News (Noticias) Tagged ‘Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the nation’s premier Hispanic educational and youth leadership development organization, launched a national campaign to recruit Hispanic students — college-bound, undergraduate and graduate — for its nationally recognized leadership development programs and scholarships.

Applications for CHCI’s Congressional Internship Program, Graduate & Young Professionals Fellowship Program, Public Policy Fellowship Program, and Scholarship Program are available now at www.CHCI.org .

“For almost three decades, CHCI has made a difference in the lives of young Hispanics — providing unparalleled, hands-on work experience and a national competitive edge,” said Esther Aguilera, CHCI President and CEO. “CHCI continues to meet the demands of a growing Latino youth population through innovative leadership development opportunities that prepare the next generation of Latino youth and our nation’s future leaders.”

The Congressional Internship Program provides college students with Congressional work placements on Capitol Hill for a period of eight weeks from June to August, to learn first-hand about our nation’s legislative processes. Interns are responsible for conducting extensive legislative research, monitoring day-to-day hearings, managing constituent communications and assisting with general office matters. Additionally, interns participate in weekly CHCI leadership and professional development sessions and meet with corporate representatives, national elected officials and foreign dignitaries. Interns are provided with housing, roundtrip transportation to and from Washington, D.C., and a $2,500 stipend. The Congressional Internship Program application deadline is January 9, 2009.

The Graduate & Young Professional Fellowship Program offers exceptional Latino graduates and young professionals unparalleled exposure to experience in the underserved public policy areas of health, housing, law, international affairs, and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The fellowship is open to applicants with a graduate degree from an accredited educational institution or equivalent three years professional experience in chosen policy field. This competitive program is comprised of a nine-month fellowship including a substantive work placement at a legislative subcommittee office, federal agency, national non-profit advocacy organization, or corporate office. The International Affairs Fellowship includes three months abroad in Mexico or Spain. Travel, health insurance and a $2,700 monthly stipend is provided. The Graduate & Young Professional Fellowship Program application deadline is February 13, 2009.

CHCI’s Public Policy Fellowship Program, conducted from September to May, provides college graduates with national hands-on public policy experience in a congressional office, federal agency, nonprofit sector, or corporate setting. Fellowship participants are provided with health insurance, roundtrip transportation to and from Washington, D.C., and a monthly stipend of $2,200. The Public Policy Fellowship Program application deadline is February 13, 2009.

With more than $2 million in need-based scholarships awarded to Hispanic students since 2001, CHCI’s Scholarship Program is available to students enrolled in a two or four year accredited college or university. Students pursing an associate’s degree may apply for a grant in the amount of $1,000; $2,500 for bachelors candidates; and $5,000 for graduate students. The Scholarship Program application deadline is April 16, 2009.

To be eligible, all program applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, have remarkable leadership potential, and have a demonstrated history and commitment to community and public service.

About Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c) (3) organization, provides leadership development programs and educational services to students and young emerging leaders. The CHCI Board of Directors is comprised of Hispanic Members of Congress, nonprofit, union and corporate leaders. For more information call CHCI at (202) 543-1771 or visit www.chci.org .
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Fox Sports en Español demonstrated its continual support for the Hispanic community by sponsoring the general reception at the 31st Annual Awards Gala of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) this past Wednesday, September 10th in Washington, D.C. CHCI, alongside with the leader in the Hispanic sports pay television space, celebrated those Hispanics which embodied the theme of this year’s gala, The Power to Make the Difference. Among the 2,300 guests were Florida Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Texas Representative Solomon P. Ortiz, and New York Representative Jose E. Serrano - all three of whom were awarded the 2008 Chairman’s Award for their commitment to serving the Hispanic community throughout their lifetime.

“As a Hispanic, I am happy to say our community has become an integral part of the American society. It’s an honor for us at Fox Sports en Español to continuously be a part of an event which not only celebrates Hispanic achievements, but also honors those who have dedicated their entire life to making a difference for the future of our country,” said Raul de Quesada, Assistant General Manager and Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Creative Services of Fox Sports en Español.

The network, which recently launched Fox Impacto NFL, a program tailored for Hispanic NFL football fans, continues to satisfy the growing demand of Hispanic communities nationwide. Through their sponsorship of CHCI, an institution which has served the Hispanic youth for the past thirty-one years, Fox Sports en Español continues to inspire Hispanics to make a difference in their own community.

“Being a part of the fastest growing minority group, it’s important for us Hispanics to make our own contribution to the overall community,” said de Quesada, “only then can we truly make a lasting impression for future generations.”

“We feel very fortunate,” said Esther Aguilera, President and CEO of CHCI, “to have the support of Fox Sports en Español to commemorate those who have devoted themselves to the better good of our Hispanic framework.””

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) will hold its 31st Annual Awards Gala on Wednesday, September 10, 2008.

Unfortunately, due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict, Sen. John McCain will not be able to attend the CHCI 31st Annual Awards Gala.

Sen. McCain provided the following letter to CHCI.

September 9, 2008

The Honorable Joe Baca
Ms. Esther Aguilera, President & CEO
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
911 2nd Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002

Dear Congressman Baca and Ms. Aguilera:

I would like to offer my warmest congratulations on your 31st annual Gala. The Institute’s mission of developing the next generation of leaders is critical to the future of our country. The theme of this Year’s Gala is “The Power to Make the Difference.” That theme resonates with me, because my campaign has focused on giving the American people the power to make a difference - through economic and educational opportunity, affordable healthcare, accountable government, and a call to service.

Many Americans are facing tough times financially. The price of gasoline is through the roof. Food prices are rising. Healthcare costs have continued to spiral out of control. The housing market is in crisis. Unemployment just hit a five-year high at 6.1% - and 8% for Latinos.

I have proposed a comprehensive set of economic policies to spur economic growth, create jobs, and ease the financial burdens on middle-class families. The central focus of that plan is small businesses - the leading engine of job growth in this country. Two million small businesses are owned by Latinos, and we must create an economic climate that encourages those businesses to grow and create jobs. We must keep taxes low and cut them where we can. Taking more money from small businesses deprives them of the capital they need to invest and grow and hire. We must bring down energy prices, which are choking small businesses and stifling growth. I have proposed an all-of-the-above approach which embraces not only conservation and alterative energy, but also offshore drilling and nuclear power. We cannot cling to ideological rigidity when Americans and American businesses are suffocating under high energy prices.

We must also avoid the seductive call for economic isolationism. Pulling out of trade agreements like NAFTA would hurt our economy and our workers, raising the price of imports and slowing our export growth. And for those Americans who lose jobs to trade, we must revolutionize our unemployment-insurance system to provide immediate job retraining and a safety net for older workers who are forced to take lower paying jobs.

My plan also tackles the toughest financial problems facing American families. I have proposed a health-care reform plan that gives all Americans the opportunity to obtain high-quality health care, even if they work for a small business that cannot afford to provide its employees with health insurance. Under my plan, when you change jobs or leave the workforce, you can take your health insurance with you. All Americans will have a real choice in health insurance; families will receive effectively $5,000 in cash to purchase health insurance from anywhere, even across state lines. And unlike my opponent’s plan, that choice will be lodged with American families, not government bureaucrats under an expensive, unwieldy, inefficient new government entitlement.

Health care isn’t the only issue facing American families. I will help Americans hit hard by the housing crisis to obtain a new, guaranteed, fixed-rate, 30-year mortgage, while making sure that shady speculators cannot profit from the crisis that they caused. I will double the dependent exemption from $3,500 to $7,000, putting cash into the hands of the families who need it most, and I will reduce the estate tax to 15%. And perhaps most importantly, I will jumpstart real education reform, so that all families - not just the wealthy - have the opportunity to provide their children with the best education. We need to shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition; hold schools accountable for results; strengthen math, science, technology, and engineering curriculum; empower parents with choice; and remove barriers to qualified instructors. My opponent offers the same old policies peddled by teachers’ unions for years, which shirk accountability and choice in favor of the status quo. Those policies fail our children - particularly minority children, who are condemned to failing schools and all the disadvantages that come with them. This is quite simply the civil-rights issue of our time.

I know you may not agree with me on every issue. But what I hope you will recognize is that throughout my career I have taken unpopular stands to do what’s right and to find bipartisan consensus to solve the tough problems facing America. I worked with Democrats like Russ Feingold to pass major campaign-finance legislation to erase the stain of special interests on our nation’s politics. I reached out to Democrats to finally take on global warming through an innovative cap-and-trade system. I stood up to the President when I believed that some of our policies in the War on Terror did not live up to our national traditions. I worked with Democrats to confirm well-qualified, mainstream judges and buck partisans on both sides. And when members of both parties thought that the situation in Iraq was hopeless - when Harry Reid said we had lost the war - when my opponent was calling for us to pull out in defeat - I recognized that we needed a different strategy to succeed, and now, in the wake of the undeniable success of the Surge, Iraq is stabilizing and our amazing troops will come home with honor and victory.

Perhaps no fight in my political career has cost me more politically than when I reached out to Democrats like Ted Kennedy - twice - to try to fix our broken immigration system. As any pundit will tell you, most people believed that my effort to forge a bipartisan, humane solution to the immigration problem had killed my presidential bid. I risked my political future because it was the right thing to do. My efforts were stymied by ideologues in both parties, including my opponent, who voted five separate times for poison pills by special interests to kill immigration reform, votes that Senator Kennedy and I opposed. When I am President, I will solve this problem. I will first convince the American people that we can secure our borders. I will then work to enact a practical and fair immigration policy, one that ensures respect for the laws of this country, recognizes the important economic contribution of immigrant laborers, apprehends those who came here illegally to commit crimes, and deals practically and humanely with those who came here to build a better, safer life for their families, without excusing the fact that they came here illegally.

Whoever wins this election, it is people like you, who volunteer time and treasure to build leaders for the future, who are the real keys to American success. Your commitment to service and opportunity is an inspiration. I wish you a wonderful Gala.

Sincerely,

John McCain

About Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization, provides leadership development programs and educational services to students and young emerging leaders. The CHCI Board of Directors is comprised of Hispanic Members of Congress, nonprofit leaders and corporate executives. For more information call CHCI at (202) 543-1771 or visit www.chci.org . “

Azteca America Network and Fundacion Azteca America congratulate Chairman Luis J. Echarte on his successful participation in the Corporate America summit hosted by Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Chairman and Congressman Joe Baca as part of the organization’s Public Policy Conference this week. The panel was entitled Spanish-Language Media Companies: A New Source of Latino Empowerment During the 2008 Presidential Elections.
“In contrast to other media companies, we are a grass roots organization built from the bottom up with local businesspeople across the nation to achieve network coverage,” said Mr. Echarte.
Highlights of the participation included the activities of Fundacion Azteca America in support of the Latino community. A brief video outlined the work that Fundacion Azteca America has done to promote political engagement, including partnerships with Voto Latino and a special community leader news segment called Issues: Caras y Voces, with guests including Arizona Senator and Presidential Candidate John McCain, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Congressman Xavier Becerra and Senator Harry Reid.
Also highlighted was the foundation’s public service announcement campaign in favor of political engagement, featuring state governors, members of Congress, community leaders and on-screen personalities. And through its website, Fundacion Azteca America has given the community the opportunity to register to vote online.
“The step that the Latino community is lacking is the ability to convert street demonstrations into political action. The problem in some of the cases is that many of the demonstrators were not registered or eligible to vote,” said Mr. Echarte. “Our goal is to convert demonstrators to voters.”
During the spring of 2008, Fundacion Azteca America organized a State of Latinos issues forum: the Agenda Latina 2008, in the city of Denver. The event consisted of a successful town hall meeting with the participation of Governor Bill Ritter, U.S. Senator Ken Salazar and representatives from Voto Latino, National Association Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute, Republican National Hispanic Assembly, NDN, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, National Council of La Raza and Southwest Voter Registration Education Project.
The goal of the town hall was to discuss issues of importance to the Latino community such as the economy, health, education and immigrant rights. The underlying current throughout the program was the importance of the Latino vote and the need to exercise that vote.
Phase two of this forum will take place in Washington D.C. on Sept. 23 with the release of the findings and action steps from the Denver town hall in a white paper created by the University of Denver.
The CHCI summit also included participation by Univision CEO Joe Uva, Telemundo President Don Browne, Azteca America Washington Correspondent Armando Guzman, National Council of La Raza President Janet Murguia, Comcast Foundation Vice President Susan Gonzales, Telemundo Co-Anchor Jose Diaz Balart and Univision Anchor Maria Elena Salinas.
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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) today announced that presidential candidates Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois will address a crowd of more than 2,300, including as many as 40 Members of Congress in attendance, at the CHCI 31st Annual Awards Gala on September 10, 2008 at the Washington D.C. Convention Center.

Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez and actress Rosie Perez will receive Medallion of Excellence Awards. The Chairman’s Award, selected by CHCI Chairman Joe Baca (CA-43), will be presented to three pioneering Members of Congress, Reps. Solomon P. Ortiz (TX-27), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18), and Jose E. Serrano (NY-16).

CHCI prepares to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month on September 7, 2008, with its Annual Public Policy Conference celebrating the theme The Power to Make the Difference.

Hispanic Members of Congress, prominent Latino experts, and national leaders will gather at the Public Policy Conference on September 7-9, 2008, at the Washington D.C. Convention Center for provocative discussions on critical issues for the Latino community, including education, immigration, the economy, civil rights, health, housing, labor and technology.

This dynamic three-day conference will also feature a CHCI Board of Director’s Tribute to the Honorable Sen. Ted Kennedy (MA), the unveiling of a new U.S. postage stamp honoring Latin Jazz, and a lively discussion on the power of the Latino vote.

For the complete Public Policy Conference agenda, please visit www.chci.org/2008Events/2008_glance.html .

CHCI’s 8th Annual Reyes of Comedy Night takes place on Tuesday, September 9 at the Warner Theatre, featuring a dynamic lineup of comedians who will draw from their personal experiences to present a comedic portrait of Hispanic life in the United States.

For more information on Reyes of Comedy Night, please visit www.chci.org/2008Events/2008reyesofcomedy.html.

To learn more about CHCI’s Hispanic Heritage Month events, please visit www.chci.org/2008Events/2008.html .

For press credentials, please email Director of Communications, Scott Gunderson Rosa at sgunderson_rosa@chci.org.

About Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization, provides leadership development programs and educational services to students and young emerging leaders. The CHCI Board of Directors is comprised of Hispanic Members of Congress, nonprofit leaders and corporate executives. For information call CHCI at (202) 543-1771 or visit www.chci.org. “

Tuesday, September 9, NDN and its long-time pollster, Sergio Bendixen, President of Bendixen & Associates, will release new polls on immigration conducted in key battleground states.

Who: NDN and Sergio Bendixen, President, Bendixen & Associates

What: Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Closing Plenary: The Power of the Latino Vote— Electing the Next President

This session will focus on the impact of the Latino vote on this year’s presidential election. Panelists will present current polling data and discuss findings including the issues most important to Latinos. The session will also discuss the work being done by organizations to increase Latino voting participation.

Bendixen is a panelist.

When: Tomorrow, Tuesday, September 9, 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Where: Room 146 A/B/C, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW, Washington, D.C.

*****A MEDIA AVAILABILITY WITH SERGIO BENDIXEN, NDN PRESIDENT SIMON ROSENBERG AND NDN VICE PRESIDENT OF HISPANIC PROGRAMS ANDRES RAMIREZ WILL FOLLOW THE PANEL IN THE AREA IMMEDIATELY OUTSIDE OF ROOMS 146 A/B/C*****.

Contact:
Melissa Merz, mmerz@ndn.org
202.842.7219
773.505.6037“

Janet Murguía, President and CEO of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), will participate in a summit with a panel of Spanish language media company representatives to discuss the power of the Latino vote in the 2008 presidential election. The summit, titled Spanish Language Media Companies: A New Source of Latino Empowerment During the 2008 Presidential Elections, will convene at the 2008 Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s (CHCI) Public Policy Conference on Monday, September 8, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The panelists will also discuss the coverage of Latinos in the news and entertainment industry.

Following the summit, Murguía will speak at the CHCI’s opening luncheon, Immigration: A Call to Action, which will address comprehensive immigration reform in the next Congress. Representative Luis Gutierrez (D–IL) and Ray Suarez, Senior Correspondent for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, will join Murguía to discuss what needs to happen to realize comprehensive immigration reform.

Media Alert
WHEN: Monday, September 8, 2008, 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Summit: Room 147A
Opening Luncheon: Room 146 A/B/C
WHAT: Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO, to participate in the 2008 Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Public Policy Conference”

31st Annual Event Unites Members of Congress to Honor Hispanic American Contributions
Cong. Solomon P. Ortiz, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Jose E. Serrano, and Brigadier General Ricardo Sanchez (Ret.) and Actress Rosie Perez to Receive Awards
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) celebrates 31 years of serving Latino youth with its 31st Annual Awards Gala on Wednesday, September 10, 2008. This year’s theme, The Power to Make the Difference, commemorates the vast contributions Hispanic Americans have made to this country and celebrates the historic opportunity it has to impact the future of the United States.
Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain of Arizona will address the crowd of more than 2,300, including as many as 40 Members of Congress in attendance.
This year’s Chairman’s Award, selected by CHCI Chairman Joe Baca (CA-43), will be presented to three pioneering Members of Congress, Reps. Solomon P. Ortiz (TX-27), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18), and Jose E. Serrano (NY-16).
Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez (Ret.) and actress Rosie Perez will be presented with the CHCI Medallion of Excellence for Leadership and Community Service Awards. Sanchez is only the second Hispanic four-star general in Army history with more than 33 years of military service. Perez is an Oscar nominated actress, who has dedicated her life to giving back to the community through her work to combat AIDS and promote arts education for underprivileged children.
The event will be emceed by Tony Plana, star of ABC’s hit comedy “Ugly Betty,” with gala entertainment provided by Grammy award-winning artists Los Lonely Boys. Gala Reception entertainment will be provided by Mariachi Sol de Mexico(R) de Jose Hernandez.
Gala Host Toyota joins in supporting CHCI’s leadership development programs for Hispanic youth, along with Premiere Sponsor Comcast.
For press credentials, please contact: Scott Gunderson Rosa at 202-548-5876 or via email at sgunderson_rosa@chci.org.
About Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization, provides leadership development programs and educational services to students and young emerging leaders. The CHCI Board of Directors is comprised of Hispanic Members of Congress, nonprofit leaders and corporate executives. For more information call CHCI at (202) 543-1771 or visit www.chci.org.

www.chci.org
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