FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Kathy Mimberg
(202) 776-1714
kmimberg@nclr.org
NCLR forum to discuss state of America’s Latino youth
Washington, D.C.—At a convening on May 25–26, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) will examine the political and social policy climate for Latino children in the U.S. in an effort to bring together advocates from youth, policy, and government organizations to build a Latino child advocacy network. In addition to NCLR experts, speakers at the event include U.S. Representatives Judy Chu, D-Calif., and Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., Roberto J. Rodríguez from the White House Domestic Policy Council, and Dr. Martha Moorehouse from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, among others.
Members of the news media are invited to the Hilton Washington Embassy Row, located at 2015 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, for sessions to be held between 9:30 a.m. and noon on Wednesday, May 25, titled “Securing Our Nation’s Future: Advocating for Children and Youth” and “What Does the Political and Social Climate across the Local, State, and Federal Governments Look Like for Latino Children?” At 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 26, Representative Chu will join Josephine F. Garza, Executive Director of the National Latino Children’s Institute, in addressing the importance of building a Latino children’s network.
An NCLR report from 2010, America's Future: Latino Child Well-Being in Numbers and Trends, found that stronger advocacy efforts on behalf of Latino children are critical to our nation’s future. Nationally, Hispanics have low rates of high school graduation (55 percent) and are at a disproportionate risk for incarceration (a rate of one in six for Latino males). Nearly 20 percent of Hispanic children lack health insurance, and their rates of obesity have increased to 41 percent. If current trends continue, nearly 45 percent of all children in poverty in 2030 will be Latino. The political and social climate in the U.S. makes it difficult to achieve positive policy outcomes for young Hispanics. NCLR is bringing advocates together to form a national network to help more Latino children be successful in school and in life.
According to U.S. Census data, the Latino child population —93 percent of whom are U.S. citizens—grew 39 percent between 2000 and 2010. As our future leaders, workers, and taxpayers, it is imperative that they gain the skills necessary to succeed in school and the global marketplace.
MEDIA ADVISORY
WHAT: Three sessions addressing the state of Latino children in the U.S. and the need for stronger advocacy efforts
to ensure their future success
WHEN: Wednesday, May 25, at 9:30 a.m.
Thursday, May 26, at 9:30 a.m.
WHERE: Hilton Washington Embassy Row
2015 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
WHO: U.S. Representative Judy Chu, D-Calif.
U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah, D-Pa.
Roberto J. Rodríguez, Special Assistant to the President for Education Policy, White House Domestic Policy
Council
Martha Moorehouse, Ph.D., Director, Division of Children and Youth Policy, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Sheri Steisel, Senior Federal Affairs Counsel, Senior Director of the Human Services Committee, National
Conference of State Legislatures
Clifford M. Johnson, Executive Director, Institute for Youth, Education, and Families, National League of
Cities
Josephine F. Garza, Executive Director, National Latino Children’s Institute
Peter A. Zamora, Senior Education Counsel, Senator Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.
Eric Rodriguez, Vice President, Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation, NCLR
Liany Elba Arroyo, Associate Director, Education and Children’s Policy Project, NCLR
Space is limited. Please RSVP to Kathy Mimberg at kmimberg@nclr.org or call (202) 776-1714.