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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
Julian Teixiera
(202) 674-1522
jteixiera@nclr.org
LOS ANGELES—Latinos make up the fastest-growing segment of the American workforce, accounting for more than 14.2 percent of workers this year with a projected increase to almost 19 percent by 2020. Now, more than ever, it is critically important that businesses and organizations across the country create programs, policies and partnerships that will open up opportunities for job seekers and ensure that Latino workers have the skills and training necessary to fill those positions.
To facilitate discussion around this issue, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) is inviting hundreds of community leaders from across the country to participate in the 2012 NCLR Workforce Development Forum, held October 2–3 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles.
“This country is in a unique situation with the Latino population growing so rapidly and becoming an increasingly critical part of the workforce. But by and large, the jobs that Latinos are being tapped for are low-skilled, low-paying positions,” said Simon Lopez, Senior Director of Workforce and Leadership Development at NCLR. “It would be a missed opportunity for this country to ignore the potential that the Latino workforce has to boost our economy. We hope that through events like the Forum we’ll be able to share and develop ideas and programs that will improve public systems and prepare Latino workers for the jobs and industry demands of tomorrow.”
“¡Poder! Empowering the Latino Workforce, Driving Economic Growth” is sponsored by Walmart, UPS and the AARP Foundation. The two-day event invites participants to attend a series of workshops designed to highlight best practices, policies and partnerships from successful workforce programs across the nation and to address the specific systemic challenges to strengthening the Latino workforce. Workshops will touch on everything from how to engage low-income youth and reduce employment disparities for minorities to how to empower low-wage workers to advocate for workplace rights, such as fair compensation.
Participants will also hear from a number of high-profile speakers, including Hon. Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles city councilmember, and Hon. Ted W. Lieu, senator of the state of California.
For a full schedule of events, please visit the NCLR website.
To RSVP for any event at the Forum, contact Julian Teixeira at (202) 674-1522 or jteixeira@nclr.org.
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