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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Camila Gallardo
(305) 215-4259
cgallardo@nclr.org
NCLR Conference Press Office:
(504) 670-5602
NEW ORLEANS HOSTS 2013 NCLR ANNUAL CONFERENCE FEATURING FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA, NATIONAL LEADERS AND DYNAMIC NATIONAL LATINO FAMILY EXPO
Special guests include Senator Mary Landrieu, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, actress and activist Eva Longoria, National Urban League President and former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, baseball legend Minnie Miñoso, Latina screen star Rita Moreno and many more
The Crescent City will play host to the 2013 NCLR Annual Conference, kicking off on July 20 with the NCLR National Latino Family Expo and culminating on July 23 with a special keynote address from First Lady Michelle Obama and the NCLR Awards Gala. Latino leaders from across the U.S. will join prominent national figures from the private, government and nonprofit sectors at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for the annual gathering, which addresses critical issues in the Latino community, highlights its accomplishments and provides a dynamic, interactive experience aimed at Latino consumers.
The Conference will offer more than 40 workshops and three town halls, which are free and open to the public and tackle a wide range of issues including health care, education, immigration, personal finance and workforce development, among many others. Meal and evening events require tickets; the general public can register for ticketed events on site at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, located at 900 Convention Center Blvd., New Orleans, La. 70130. Members of the news media can register early online or on site at the NCLR Press Room.
A free NCLR mobile app provides exclusive content, promotions, prizes and navigation tools to help users guide their way through the Conference and Expo. Beginning July 19, the NCLR press team can be reached on site at (504) 670-5602 and in Room 204–205 of the convention center for the duration of the Conference. The latest information is available on Twitter using #NCLR13.
NCLR will host dynamic and informative activities during the Annual Conference. Here are just a few of the highlights you can expect:
Friday, July 19
9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Líderes Community Service Project
316 Salcedo Street
New Orleans, La. 70119
Hundreds of Latino youth who will gather in New Orleans for the NCLR Líderes Summit—held July 19–22 as part of the NCLR Annual Conference—will partner with local youth from the nonprofit organization Youth Rebuilding New Orleans to help renovate a distressed home. This organization rebuilds distressed and foreclosed homes in New Orleans which, when completed, are sold to teachers to help stabilize neighborhoods and have a positive impact on the education system.
Saturday, July 20
9:00–10:30 a.m. WORKSHOP
The New Crescent City, After the Storm: Rebuilding, Recovering, and Revitalizing
Room 227
Seven years after the levees broke, New Orleans continues its comeback journey. Discover how the city has changed and how it has been able to preserve its rich culture and colorful flair. Moderator: Mikel Schaefer, News Director, WVUE-TV Fox 8 New Orleans. Panelists: Beth Fussel, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Washington State University; Luz Molina, J.D., Jack Nelson Distinguished Professor of Law, College of Law, Loyola University New Orleans; Martin O. Gutierrez, Vice President, Community Services Ministry, Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans; Timolynn Sams, Executive Director, Neighborhoods Partnership Network.
Noon NATIONAL AFFILIATE LUNCHEON
The Great Hall
Emcee: Azucena Diaz, News Anchor, Telemundo 42. Affiliate Roll Call: Sonia M. Pérez, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, NCLR; Victor Leandry, Chair, NCLR Affiliate Council. Welcome Remarks: Hon. Mary L. Landrieu, U.S. Senator for Louisiana; Hon. Mitchell J. Landrieu, Mayor, City of New Orleans. Welcome and Introductory Remarks: Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. Keynote Speaker: Former Mayor of New Orleans and current President and CEO of the National Urban League, Marc H. Morial. Awards Presentation: Jorge Plasencia, Chair, NCLR Board of Directors. Featured Speaker: Jay Timmons, President and CEO, National Association of Manufacturers.
3:00–4:30 p.m. TOWN HALL
Beyond Immigration Reform: Education as the Catalyst for Integration
Riverside Rooms RO2–RO4
The United States could soon have a much-awaited comprehensive immigration reform, providing the opportunity to legalize millions of immigrants in our nation. Schools will play an integral part along with community-based organizations, government programs and private entities to help prospective citizens on their road to naturalization.
Moderator: José Díaz-Balart, News Anchor, Noticiero Telemundo. Panelists: Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO; Eva Longoria, Actress and Activist; Dr. Marcelo-Suarez Orozco, Dean, UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies; Reyna Hernandez, Assistant Superintendent, Center for Language and Early Child Development, Illinois State Board of Education; Cecilia Muñoz, Director, White House Domestic Policy Council; Gina Pupo Walker, Parent Coordinator, Nashville Public Schools and Board Member, Conexión Américas.
Sunday, July 21
9:00–10:30 a.m. WORKSHOP
Conversation on Crime and Safety in the Latino Community: Philadelphia and New Orleans
Room 222
Learn how a handful of simple tools and community-based strategies along with true cultural awareness can help Latino communities improve relations with law enforcement and take ownership of their own neighborhoods.
Moderator: Rick Olmos, Senior Director of Communications and External Affairs, Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM). Panelists: Eva Hurst-San Martin, Community Liaison and Language Access Advocate; Honorable Nelson Diaz (Ret.), Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas; Rose Gray, Senior Vice President, Community and Economic Development, APM; Nilda Ruiz, President and CEO, APM; Officer Janssen Valencia, Hispanic Liaison, “El Protector” program, New Orleans Police Department; Salvador Longoria, Board Chair, Puentes New Orleans.
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. LATINAS BRUNCH
Juntas Alcanzamos: Together We Rise
The Great Hall
Emcee: Giselle Fernandez, NCLR Board of Directors. Welcome Remarks: Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. Featured Speaker: Maria Celeste Arrarás, Al Rojo Vivo, Telemundo. Keynote Speaker: Rita Moreno, Actress and Entertainer.
1:30–3:00 p.m. WORKSHOP
Latinos and the ACA: Fighting for the Healthiest Generation
With full implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), nine million Latinos in the U.S. will be eligible for health coverage and opportunities for benefits through state and federal programs—how do we get them the information they need to get on the road to better health?
Opening Remarks: Karen Carter Peterson, Louisiana State Senator, District 5. Moderator: Vanessa Gonzalez-Plumhoff, Director of Latino Leadership and Engagement, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Panelists: Teresa Niño, Director of the Office of Public Engagement, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Yvonne Gutierrez, Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Inc.; Alana Sutherland, Health Program Coordinator, League of United Latin American Citizens; Ashley Allison, J.D., M.Ed., Director of Constituency Engagement, Enroll America.
Monday, July 22
9:00–10:30 a.m. WORKSHOP
Avoiding Housing Discrimination in Immigration Reform
Room 227
Each year, more than four million incidents of housing discrimination occur nationally, and recent state and local legislation—which seeks to address immigration-related issues—may be putting Hispanic families at risk of increased levels of discrimination. Families impacted by federal immigration reform may be in transition, making it essential to learn more about the types of housing discrimination that Latinos could be subjected to. In addition, NCLR will release new fair housing testing data from three southern cities.
Moderator: Lindsay Daniels, Deputy Director of Housing and Wealth-Building Initiatives, NCLR. Panelists: Don Kahl, Executive Director, Equal Rights Center; James Perry, Executive Director, Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center; Marlene Alfaro, Intake/Assessment/ Referral Counselor, Dalton-Whitfield Community Development Corporation.
3:00–4:30 p.m.
TOWN HALL
Immigration: The Moral, Economic, and Political Imperatives for Winning Reform
Immigration is a galvanizing issue for the nation’s Hispanics, 75% of whom are U.S. citizens. The toxic rhetoric on immigration has affected this community deeply, and that is why Latino voters last November generated a game-changing moment for this debate, creating an opportunity to arrive at a solution. Fair and effective immigration reform will not only benefit immigrants and America’s Hispanics, but is in the best social and economic interest of our country.
Moderator: Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. Panelists: Joe Trauger, Vice President, Human Resources Policy, National Association of Manufacturers; Hilary O. Shelton, Washington Bureau Director and Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Policy, NAACP; Julie Kitka, President, Alaska Federation of Natives; Ana Navarro, Republican Political Strategist.
Tuesday, July 23
10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. LUNCHEON
The Great Hall
Keynote Speaker: Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States of America. Featured Speaker: Sterling K. Speirn, President and CEO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Special Remarks: Mel Martinez, Chairman, Southeast and Latin America for JPMorgan Chase & Co. Military Tribute: Heroes & Heritage Award Presented by Fernando Rey, President and Chief Executive Officer, Heroes & Heritage.
8:00–10:30 p.m.
AWARDS GALA
New Orleans Marriott, Grand Ballroom
NCLR will present six awards in honor of individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exemplary accomplishments, both in their fields and in service to the U.S. Hispanic community.
This year’s winners: NCLR Affiliate Southwest Key Programs, a nonprofit community organization based in Austin, Texas; Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA; Salvador Longoria, New Orleans attorney and community activist, as well as Founder and Board Chair of Puentes New Orleans, an NCLR Affiliate; Rocsi Díaz of Entertainment Tonight and Founder of the RocStar Foundation; Minnie Miñoso, baseball legend and former Chicago White Sox player; and Luis Ubiñas, President of the Ford Foundation.
These are just some highlights of the four exciting days of the 2013 NCLR Annual Conference in New Orleans! For more details, additional information about workshops, town halls and more, please contact the NCLR Communications Department at (202) 785-1670; you may reach us at the on-site Press Office July 19–23 at (504) 670-5602.
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