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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
jrendeiro@nclr.org
Conference Press Room
(702) 322-5587
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The 2012 election, anti-immigrant laws, foreclosure prevention, higher education, and health care reform are just some of the topics that will be discussed in the more than 50 workshops and speaking events during the 2012 NCLR (National Council of La Raza) Annual Conference, set for July 7–10 in Las Vegas, Nev., at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Convention Center. The Conference will bring together experts, policymakers, and activists in these fields, as well as in community organizing, women’s issues, LGBT issues, worker safety and protection, legislative policy concerns, and other areas of priority for the Latino community. The workshops are all open to the public and are free of charge, while speaking events are reserved for registered attendees.
Members of the press may register to attend the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference, free of charge, at www.nclr.org/pressregistration.
In addition to the workshops and special events listed below, the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference will offer sessions on community empowerment, technology, nonprofit management, financial security, leadership, fundraising, health care implementation, and much more. For a complete schedule of events and information on speakers, please visit www.nclr.org/conference.
Saturday, July 7
National Affiliate Luncheon
Lead the Way
12:30–2:30 p.m., Mandalay Bay Ballroom
Featured Speakers:
- Hon. Eric Holder, Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice
- Hon. Shelley Berkley, U.S. Representative (D–Nev.)
- Gina Rodriguez, Actress, Filly Brown
Town Hall
From Vote to Voz: Harnessing the Power of the Latino Electorate
3:00–4:30 p.m., Mandalay Bay Ballroom E
While the Latino community works to reduce registration and voting gaps, voter suppression measures and anti-Latino sentiment grow. With an election looming, panelists discuss how Latino voters can stand up for the community and build the power to achieve policy change.
Workshops
Legislative Update: Is Washington Delivering on Latino Priorities this Election Year?
9:00–10:30 a.m., Breakers I
At this session, NCLR’s team of public policy experts provides up-to-date information on legislative issues that will have a profound impact on Hispanic communities. Topics that will be discussed include immigration, health policy, economic and employment policy, and housing.
Sunday, July 8
Latinas Brunch
¡Salud, Riqueza y Felicidad!...And the Time to Enjoy Them
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Mandalay Bay Ballroom
Featured Speakers:
- Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO
- Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevada Attorney General
- Nely Galán, Founder, The Adelante Movement
- Suze Orman, Financial Advisor, Author, and Television Personality
Town Hall
¡Salud! Eliminating Disparities That Block Good Health among Latinos
3:30–5:00 p.m., Mandalay Bay Ballroom E
Hispanics living in the U.S. are heavily burdened by high incidence and mortality rates of preventable chronic and infectious diseases. Panel experts will discuss plans to meet the specific needs of the growing Latino community toward the elimination of health disparities.
Workshops
A Defining Moment: The Supreme Court’s Arizona Decision and Beyond
9:00–10:30 a.m., Surf AB
Leaders in the immigration policy field discuss what the Supreme Court’s decision on Arizona’s anti-immigrant law SB 1070 will mean for the Latino community and how the decision will affect states pursuing similar legislation. Featured speakers:
- Marielena Hincapié, Executive Director, National Immigration Law Center
- Todd Landfried, Executive Director, Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform
- Daniel R. Ortega, Immediate Past Chair, NCLR Board of Directors
- Clarissa Martinez-De-Castro, Director, Civic Engagement and Immigration, NCLR
Stop the Hate: Overcoming Modern-Day Bullying
9:00–10:30 a.m., Breakers J
Bullying is as prevalent as ever, perhaps even more so today when “anywhere” includes not only the playground, but also cyberspace. Discuss how to build a safe environment for all youth, whether they are straight, LGBT, or simply perceived to be LGBT.
Mis Derechos, Tus Derechos: Protecting the Civil Rights of the Latino Community
1:30–3:00 p.m., Surf C
Presented by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. In this workshop, several federal agencies will team up to provide up-to-date information about programs and resources that can have a real impact in protecting your community’s rights.
The Right Side of History: LGBT Equality and the Hispanic Perspective
1:30–3:00 p.m., Breakers J
Looking at different cross-sections of the Hispanic population, panelists discuss new studies which show that the Latino community is in favor of legal equality for LGBT people and in favor of protections against all forms of discrimination.
Monday, July 9
Monday Luncheon
Featuring President’s Message
12:30–2:30 p.m., Mandalay Bay Ballroom
Featured Speakers:
- Maria Elena Salinas, Co-Host, Noticiero Univision and Aquí y Ahora
- Eric Rodriguez, Vice President, Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation, NCLR
- Richard Trumka, President, AFL-CIO
- Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO
Town Hall
Don’t Quit the Dream: A Vision for Homeownership Beyond 2012
3:00–4:30 p.m., Mandalay Bay Ballroom E
Today’s housing system still needs a lot of help getting on the right course. Many families of color have been steered toward toxic mortgages; others lost their jobs in the economic downturn resulting in droves of foreclosures. In the last three years alone, communities of color have lost almost half of their wealth. Panelists will discuss how all of these issues can be influenced by your vote in the upcoming elections. Featured Speakers:
- Maria Elena Salinas, Co-Host, Noticiero Univision and Aquí y Ahora
- Shaun Donovan, Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Richard Cordray, Director, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Gerardo Ascencio, President, National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals
- Maria Cabildo, President, East LA Community Corporation
Workshops
Cutting through the Red Tape: Getting Our Children the Health Care They Need
9:00–10:30 a.m., Breakers L
Latino and immigrant children are the most uninsured population in the nation, even though they are highly eligible for coverage. Panelists discuss new requirements for national children’s coverage that have given advocates the opportunity to eliminate the barriers that have kept children from getting insurance and needed care.
Occupy the Classroom: Moving Latino Education Reform Forward
9:00–10:30 a.m., Surf A
Panelists discuss why Hispanic educational achievement lags behind that of non-Hispanics, even though there are compelling examples of effective ways to improve education for these students.
Tuesday, July 10
Tuesday Luncheon
Noon–2:30 p.m., Mandalay Bay Ballroom
Featured Speakers:
- Hon. Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States of America
- Maria Celeste Arraras, Al Rojo Vivo, Telemundo
- Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO
Workshops
Making Home Affordable: Exploring Options to Avoid Foreclosure
9:00–10:30 a.m., Lagoon J
Learn how to educate struggling homeowners in your communities on where to find mortgage relief. A variety of programs exist to help families with mortgage modifications, refinancing, deferred payment, or transitioning out of their homes while avoiding foreclosure.
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.
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