes hispanos ayuden a sus familiares de más edad, que sean elegibles, a obtener su seguro de salud proveyéndoles información adicional o ayuda para hacer su inscripción en línea.

Hay 10.2 millones de hispanos que son elegibles para tener acceso a la cobertura de la ley de salud a fin de  obtener su seguro médico.  

MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN

QUÉ:           Encuentro comunitario sobre la Ley del Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio para los jóvenes hispanos y sus familias para la Semana Nacional de Inscripción de los Hispanos          

CUÁNDO:  Jueves, 20 de febrero
                    2:00 p.m. a 4:00pm

DÓNDE:     Latin American Youth Center
                    1419 Columbia Road NW
                    Washington, DC 20009
                       
QUIÉNES:  Lori M. Kaplan, Presidenta y CEO, LAYC
                    Kumera Genet, Escalera Program Coordinator, Workforce Development, NCLR
                    Jeanette Contreras, MPP, Partner Relations Group, Oficina de Comunicaciones,  CMS
                    Joel Iglesias y Tania Ruíz, Guías para pacientes de La Clínica del Pueblo

En el salón de LAYC para la comunidad y en las computadoras provistas para el evento se incluirá material audiovisual para que los adolescentes hispanos y sus familia aprendan lo que cubre la Ley del Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio. Los medios de comunicación interesados en participar en este evento deben confirmar su asistencia con Camila Gallardo en  cgallardo@nclr.org or (305) 215-4259.

Durante 45 años, LAYC, organización que forma parte de la Red de Afiliados de NCLR, ha estado comprometida a transformar la vida de los jóvenes de bajos ingresos económicos y sus familias. Su misión es capacitar a una población diversa de jóvenes para que logren una exitosa transición en su edad adulta a través de programas muticulturales, integrales e innovadores que satisfagan las necesidades sociales, académicas y profesionales de esos jóvenes.  LAYC ofrece múltiples servicios con programas de enriquecimiento integral y bilingüe, prevención e intervención, oportunidades de educación, preparación para ingresar en la fuerza laboral, viviendas, construcción de la comunidad, servicios de salud mental, artes y recreaciones saludables a más de 4,000 personas cada año.
 
La Clínica del Pueblo, organización sin fines de lucro que forma parte de la Red de Afiliados de NCLR, es un centro de salud calificado por el gobierno federal que provee servicios médicos a la población latina y a los inmigrantes de la zona metropolitana de Washington, DC.  Su objetivo es proveer servicios adecuados de salud a la comunidad hispana sin tener en cuenta  la capacidad de pago de quienes soliciten esos servicios.  La Clínica del Pueblo ofrece servicios médicos a los pacientes, como también servicios de salud mental y sobre el abuso de consumo de drogas y alcohol, intérpretes y actividades referentes a la salud de la comunidad.

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact:
February 17, 2014                                                          Camila Gallardo
                                                                                       (305) 215-4259
                                                                                       cgallardo@nclr.org
                                                                                       Ricky Garza
                                                                                      (202) 776-1732
                                                                                      rgarza@nclr.org

Event will inform Latinos about the new insurance marketplace during National Latino Enrollment Week

WASHINGTON, D.C.— On Thursday, February 20, 2014, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. EST, NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) and La Clínica del Pueblo will partner in hosting an event for Latino youth and their families to provide information and encourage Latinos to enroll in health insurance available through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Latinos represent the nation’s largest uninsured population; the event will walk participants through the enrollment process as the March 31 deadline approaches.  The workshop, to be held at LAYC headquarters, 1419 Columbia Road NW, in the District of Columbia, takes place during National Latino Enrollment Week.

Health experts from NCLR and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will provide an overview of the benefits of the ACA, including the preventive screenings available at no cost, as well as a walkthrough of the enrollment process for health insurance before the open enrollment periods ends on March 31.  Navigators will be on site to discuss with youth and their families the options available, answer any questions about their specific situations and facilitate the enrollment process.  On-site computer terminals will allow participants to visit www.HealthCare.gov or www.CuidadodeSalud.gov.  Speakers will urge Latino youth to help older relatives who are eligible for health insurance through the ACA but may need additional information or assistance before signing up online.

There are 10.2 million Latinos who are eligible for coverage under the ACA. 

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:          ACA outreach event to Latino youth and families for  National Latino Enrollment Week

WHEN:          Thursday, February 20
                       2:00–4:00 p.m. EST

WHERE:         Latin American Youth Center
                        1419 Columbia Road NW
                        Washington, DC 20009
                       
WHO:           Lori M. Kaplan, President and CEO, LAYC
                      Kumera Genet, Escalera Program Coordinator, Workforce Development, NCLR
                      Jeanette Contreras, Partner Relations Group, Office of Communications, CMS
                      Joel Iglesias and Tania Ruíz, Patient navigators, La Clínica del Pueblo
           
Visuals will include Latino teens and families learning about the Affordable Care Act in the LAYC community room and at computer terminals.  Media interested in attending should RSVP to Camila Gallardo at cgallardo@nclr.org or (305) 215-4259.

For 45 years, LAYC, a member of the NCLR Affiliate Network, has been committed to transforming the lives of low-income young people and their families.  Its mission is to empower a diverse population of youth to achieve a successful transition to adulthood, through multi-cultural, comprehensive and innovative programs that address youths' social, academic and career needs.  LAYC offers multi-service, comprehensive and bilingual enrichment, prevention and intervention programs and opportunities in education, workforce readiness, housing, community building, mental health services, arts and healthy recreation to over 4,000 individuals each year. 

La Clínica del Pueblo, also a member of the NCLR Affiliate Network, is a non-profit, federally qualified health center that serves the Latino and immigrant populations of the Washington, DC metro area.  Its goal is to provide culturally appropriate health services to persons in the Latino community regardless of their ability to pay.  La Clínica del Pueblo offers patient services, mental health and substance abuse services, interpreter services and community health action.

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:
February 20, 2014                                                           Camila Gallardo
                                                                                        (305) 215-4259
                                                                                         cgallardo@nclr.org
                                                                                         Ricky Garza
                                                                                         (202) 776-1732
                                                                                          rgarza@nclr.org

As March deadline nears, efforts to enroll Latinos ramp up

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) in collaboration with its affiliates―the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) and La Clínica del Pueblo― joined forces to host Latino community members at a forum aimed at promoting enrollment in the new health insurance plans available through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Health experts from NCLR, the Centers for Medicare and Medical services (CMS), and Navigators from La Clínica del Pueblo helped walk participants through the enrollment process and provided an overview of benefits available under ACA, including the now-free health screenings for chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease that are more prevalent among Latinos in the U.S.  During the event, certified Navigators answered questions to potential enrollees about options available and their specific cases. 

The enrollment period ends March 31st; those who have not yet signed onto an insurance plan by the March deadline will have to wait until open enrollment begins again in September.  There are 10.2 million Latinos who are eligible for coverage under the ACA. 

“As we celebrate ACA Latino Week of Action, we want to encourage young Latinos in our community to serve as important conduits of information to their families and to actively provide assistance by helping to guide those who might be intimidated by the online enrollment process.  As the most uninsured group in the nation, we want to encourage Latinos to take full advantage of the resources and assistance at their disposal to be able to make an informed and timely decision about their family’s future healthcare,” said Alejandra Gepp, Associate Director, Institute for Hispanic Health, NCLR. 

The Latin American Youth Center which served as host to the event works to empower a diverse population of youth to achieve a successful transition to adulthood.  “It is critical that our youth and their families in the DC Metropolitan region understand and enroll in the Affordable Care Act.  I appreciate all that NCLR has done, and is doing, to bring the information to our Latino communities all over the country.  Many of our youth are young parents, not living with a family member and aging out of foster care while others serve as interpreters for their immigrant parents. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to host NCLR at LAYC to help our young people get covered under the Affordable Care Act,” said Lori Kaplan, President and CEO of LAYC. 

For 45 years, LAYC, a member of the NCLR Affiliate Network, has been committed to transforming the lives of low-income young people and their families.  Its mission is to empower a diverse population of youth to achieve a successful transition to adulthood, through multi-cultural, comprehensive and innovative programs that address youths' social, academic and career needs.  LAYC offers multi-service, comprehensive and bilingual enrichment, prevention and intervention programs and opportunities in education, workforce readiness, housing, community building, mental health services, arts and healthy recreation to over 4,000 individuals each year. 

La Clínica del Pueblo, also a member of the NCLR Affiliate Network, is a non-profit, federally qualified health center that serves the Latino and immigrant populations of the Washington, DC metro area.  Its goal is to provide culturally appropriate health services to persons in the Latino community regardless of their ability to pay.  La Clínica del Pueblo offers patient services, mental health and substance abuse services, interpreter services and community health action.

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

OSHA proposes new workplace standards limiting exposure to silica dust

Last week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced new workplace standards to drastically cut exposure to crystalline silica dust, a leading cause of silicosis, an incurable and potentially fatal lung disease. For years, NCLR has advocated for policies to improve job quality in low-wage, high-risk industries where Latinos are overrepresented. NCLR supports the proposed updated silica standards as necessary to improving worker health and safety in key industries like construction, where Latinos represent nearly one in four workers.

“Particularly in the construction industry, Latinos and other workers are vulnerable to permanent illness and injury because of outdated laws and standards,” said Eric Rodriguez, Vice President of the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation at NCLR. “We believe these commonsense changes will go a long way toward improving workers’ health.”

Overexposure to silica dust is common among construction workers who cut, grind and jackhammer concrete, bricks and stones. The proposed changes would revise the allowable levels of silica exposure and require practices such as wetting and vacuuming to prevent silica from becoming airborne. OSHA expects these standards to cut silica exposure levels in half, saving an estimated 700 lives and preventing 1,600 new cases of silicosis per year. Current silica standards are 40 years old.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  Contact:
August 27, 2013                                                                    Camila Gallardo
                                                                                             (305) 215-4259
                                                                                             cgallardo@nclr.org


HOUSTON—This Wednesday, August 28, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) and Houston Gateway Academy will host a town hall discussion on the importance of fixing our nation’s broken immigration system through comprehensive immigration reform.  As part of ongoing efforts by both groups to educate the public about the benefits of reform, the town hall will feature expert presenters, community members and Latino leaders from a cross section of groups representing the interests of the local and state immigrant communities. 

The Latino contribution to the state’s economy is already significant; in 2009, immigrants accounted for 21% of total economic productivity in Houston.  A pathway to citizenship would only increase that economic output.  According to Regional Economic Models, Inc., adding those would-be citizens to the workforce would boost the state’s economic output by $3.8 billion.  Moreover, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that passage of a bill like the version approved by the Senate would grow the national economy by roughly $700 billion by 2023.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHO:        Ben Mendez, Chairman, Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce
                  Bill E. Rivera, Rivera Law Center
                  Sonia Troche, Texas Regional Director, NCLR   
                  DREAMer, undocumented student to speak about his/her experience

WHAT:    “Immigration Reform Now” community town hall

WHEN:    Wednesday, August 28, 2013 
                6:30 to 8:00 p.m. CT

WHERE:    Houston Gateway Academy
                 7310 Bowie Street
                  Houston, TX 77012

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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