FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Carlos De Los Ramos (Latin Center)
(302) 655-7338 ext. 7707
Kathy Mimberg (NCLR)
(202) 776-1714
Enrique Cortez (LSR)
(202) 525-7411
Wilmington forum to addresses Latinos and Social Security as part of the ¡Tu Futuro Cuenta! campaign
Wilmington—On Tuesday, June 28, the Latin American Community Center (the Latin Center), NCLR (National Council of La Raza), and Latinos for a Secure Retirement (LSR) will host a town hall to address myths and concerns about Social Security and its importance to Latino families and the state of Delaware. Members of the growing Wilmington Latino community, local elected officials, and national Latino leaders will meet at the Latin Center, located in the Los Jardines Building at 1000 West 5th Street, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Social Security is widely recognized as a successful, efficient public program that serves as a powerful safety net for Americans who cannot work because of age or disability. However, it has come under attack under the guise of deficit reduction, despite the fact that Social Security has not contributed one dime to the federal deficit and will remain financially solvent without any changes until 2037.
Latino seniors are particularly vulnerable to the most recent proposed cuts and changes to Social Security. Although the program keeps millions of seniors out of poverty, the average yearly Social Security benefit for Hispanic seniors is only $12,213 for men and only $9,536 for women. These benefits represent nearly all of the income for most Latino seniors; cuts would be disastrous.
In Wilmington, Social Security contributes more than $1.2 billion to the local economy by paying benefits to more than 86,580 residents, including 55,655 retirees, 12,630 disabled workers, and 6,965 children. Social Security prevents 39,000 residents in Delaware from living in poverty. The Wilmington forum is the second in a series being held across the country as part of the Latinos and Social Security ¡Tu Futuro Cuenta! campaign. In addition to experts on this issue, Latino seniors at the event will be available for interviews.
MEDIA ADVISORY
WHAT: Town hall on Social Security and its importance to keeping Delaware’s Latino seniors and disabled workers out of poverty
WHO: Carlos De Los Ramos, Public Relations Director, Latin Center
Leticia Miranda, Associate Director, Economic and Employment Policy Project, NCLR
Jeff Cruz, Executive Director, LSR
WHEN: Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Dinner, 5:00 p.m. EDT
Town Hall, 5:30–7:00 p.m. EDT
Media Availability, 4:30–5:30 p.m. EDT
WHERE: Latin American Community Center
Los Jardines Building
1000 West 5th Street
Wilmington, DE 19805
(302) 655-7338
Space is limited. Please contact Carlos De Los Ramos to RSVP for this event or to get more information at cdlosramos@thelatincenter.org or call (302) 655-7338 ext. 7707.
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For more information about the Latin American Community Center, visit www.thelatincenter.org.
For more information about Latinos for Secure Retirement, visit http://lulac.org/about/Latinos_for_a_Secure_Retirement.