FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
June 18, 2015 Julian Teixeira
(202) 776-1812
(202) 776-1812
jteixeira@nclr.org
Countdown to Kansas City begins
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) today announced highlights of its upcoming 2015 Annual Conference and National Latino Family Expo®, the preeminent events for NCLR and Latinos across the nation, which will take place in Kansas City, Mo., from Saturday, July 11 through Tuesday, July 14 at the Kansas City Convention Center. This Conference will also celebrate Kansas City, Kansas native Janet Murguía, who this year celebrates 10 years as President and CEO of the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization.
Every year, NCLR’s Annual Conference and National Latino Family Expo gather the nation’s most influential and prominent voices in the Latino community, as well as those who support NCLR’s efforts to expand opportunities for Hispanic Americans. Among those in attendance are community leaders, activists and volunteers; elected and appointed officials; and leaders of the corporate, philanthropic and academic communities. At Conference attendees have the ultimate opportunity to learn about current issues impacting Latinos and hear from prominent leaders in the arenas of immigration, voting, education, civil rights, health, workforce development and youth leadership.
“NCLR is excited to have Kansas City host our annual gathering. As a native of the area, I have witnessed firsthand how the Latino community has grown and diversified. Hosting our Conference here highlights their presence in my beloved hometown. Whether they are contributing to the cultural panorama, boosting the economy or influencing state and local elections, Latinos are making their impact felt in Kansas City,” said Murguía.
The 2015 NCLR Annual Conference will feature more than 50 workshops, four town halls, the Latinas Brunch, the NCLR Awards Gala and multiple networking opportunities. Toyota is the Conference Title Sponsor, UPS is the National Latino Family Expo Title Sponsor and Sprint is the Host City Sponsor.
“There is no better investment than to truly champion our Hispanic community, and that’s why we are proud to support an organization that aligns with our values and helps empower people through education and access to information that matters,” said Debby Ballard, Director of Community Affairs at Sprint. We hope that together with NCLR we can provide the necessary resources for our Latino families, business owners and leaders to make a difference in the community and to keep on building our version of the American Dream.”
This year’s Conference features a list of impressive speakers, including Mayor Sly James of Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Mark Holland of Kansas City, Ks., presidential candidate and former Governor of Maryland Martin O’Malley, President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D–Mo.), U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, among many more.
“As a proud partner of NCLR since 2002, Toyota is glad to be once again a title sponsor of this year’s NCLR Annual Conference,” said Patricia Salas Pineda, Vice President of Toyota’s Hispanic Business Strategy and a member of the NCLR Corporate Board of Advisors. “We have tremendous respect for the important work that NCLR does nationwide and look forward to participating in this important gathering of Hispanic leaders.”
“UPS has been a committed partner to NCLR for more than 30 years, and is proud to be the presenting sponsor of their National Latino Family Expo,” said Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation. “Our diverse workforce has nearly 435,000 employees globally and we consider it our greatest company strength. UPS promotes diversity and inclusion for all, striving to create opportunity for underserved and under-represented segments of society around the world.”
The NCLR Annual Conference also brings some of the best entertainment in the Latino community. This year we are excited to include Grammy Award winner Pedro Fernández, Grammy Award nominee Frankie Negrón and comedian Cristela Alonzo among the talented lineup.
In addition, all attendees and the Kansas City community are invited to visit the National Latino Family Expo, one of the largest events in the country focused on resources and activities for the whole family, with more than 100 exhibitors showcasing their products and services. From live entertainment and giveaways to health screenings and informative demonstrations, everyone will discover something new in a fun and exciting environment. The Expo, which is free and open to all, will be held at the Kansas City Convention Center from Saturday, July 11 through Monday, July 13.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dora and Diego of Nickelodeon, and Hallmark’s Hoops and Yoyo will all be present at this year’s Expo. Visitors can also participate in COPA-NCLR, a dynamic soccer tournament that will be played on the same futsal court used by Sporting Kansas City; meet alumni of the Kansas City Royals and try their hand at pitching; visit the NFL Play 60 course with the Kansas City Chiefs; and attend autograph signings with known figures in sports and entertainment. Another highlight of the National Latino Family Expo is the Health and Fitness/Tu Salud Pavilion, where participants can receive a variety of free health screenings, including dental, cholesterol and vision, to name a few.
Learn more about the 2015 NCLR Annual Conference in Kansas City or register today.
To obtain media credentials for the 2015 NCLR Annual Conference, visit: http://www.nclr.org/index.php/events/nclr_annual_conference/
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.
###