FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                 Contact:
July 21, 2014                                                                                        Julian Teixeira
                                                                                                            (202) 776-1812
                                                                                                            jteixeira@nclr.org

LOS ANGELES—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) is pleased to unveil Immigo, a new mobile app designed to provide workers in the immigrant integration field with the most up-to-date information about changing immigration laws and policies. The app is also equipped with an easy-to-use location feature to find legal assistance on immigration-related issues. Launched at the 2014 NCLR Annual Conference and National Latino Family Expo in Los Angeles, this cutting-edge, comprehensive resource for anyone who works with immigrant communities is currently available for free on Apple and Android smartphones and tablets.

“Day in and day out, our Affiliates and allies are working with individuals and families who have questions about immigration policy and reform. This is an easily accessible resource that provides access to the latest information, updates and resources for those assisting immigrants in this country,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR. “Immigo will be a valuable tool not only for our NCLR Affiliates, but for all organizations working within the immigrant integration arena.”

Murguía also thanked Verizon for its long-standing partnership and commitment to using technology to address our nation’s pressing issues. “NCLR deeply appreciates Verizon’s partnership and support of the development of Immigo,” Murguía said. “This collaboration is another example of how the company strives to leverage technology to address a critical issue facing the Latino community and the nation at large.”

Immigo provides users with information about state and federal regulations and resources associated with immigration, as well as changes and updates to immigration law and policy. Additional features include a daily immigration news feed and geolocation technology that allows users to find nearby, trusted providers of immigration legal services.

“Immigo is the first-ever mobile app designed to connect individuals working with immigrants to comprehensive trainings, resources and legal assistance,” said Matthew Burnett, Director of the Immigration Advocates Network (IAN). “As the largest network of nonprofit and pro bono immigration advocates in the country, IAN is proud to partner with NCLR, Verizon and Pro Bono Net to ensure that advocates anywhere in the country have ready access to timely, accessible information about this complex and ever-changing area of law.”

The application was made possible by NCLR with support from Verizon; it was developed in partnership with IAN and Pro Bono Net.

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

###
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                  Contact:
July 21, 2014                                                                                         Joseph Rendeiro
                                                                                                                 (202) 776-1566
                                                                                                                 jrendeiro@nclr.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.—According to a new poll conducted by Latino Decisions and NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the majority of Latino voters believe the economy is improving, but their own financial outlook has not. While their belief in the American Dream remains strong, large shares of Latino voters are anxious about losing a job and 70 percent of respondents say they are not earning enough to cover their basic expenses.

“The economy is improving but Latino families are still waiting for their own economic recovery,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “Latinos still have faith in, and are working hard to achieve, the American Dream, but policymakers also need to do more to support workers and families with policies such as raising the minimum wage. Come this fall, millions of Latino voters will be looking for candidates who respond to Latino voters’ real economic concerns, such as their job prospects, paying for college, and owning and keeping their own homes.”

According to the poll, which was executed with the support of Univision, 55 percent of Latinos, including 60 percent of women, would be more likely to vote for an elected official who voted for an increase in the minimum wage. Half of Latinos polled reported having trouble paying their bills last year, and almost 70 percent are concerned that they are not earning enough to cover their basic expenses. Earlier this year, the Senate failed to proceed with a vote to increase the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 per hour.

The poll also shows that younger Latinos are struggling in the job market, with 78 percent of them saying they are concerned about lack of career advancement. Latinos also contend with unpredictable work schedules and unfair treatment at work. By 2050, one in three American workers will be Latino.

“While Latinos struggle economically, the vast majority believe in the basic pillars of the American Dream, including homeownership,” said Matt Barreto, Co-founder of Latino Decisions. “Immigrants especially believe that owning a business is essential to achieving the American Dream.”

Forty percent of Latinos polled said that they believe the government is responsible for helping immigrants advance their education and improve their economic status, while more than 30 percent said immigrants themselves are primarily responsible.

For complete results of the poll, visit: http://bit.ly/econpoll14

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

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               Contact:
July 21, 2014                                                                                       Joseph Rendeiro
                                                                                                           (202) 776-1566
                                                                                                          jrendeiro@nclr.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Award-winning actor, producer and activist Dan Guerrero was recognized as this year’s honoree at NCLR’s (National Council of La Raza) annual LGBT reception during the 2014 NCLR Annual Conference in Los Angeles. A Night OUT with NCLR: Celebrating LGBT Champions and Allies was presented by Prudential Financial and sponsored by AT&T, Hilton Worldwide and American Airlines. NCLR Board member and previous honoree Catherine Pino was on hand to recognize Guerrero for his advocacy efforts on behalf of the LGBT community, as well as his work to bring more positive Latino images to the screen as a casting director, writer and producer of diverse network and cable television programming.

“My career has been a blessing, allowing me to pursue my passion for the arts and create space to uplift the voices of LGBT Latinos so that the arts can continue to be a vehicle for social change,” said Guerrero. “I am humbled and honored to receive this award, and proud to be associated with an organization like NCLR, which has invested so deeply in advancing the lives of Latinos, including our LGBT hermanos y hermanas.”

In 2006 Guerrero premiered his critically acclaimed autobiographical play, ¡Gaytino!, which looks at the interconnection of his dual identities as part of both the Latino and the LGBT communities. The play has received fantastic reviews as he has performed it across the country at venues in Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, D.C. He also began teaching a course, “Gaytino: Performance and the Power of One,” at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was recently appointed as UCLA Regents’ Lecturer for the 2014–2015 school year in both the LGBT and Chicano Studies departments.

“For decades, Dan Guerrero has pushed to acknowledge and celebrate both Latino and LGBT culture on stage and on television, shining the spotlight on the diverse talent that is often overlooked within both communities,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “We’re proud to recognize Dan not only for his remarkable career in entertainment, but also for his activism and outspoken support of LGBT rights.”

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 along on Facebook and Twitter.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Earlier today, President Obama signed the “Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act” (WIOA), legislation that lays the framework for job training and adult education services nationwide. NCLR (National Council of La Raza) applauds the bipartisan effort to pass this legislation, the first reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act in 11 years, which will expand opportunities for Latino youth and adults by helping them attain postsecondary education and careers. Modernized features of the bill are designed to improve access to workforce development training for low-skilled workers and individuals with limited English language proficiency, while also targeting services to out-of-school youth.

“The prosperity of the American economy is tightly linked to the success of the Latino workforce,” said Delia Pompa, Senior Vice President of Programs at NCLR. “We are pleased to see lawmakers from both sides of the aisle come together to design a better workforce development system. Now it is incumbent upon Congress to fully fund WIOA so that Latinos and other struggling workers can earn the in-demand skills and education necessary to build stronger communities and a stronger economy.”

According to a national survey by NCLR and Latino Decisions released in December, 86 percent of Latino voters are concerned about cuts in federal funding for job training. As part of a national campaign called Latinos United for a Fair Economy, NCLR is urging Congress to remove federally imposed budget caps and replace the planned spending cuts with renewed investments in working families.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                           Contact:
July 23, 2014                                                                                   Camila Gallardo
                                                                                                       cgallardo@nclr.org
                                                                                                       (305) 215-4259

LOS ANGELES—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) today announced that Hispanic Services Council (HSC) of Tampa, Fla., had received the organization’s Affiliate Advocacy Award at a ceremony during the 2014 NCLR Annual Conference in Los Angeles.

The NCLR Affiliate Advocacy Award recognizes an organization that has leveraged its partnership with NCLR to elevate the voices of Latinos through exemplary civic engagement and advocacy efforts. The award provides an opportunity for NCLR to recognize a member of the NCLR Affiliate Network that is actively helping expand opportunities for Latinos.

“Since joining the NCLR Affiliate Network in 2011, Hispanic Services Council has grown to become a critical partner of NCLR, providing a new voice for Latinos in Tampa,” said Loren McArthur, Deputy Director, Civic Engagement Department, NCLR. “In particular, their work with the Latino community has had a significant impact on meeting the needs of the underserved, including helping to bridge health disparities, providing important educational and job training services, raising awareness, and empowering the community to advocate for themselves on a range of issues. We look forward to building on this momentum and expanding our collective efforts to improve outcomes for the Hispanic community in Tampa and Florida,” McArthur continued.

A community-based organization, HSC works to increase access and opportunities for Latinos and influence the systems that serve them. HSC has worked in partnership with NCLR across a variety of critical issue areas utilizing innovative practices to integrate civic engagement and advocacy into all their programs. Their work has had a significant impact and established a standard and model for others. Their work with NCLR’s federal budget advocacy work in Florida, in particular, has helped raise awareness among decision-makers and the community regarding how sequestration cuts will adversely impact their community, particularly educational and job training programs that greatly benefit Latinos.

“Our partnership with NCLR ensures that the sound of Latino voices in Tampa are heard at the national level. We will continue to elevate the voices of Tampa Latinos to inform the national discussion about the needs of the greater Latino community. Our pledge is to find new and evolving ways for a meaningful and lasting local contribution to the community of Tampa,” said Maria Pinzon, Executive Director of HSC.

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

###
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                         Contact:
July 23, 2014                                                                                               Camila Gallardo
                                                                                                                    cgallardo@nclr.org
                                                                                                                   (305) 215-4259

Philadelphia-based nonprofit honored as exemplary service provider

LOS ANGELES—Yesterday evening, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) presented the 2014 Affiliate of the Year Award to Congreso, a multiservice organization with an expert focus on the Latino community based in Philadelphia. The group was honored at the 2014 NCLR Annual Conference Awards Gala held in Los Angeles on July 22, 2014.

Each year NCLR recognizes one Affiliate in its national network that has demonstrated its effectiveness in serving the Latino community and being a strong partner to NCLR. Since 1977, Congreso has grown into one of the nation’s 25 largest Latino-led nonprofit organizations and is a recognized leader in using evaluation tools to demonstrate that its programs are changing the lives of Latinos. Through its health, education and workforce development services, Congreso has served more than 56,000 individuals over the last five years. At the core of its success is its Primary Client Model™ (PCM), which promotes greater client self-sufficiency by approaching each service in a client-centered, data-informed and culturally appropriate way.

“We are delighted to recognize Congreso as the NCLR Affiliate of the Year. Congreso’s efforts have helped to open the doors to opportunity for thousands of Latinos in Pennsylvania. In particular, Congreso’s willingness and commitment to growing the NCLR Affiliate Network’s collective impact by sharing their experience and expertise with other Affiliates has been most outstanding,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR.

The Affiliate of the Year Award, sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund, is the highest honor bestowed on an NCLR Affiliate for its exemplary work in empowering the Latino community and advancing the mission of NCLR.

“In its 37-year history, Congreso has consistently worked to strengthen and improve its service model. It has aligned its resources and programs, achieved a high level of quality service delivery for its community and shown that community-based organizations do make a difference in strengthening our cities and our country,” continued Murguía.

“Congreso is honored to be recognized as NCLR Affiliate of the Year. Our mission to strengthen Latino communities is executed through our data-driven, client-centered approach to social services. In addition to providing direct client services, we work with corporate, government and nonprofit sector partners from throughout the nation to further the dialogue around measurable community impact. Many of these doors were first opened by NCLR and the work that it has done in advocating on behalf of Latino communities everywhere,” said Cynthia F. Figueroa, President and CEO, Congreso.

In addition to honoring Congreso with a $25,000 cash award, NCLR also recognized regional awardees from its Affiliate Network. Each honoree was presented with a $5,000 cash award on July 21, 2014 at the Affiliate Leadership Breakfast. The 2014 regional awardees included:

• Centro Latino for Literacy (Los Angeles)
California Affiliate of the Year

• Valle del Sol, Inc. (Phoenix)
Far West Affiliate of the Year

• Enlace Chicago (Chicago)
Midwest Affiliate of the Year

• Ayuda, Inc. (Washington)
Southeast Affiliate of the Year

• Houston Gateway Academy (Houston)
Texas Affiliate of the Year

“Congreso’s work in the areas of workforce development, education, health care and housing is critical to improving the quality of life for more than 14,000 of its members in Philadelphia,” said Joedis Avila, Community Outreach Manager, Ford Motor Company Fund. “Congreso’s mission is in alignment with Ford Motor Company Fund’s long-standing commitment to strengthen Latino communities across the country. It is an honor to present the NCLR Affiliate of the Year award to Congreso for making such a meaningful difference.”

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.

About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services works with community partners to advance driving safety, education and American heritage and community life. The Ford Motor Company Fund has operated for more than 60 years with ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company. The award-winning Ford Driving Skills for Life program teaches new drivers through a variety of hands-on and interactive methods. Innovation in education is encouraged through programs that enhance high school learning and provide college scholarships and university grants. Through the Ford Volunteer Corps, more than 25,000 Ford employees and retirees each year work on projects that better their communities in 30 countries. For more information, visit http://community.ford.com.

###
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          Contact:
July 23, 2014                                                                                                 Camila Gallardo
                                                                                                                     cgallardo@nclr.org
                                                                                                                     (305) 215-4259

LOS ANGELES—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) honored two of its Affiliate organizations for the excellent work they do to strengthen Latino families. The two honorees—Eastmont Community Center in Los Angeles and Erie Neighborhood House in Chicago—were recognized at a ceremony during the 2014 NCLR Annual Conference, which took place July 19–22 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The NCLR Family Strengthening Awards are presented annually to NCLR-affiliated community-based organizations that have demonstrated exemplary work in the Hispanic community and made a measurable impact in strengthening Latino families. The selected Affiliates will each receive a cash award of $5,000 to deepen their work and partnership with NCLR.

“Each year we look forward to this opportunity to honor the important work of our Affiliates at our Annual Conference. This year’s Family Strengthening Award recipients exemplify how organizations can be at the forefront of both strengthening families and building stronger communities,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR. “Eastmont Community Center is noteworthy because of its Education and Childcare Division, which reaches 10,000 individuals each year. Erie Neighborhood House’s Proyecto Cuídate is a program dedicated to family well-being whose goal is to prevent violence and family division. We applaud them and thank them for their contributions.”

Founded in 1967, Eastmont Community Center works to enhance the quality of life for children, youth, working adults and seniors in low-income families by holistically integrating education, health care, workforce development and civic engagement into a continuous service delivery model.

“We are honored to have been chosen as one of this year's recipients of the NCLR Family Strengthening Award,” said Teresa Palacios, Executive Director of Eastmont Community Center. “This contribution makes Eastmont stronger and more determined to continue, expand and improve on the educational programs that supplement our public schools in preparing future leaders from our community.”

Established in 1870 in the settlement house tradition, Erie Neighborhood House evolved into one of the first comprehensive social service agencies in Chicago, serving the city’s low-income and immigrant residents. The organization’s mission is to promote a just and inclusive society by strengthening low-income, primarily Latino families through skill-building, access to critical resources, advocacy and collaborative action.

“Like so many other Erie Neighborhood House programs that preceded it, Proyecto Cuídate provides a critical safety net and aims to invest in the well-being of the children and families in our communities. The tremendous cutting-edge work of Site Director Sandy De Leon and her colleagues has made Proyecto Cuídate a wellspring of resources and support for families in Little Village and its surrounding communities. We couldn't be prouder of their accomplishments and what this national recognition from NCLR signifies," said Celena Roldán-Moreno, Executive Director of Erie Neighborhood House.

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

###
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                             Contact:
July 23, 2014                                                                                    Camila Gallardo
                                                                                                       cgallardo@nclr.org
                                                                                                       (305) 215-4259

LOS ANGELES—Last night, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) President and CEO Janet Murguía congratulated the honorees at the 2014 NCLR Annual Conference Awards Gala, which concluded the Conference held July 19–22 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Six awards were presented in honor of individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exemplary accomplishments, both in their fields and in service to the Hispanic community in the United States.

This year’s awardees include Congreso de Latinos Unidos for Affiliate of the Year; Hon. Gloria Molina, Supervisor, First District, Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, for the Graciela Olivarez La Raza Award; Angelica Salas, Executive Director, Coalition for Human Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), for the Maclovio Barraza Award for Leadership; Jose Diaz-Balart, News Anchor, Telemundo, for the Ruben Salazar Award for Communications; Manny Mota, Former Major League Baseball Player, Los Angeles Dodgers, for the Roberto Clemente Award for Sports Excellence; and Eva Longoria, Actress, Activist and Philanthropist, for the Raul Yzaguirre President’s Award.

“I am proud to congratulate such an accomplished group of honorees. Each and every one of them has had an indelible impact on improving the lives of America’s Hispanic community. We are grateful to have such dedicated and effective partners in elevating the voice and influence of Hispanic Americans, and we look forward to continuing our successful collaboration well into the future,” said Murguía.

This year’s awards were co-sponsored by Amtrak, Ford Motor Company Fund, Southwest Airlines and UPS.

Congreso de Latinos Unidos, NCLR’s Affiliate of the Year, has been a member of the NCLR Affiliate Network since 2000. A Philadelphia-based multiservice organization, Congreso strives to strengthen Latino communities through social, economic, education and health services; leadership development; and advocacy. Through its Federally Qualified Health Center and Public Charter School, combined with its other innovative programs, Congreso serves more than 14,000 unduplicated individuals a year. This holistic approach to serving the individual is helping alleviate poverty and promoting economic self-sufficiency to ensure that our most vulnerable populations have the educational credentials and workforce skills to compete in a global economy. Founded in 1977, Congreso has evolved from a grassroots organization into a nationally recognized provider of quality education, employment, health and social services. Today, Congreso is ranked as the 18th largest Hispanic nonprofit in the nation by Hispanic Business and has been named a Top Workplace by the Philadelphia Inquirer for two years in a row.

Much of Congreso’s success is the result of their continued emphasis on accountability and commitment to impact. Since 2003, Congreso has invested in developing and refining an innovative standard service delivery model that has built on the organization’s data-driven culture. Through its Primary Client Management (PCM™) model, Congreso promotes greater client self-sufficiency by approaching each service in a client-centered, data-informed, and culturally appreciative manner. This innovative model is particularly effective at integrating multiple services across the organization to more effectively reduce barriers and avoid duplication of services. PCM™ deliberately moves the focus of client relationships beyond service brokering to influencing behaviors that contribute to high school graduation and completion of a post-secondary degree, greater work readiness, better health and increased family well-being.

The first Latina in history to be elected to the California State Legislature, the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Gloria Molina, winner of the Graciela Olivarez La Raza Award, is a true success story of the post-civil rights era, symbolizing the social and political progress made by Hispanic Americans in recent decades. Molina, one of ten children raised in the Los Angeles suburb of Pico Rivera, came of age during a time of expanding opportunities for Latinos nationwide. Educated in California’s public schools and universities, she was inspired to dedicate herself to a career in civil service.

Early on she assisted notable politicians in the California State Assembly, as well as in the Carter White House, where she served as Deputy for Presidential Personnel. Eventually she was elected to the California State Assembly in 1982 and the Los Angeles City Council in 1987, both times being the first Latina to do so. During this decade Molina became known as a staunch defender of her constituency, most memorably for her opposition to the construction of a state prison in East Los Angeles. Joining the community group Mothers of East Los Angeles, she rallied coalitions and public leaders to ensure that the prison, which threatened the community fabric, would not be built. To this day she continues to fight for the most vulnerable among her constituents, including by helping move hundreds of homeless people from L.A.’s Skid Row into permanent housing and overseeing the construction of more than 1,100 units of affordable housing.

Angelica Salas, recipient of this year’s Maclovio Barraza Award for Leadership, has long been among the most prominent figures in the ongoing fight for immigrant rights. Since 1999, she has served as Executive Director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), which is dedicated to representing and advancing civil rights for immigrants and refugees. Named 2011’s “Woman of the Year” by the California State Assembly and a “Woman of Excellence” by the YWCA of Pasadena, Salas has made an undeniable mark on the Hispanic community. She has led numerous campaigns to expand rights and opportunities for immigrants in California, including by extending in-state tuition for undocumented immigrant students, allowing all Californians to obtain a driver’s license and preventing local police from turning over undocumented immigrants to federal authorities for possible deportation.

Under Salas’s leadership, CHIRLA has transformed from a coalition of service providers into an organization focused on advocacy and empowerment, teaching immigrants to help themselves by standing up for their rights. CHIRLA’s day laborer centers, which provide education and leadership training to the day laborers who congregate at Los Angeles’s corners seeking work, are a model for empowerment being adopted nationwide. With 14 day laborer centers now active, CHIRLA is strengthening workers’ ability to work with dignity for a living wage and respond to unfair treatment. The organization also encourages increased civic participation among its constituents and has registered tens of thousands of new immigrant voters. At the national level, Salas is a visible and respected champion of immigration reform with a focus on family reunification. By building coalitions across labor, faith, academia and community organizations, she has mobilized millions of immigrants to demand comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship.

José Díaz-Balart, winner of this year’s Ruben Salazar Award for Communications, is one of the most respected and experienced voices in journalism today, exemplifying the value a nuanced Latino perspective brings to national news coverage. Viewers know him as the trusted and knowledgeable anchor on MSNBC’s weekday lineup, on Noticiero Telemundo and as the host of “Enfoque con José Díaz-Balart,” Telemundo’s Spanish-language current-affairs program. He is the first and only U.S. journalist to have anchored both English- and Spanish-language newscasts on two national networks for more than one week, and did so on the same day for an entire season. He is also one of few broadcasters who can perform simultaneous translations between languages during live interviews.

This is not the first time he’s made history as a journalist—in 1996, Díaz-Balart became the first Cuban American to host a network news program when he became anchor of CBS’s This Morning. Díaz-Balart’s pioneering career bridged barriers between English-language and Spanish-language network news coverage at a time when NCLR and other Latino organizations were increasingly vocal about the political power of the Latino community. His interviews and angle on a story helped his viewers stay informed on complex issues. At the same time, his high-quality reporting showed that Hispanic Americans in the United States are more than a monolithic single-issue voting bloc. During the 2012 U.S. election season, he conducted one-on-one interviews with both candidates, President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney—a testament to Díaz-Balart’s clout as a journalist, and recognition of the importance of Latinos in a presidential race. His philanthropy and civic service focuses on education and the betterment of the Latino community.

The Roberto Clemente Award for Sports Excellence went to former Los Angeles Dodger Manny Mota. Generations of baseball fans in California and across the country know Mota from his illustrious 13 seasons as an outfielder and 33 seasons as a coach, the longest in Los Angeles Dodgers history. Spanish-speaking fans have also known his voice and expertise since 2010 from Spanish language broadcasts, which expanded to SportsNet LA this season. Mota began playing at the age of 19 and was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1969. He became the number-one pinch hitter there and hit over .300 during the next five seasons. In 1973, he was selected for the National League All-Star team after leading the league in batting average. He played in three World Series contests before returning to his fourth as a coach in 1981. At the time, he held the all-time major league record for career pinch hits. But Mota’s excellence on and off the field as a Los Angeles Dodger is just one part of a distinguished career in which he has given back to those around him.

With his wife, Margarita, Mota founded the Manny Mota International Foundation more than 30 years ago. The foundation’s mission is to provide educational, health and recreational opportunities for underprivileged and disadvantaged youth. Through the Manny Mota Baseball Clinics, youth are taught to build healthy bodies and minds through positive role models and self-discipline through sports. The foundation also provides communities with the tools necessary for improvement and self-reliance. Since 1992, it has held a yearly fundraising event called the Campo de Sueños (Field of Dreams) Awards Banquet. Proceeds from this event fund a major portion of its humanitarian programs. Mota’s selfless work and that of his family, has received numerous honors. Mota and his family were recognized by the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation with the Ray Boone Award as “Baseball’s Family of the Year,” and they were honored at Los Angeles City Hall in 2004 by Los Angeles City Councilman Ed Reyes and Council President Alex Padilla. For his extensive career, Mota, a proud Dominican, was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum during pregame ceremonies at Dodger Stadium in 2003. He also received the Deportista Meritorio, a lifetime achievement award honoring his baseball career and citizenship.

The Raul Yzaguirre President’s Award was given to Eva Longoria, a tremendous supporter of NCLR for a number of years. Her work has been instrumental in helping NCLR fulfill its mission of educating the American public about our community’s contributions and improving the image of the Latino community in Hollywood. Fans of the NCLR ALMA Awards® will recognize Longoria as its effervescent host and Executive Producer, but her commitment to the show runs much deeper. Her singular focus and personal commitment was what convinced ABC to air the ALMA Awards—still the only nationally televised prime-time English language program celebrating Latino contributions to entertainment and media.

Longoria’s work includes a great deal of service to her community. The Eva Longoria Foundation, which she established in 2012, helps Latinas to access resources and opportunities to build better futures for themselves and their families through education and entrepreneurship. She also cofounded Eva’s Heroes, an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals with intellectual special needs by providing an inclusive setting built on four tenets: interact, grow, learn and love. Based in San Antonio, Texas, the organization helps teens and young adults with special needs to integrate into and flourish in society. Always the philanthropist, Eva is the spokesperson for Padres Contra el Cancer, a nonprofit organization that is committed to improving the quality of life for Latino children with cancer and their families. Padres is the only Latino program in the United States that is focused on addressing the needs of the entire family. Longoria has also teamed up with philanthropist Warren Buffett, as they recently partnered with Accion Texas to create a new small-business fund for Latina entrepreneurs in Texas. Since 2013, the fund has made 58 microloans totaling more than $500,000.

Longoria uses her on-screen success as a platform to share the strengths and challenges that Latinos face. She was appointed Commissioner for the National Museum of the American Latino by the president and Congress in a bipartisan vote. The future museum will educate, inspire and encourage respect and understanding of the richness and diversity of the American Latino experience within the U.S. and its territories by highlighting the contributions made by Latino leaders, pioneers and communities to the American way of life.

Longoria has also served as National Co-Chair of President Obama’s reelection campaign and spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2012. An instrumental component of the president’s election, she helped President Obama receive 73% of the Latino vote. Additionally, Longoria is Executive Producer of the documentaries Harvest and Food Chains, which focus on the working conditions and exploitation of migrant farm workers, many of whom are children and do not benefit from protections in the Fair Labor Standards Act. Her third documentary, Our Time, explores the power of the Latino vote.

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.

###

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

LOS ANGELES—Esta noche, Janet Murguía, presidenta y directora general del NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza) felicitó a los homenajeados en la Gala de los Premios de la Conferencia Anual 2014 del NCLR. La gala fue el evento de clausura de la Conferencia Anual que tuvo lugar del 19 al 22 de julio en el Centro de Convenciones de Los Angeles. Se entregaron seis premios en honor de los individuos y las organizaciones que han demostrado logros ejemplares, tanto en su campo como en el servicio a la comunidad hispana de los Estados Unidos.

Los galardonados de este año incluyeron a: el Congreso de Latinos Unidos como Afiliado del Año; Excma. Gloria Molina, supervisora del Primer Distrito de la Junta de Supervisores de Los Angeles, con el Premio Graciela Olivarez La Raza; Angélica Salas, directora ejecutiva de Coalición por los Derechos Humanos de los Inmigrantes (CHIRLA, por sus siglas en inglés), con el Premio al Liderazgo Maclovio Barraza; José Díaz-Balart, reportero de Telemundo, con el Premio de Comunicaciones Rubén Salazar; Manny Mota, exjugador de las Grandes Ligas de Béisbol de los Dodgers de Los Angeles, con el Premio de Excelencia en el Deporte Roberto Clemente; y Eva Longoria, actriz, activista y filántropa, con el Premio del Presidente Raúl Yzaguirre.

“Estoy orgullosa de felicitar a un grupo tan talentoso de homenajeados. Cada uno de ellos han tenido un impacto permanente en la mejora de la vida de la comunidad hispana en los Estados Unidos. Estamos agradecidos de contar con socios tan dedicados y eficaces en elevar la voz e influencia de los hispanos estadounidenses y esperamos continuar colaborando exitosamente en el futuro”, dijo Murguía.
Los premios de este año estuvieron copatrocinados por Amtrak, Ford Motor Company Fund, Southwest Airlines y UPS.

Congreso de Latinos Unidos, el Afiliado del Año del NCLR, ha sido miembro de la Red de Afiliados de NCLR desde 2000. Es una organización con sede en Filadelfia que provee múltiples servicios y se esfuerza por fortalecer a la comunidad latina a través de: servicios sociales, económicos, educativos y sanitarios; del desarrollo de liderazgo; y la defensa. Congreso, a través de su Centro de Salud Federalmente Calificado, la escuela pública Charter y sus otros programas innovadores, sirve a más de 14,000 personas únicas al año. Este enfoque integral de servicio a los individuos está ayudando a reducir la pobreza y promover la autosuficiencia económica, para asegurar que la población más vulnerable tenga la preparación educativa y las habilidades laborales necesarias para competir en la economía global. La organización se fundó en 1977 y ha pasado de ser una organización comunitaria a un proveedor reconocido de servicios de educación, empleo, salud y sociales de calidad a nivel nacional. Hoy, Congreso está clasificada como la 18va organización hispana no lucrativa más grande del país por la revista Hispanic Business y un excelente lugar de trabajo por el Philadelphia Inquirer por dos años consecutivos.

Mucho del éxito de Congreso se debe a su continuo énfasis en la responsabilidad y el compromiso para tener un impacto. Desde 2003, Congreso ha invertido en el desarrollo y el perfeccionamiento de un modelo innovador de estándares de prestación de servicios que se ha concentrado en la cultura de datos de la organización. A través de su modelo de gestión de clientes (PCM ™), Congreso promueve la autosuficiencia al abordar cada servicio centrándose en el cliente y de manera informada y culturalmente apropiada. Este innovador modelo es principalmente efectivo para integrar los múltiples servicios en toda la organización y reducir eficazmente las barreras y evitar la duplicidad de servicios. PCM ™ deliberadamente cambia el enfoque a relaciones con los clientes y no tan solo a la prestación de servicios para influir en los comportamientos que contribuyen a la graduación de la escuela preparatoria, a obtener un diploma de educación postsecundaria, a una mayor preparación para el trabajo, una mejor salud y un mayor bienestar de la familia.

Gloria Molina, ganadora del Premio Graciela Olivarez La Raza, es la primera latina en la historia que ha sido elegida a la Legislatura del Estado de California, al Consejo de la Ciudad de Los Angeles y a la Junta de Supervisores de Los Angeles. Es una verdadera historia de éxito de la era posterior a la de los derechos civiles y que simboliza el progreso social y político realizado por los hispanos estadounidenses en las últimas décadas. Molina, una de diez hijos criados en Pico Rivera, un suburbio de Los Angeles, llegó a la mayoría de edad en una época cuando las oportunidades se extendieron a los latinos en todo el país. Estudió en las escuelas y universidades públicas de California, y decidió dedicarse al servicio civil.

Al principio ayudó a notables políticos en la Asamblea del Estado de California, así como en la Casa Blanca, donde desempeño el puesto de Jefa del Gabinete del Presidente. También, fue la primera latina elegida para la Asamblea Estatal de California en 1982 y para el Consejo de la Ciudad de Los Angeles en 1987. Durante esta década, Molina se dio a conocer como una firme defensora de su distrito electoral, lo más memorable fue su oposición a la construcción de una prisión estatal en el este de Los Angeles. Al unirse al grupo comunitario Madres del Este de Los Angeles, organizó mítines con coaliciones y líderes públicos para garantizar que la prisión, una amenaza para el tejido de la comunidad, no se construyera. Hoy en día, sigue luchando por los miembros más vulnerables de su electorado, por ejemplo, ayudando a que cientos de personas sin hogar del área de Skid Row en Los Angeles tengan una vivienda permanente y supervisando la construcción de más de 1,100 viviendas asequibles.

Angélica Salas, beneficiaria del Premio al Liderazgo Maclovio Barraza de este año, ha estado durante mucho tiempo entre las figuras más destacadas que luchan continuamente por los derechos de los inmigrantes. Desde 1999 ha ocupado el puesto de directora ejecutiva de la Coalición por los Derechos Humanos de los Inmigrantes de Los Ángeles (CHIRLA), que se dedica a representar y defender los derechos civiles de los inmigrantes y refugiados. Salas, nombrada "Mujer del Año" en 2011 por la Asamblea del Estado de California y "Mujer de Excelencia" por la YWCA de Pasadena, ha dejado una huella innegable en la comunidad hispana. Ha dirigido numerosas campañas para ampliar los derechos y oportunidades de los inmigrantes en California, mediante la ampliación de la matrícula estatal para los estudiantes inmigrantes indocumentados, lo que permite a todos los californianos obtener una licencia de conducir y evitar que la policía local entregue a los inmigrantes indocumentados a las autoridades federales para su posible deportación.

Bajo el liderazgo de Salas, CHIRLA se ha transformado de una coalición de proveedores de servicios en una organización enfocada en la defensa y potenciación, enseñándole a los inmigrantes a defender sus derechos. Los centros de jornaleros de CHIRLA, que proporcionan educación y capacitación en liderazgo a los jornaleros que se congregan en las esquinas de Los Ángeles en busca de trabajo, son un modelo para el fortalecimiento del individuo que se está adoptando a nivel nacional. Actualmente con 14 centros de jornaleros activos, CHIRLA está fortaleciendo la capacidad de los trabajadores para trabajar con dignidad por un salario que les permita vivir y responder al trato injusto. La organización también fomenta una mayor participación cívica entre el electorado y ha registrado a decenas de miles de nuevos inmigrantes para votar. A nivel nacional, Salas es una clara y respetada defensora de la reforma de inmigración con el enfoque en la reunificación familiar. Con la formación de coaliciones entre organizaciones de trabajo, fe, educación y comunitarias, ha movilizado a millones de inmigrantes para exigir una reforma migratoria integral con un camino a la ciudadanía.

José Díaz-Balart, ganador del Premio de Comunicaciones Rubén Salazar de este año, es una de las voces más respetadas y con mayor experiencia en el periodismo de hoy. Ejemplifica el valor que tiene el punto de vista latino en la cobertura de noticias nacionales. Los espectadores lo conocen como un reportero experto y confiable que les informa de lunes a viernes en la cadena MSNBC. Es presentador de Noticiero Telemundo y del programa Enfoque con José Díaz-Balart, un programa de habla hispana sobre asuntos actuales de la cadena. Es el primer y único periodista en EE.UU. que ha presentado noticiarios tanto en inglés como en español en dos redes nacionales por más de una semana, y también lo hizo en el mismo día durante una temporada completa. Es también uno de los pocos periodistas que puede hacer traducciones simultáneas en entrevistas en vivo.

En 1996 no fue la primera vez que hizo historia como periodista. Díaz-Balart llegó a ser el primer presentador cubanoamericano de un noticiero de una cadena de televisión al convertirse en el reportero de This Morning de CBS. La carrera pionera de Díaz-Balart supera las barreras entre el idioma inglés y el español en la cobertura de noticias, en un momento en el que el NCLR y otras organizaciones latinas se hicieron oír sobre el poder político de la comunidad latina. Sus entrevistas y el ángulo de la historia ayudó a sus espectadores a mantenerse informados sobre temas complejos. Al mismo tiempo, sus reportajes de alta calidad mostraron que los hispanos estadounidenses en los Estados Unidos son más que un bloque monolítico de votantes de un solo tema. Durante la temporada de elecciones de EE.UU. en 2012, llevó a cabo entrevistas individuales con los dos candidatos, el presidente Barack Obama y el gobernador Mitt Romney –un testimonio de la influencia de Díaz-Balart como periodista y el reconocimiento de la importancia de los latinos en una carrera presidencial. Su servicio cívico y de filantropía se centra en la educación y el mejoramiento de la comunidad latina.

El Premio de Excelencia en el Deporte Roberto Clemente fue para el exjugador de los Dodgers de Los Angeles, Manny Mota. Generaciones de fanáticos del béisbol de California y de todo el país conocen a Mota por sus ilustres 13 temporadas como jardinero y 33 temporadas como entrenador, el mayor tiempo en la historia de los Dodgers. Los fanáticos de habla hispana también conocen su voz y experiencia desde el 2010 por las emisiones en español, que se extendieron a SportsNet LA esta temporada. Mota comenzó a jugar a los 19 años y con los Dodgers de Los Ángeles en 1969. Se convirtió en el primer bateador emergente, bateando más de 300 durante las próximas cinco temporadas. En 1973, fue seleccionado para el equipo del Juego de Estrellas de la Liga Nacional después de liderar la liga en promedio de bateo. Jugó en tres partidos de la Serie Mundial antes de regresar a su cuarto como entrenador en 1981. En ese momento, tenía el récord de las Grandes Ligas de todos los tiempos en pinch hits. Pero la excelencia de Mota dentro y fuera del campo como jugador de los Dodgers de Los Ángeles es sólo una parte de una distinguida carrera en la que ha dado a los que le rodean.

Hace más de 30 años con su esposa, Margarita, Mota fundó la Fundación Internacional Manny Mota. La misión de la fundación es brindar oportunidades de educación, salud y recreación a los jóvenes menos privilegiados y desfavorecidos. En las clínicas de béisbol Manny Mota se les enseña a los jóvenes a tener cuerpos y mentes sanos a través de modelos de conducta positivos y autodisciplina mediante el deporte. La fundación también provee las herramientas necesarias a las comunidades para que mejoren y sean autosuficientes. Desde 1992, se lleva a cabo un evento anual de recaudación de fondos llamado Banquete de Premiación Campo de Sueños (Field of Dreams). Las ganancias de este evento financian una gran parte de sus programas humanitarios. El trabajo desinteresado de Mota y de su familia, ha recibido numerosos honores. Mota y su familia fueron galardonados con el Premio Boone Ray como la "Familia del Año del Béisbol" por la Fundación de Scouts de Béisbol Profesional. Fueron honrados en el Ayuntamiento de Los Ángeles en 2004 por el concejal Ed Reyes y el presidente del Consejo Alex Padilla de la misma ciudad. Mota, un dominicano orgulloso, por su extensa carrera fue incluido en el Museo de la Herencia Hispana del Béisbol durante las ceremonias previas al partido en el Estadio Dodger en 2003. También recibió el Deportista Meritorio, un premio por su trayectoria en honor a su carrera como beisbolista y ciudadanía.

El Premio del Presidente Raúl Yzaguirre fue dado a Eva Longoria, quien ha apoyado por muchos años al NCLR. Su trabajo ha sido fundamental para ayudar a cumplir la misión del NCLR de educar al público estadounidense sobre las contribuciones y la mejora de la imagen de la comunidad latina en Hollywood. Los seguidores de los Premios ALMA® del NCLR reconocerán a Longoria como la efervescente anfitriona y productora ejecutiva, pero su compromiso con el programa es mucho más profundo que eso. Su singular enfoque y compromiso personal fue lo que convenció a la cadena ABC para transmitir los Premios ALMA, el único programa en inglés a nivel nacional en horario estelar que celebra las contribuciones de los latinos en la industria del entretenimiento y los medios de comunicación.

El trabajo de Longoria incluye en gran medida el servicio a su comunidad. La Fundación Eva Longoria, establecida en 2012, ayuda a las mujeres latinas a tener acceso a recursos y oportunidades que les ayuden a construir un mejor futuro para ellas y sus familias mediante la educación y el espíritu empresarial. También cofundó Héroes de Eva, una organización dedicada a enriquecer la vida de las personas con necesidades intelectuales especiales. Esta organización proporciona un ambiente inclusivo basado en cuatro principios: interactuar, crecer, aprender y amar. Con sede en San Antonio, Texas, la organización ayuda a los adolescentes y adultos jóvenes con necesidades especiales a integrarse y prosperar en la sociedad. Como siempre, Eva, la filántropa, es portavoz de Padres Contra el Cáncer, una organización no lucrativa dedicada a mejorar la calidad de vida de los niños latinos con cáncer y sus familias. Padres es el único programa para latinos en los Estados Unidos que se enfoca en abordar las necesidades de toda la familia. Longoria también se ha unido al filántropo Warren Buffett, recientemente se asociaron con Acción de Texas para crear un nuevo fondo para pequeñas empresas para ayudar a las empresarias latinas de Texas. Desde 2013, el fondo ha otorgado 58 microcréditos por un total de más de $500,000.

Longoria utiliza su éxito en la pantalla como una plataforma para compartir las fortalezas y los desafíos que enfrentan los latinos. Fue nombrada, por el presidente y el Congreso en una votación bipartidista, Comisionada del Museo Nacional de los Latinos Estadounidenses. El futuro museo tendrá como objetivo educar, inspirar y fomentar el respeto y el entendimiento de la riqueza y la diversidad de las experiencias que viven los latinos estadounidenses en Estados Unidos y sus territorios, destacando las aportaciones que los líderes, pioneros y comunidades latinos han hecho al estilo de vida estadounidense.

Longoria también ha servido como copresidente de la campaña nacional de reelección del presidente Obama y hablado en la Convención Nacional Demócrata de 2012. Un componente fundamental de la elección del presidente, ella ayudó para que el presidente Obama recibiera el 73 % del voto latino. Además, Longoria es productora ejecutiva de los documentales Harvest and Food Chains (Cosecha y Cadena Alimentaria) que se enfocan en las condiciones de trabajo y explotación de los trabajadores agrícolas migrantes, muchos de los cuales son niños y no se benefician de la protección de la Ley de Normas Razonables de Trabajo. Su tercer documental, Our Time (Nuestro Tiempo), explora el poder del voto latino.

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.

###
 

Para Distribución Inmediata                                                                  Contactos: Véanse al final
28 de julio de 2014

La Publicación de las Tarjetas de Evaluación Nacional de Inmigración 2014 muestra los fracasos del Congreso y el rechazo de las comunidades inmigrantes www.mifamiliavota.org - www.immigrationscores.com - Twitter: #CIRScores

W.ASHINGTON, D.C. – Grupos nacionales latinos, asiático americanos e isleños del pacifico, así como líderes laborales y evangélicos han anunciado una alianza y una iniciativa de participación cívica sin precedentes, comenzando con el lanzamiento de las Tarjetas de Evaluación Nacional de Inmigración 2014 que demuestran como el Congreso ha fallado en lo referente al tema de la reforma migratoria.

“Después de las elecciones de 2012, el Congreso realizó varias promesas para la promulgación de una reforma migratoria. Sin embargo, la oposición por parte de extremistas antiinmigrantes convirtió esas promesas en puños cerrados golpeando mordazmente los intentos para una reforma migratoria así como a las familias de inmigrantes,” dijeron en una declaración los 10 líderes nacionales comunitarios, de derechos civiles y de fe conjunta el lunes. “El Congreso puede tratar de ignorarnos a nosotros y al tema migratorio, pero nosotros no lo haremos.”

En medio de una crisis migratoria nacional y un vacío vergonzoso de liderazgo en el Capitolio de los EE.UU, “En ningún lado es más palpable el enojo y la decepción hacia el Congreso que en las comunidades Latinas, asiático americanas, isleños del pacífico e inmigrantes que sufren día a día de las consecuencias del fracaso del Congreso en remediar el sistema migratorio disfuncional e inmoral, “declararon los defensores de la reforma migratoria.

En respuesta, líderes nacionales han emprendido una amplia iniciativa de participación cívica que incluye la distribución nacional de la primerísima Tarjeta de Evaluación Nacional de Inmigración 2014 que muestra como el Congreso fracasó en la reforma migratoria al rehusarse a presentar en el pleno de la Cámara de Representantes un proyecto de ley integral, y hacer un llamado a votaciones antiinmigrantes, tales como la terminación inmediata del programa de DACA y la deportación de los SOÑADORES. Las puntuaciones se encuentran basadas en las tabulaciones de las votaciones y acciones relacionadas con inmigración incluyendo el copatrocinio de proyectos de ley que incluyen un camino hacia la ciudadanía y la reunificación familiar por medio de una reforma de visas.*

El informe muestra también como las puntuaciones de varios miembros fueron derribadas por la negativa de los líderes de presentar en el pleno una legislación migratoria que hubiese podido ser aprobada en la Cámara de Representantes.

“La Tarjeta de Evaluación Nacional de Inmigración 2014 no deja duda acerca de quien apoyó una reforma migratoria y quien trabajó en contra de nosotros,” de acuerdo a la declaración conjunta. “El pueblo estadounidense apoya una reforma migratoria y se unirán a nosotros para enviar una señal clara e inequívoca a Washington: La inacción del Congreso alimenta nuestra acción. El tiempo para que nuestras comunidades participen es ahora.”

###

* La puntuación se basó en las votaciones y/o acciones de los miembros en el Acta de Seguridad Fronteriza, Oportunidad Económica, y Modernización Migratoria (H.R. 15); Petición de Descarga de 15; la Enmienda King al Acta de Apropiación del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional FY 2014 (H.R. 2217); Acta de APLICACIÓN de la Ley de 2014 (H.R. 4138); Acta de Fiel Ejecución de la Ley de 2014 (H.R. 3973); Enmienda Nadler del Acta de APLICACIÓN de 2014 (H.R. 4138); Enmienda Deutch al Acta de Apropiación del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional FY 2014 (H.R. 2217); Acta de Reunificación Familiar (H.R. 717); Enmienda King al Acta de Apropiación de Comercio, Justicia, Ciencia y Agencias Relacionadas de 2015 (H.R. 4660); Declaraciones en Apoyo a un Camino hacia la Ciudadanía; Declaración en Apoyo a la Unidad Familiar (reduciendo el retraso en las visas para reunificar a las familias.)

Contactos:
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 Education Fund: Gebe Martinez gebem@mifamiliavota.org, 703-731-9505
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                                                 Contacts:
July 28, 2014                                                                         See below

Release of 2014 National Immigration Score Card showing Congress’ failures and rejection of immigrant communities:
www.immigrationscores.com - Twitter: #CIRScores

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- National Latino and Asian American and Pacific Islander groups as well as labor and Evangelical leaders have announced an unprecedented alliance and civic engagement initiative, beginning with release of the 2014 National Immigration Score Card that shows how Congress failed on the issue of immigration reform.

“After the 2012 election, Congress held out handfuls of pledges to enact immigration reform. However, opposition from anti-immigration extremists turned those hands into balled up fists, delivering stinging blows to the push for reform and immigrant families,” the 10 national community, civil rights and faith leaders said in a joint statement released Monday. “Congress may try to ignore us and the immigration issue, but we will not.”

In the midst of a national immigration crisis and a shameful leadership vacuum on Capitol Hill, “Nowhere is the anger and disappointment with Congress more palpable than in the Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander and immigrant communities that suffer daily from the consequences of Congress’ failure to remedy the broken and immoral immigration system,” the immigration reform advocates stated.

In response, the national leaders have embarked on a broad civic engagement initiative that includes national distribution of the first-ever 2014 National Immigration Score Card that shows how Congress failed on immigration reform by refusing to bring a broad bill to the House floor, yet calling for anti-immigrant votes, such as immediately ending the DACA program and deporting DREAMers. The scores are based on tabulations of immigration related votes and actions including cosponsorship of reform bills that include a path to citizenship and family reunification through visa reform.*

The report also shows how the scores of several members were knocked down by leaders’ refusal to bring to the floor immigration legislation that could have passed the House.

“The 2014 National Immigration Score Card leaves no doubt who supported immigration reform and who worked against us,” according to the joint statement. “The American people support immigration reform and they will join us in sending a clear and unmistakable signal to Washington: Congress’ inaction fuels our action. The time is now for our communities to get engaged.”

###

* Scoring was based on members’ votes or actions on Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (H.R. 15); Discharge Petition to H.R. 15; King Amendment to the FY 2014 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 2217); ENFORCE the Law Act of 2014 (H.R. 4138); Faithful Execution of the Law Act of 2014 (H.R. 3973); Nadler Amendment to the ENFORCE Act of 2014 (H.R. 4138); Deutch Amendment to the FY2014 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 2217); Reuniting Families Act (H.R. 717); King Amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2015 (H.R. 4660); Statement in Support of Path to Citizenship; Statement in Support of Family Unity (by reducing visa backlogs to reunite families.)

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 Education Fund: Gebe Martinez, gebem@mifamiliavota.org, 703-731-9505
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:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org

NCLR is pleased that final food safety rule will not allow chicken processing plants to speed up production lines

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a final regulation on food safety inspection in U.S. poultry processing plants. As a result of more than two years of intense advocacy by workers, civil rights leaders and consumer voices, including NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the final rule will not allow poultry companies to speed up chicken production lines. The proposed rule would have allowed poultry companies to speed up production from 140 to 175 birds per minute—a 25 percent increase—in exchange for adopting new food safety measures. Line speed is a major factor in the high rate of traumatic injuries among poultry workers, more than one-third of whom are Latino.

“Responding to a key concern raised by the courageous poultry workers who exposed the human cost of bringing chicken to our dinner plates, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Secretary of Labor Tom Perez today took an important step to prioritize worker safety,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “Although life-altering injuries are already far too widespread among this workforce, I am proud to say that the collective efforts of tireless advocates helped the administration prevent a bad situation from becoming worse.”

While the final rule does not allow for accelerated line speed in chicken production plants, it allows turkey production plants, about 30 nationwide, to process an additional four birds per minute. The rule does call for increased collaboration between the USDA, the U.S. Department of Labor and other agencies to advance worker safety. However, poultry workers have no industry-specific enforceable standards on occupational injury and illness.

“In order to truly modernize the poultry industry, there must be standards in place to keep workers safe and healthy on the job. NCLR looks forward to collaborating with the USDA, the U.S. Department of Labor and other federal agencies to vigorously improve working conditions in the poultry industry,” Murguía concluded.

###
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                       Contact:
August 1, 2014                                                           Julian Teixeira
                                                                                 (202) 776-1812
                                                                                 jteixeira@nclr.org

NCLR CONDEMNS HOUSE REPUBLICAN IMMIGRATION DISGRACE

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Tonight NCLR (National Council of La Raza) denounced the House of Representatives’ GOP votes on the border emergency and DREAMers as abhorrent.

“It was an embarrassing and shameful display by people who are refusing to do their job and help the country,” noted Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “The House Republican Caucus today voted to send a message to the president and their constituents, but they also sent a message to America that we hear loud and clear: House Republicans are not interested in solving the immigration crisis and boosting the economy, they do not care about the plight of children and they do not want the Latino vote. That is the only conclusion we can make after Speaker John Boehner once again ceded control of this issue to the most extreme of the extremists in his party and passed legislation that cements the House’s obvious goal of making things much worse for everyone. It is appalling that this legislation only passed when the extremists decided it inflicted enough damage on immigrants and others in our community,” Murguía stated.

“As I said last week at the 2014 NCLR Annual Conference, what Speaker Boehner has done, or more accurately has not done, on immigration is a clear dereliction of duty. He had numerous options, and he opted for the worst one: cowering and kowtowing once again to Steve King, Michele Bachmann and their allies in the hate-fueled anti-immigrant movement. John Boehner’s continued lack of courage will not only be his legacy as an ineffectual Speaker of the House but also harm the country he purports to love,” Murguía continued.

“And what the extremists have done with their power is unconscionable. Taking advantage of this situation to both block comprehensive immigration reform and undo programs that have nothing to do with what is happening at the border is just one more reason why the political future of the Republican Party in today’s America is decidedly bleak. I want to reiterate that fear-mongering and scapegoating isn’t going to get the Latino vote. Putting National Guard troops to confront children seeking refuge and enabling armed militiamen at the border isn’t going to get our vote. Repealing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and refusing to act on comprehensive immigration reform isn’t going to get our vote,” Murguía declared.

“Given the extremists in charge in the House, the willful neglect of the House leadership and the failure to even consider constructive solutions, President Obama is right to act and fix as much of our broken immigration system as he can through executive 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.

###

PARA DIVULGACIÓN INMEDIATA

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

EL USDA Y DOL DAN PRIORIDAD A LA SEGURIDAD DE TRABAJADORES AVÍCOLAS ENCIMA DE LA RAPIDEZ DE PRODUCCIÓN
NCLR satisfecho que la nueva regla de seguridad alimenticia no permitirá la aceleración de líneas de producción en plantas que procesan productos avícolas

Hoy, el Departamento de Agricultura (USDA), emitió una regulación sobre la seguridad alimenticia y la inspección de productos alimenticios en las plantas que procesan productos avícolas. Como resultado de más de dos años de intensa abogacía por parte de trabajadores, los consumidores, y líderes de grupos de los derechos civiles, como el NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza por sus siglas en inglés), esta última regulación no permitirá que las compañías avícolas incrementen la rapidez de sus líneas de producción. La regla que fue propuesta hubiera permitido un incremento en producción de 140 pollos a 175 pollos por minuto—representando un aumento de 25 por ciento—en cambio de adoptar nuevas medidas de seguridad alimenticia. La rapidez en líneas de producción es responsable por un mayor número de lesiones traumáticas entre los trabajadores de estas plantas, donde más de un tercio de ellos son latinos.

“Respondiendo a las preocupaciones de los valientes trabajadores avícolas que expusieron el costo humano de traer al pollo a nuestras mesas, el Secretario de Agricultura Tom Vilsack y Secretario del Trabajo Tom Perez hoy tomaron un paso muy importante para asegurar la seguridad de los trabajadores,” dijo Janet Murguía, Presidenta y Gerente General del NCLR. “Aunque ya estas heridas graves son demasiadas comunes entre esta fuerza laboral, me enorgullece decir que los esfuerzos colectivos de los incasables líderes comunitarios ayudo a que la administración previniera que esta situación se deteriorara aun más.”

Mientas que esta última regulación no permite el incremento en la rapidez de las líneas de producción, no amplia las protecciones para los trabajadores en este sector. Los trabajadores avícolas no tienen protecciones específicas para este sector de trabajo que ayuda a prevenir accidentes y enfermedades vinculadas específicamente con esta industria.

“Para realmente modernizar la industria avícola, necesitamos estándares que mantienen a nuestros trabajadores seguros y saludables. El NCLR esta ansioso de colaborar con el USDA y el Departamento del Trabajo para mejorar las condiciones de los trabajadores en la industria avícola,” concluyó Murguía.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                  Contact:
April 3, 2014                                                                                          Catherine Brady
                                                                                                              (617) 945-9316; catherine@jpa.com
                                                                                                              Kathy Mimberg
                                                                                                              (202) 776-1714; kmimberg@nclr.org

Peer approach outlined in Affordable Care Act can improve quality of care and reduce costs

LEAWOOD, Kan. and WASHINGTON, D.C.—Just as seven million Americans obtain health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Peers for Progress and NCLR (National Council of La Raza) today released a report that examines how peer support programs improve health outcomes by boosting outreach and education for disease prevention and management. The report, “Peer Support in Health – Evidence to Action,” is a guide for health care organizations developing peer support programs that will help people with health problems live healthier lives. Peer support programs are located throughout the U.S. and are included in the ACA as a way to improve health care quality and reduce costs. 

The report summarizes findings from the first annual conference of the National Peer Support Collaborative Learning Network. The conference, under the leadership of Peers for Progress, a program of the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation, and NCLR, convened leaders in health care and peer support to discuss current strengths and future needs in the field.

“We are proud of this report and our work with NCLR to advance an important model of care that makes a difference in the lives of patients,” said Edwin Fisher, Ph.D., Global Director for Peers for Progress. “As state and local communities implement the ACA’s provisions and face a marked increase in the number of patients, peer support programs will be fundamental to success. We must ensure that peer support programs are reimbursed and available to all.”

Peer support programs hold great promise to help people lead healthier, more satisfying lives and achieve the goals of health reform. As the report documents, these programs have quantifiable success in improving the quality of care, lowering costs and reducing health disparities. They help individuals prevent and improve the management of disease through engagement and particularly benefit populations, such as low income groups, that other programs fail to reach. Included in the report is a review of 14 programs for adults with diabetes that demonstrated an average reduction in a key measure of blood sugar control, HbA1c, of 0.86 points, a marked improvement over the 0.50 point reduction that is considered clinically significant.

“Peer support programs are critical to improved health. The promotores de salud model, which prepares lay health educators for community outreach, has proven effective in helping Latinos get access to health care and make lifestyle changes to curb the rising rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity,” said A. Manuela McDonough, MPH, CPH, Associate Director of NCLR’s Institute for Hispanic Health (IHH). “We expect that our health care system will increasingly rely on peer supporters, like the promotores, to fully engage with underserved communities and help improve health and overall well-being.”

The Latino community can particularly benefit from the health and wellness messages distributed through peer support programs. Nearly 80 percent of Hispanics are overweight and almost 40 percent are obese, risk factors that contribute to a high rate of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

As shown by Peers for Progress, effective peer support programs assist patients in daily self-care, link patients to appropriate clinical and community resources and provide ongoing social and emotional support. The inaugural report provides insights across multiple programs with approaches for scaling up and maintaining comprehensive, versatile peer support programs for populations. The report is available at http://bit.ly/1fMOkpz.

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. 

About 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 us on Facebook and Twitter.

###
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Earlier today, Democrats in the House of Representatives launched a discharge petition to advance bipartisan immigration legislation in the House. The petition comes after failure from House Republican leadership to bring long-awaited immigration reform legislation forward, despite broad-based support from the American public. NCLR (National Council of La Raza) applauds House Democrats for continuing to push for a vote.

“When it comes to immigration reform, House Republican leadership isn’t doing any leading at all; they remain the biggest roadblock to Congress delivering a permanent solution that will bring order and stability to our immigration system, and economic growth to our country,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “It is time for the coalition of the willing to step forward. Our community demands relief from the humanitarian crisis caused by deportations, and we will remember who intervened to resolve it. House Republican leadership is not fooling Latino voters. By stalling on legislation, they are directly contributing to this crisis. They have a chance to move forward, or they will lose the Latino vote 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:
Camila Gallardo
(305) 215-4259
cgallardo@nclr.org

PRESS CONFERENCE

NCLR PARTNERS WITH SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO RELEASE REPORT ON EFFECTS OF MEDICAID GAP ON TEXAS

SAN ANTONIO—On Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 1:15 p.m., NCLR (National Council of La Raza), and the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce will hold a press conference to release findings of an NCLR issue brief, “Closing the Health Care Coverage Gap in Texas: A Latino Perspective.” Latinos comprise about 50 percent of the state’s uninsured population. While the implementation of the Affordable Care Act is helping Latinos bridge this coverage gap by offering a variety of options through the Health Insurance Marketplace, many are still not able to afford or qualify for these options. With more than six million uninsured, Texas has the highest rate of uninsured people in the United States. Expanding Medicaid would have allowed for more than one million Texans to access care. Texas’ decision to opt out of Medicaid expansion means a significant number of the state’s residents—including almost 600,000 Latinos—will not qualify for coverage through the Medicaid program.

Latinos comprise a significant portion of the Texas’ labor force; 10 million Latinos reside in the state, the second-largest Hispanic population in the country. Health coverage expansion is critical to the state’s economic growth: Coverage helps ensure a healthy and robust labor force while reducing high-cost expenditures that come as a result of seeking emergency medical treatment.

Press wishing to attend should RSVP to Camila Gallardo at cgallardo@nclr.org or (305) 215-4259.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHO:

• Ramiro Cavazos, President and CEO of San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Leticia de la Vara, Senior Strategist, Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation,
• NCLR
• Dr. Esteban Lopez, President, San Antonio Region Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas

WHAT:      Issue Brief Release: “Closing the Health Care Coverage Gap in Texas: A Latino Perspective”

WHEN:     Tuesday, August 19, 2014
                  1:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

WHERE:   Univision 41 San Antonio Studios
                  12431 Network Blvd. Suite 140
                  San Antonio, TX 78249

###

PARA DIVULGACIÓN INMEDIATA

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

CONFERENCIA DE PRENSA

NCLR SE UNE A LA CAMARA DE COMERCIO HISPANA DE SAN ANTONIO PARA DIVULGAR REPORTE SOBRE LOS EFECTOS DEL RECHAZO A LA EXPANSION DE MEDICAID EN TEXAS

SAN ANTONIO—El martes, 19 de agosto, 2014 a las 1:15p.m., el Consejo Nacional de La Raza (NCLR por sus siglas en ingles) y la Cámara de Comercio Hispana de San Antonio, patrocinaran una conferencia de prensa para anunciar los hallazgos de un reporte hecho por el NCLR, titulado: Cerrando la Brecha de Cobertura Médica en Texas: Una Perspectiva Latina.” Los hispanos representan un 50 por ciento de los desasegurados en el estado de Texas. Mientras que la Ley de Cuidado de Salud Asequible (ACA por sus siglas en ingles) ha ayudado a cerrar esta brecha de cobertura a través de las opciones a planes de seguro disponibles en el Mercado de Seguro, muchos aun no califican o no tienen los recursos para comprar esa cobertura tan necesaria. Con más de seis millones de personas sin seguro médico, el estado de Texas tiene la tasa más alta de personas desaseguradas en los estados unidos. Expandir el programa de Medicaid hubiese permitido que más de un millón de tejanos tuvieran acceso a cuidado médico La decisión del estado de rechazar la expansión del programa de Medicaid significa que muchos de los residentes del estado---incluyendo casi 600,000 latinos—no calificaran para cobertura a través de ese programa.

Los latinos representan una parte significativa de la fuerza laboral de Texas; 10 millones de latinos viven en el estado, la segunda población más grande de hispanos en el pais. La cobertura médica es necesaria para ayudar el crecimiento de la economía en el estado. El seguro medico permite tener una fuerza laboral más saludable mientras que reduce los costos altos que resultan cuando las personas tienen que acudir a servicios de emergencia médica.

Prensa que quiera asistir al evento debe de confirmar su asistencia a Camila Gallardo al cgallardo@nclr.org o (305) 215-4259.

AVISO A LA PRENSA

QUIÉN:

• Ramiro Cavazos, President and CEO of San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Leticia de la Vara, Senior Strategist, Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation,
• NCLR
• Dr. Esteban Lopez, President, San Antonio Region Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas

QUÉ:          Divulgación de Reporte: “Cerrando la Brecha de Cobertura Médica en Texas: Una Perspectiva Latina”

CUÁNDO:  Martes, 19 de agosto, 2014
                    1:15 p.m. a 1:45 p.m.

DÓNDE:     Univision 41 San Antonio Studios
                    12431 Network Blvd. Suite 140
                    San Antonio, TX 78249

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Two years ago today, the Obama administration began implementation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an initiative to grant temporary relief to undocumented youth who have grown up in the United States. Despite ongoing attacks from anti-immigrant extremists, the program—which has approved more than half a million applicants on a case-by-case basis—retains the support of the majority of Americans.

“Over the past two years, DACA has had resounding success, enabling hundreds of thousands of DREAMers to continue pursuing their educational and professional ambitions without the fear of deportation,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR (National Council of La Raza). “For these hardworking young people who have grown up in the United States, attending school and working in this country, DACA has kept the promise of the American Dream alive and has allowed our nation to fully benefit from their talents and contributions.”

“When the president chose to use his executive authority two years ago, it was in the face of obstinacy from lawmakers in Congress who refused to pass the DREAM Act,” Murguía continued. “As the recent shameful set of votes in the House of Representatives indicates, we are again at a similar impasse on Capitol Hill, with these same lawmakers now digging in their heels as opposed to working toward a solution to fix our broken immigration system. Now more than ever, we need President Obama to exercise a legitimate use of his executive authority to expand relief and limit senseless deportations in order to keep hardworking aspiring Americans together with their families.”

###
 

PARA DIVULGACIÓN INMEDIATA

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

Hoy hace dos años que la administración Obama empezó con la implementación del programa Acción Diferida para los Jóvenes Llegados en la Infancia (DACA, por sus siglas en inglés), una iniciativa que otorga protección temporal a los jóvenes indocumentados que han crecido en este país. A pesar de los continuos ataques de los extremistas antiinmigrantes, el programa –que ha aprobado caso por caso a más de medio millón de solicitantes– tiene el apoyo de la mayoría de los estadounidenses.

“En los últimos dos años, DACA ha sido un rotundo éxito, permitiendo que cientos de miles de jóvenes continúen estudiando y persiguiendo sus sueños profesionales sin miedo a ser deportados”, dijo Janet Murguía, presidenta y directora general del NCLR (Consejo Nacional de La Raza). “Para estos jóvenes trabajadores que han crecido en Estados Unidos, asistiendo a la escuela y trabajando en este país, DACA ha mantenido viva la promesa del sueño americano y ha permitido que nuestro país se beneficie completamente de su talento y aportaciones”.

“Cuando el presidente utilizó su poder ejecutivo hace dos años, fue frente a la obstinación de los legisladores del Congreso que rechazaron la autorización de la Ley DREAM”, continuó Murguía. “Como muestra la vergonzosa votación reciente en la Cámara de Representantes, estamos de nuevo en un callejón sin salida en el Capitolio, con los mismos legisladores intransigentes oponiéndose a trabajar por una solución que arregle nuestro sistema disfuncional de inmigración. Ahora más que nunca, necesitamos que el presidente Obama ejercite su poder ejecutivo para ampliar la ayuda y limitar las deportaciones innecesarias para que estos estadounidenses trabajadores y con aspiraciones, se queden con sus familias”.

###