PARA DIFUSIÓN IMMEDIATA

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

La campaña se enfoca el tema de la aprobación de la Reforma Migratoria este año. 

WASHINGTON, D.C.— El Consejo Nacional de la Raza (NCLR, por sus siglas en inglés) se enorgullece en dar la bienvenida a César Millán, conocida celebridad en el mundo televisivo internacional por su especialidad como entrenador de perros y sus conocimientos sobre el comportamiento de caninos. Millán une su voz para el lanzamiento oficial de la campaña “Haga la diferencia”; esta nueva campaña en línea se aboca al tema de la inmigración y solicita que millones de hispanos, a lo largo y ancho del país, hagan oír su voz y marquen la diferencia para lograr la reforma migratoria cuando el Congreso reanude el debate sobre esta legislación crucial.

El mes pasado por medio de un anuncio de servicio público de NCLR (Public Service Announcement o PSA, por sus siglas en inglés), que se estrenó en los Premios ALMA 2013, Millán anunció su participación en esa campaña. El PSA está siendo ampliamente distribuido en todo el país y también se puede ver en línea en la página de NCLR en el YouTube.

“Como ex inmigrante indocumentado que soy, entiendo el fuerte deseo de hacerse ciudadano y hacer algo más de uno mismo”, Millán dijo en un anuncio del servicio público recientemente lanzado para esta campaña. “Por supuesto que venimos en busca de una vida mejor, pero estamos aquí para trabajar con empeño y para contribuir en este país al que llamamos nuestro hogar”.

Millán, que llegó a Estados Unidos cuando tenía 21 años, es conocido por su trabajo como entrenador de perros y especialista en el comportamiento de caninos. Cuando llegó a este país, a pesar de no hablar inglés y no tener ningún contacto, Millán se abrió camino hacia niveles profesionales abriendo el Pacific Point Canine Academy y, más tarde, el Dog Psychology Center en el sur de Los Ángeles. Con el tiempo, su arduo trabajo y dedicación dieron lugar a la presentación de su propio programa, The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, en el canal televisivo de National Geographic. Millán se hizo ciudadano estadounidense en 2009.

“César Millán es exactamente la persona clave que sirve de ejemplo para esta campaña porque su historia destaca el enorme potencial de millones de personas, que viviendo en este país, aspiran ser ciudadanos estadounidenses. Esas millones de personas trajeron a este país sus talentos y cuando logran triunfar, sus éxitos fortalecen nuestra economía y nuestras comunidades”, dijo Janet Murguía, Presidenta y CEO de NCLR. “Al abrir el camino hacia la ciudadanía es más que importante ya que permite que los inmigrantes que trabajan arduamente alcancen y desarrollen su potencial. Este otoño, necesitamos que los latinos de todo el país “hagan la diferencia” y envíen un mensaje claro al Congreso para que la reforma migratoria sea el camino hacia la ciudadanía, ya que este paso es esencial para el bienestar de nuestra nación. Es hora de empujar esta legislación hacia la meta final”.

Acerca de César Millán
César Millán es un reconocido autor best-seller, aclamado públicamente como gran orador, diseñador y empresario que fabrica productos para el cuidado de mascotas y, no menos importante, su actuación como celebridad internacional en National Geographic WILD'S Leader of the Pack y de la icónica serie Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan.

Además de “Cesar Millan’s Short Guide to a Happy Dog”, Millán es coautor de varios best sellers del New York Times: “Cesar’s Way”, “Be the Pack Leader”; “Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan: The Ultimate Episode Guide”; “A Member of the Family”, “How to Raise the Perfect Dog” y “Cesar’s Rules”. Asimismo, Millán ha producido numerosos DVDs y CDs con instrucciones sobre su especialidad y continúa siendo el anfitrión de una popular serie de seminarios en los que la audiencia aprende cómo aplicar losconocimientos de Millán sobre psicología canina y técnicas de rehabilitación de perros.

En 2007, Millán lanzó oficialmente The Cesar Millan Foundation, una organización nacional sin fines de lucro, con el propósito de ayudar y ofrecer apoyo para el rescate, rehabilitación y colocación de perros maltratados y abandonados.

Para mayor información, visite www.cesarsway.com.

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.

# # # 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Panelists to offer insight on the benefits of standards for Latino students, challenges and opportunities in implementation

TUCSON, Ariz.—On Thursday, June 26, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., NCLR (National Council of La Raza), in partnership with the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, will host a Latino leadership briefing to discuss the impact of educational standards on Arizona students and Hispanic students in particular. Panelists, which include policy experts, educators and business leaders, will provide their perspective on how Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards have been implemented in their communities and discuss their challenges, benefits and opportunities. Following the panel presentation, audience members will engage in a question-and-answer session.

Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards are an effort to establish a set of higher academic standards for English language arts and mathematics that will help students hone the analytical and critical thinking skills necessary to meet the challenges of an evolving and increasingly competitive global job market. This educational shift helps set across-the-board standards that ensure a level playing field for all students regardless of race, ethnicity or ZIP code.

The afternoon session will provide a unique opportunity to hear a variety of perspectives on Arizona’s College & Career Ready Standards, including the evolution of standards implementation in Arizona, how teachers and students have adapted to the shift in learning, the important role of parents, testing and measures, among other topics.

Media are encouraged to attend. To confirm attendance, please contact Camila Gallardo at cgallardo@nclr.org or (305) 215-4259.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:
Latino leadership briefing on Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards

WHEN:
Thursday, June 26, 2014
3:30–5:30 p.m.

WHERE:
Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
823 E Speedway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85719

WHO:
Moderator: Leticia de la Vara, Senior Strategist, NCLR
Stephen Trejo, Principal, CE Rose Elementary
Magdalena Verdugo, Vice President, School Readiness, Chicanos Por La Causa
Dr. Manny Valenzuela, Superintendent, Sahuarita Unified School District
Lea Márquez-Peterson, President/CEO, Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

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

Panelistas ofrecerán información sobre los beneficios de estos estándares para los estudiantes hispanos, retos y oportunidades en la implementación

TUCSON, ARIZ.—El jueves, 26 de junio, de 3:30 a 5:30 p.m., NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza por sus siglas en inglés), en colaboración con la Cámara de Comercio de Tucson, patrocinará una sesión informativa para discutir el impacto de nuevos estándares educacionales en los jóvenes de Arizona, en particular los alumnos hispanos. Panelistas, quienes incluyen expertos en política, educadores, y líderes de negocio, proveerán su perspectiva sobre los retos, beneficios y oportunidades de los Estándares de Arizona de Preparación Universitaria y de Carrera (Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards). Después de la presentación, miembros de la audiencia tendrán la oportunidad de participar en una sesión de preguntas y respuestas.

Los Estándares de Arizona de Preparación Universitaria y de Carrera son un oportunidad para establecer estándares académicos más altos en artes de lenguaje inglés y matemática que ayudarán a los estudiantes para mejorar sus aptitudes en pensamiento crítico y análisis. Estos son necesarios para enfrentarse a los retos de un mercado de trabajos cada día más competitivo y global. Este cambio educativo pone en vigor unos estándares iguales para todos que permiten que cada niño reciba la misma calidad de educación, a pesar de su etnicidad, raza, o código postal.

La sesión ofrecerá una oportunidad única para escuchar una variedad de perspectivas sobre los Estándares de Arizona de Preparación Universitaria y de Carrera, incluyendo la evolución de la implementación de estos estándares. También se discutirá como los maestros y estudiantes se han adaptado al cambio en aprendizaje, el papel importante de los padres, los exámenes y medidas, al igual que otros temas.

La prensa esta bienvenida a asistir. Por favor confirme su asistencia con Camila Gallardo al correo electrónico: cgallardo@nclr.org o al teléfono (305) 215-4259.

AVISO DE PRENSA

QUÉ:
Foro de Discusión de Líderes Latinos sobre los Estándares de Arizona de Preparación Universitaria y de Carrera

CUÁNDO:
Jueves, 26 de junio, 2014
3:30–5:30 p.m. MST

DÓNDE:
Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
823 E Speedway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85719

QUIÉN:
Moderadora: Leticia de la Vara, Senior Strategist, NCLR
Stephen Trejo, Principal, CE Rose Elementary
Magdalena Verdugo, Vice President, School Readiness, Chicanos Por La Causa
Dr. Manny Valenzuela, Superintendent, Sahuarita Unified School District
Lea Márquez-Peterson, President/CEO, Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

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 más información sobre NCLR, visite www.nclr.org o síganos en Facebook y Twitter.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                      Contact:
June 23, 2014                                                                                            Catherine Brady
                                                                                                                   (617) 945-9316
                                                                                                                   catherine@jpa.com
                                                                                                                   Kathy Mimberg
                                                                                                                   (202) 776-1714
                                                                                                                   kmimberg@nclr.org

Leading Academic and Community Organizations Foster Dialogue on Improving Community Health and Reducing Gaps in Care

Leawood, Kansas and Washington, D.C.— Peers for Progress, a program of the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation (AAFPF), and NCLR (National Council of La Raza) gathered researchers and program leaders last week at a conference in San Francisco for an in-depth discussion, “Peer Support: Evidence and Directions Forward.”

The conference brought together an unprecedented roster of international thought leaders and visionaries in the fields of peer support research and programming for diabetes and chronic disease management. Panelists discussed lessons and best practices learned from the field, the significant benefit peer support programs have shown in preventing disease and other chronic health conditions and their potential for reducing healthcare costs worldwide. Peer support is available in different settings and provided by people with a variety of skills including community health workers, promotores de salud, health coaches and patient navigators.

“The time is right for a longer discussion on the health benefits of peer support,” said Edwin Fisher, Ph.D., Global Director for Peers for Progress. “With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in the United States and the pressing need for greater community and clinical health initiatives worldwide, these programs stand ready to improve lives, improve health and reduce costs.”

Peer support programs have exhibited striking results when implemented in community and clinical health settings, especially where the chronic disease burden is great, and in populations that other programs often fail to reach, such as low-income groups. As Peers for Progress’ last report, Peer Support: Evidence to Action, revealed, these programs can improve the quality of care patients receive, lower overall healthcare costs, and reduce health disparities. The report underscored peer support as a crucial component to successful community health programs in the United States, ultimately closing gaps in care.

“It is clear that peer support programs can make a difference in health outcomes, as we have seen with outreach in the Latino community. Learning from others who share experiences and live in the same community is beneficial for people who struggle with a chronic disease and may face barriers to accessing health care or making a lifestyle change,” said A. Manuela McDonough, MPH, CPH, Associate Director of NCLR’s Institute for Hispanic Health (IHH).

A forthcoming report will capture insights and findings from last week’s conference. The report will detail how peer support can be especially effective in reaching those whom health programs too often fail to engage, such as populations with lower levels of education, with more distress in their lives or who have trouble taking care of their health. The conference report will offer models on how peer support from community health workers, promotores de salud and others can help health systems achieve the goal of providing better care.

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About Peers for Progress
A program of the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation, Peers for Progress is dedicated to promoting peer support in health, health care and prevention around the world. Through research, collaborative sharing of program and quality improvement resources, and supporting advocacy, it seeks to help the thousands of peer support programs around the world learn from each other, improve the services they offer, gain greater recognition of their work, and achieve integration of peer support as a normal, widely available component of high-quality health care. For more information on Peers for Progress, visit www.peersforprogress.org, or follow us on Twitter at @peers4progress.

About the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation
The Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Its primary mission is to advance the values of family medicine by promoting humanitarian, educational, and scientific initiatives that improve the health of all people. For more information, please visit www.aafpfoundation.org.

About the National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Latinos. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org, or follow on Facebook and on Twitter.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Earlier today, Reps. Tony Cardenas (D–Calif.) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) introduced the “New American Success Act,” a bill to more effectively assist immigrants as they navigate the naturalization process. The proposed legislation would create a National Office of New Americans within the White House, which, for the first time, would coordinate strategies and programs between agencies to ensure that new arrivals can ultimately become contributing members of American society.

“With all eyes on immigration reform, the issue of immigrant integration has unfortunately been placed on the backburner for far too long by lawmakers on Capitol Hill,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR (National Council of La Raza). “There are millions of lawfully present immigrants already living in the United States who can help spur our economy, if we provide them with the tools and resources necessary to make it through the naturalization process. We applaud Reps. Cardenas and Ros-Lehtinen for working together to create this bipartisan legislation. This bill will lay the foundation for a more comprehensive and streamlined approach to immigrant integration and naturalization that will allow the U.S. to harness the diverse talents of this population.”

In addition to establishing this new office, the bill also creates two grant programs to help immigrants flourish as new Americans. The Initial Entry, Adjustment, and Citizenship Assistance Grant Program will be awarded to local governments and community-based organizations to support programs that prepare immigrants for the final step of the naturalization process—citizenship. This grant will fund activities that focus on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and civics-based English language learning. A second competitive grant, the Integration Success Grant, will be awarded to states that design and implement comprehensive civic, linguistic and economic integration programs to help new arrivals become successful citizens.

“It’s not enough to just usher immigrants through the naturalization process. We have to foster their integration by making sure they have the English proficiency and education to compete in the jobs marketplace,” added Murguía. “We strongly urge members of Congress to support this bill, which will help keep the U.S. at a competitive advantage in the global economy by maximizing the potential of the millions of new arrivals who have come to live and work in this country.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

“These are children, not criminals,” states NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía

Deeming the growing numbers of unaccompanied child refugees in U.S. government custody an international humanitarian situation, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) today endorsed Senator Robert Menendez’s (D.-N.J.) multipoint plan to address the issue and also called for greater financial support of the many humanitarian, legal and children’s organizations that have been leading efforts to assist these children.

“What we’re seeing played out here is an urgent international humanitarian issue,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “These are young children fleeing violence and seeking a safe haven. Whether in their own country, in neighboring nations or at the U.S. border, they are refugees and should be treated as such. The idea that some would claim otherwise is a tragic consequence of a needlessly polarized immigration debate. How we address this issue reflects how well we are upholding our values as a nation.”

“While the primary reason for this crisis is abundantly clear, the solution is much more complex and involves not just law enforcement and U.S. domestic policy, but also U.S. foreign policy and the participation of international agencies. We believe that Senator Bob Menendez’s thoughtful plan, which was issued late last week, is an important step forward in addressing this crisis. It calls for, among other things, focusing immediately on the welfare of the children, cracking down on smugglers and a renewed emphasis on fostering social and economic development in the region,” continued Murguia.

In addition, several NCLR Affiliates have been called into action to help provide basic services and support to these children such as Southwest Key in Austin, Texas, the largest provider of child welfare services in the nation.

“We will open five new shelters in the next month just to serve these child refugees, and we need to remember that they are young children desperate for what most children take for granted: a safe place to live and grow,” noted Juan Sanchez, Southwest Key President and CEO. “Our hope now is to get the remaining 3,000 or so kids who are still in border patrol offices into shelters or with an appropriate guardian.”

“Right now the most urgent need is to get these children the legal help they need. There are a number of tireless organizations who have long been involved in these issues such as Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) and the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), as well as ProBar, the American Bar Association’s immigrant/refugee representation project. We urge attorneys, companies and other individuals to consider donating both critically needed financial and in-kind support such as pro bono assistance to these organizations, as well as supporting other deeply involved charitable organizations such as Church World Service and Catholic Charities,” concluded Murguía.

NCLR commends the administration for implementing a multiagency response, acknowledging that this is a humanitarian issue, while cautioning against relying on practices, such as extended detentions of families, which have been deemed costly, inefficient and inconsistent with the best interests of the child.

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PARA DIVULGACIÓN INMEDIATA                                                              PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN:
26 de junio, 2014                                                                                         Ricky Garza
                                                                                                                        (202) 776-1732
                                                                                                                        rgarza@nclr.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Seis organizaciones comunitarias se han unido a la red de afiliados del NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza), cuyos miembros trabajan con la comunidad latina en todo el país: Dominico-American Society of Queens en Corona, NY; Education Based Latino Outreach (EBLO) en Baltimore, Md.; Idaho Community Action Network (ICAN) en Boise, Idaho; La Comunidad Hispana, Inc. en Kennett Sq., Pa.; TELACU Education Foundation en Los Angeles, Calif.; and The Wall-Las Memorias en Los Angeles, Calif. Ahora, el NCLR cuenta con 272 organizaciones como miembros afiliados en todo el país.

“Mientras que la población latina establece raíces a través del país, las organizaciones que rinden servicios a estas familias en las áreas de salud, educación, capacitación laboral, viviendas asequible yotras, se han vuelto aún más importantes en cuanto a ayudar a las familias latinas a obtener la estabilidad económica y social que los coloca en el camino hacia el éxito,” dijo Sonia Pérez, vicepresidenta de iniciativas estratégicas del NCLR. “Estamos orgullosos de darles la bienvenida a nuestra red a seis nuevas organizaciones y estamos ansiosos de poder compartir con ellos las experiencas y capacitación que ayudará a maximizar nuestro trabajo en conjunto a favor de la comunidad hispana.”

Para más información sobre las organizaciones afiliadas del NCLR, visite su página de internet:
• Dominico-American Society of Queens (www.dominicoamerican.org)
• Education Based Latino Outreach (EBLO) (www.eblo.org)
• Idaho Community Action Network (ICAN) (www.idahocan.org)
• La Comunidad Hispana (www.lchps.org)
• TELACU Education Foundation (www.telacu.com)
• The Wall-Las Memorias (www.thewalllasmemorias.org)

Los afiliados del NCLR incluyen a 272 organizaciones comunitarias que proveen programas y servicios a millones de hispanos estadounidenses. A través de sus esfuerzos, educan a niños y adultos, ayudan a los trabajadores a prepararse para el empleo, enseñan inglés a los inmigrantes, inscriben a nuevos votantes, ayudan a las familias a comprar y conservar sus casas, y proporcionan servicios de salud.

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:
June 26, 2014                                                                                   Ricky Garza
                                                                                                         (202) 776-1732
                                                                                                         rgarza@nclr.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Six new community-based organizations recently joined the NCLR (National Council of La Raza) Affiliate Network, whose members work with the Latino community throughout the nation. The additions include the Dominico-American Society of Queens in Corona, N.Y.; Education Based Latino Outreach (EBLO) in Baltimore, Md.; Idaho Community Action Network (ICAN) in Boise, Idaho; La Comunidad Hispana, Inc. in Kennett Sq., Pa.; TELACU Education Foundation in Los Angeles, Calif.; and the Wall-Las Memorias Project in Los Angeles, Calif. These new additions bring the number of NCLR Affiliate groups to 272 organizations, nationwide.

“As the Latino population in our nation establishes roots across the country, the community organizations that serve these families in the areas of health, education, job training and affordable housing, among others, have become even more critical in helping Hispanics achieve the kind of economic and social stability that can set them on the path to success,” said Sonia Pérez, NCLR Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives. “We are proud to welcome six new organizations to our network and look forward to facilitating the sharing of best practices and capacity-building that will help maximize the work we all do on behalf of the Latino community in the United States.”

For more information about NCLR’s new Affiliate organizations:
• Dominico-American Society of Queens (www.dominicoamerican.org)
• Education Based Latino Outreach (EBLO) (www.eblo.org)
• Idaho Community Action Network (ICAN) (www.idahocan.org)
• La Comunidad Hispana (www.lchps.org)
• TELACU Education Foundation (www.telacu.com)
• The Wall-Las Memorias Project (www.thewalllasmemorias.org)

NCLR’s Affiliates include 272 community organizations that provide programs and services to millions of Hispanic Americans. Through their work, they provide educational tools for children and adults, help prepare workers to enter the job force, help them become English language proficient, register people to vote, provide health services and help families purchase and stay in their homes.

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                 Contact:
June 26, 2014                                                                                                       Ricky Garza
                                                                                                                             (202) 776-1732
                                                                                                                             rgarza@nclr.org

Live entertainment, prizes and giveaways, health screenings and more are all free of charge

LOS ANGELES—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) will celebrate the influence of the growing Latino community at the 2014 National Latino Family Expo® on July 19–21 in Los Angeles. Los Angeles, the city with the largest Latino population in the U.S., will play host to this exciting event held in conjunction with the 2014 NCLR Annual Conference at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Adults and children alike will be treated to a weekend full of educational and engaging activities that will entertain the entire family free of charge.

With nearly 200 exhibitors, the event will feature everything from complimentary health screenings to star-studded live entertainment, giveaways and more. Building on 2014’s international soccer fervor, the Expo’s Sports and Fitness/Deportes Pavilion will feature the 2014 Copa NCLR Soccer Tournament and a children’s soccer clinic facilitated by the LA Galaxy. At the Health/Tu Salud Pavilion, screenings for vision, lung health, kidney health, diabetes risk, blood pressure and more will be available free of charge. The Science and Technology/El Futuro Pavilion will dazzle children with captivating science experiments and display innovations in the latest automotive technologies.

In addition to nationally renowned talent, speakers and entertainers, the Expo will welcome Nickelodeon characters Dora and Friends along with other costumed characters including Snoopy, LA Galaxy mascot Cozmo, LA Kings mascot Bailey, Doki from the Discovery Channel, the GEICO Gecko and the L.A. Zoo mascot. This year, Dora and Friends will serve as the official ambassadors to the 2014 NCLR National Latino Family Expo and will host a number of interactive children’s activities within the Expo hall.

The National Latino Family Expo, title-sponsored by UPS, is a unique and exciting gathering focused on providing activities and resources for the Latino family that are open to the public and free of charge. Composed of seven themed pavilions, the Expo offers resources and activities designed to educate, entertain and empower Latino families.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:        2014 NCLR National Latino Family Expo, offering live entertainment, free health screenings, raffles and fun prizes. Admission is free.

WHEN:       Saturday, July 19, 2014, 10:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
                    Sunday, July 20, 2014, 10:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
                    Monday, July 21, 2014, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

WHERE:   Los Angeles Convention Center
                   West Hall A
                   1201 South Figueroa St.
                   Los Angeles, CA 90015

NOTE:   The Los Angeles Convention Center has parking available for a fee at West Hall Parking. It is Metro-accessible through the Blue Line, which connects with all Metro Rail and Metrolink lines at Union Station and stops on Flower at Pico (Pico Station), directly across from the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Great photo opportunities!
For more information, please contact Ricky Garza at (202) 776-1732 or rgarza@nclr.org. Reporters with current press credentials can register to attend for free at http://nclr.emsreg.com/NCLR14/public/splash.aspx.
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:
26 de junio, 2014                                                                                       Ricky Garza
                                                                                                                    (202) 776-1732
                                                                                                                    rgarza@nclr.org

Entretenimiento en vivo, premios, regalos, exámenes de salud y mucho más, gratis para todos

LOS ANGELES— El NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza) celebrará la influencia de la creciente comunidad latina en la Expo Nacional de la Familia Latina® 2014 del 19 al 21 de julio en Los Angeles. Los Angeles, la ciudad con la población latina más grande del país, será la anfitriona de este emocionante evento que se llevará a cabo conjuntamente con la Conferencia Anual del NCLR en el Centro de Convenciones de Los Angeles. Adultos y niños, por igual, podrán pasar un fin de semana lleno de actividades interesantes y educativas que entretendrán gratis a toda la familia.

Con casi 200 exhibidores, el evento tendrá de todo, desde exámenes de salud gratuitos hasta entretenimiento en vivo con estrellas famosas, regalos y mucho más. Y para continuar con el fervor de la Copa Mundial de Fútbol 2014, el Pabellón Deportes/Deportes y Bienestar de la Feria presentará el Torneo de Fútbol por la Copa 2014 del NCLR y LA Galaxy facilitará prácticas de fútbol para niños. En el Pabellón Tu Salud/Salud estarán disponibles sin costo exámenes de la vista, salud pulmonar y renal, riesgo de diabetes, presión arterial y más. El Pabellón El Futuro/Ciencia y Tecnología deslumbrará a los niños con fascinantes experimentos científicos e innovaciones en el campo de la tecnología automotriz.

Además del talento, los panelistas y los artistas reconocidos a nivel nacional, la Feria le dará la bienvenida a los personajes de Nickelodeon, Dora y sus amigos, y a otros personajes como Snoopy; Cozmo, la mascota de LA Galaxy; Bailey, la mascota de LA Kings; Doki de Discovery Channel; Gecko de GEICO y la mascota de L.A. Zoo. Este año, Dora y sus amigos serán los embajadores oficiales de la Feria Nacional de la Familia Latina 2014 del NCLR y los anfitriones de un montón de actividades interactivas para niños.

El Expo Nacional de la Familia® Latina, patrocinada oficialmente por UPS, es una atracción emocionante y única enfocada en proporcionar recursos y actividades para la familia latina. El evento está abierto al público y la entrada es gratuita. Compuesta de siete pabellones temáticos, la Feria ofrece recursos y actividades diseñadas para educar, entretener y fortalecer a las familias latinas.

AVISO DE PRENSA

QUÉ:           Expo Nacional de la Familia® Latina 2014 del NCLR que ofrece entretenimiento en vivo, exámenes de salud gratis, rifas y regalos divertidos. No hay costo de entrada.

CUÁNDO:   Sábado 19 de julio, 2014, 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM
                      Domingo 20 de julio, 2014, 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM
                      Lunes 21 de julio, 2014, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

DÓNDE:   Centro de Convenciones de Los Angeles
                  West Hall A
                  1201 South Figueroa St.
                  Los Angeles, CA 90015

NOTA: El Centro de Convenciones de Los Angeles cuenta con aparcamiento disponible con costo en el aparcamiento West Hall. Puede llegar a través de la línea Azul del metro, la cual conecta con el Metro Rail y las líneas del Metrolink en la estación Union y hace parada en Flower y Pico (estación Pico), directamente enfrente del Centro de convenciones de Los Angeles.

¡Gran oportunidad de sacar fotografías!

Para más información, póngase en contacto con Ricky Garza llamando al (202) 776-1732 o en el correo electrónico rgarza@nclr.org. Los miembros de la prensa con credenciales vigentes pueden registrarse para asistir gratis en http://nclr.emsreg.com/NCLR14/public/splash.aspx.

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 INMEDIATA                                          Contacto:
25 de junio de 2014                                                                 Julian Teixeira
                                                                                                (202) 776-1812
                                                                                                 jteixeira@nclr.org

"Estos son niños, no criminales", afirma Janet Murguía, Presidenta de NCLR

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Teniendo en cuenta una situación humanitaria de carácter internacional ante el creciente número de niños refugiados no acompañados que se encuentran bajo la custodia del gobierno de Estados Unidos, el Consejo Nacional de La Raza (NCLR, por sus siglas en inglés) aprobó hoy el plan multipunto del senador Robert Menéndez (D.- N.J.) para abordar este problema y, al mismo tiempo, solicitó un mayor apoyo financiero de muchas organizaciones humanitarias, legales y las abocadas a la protección infantil para que ayuden a estos niños.

"Lo que estamos viendo aquí es una cuestión humanitaria internacional urgente", dijo Janet Murguía, presidenta y CEO de NCLR. "Estos son niños pequeños que huyen de la violencia y buscan un refugio seguro. Ya sea que se encuentren en su propio país, en los países vecinos o en la frontera de los Estados Unidos, estos niños son refugiados, y se los debe tratar como tales. La idea de que algunas personas podrían afirmar lo contrario es una consecuencia trágica de un debate polarizado innecesariamente sobre el tema de la inmigración. Según cómo abordemos este problema, se refleja cómo estamos defendiendo nuestros valores como nación".

"Mientras que la razón principal de esta crisis es muy clara, la solución es mucho más compleja e implica no sólo hacer cumplir la ley y las políticas nacionales de los Estados Unidos, pero también la política exterior de los EE.UU. y la participación de los organismos internacionales. Creemos que el plan reflexivo del senador Bob Menéndez, publicado la semana pasada, es un importante paso adelante para abordar esta crisis. Entre otras cosas, el plan exige concentrarse de inmediato en el bienestar de los niños, tomar medidas enérgicas contra los traficantes y señala un renovado énfasis para la promoción del desarrollo social y económico de la región ", continuó Murguía.

Además, varias organizaciones afiliadas a NCLR han sido convocadas para que provean servicios básicos y de apoyo a estos niños. Entre esas organizaciones figura Southwest Key en Austin, Texas, el mayor proveedor de servicios de bienestar infantil en la nación.

"El próximo mes vamos a abrir cinco nuevos centros que sirvan de refugios para atender a estos niños refugiados, y tenemos que tener en cuenta que son niños pequeños desesperados por obtener lo que la mayoría de los niños tienen: un lugar seguro para vivir y crecer", señaló Juan Sánchez, Presidente y CEO de Southwest Key. "Nuestra esperanza ahora es conseguir que el resto de niños, alrededor de 3000, que aún se encuentran en las oficinas de la patrulla fronteriza sean trasladados a refugios o que obtengan un tutor adecuado".

"En estos momentos, lo más urgente es conseguir la ayuda legal que estos niños necesitan. Hay una serie de organizaciones incansables que siempre han estado involucradas en estos temas como Kids in Need de Defensa (KIND) y el National Inmigration Law Center (NILC, por sus siglas en inglés), así como también ProBar, el proyecto de representación de inmigrantes y refugiados de la American Bar Association. Instamos a que los abogados, las empresas y otros individuos consideren hacer donativos, ya sean mediante la tan críticamente necesitada ayuda financiera o donaciones en especie, tales como la ayuda pro bono que proveen estas organizaciones. Así mismo tratar de conseguir el apoyo de otras organizaciones benéficas de activa participación, tales como el Church World Service y Catholic Charities", concluyó Murguía.

NCLR celebra a la administración por haber implementado una respuesta de múltiples agencias, reconociendo que se trata de una cuestión humanitaria, mientras que se advierte no confiar en ciertas prácticas, tales como las detenciones de familias extendidas, ya que esas prácticas han sido consideradas como prácticas costosas, ineficientes e inconsistentes para responder a los mejores intereses de los niños.

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 Twitter y Facebook.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         Contact:
June 26, 2014                                                               Joseph Rendeiro
                                                                                      (202) 776-1566
                                                                                      jrendeiro@nclr.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.—One year ago, the U.S. Senate passed the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 (S. 744),” a historic piece of bipartisan legislation designed to overhaul our nation’s outdated immigration system. Responding to the will of the American people, who overwhelmingly support immigration reform, Republicans and Democrats came together to reach a compromise that included a much-needed path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. One year later, however, Republican leadership in the House of Representatives has obstructed any movement forward on immigration reform, refusing to bring similar legislation up for a vote or introduce their own solution.

“The track record of House Republican leadership on immigration over the past year is appalling,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR (National Council of La Raza). “For twelve months, they have been making excuses and pointing fingers at the administration while sitting on their hands and allowing thousands of mothers and fathers to be torn from their children every day. They have failed to act on an issue that not only is supported by voters across the political spectrum but would also be an economic boon to this country by creating jobs and reducing our deficit.”

Over the past year, the only actions on immigration that House Republicans have taken are shameful votes to undo the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and to limit the president’s legitimate discretion to act when they will not. Unsurprisingly, when NCLR and a number of partner organizations issued preliminary scorecards rating members of Congress on their performances on immigration, most members of the GOP caucus received failing scores.

“House Republican inaction on immigration reform reaffirms the need for the president to step in and address the ongoing crisis that our community faces,” added Murguía. “House leadership can either act now to relieve the pain that hundreds of thousands of families have felt due to our broken immigration system, or they can tarnish their brand with the Latino community for generations to come.”

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

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

In the wake of Speaker John Boehner’s remarks that he will not permit the House of Representatives to vote on immigration reform this year, President Obama announced earlier today that he will use his executive authority to fix our broken immigration system and provide some relief to the millions of aspiring Americans facing the constant threat of deportation.

“By refusing to act on immigration reform, House Republication leadership has given the president no other choice but to take administrative action,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR (National Council of La Raza). “They have the ability to restore the rule of law by passing a permanent legislative solution on immigration reform, and have instead chosen to perpetuate a broken system that causes enormous and unnecessary human suffering for the Latino community. They willfully disregard that passing immigration reform is in the nation’s best economic interests and that the majority of Americans across a broad political spectrum overwhelmingly support immigration reform. With House Republican leadership continuing to obstruct progress on this issue, NCLR welcomes executive actions from the White House to ease the pain that our community is forced to endure every day.”

To date, two million deportations have occurred under the Obama administration, and more than 277,000 parents of U.S. citizen children have been deported since 2010. NCLR will work with the administration to develop and implement executive actions that limit deportations to those who have committed serious crimes or otherwise pose a threat to the nation’s security or safety. At the same time, we encourage the administration to build on the successful Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program by offering work authorization and temporary relief from deportation to those who can demonstrate family connections to U.S. citizens and others lawfully present, as well as to those with long-term residence in, and ties to, their communities.

“We urge Speaker Boehner to reconsider his decision,” Murguía added. “And if he does, we stand ready to work with Congress and the administration to fashion a bipartisan solution. However, our community cannot continue to wait on legislation while our families are ripped apart.”

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For Immediate Release                                                               Contact:
July 1, 2014                                                                                    Joseph Rendeiro
                                                                                                       (202) 776-1566
                                                                                                        jrendeiro@nclr.org
Contact: See below

Immigrant communities on track to deliver 2014 National Immigration Scorecard

WASHINGTON, DC -- With House Republican leadership throwing away the best chance in recent decades to reform the immigration system, national Latino and Asian American and Pacific Islander groups are renewing their combined pledge to inform their communities of Congress’ failure to do its job.

Final scores of all 435 House members regarding votes and inaction on immigration reform are being tabulated and will be released in late July for nationwide distribution.

Preliminary results of the 2014 National Immigration Scorecard, released in late May, showed how House GOP leaders’ failure to bring immigration reform to the House for a vote caused failing scores for members who are facing demands from constituents, business and faith leaders for an updated immigration system.

The following is a joint statement of scorecard sponsors, including Hispanic Federation, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, League of United Latin American Citizens, NCLR (National Council of La Raza), Mi Familia Vota Education Fund, Voto Latino, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Japanese American Citizens League, National Korean American Service and Education Consortium, and OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates:

“Instead of acting on immigration reform, the GOP-controlled House has decided to increase its legislative and rhetorical attacks against immigrant communities, following the lead of anti-immigrant extremists in its party.”

“These avenues of attacks against immigrants, including threats to do away with the highly successful Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for immigrant children with long-standing ties in the U.S., deepens the party’s damage with our communities.”

“The Latino and AAPI communities will be informed in coming weeks on how members behaved on the issue -- whether they championed immigration reform, did nothing, or blocked legislation. The fate of Congress’ standing with ethnic and immigrant communities is in their hands.”

Contacts:
APALA: William Chiang, wchiang@apalanet.org, 202-508-3733
Hispanic Federation: Joshua Silvia, jsilvia@hispanicfederation.org, 202-641-7186
Japanese American Citizens League Tara Naoko Ohrtman, tohrtman@jacl.org, 202-223-1240
LCLAA: Victor Baten, Vbaten@lclaa.org, 202-508-6989
LULAC: Jossie Sapunar, jsapunar@lulac.org, 202-833-6130
Mi Familia Vota: Lizette Escobedo lizettee@mifamiliavota.org, 858- 583-5014
NAKASEC: Diana Bui dbui@nakasec.org, 202-670-1622
NCLR: Joseph Rendeiro, jrendeiro@nclr.org, 202-776-1566
OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates: Ken Lee, klee@ocanational.org, (202) 223-5500
Voto Latino: Jimmy Hernandez, jimmy@votolatino.org, 305-720-0699

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Fifty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law, a monumental achievement that set our nation on a new path toward greater equality, fairness and justice for all. The Civil Rights Act has had an indelible impact on the lives of millions of Americans, including millions of Hispanic Americans who were included in civil rights legislation for the first time in our nation’s history. 

“Today is a day to celebrate a landmark moment in the course of our nation. A dedicated, tireless group of bipartisan policymakers, a courageous president and a slew of communities, led by our African American brothers and sisters, that refused to give up, overcame a small but powerful group of extremists to enact one of the most important pieces of legislation in American history, one that reaffirmed and renewed the promise of this great nation,” stated Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR (National Council of La Raza).

“While it is remarkable to witness how far we’ve come in those 50 years, we continue to face challenges as we traverse the road to true equality,” said Murguía. “Today’s discriminatory policies and behaviors may be less evident, but they equally threaten the progress we’ve made. They may exist in the form of housing lenders that treat minority borrowers differently based on their racial or ethnic identity, or schools that relegate poor, minority students to a different standard of learning. They may be laws that make it more difficult for minority communities to vote, or policies that promote bigotry and discrimination under the guise of ‘immigration enforcement.’ NCLR recommits to helping ensure that these policies and practices are sent to the dustbin of history so we can continue, together, to ensure progress for all 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                   Contact:
July 2, 2014                                                                             Julian Teixeira
                                                                                                (202) 776-1812
                                                                                                jteixeira@nclr.org

From a Latino tech startup competition to a keynote address from Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, Conference STEM track highlights importance of technology to Latino empowerment 

LOS ANGELES—California is an international hub of innovation, with Silicon Valley serving as the epicenter of the technology sector. It is also home to the largest Hispanic population in the United States. With an unprecedented opportunity to connect both audiences, the 2014 NCLR Annual Conference and National Latino Family Expo® will challenge attendees to “Think. Create. Aspire.” as Conference explores how technology can drive social change in the lives of America’s Latinos.

“Technology changes the way we live our lives every day. It has the potential to inspire and empower by connecting our communities and carrying our messages to places and people we never thought we could reach,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR. “By making this a focus of this year’s Annual Conference in Los Angeles, we hope to empower Latinos to harness their creativity and innovative spirit to amplify our voice as a group. Through technology, Latinos will discover new ways to tackle the challenges that our communities face.”

This year’s Conference boasts a robust lineup of technology-related content unlike that found at any other Latino-oriented gathering in the nation. Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg will serve as the keynote speaker for this year’s Latinas Brunch, which features insight from trailblazing Latina women who have harnessed the power of digital platforms such as YouTube, Kickstarter and Vine to launch successful careers and businesses. Attendees will also be given the opportunity to participate in a number of workshops within the recently added STEM Track, which, in addition to various education-focused sessions, will highlight how technology and social media can amplify advocacy efforts, engage audiences and drive economic empowerment.

Among the many highlights at this year’s Conference, NCLR is excited to introduce “In the Tanque: Latino Startups Showcase and Competition.” Highlighting the best and brightest Hispanic leaders within the tech space, this showcase will offer aspiring Latino entrepreneurs from across the nation the chance to pitch their best ideas to a panel of venture capitalists, celebrities and experts. And tomorrow’s entrepreneurs will be inspired at the 2014 National Latino Family Expo—open to the public free of charge July 20–23—where kids can watch science experiments, build marshmallow towers and compete in an aeronautical engineering paper airplane contest.

“This year, we wanted to create a truly interactive experience that gives our participants a platform to share their own ideas and inventions with our speakers, experts and panelists,” added Ron Estrada, Vice President, Integrated Marketing and Events, NCLR. “The truly wonderful thing about technology is that you never know where the next great idea is going to come from.”

The 2014 NCLR Annual Conference and National Latino Family Expo will run from Saturday, July 19 through Tuesday, July 22 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Learn more about Conference’s technology events or register for the 2014 NCLR Annual Conference in Los Angeles.

To obtain media credentials for the 2014 NCLR Annual Conference, press may register at http://nclr.emsreg.com/nclr14/public/mediaregistration.aspx.

STEM Track Highlights

Saturday, July 19

Empowering Social Change with Technology: Tools and Tactics
10:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
This panel will explore the power of technology to help Affiliates and community members achieve their respective missions through tools like Google Hangouts, Gmail, Facebook causes, and other online organizing tools.

Sunday, July 20

In the Tanque: Latino Startups Showcase and Competition
9:00–10:30 a.m.
In the Tanque will feature aspiring Latino tech entrepreneurs from across the nation (and Latin America) as they pitch their best ideas to a panel of venture capitalists, celebrities and experts.

“Going Social”: How to Leverage New Media in the Digital Age
9:00–10:30 a.m.
Hear from experts at Twitter, the social networking and micro-blogging service, about how to identify your target audience and build a loyal group of followers.

Latinas Brunch
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
The brunch will include a panel discussion with trailblazing digital entrepreneurs who have harnessed the power of the Internet to establish successful businesses.

Featured speaker: María Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Keynote speaker: Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer, Facebook
Moderator: Nely Galán, Founder, The Adelante Movement
Panelists: Kathy Cano-Murillo, Founder, CraftyChica©, and Giadha Aguirre De Carcer, Founder and CEO, GNI International

Entrepreneurship in the Digital Age
1:30–3:00 p.m.
Media dynamo Nely Galán brings you an all-star lineup of Latina executives from Google, Twitter, and Comcast to discuss the power of the Internet to drive self-advancement and entrepreneurialism.

Monday, July 21

Economic Empowerment in a Wireless World
9:00–10:30 a.m.
Learn how mobile technology is playing a central role in helping Hispanic business owners build their customer base, manage employees and grow their businesses.

Tuesday, July 22

Social Change Gets a Profile
9:00–10:30 a.m.
Join this training session for Affiliates and nonprofits focused on maximizing the use of the Facebook platform for marketing, organizing and engaging audiences.

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

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PARA DIVULGACIÓN INMEDIATA                                                                                    Contacto:
9 de julio, 2014                                                                                                                   Camila Gallardo
                                                                                                                                          (305) 215-4259
                                                                                                                                          cgallardo@nclr.org

¿Cómo contienden los latinos con la prevención y el tratamiento de las enfermedades que afectan la vida diaria?

WASHINGTON, D.C.—El martes, 15 de julio, a la 1:00 PM tiempo del este (EDT), el NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza por sus siglas en inglés) llevará a cabo una conferencia telefónica de prensa para dar a conocer un informe que examina los retos que la comunidad latina enfrenta en la prevención y el tratamiento de las enfermedades crónicas. Con el apoyo de Boehringer Ingelheim y la colaboración de la firma de asesoría sobre salud pública John Snow, Inc.(JSI), el NCLR recopiló información sobre los índices de enfermedades crónicas entre la comunidad latina, los obstáculos y las motivaciones a los que se enfrentan en los esfuerzos de prevención y tratamiento, así como la función que tienen los proveedores de cuidados de la salud y los recursos comunitarios para ayudar a los latinos a manejar estas condiciones.

El informe “Introspección sobre las enfermedades crónicas y el cuidado de la salud entre los hispanos en los Estados Unidos” (An Inside Look at Chronic Disease and Health Care among Hispanics in the United States) está basado en entrevistas escritas y sesiones de grupo de pacientes en los centros comunitarios de salud de todo el país y de la Red de Afiliados del NCLR.

Según los Centros de Control y Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC), aproximadamente 133 millones de estadounidenses –casi la mitad de la población adulta– padecen al menos de una enfermedad crónica que afecta su vida diaria; cada año, siete de cada diez muertes en EE.UU. son a causa de una enfermedad crónica. El tratamiento de estas condiciones-- muchas de las cuales que en gran medida se pueden prevenir-- consume más del 75% de los gastos de cuidado de salud del país. Con un índice de obesidad de casi el 40%, los hispanos se encuentran en mayor riesgo de desarrollar diabetes y otras enfermedades crónicas que los blancos no hispanos. Son un 50% más propensos a morir de diabetes y tienen tres veces el índice de nuevas infecciones por VIH cuando se les compara con los blancos no hispanos.

Según crece la comunidad latina para representar la tercera parte de la población de EE.UU. en el 2050, crecerá la prevalencia de las enfermedades crónicas a las que los hispanos se enfrentan, tales como la diabetes, las enfermedades cardiovasculares, el asma, la obesidad y sus complicaciones. Aunque muchos latinos recientemente pudieron obtener cobertura médica por primera vez gracias a la Ley de Cuidado de Salud Asequible (ACA), los hispanos siguen siendo el grupo menos asegurado, con casi uno de cada tres sin cobertura médica. Dado que los índices y el costo de las enfermedades crónicas continuarán aumentando según envejece nuestra población, abordar las enfermedades crónicas entre los hispanos es clave para mejorar la salud y el uso eficaz de los recursos de nuestro país.

Para confirmar su participación, por favor póngase en contacto con Camila Gallardo al (305) 215-4259 o enviando un correo electrónico a cgallardo@nclr.org.

AVISO DE PRENSA

QUIÉN:      Delia Pompa, vicepresidenta de programas del NCLR
                   Manuela McDonough, MPH, CPH, directora asociada del Institute for Hispanic Health del NCLR
                   Rodolfo R. Vega, PhD, asesor de John Snow, Inc. (JSI)
                  Amparo Núñez, directora del proyecto Puentes de Salud del Hispanic Services Council

QUÉ:        Conferencia telefónica de prensa sobre un nuevo informe del NCLR

CUÁNDO: Martes 15 de julio, 2014
                   1:00 PM EDT (tiempo del este)

DÓNDE:    Teléfono a llamar: 1 (866) 952-1907
                    Identificador de la conferencia: HEALTH
                    Título del programa: Chronic Disease Among Latinos

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                 Contact:
July 9, 2014                                                                         Kathy Mimberg
                                                                                             (202) 776-1714
                                                                                              kmimberg@nclr.org

How are Latinos faring with prevention and management of conditions that affect daily life?

WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Tuesday, July 15, at 1:00 p.m. EDT, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) will host a telephonic press conference to release a report that examines the challenges in preventing and managing chronic diseases in the Latino community. With support from Boehringer Ingelheim and in partnership with public health consulting firm John Snow, Inc.(JSI), NCLR gathered information about the rates of chronic disease among the Latino community, the barriers and motivators faced in prevention and management efforts and the roles of health care providers and community resources in helping Latinos manage these conditions.
The report, “An Inside Look at Chronic Disease and Health Care among Hispanics in the United States,” is based on written surveys and focus groups of patients at community-based health centers across the country that belong to the NCLR Affiliate Network.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 133 million Americans—nearly half of the adult population—live with at least one chronic illness that affects their daily lives; chronic disease accounts for seven in ten deaths in the U.S. each year. The management of these conditions, many of which are largely preventable, consumes more than 75% of American expenditures on health care. With obesity rates of nearly 40%, Hispanics are at greater risk of developing diabetes and other chronic health conditions than non-Hispanic Whites. They are 50% more likely to die from diabetes and have three times the rate of new HIV infections when compared with non-Hispanic Whites.

As the Latino community grows to represent one-third of the U.S. population by 2050, so will the prevalence of chronic conditions that Hispanics face, such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, obesity and their complications. While many Latinos were recently able to obtain health insurance for the first time thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Hispanics remain the nation’s least insured group, with nearly one in three lacking coverage. Given that the rates and cost of chronic disease will continue rising as our nation’s population ages, addressing chronic diseases among Hispanics is key to improving our nation’s health and making effective use of resources.

To confirm your attendance, please contact Kathy Mimberg at (202) 776-1714 or kmimberg@nclr.org.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHO:      Delia Pompa, Senior Vice President, Programs, NCLR
                Manuela McDonough, MPH, CPH, Associate Director, Institute for Hispanic Health, NCLR
                Rodolfo R. Vega, PhD, Senior Consultant, John Snow, Inc. (JSI)
                Amparo Nuñez, Project Director, Puentes de Salud, Hispanic Services Council

WHAT:    Telephonic press conference to release new report

WHEN:   Tuesday, July 15, 2014
                1:00 p.m. EDT

WHERE: Participant Call-in: 1 (866) 952-1907
                Conference ID: HEALTH
                Program Title: Chronic Disease Among Latinos

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Today NCLR (National Council of La Raza) hailed the confirmation of Mayor Julián Castro of San Antonio to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Senate voted 71–26 in favor of the nomination.

“Today’s vote has made it abundantly clear that Julián Castro’s colleagues on both sides of the aisle respect his talent and expertise and have full confidence in him to lead this department at a time when millions of Americans, especially Latinos, are still reeling from the housing crisis,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “We applaud the Senate for swiftly confirming this eminently qualified candidate and congratulate Mr. Castro, a rising star and leading voice in the Latino community. Although Mr. Castro has a formidable task ahead of him, NCLR is eager to work with his department to build a more stable and inclusive housing market for all communities.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Topics to include Common Core State Standards, avenues for parental involvement

NEW YORK—This Saturday, July 12, 2014, at 9:30 a.m., NCLR, the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, Inc. and the New York Urban League will host the second in a three-part series of town halls and educational forums focused on improving the state of education within the Latino community. Topics of discussion will include the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), what they mean for students, how parents can help their children succeed in school and resources and access for English language learners. The discussion is particularly timely for parents in New York City, whose students will enter the first year of universal prekindergarten in the fall.

Participants, which will feature a New York City councilmember and several representatives from the New York City and New York State education departments, will discuss ways that the CCSS can raise achievement so that Latino and other New York students are prepared to enter institutions of higher learning and meet the future challenges of an increasingly competitive job market. Degree attainment among Latino adults in New York has severely lagged; on average, only 19 percent of Latino adults have postsecondary degrees, yet 69 percent of jobs in New York require some sort of postsecondary education.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHO:
Moderator: Vanessa Ramos, Senior Director of Policy, Committee for Hispanic Families and Children

Panel:
Angelica M. Infante, Associate Commissioner for Bilingual Education and Foreign Language Studies, New York State Education Department
Claudia Aguirre, Chief Executive Officer, English Language Learners, New York City Department of Education
Ydanis Rodríguez, New York City Councilmember, District 10
Rafael Collazo, Director, Political Campaigns, NCLR

WHAT:
Town hall on education and your children: how can you help your children be successful from pre-K on?

WHEN:
Saturday, July 12, 2014
9:30 a.m.–Noon

WHERE:
Alianza Dominicana
530 West 166th Street
New York, NY 10032

Breakfast will be provided.

Media are encouraged to attend the event; those wishing to RSVP should contact Camila Gallardo at cgallardo@nclr.org or (305) 215-4259.

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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