News (Noticias) Tagged ‘LULAC’

President and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. and the League of United Latin American Citizens President, Rosa Rosales, issued the following statement on the economic plan that failed in Congress by a vote of 205-228.

“We call on Congress to pass a bill that will protect homeowners and American families, strengthen our financial system, and re-regulate the industry to ensure that the financial recklessness and predatory practices that led to this crisis are never repeated. LULAC wants to ensure that there are enough safeguards to protect the working class,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales.

For several years, Rev. Jackson and President Rosales have called upon policy makers to address the rising number of foreclosures and the disproportionate number of risky sub-prime loans in the city’s African-American and Hispanic communities

“Congress should be bailing out the homeowners and families who are forced into homelessness due to rising mortgages,” Jackson said. “The bill should mandate a moratorium on foreclosures in order to restructure and modify loans so that homeowners can afford their payments.”

Many of the victims of subprime prime lending scheme have been single women, seniors on fixed incomes, young couples, Latinos and African-Americans. Both LULAC and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition are working hard to ensure that banks will assist families who want to renegotiate their loans.

If the American people are being asked to pay for the solution to this crisis, their tax dollars must be protected. The Rainbow PUSH Coalition and LULAC are challenging plans that bail out the rich, without addressing the problems faced by the poor and the middle class. Congress cannot just bail out Wall Street and ignore Main Street. The federal government cannot just bail out banks and ignore homeowners, consumers and workers. The bailout must be passed quickly to stave off a depression, but it must be fair and balanced so that all Americans affected by this crisis receive relief.

Both organizations strongly urge Congress to pass a bi-partisan economic recovery plan this week that addresses the needs of low income and middle class families. President Rosales and Rev. Jackson are also calling on Congress to hold hearings that will address the plight of homeowners and the lack of financial literacy programs for Hispanic and African-American communities.

The Rainbow Push Coalition is a progressive organization protecting, defending, and expanding civil rights to improve economic and educational opportunity.

The League of United Latin American Citizens advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.”

he Cincinnati Chapter of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) has announced the date and time of its annual ‘Education for Success’ seminar sponsored by Kroger. The event, designed to help Hispanic high school students ages 13-18 prepare for college, will be held Saturday, September 27 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Cintas Center at Xavier University.

Keynote speakers for the event include Carver Johnson, Chief Diversity Officer for The Kroger Company; and Jason Riveiro, Ohio State Director and Cincinnati Chapter League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) President.

Presentations will highlight preparation tips for financial aid and the SAT and ACT tests, as well as best practice advice for working with college admissions departments and filling out applications. Representatives from Greater Cincinnati universities and successful area Hispanic professionals will also be in attendance to share their stories and advice.

“We know how overwhelming the college application process can be, and have created Education for Success in order to help and encourage Cincinnati Hispanic High School students to better prepare for a successful post-secondary education,” Cincinnati NSHMBA president Gema Bahns said. “This event will give area students the added bonus of networking with representatives from area universities and from the national board of directors of NSHMBA.”

The NSHMBA Education for Success event sponsored by Kroger will be held Saturday, September 27 on at Xavier University in the Cintas Center Schiff Family Banquet Room 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided to all Education for Success attendees. The event is free, but reservations are required, and can be made by contacting Alma Bartos, Vice President, education, of the Greater Cincinnati NSHMBA chapter: education@cincinnati.nshmba.org or (513) 602-6100.

About The National Society for Hispanic MBAs
The National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) was created in 1988 as a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization. Widely known as the “Premier Hispanic Organization,” NSHMBA serves 32 chapters and 7,000 members in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It exists to foster Hispanic leadership through graduate management education and professional development. NSHMBA works to prepare Hispanics for leadership positions throughout the U.S. so that they can provide the cultural awareness and sensitivity vital in the management of the nation’s diverse workforce. More information can be accessed at: www.cincinnati.nshmba.org.”

A delegation of high-ranking representatives from civil rights, minority, consumer and worker rights’ advocacy groups including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) were joined today by several dozen activists carrying signs calling for an end to a predatory lending scheme by Daimler/Mercedes Benz and the Port of Long Beach. Noisy protests at the German Embassy in Washington, DC and Mercedes-Benz’ parent company in the Detroit-area culminated with
the simultaneous delivery of a report to company and diplomatic officials entitled “Foreclosure on Wheels: Long Beach’s Truck Program Puts Drivers at High Risk for Default.”

In a written statement by NAACP Chairman Julian Bond read at the German Embassy, Bond emphasized that Daimler/Mercedes’ participation in the Long Beach financing scheme may have widereaching effects in communities of color that are already struggling economically: “The current subprime mortgage debacle illustrates how many institutions profit by enticing minority and low-income borrowers with schemes using too-easy credit to finance purchases with loans they are unable to repay…. We ask Daimler’s corporate officials to show their commitment to socially responsible business practices by abandoning this risky, dangerous venture – if not for the sake of Daimler shareholders and their company’s image, then for the sake of the truck drivers and their communities.”

The report analyzes the financial risk and details concerns that the Port of Long Beach, in partnership with Daimler, has wrongfully placed the burden for cleaner commerce on Latino-American and immigrant port drivers by targeting the workers – not their companies – to sign up for risky loans to replace a fleet of 16,000 aging vehicles. Under the terms of the lease-to-own scheme, Daimler will
financially back low-emissions trucks (costing $100,000-$200,000 after volume discounts) to any driver whose dirty diesel rig was recently banned by the port, regardless of his/her credit worthiness and ability to pay. Port drivers, before the cost of fuel skyrocketed, netted an average of $11 an hour. The monthly payment for the trucks is between $500-1,000 for seven years, with a balloon payment of
$7,000-$15,000 at the end of the lease term.

“Instead of trying to help residents and workers, a public, government entity has outrageously teamed up with Daimler/Mercedes to hoodwink the hard-working drivers who haul cargo from our shores to America’s stores” said LULAC President Rosa Rosales, whose organization helped lead the German Embassy protest and delegation.

A Daimler official told Long Beach officials in a public forum on June 30 that the company expects “over 40%” of port drivers to have “high difficulty meeting the payments,” a staggering acknowledgement overridden by Daimler’s strength in “managing collections,” i.e., repossessing trucks.

Before a crowd in Michigan outside of Daimler’s corporate home, Patricia Castellanos of the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy urged the Long Beach Port and the German luxury giant to avoid the same discriminatory practices that provoked domino-effect defaults in the mortgage market, and to instead focus lending efforts on capitalized trucking companies to avoid scarring communities. “We believe that there is an undeniable link between clean air, efficient port operations, and fairly-paid employee drivers. Achieving the environmental goals requires shifting the responsibility to where it rightfully belongs: to a stable, accountable and asset-based trucking industry.”

Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California added: “These kinds of discriminatory loans won’t just affect the thousands of California’s port drivers as individual borrowers, but entire families and their futures as well. The companies that profit from global trade are in a financially more stable position to invest in the new clean technology we need to keep our communities healthy – low-wage workers aren’t.”

“Foreclosure on Wheels: Long Beach’s Truck Program Puts Drivers at High Risk for Default,” was issued jointly by the Consumer Federation of California , the NAACP, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy. Southern California port drivers and their advocates are submitting the report to Daimler/Mercedes-Benz officials at the Port of Long Beach this week.”

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in conjunction with the University of New Mexico graduated high school students from a summer youth leadership development program that is funded by the Department of Energy.

The students participated in training July 20th - August 1, 2008 at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. The purpose of this program, which began last year is to develop young Latino student leaders and prepare them for college. The Department of Energy granted $154,833 to continue the successful program for the next three years.

The theme this year’s program was “Can Latinos Afford to go Green?” Students were given the opportunity to learn leadership skills by educating themselves on environmental issues that impact the whole community. The program provided leadership training, tutorials, guidance, counseling and cultural/social enrichment activities.

“LULAC thanks the Department of Energy for making this national leadership program possible,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. We congratulate all thirty-five students who graduated from this program. We are excited about the leadership academy and we were impressed by the students’ presentations that we are going to start a campaign focused on saving the environment.”

Keynote speakers were Theresa Alvillar-Speake, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity from the U.S. Department of Energy along with the LULAC National President Rosa Rosales, National Youth President Jessica Martinez and Dr. Eliseo Torres, Vice President for Student Affairs, UNM. Student speakers from the UNM included Ruben Gonzales, Karissa Vasquez, Steven Astorga and Xochitl Romero.

“The DOE/LULAC/UNM partnership represents one of the ways that DOE works in the communities where it has a presence,” said Theresa Alvillar-Speake, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity from the U.S. Department of Energy. “This particular partnership focuses on developing DOE’s future diverse workforce.”

“The University of New Mexico is one of the leading Hispanic institutions in the country and we are honored to hold the leadership conference in New Mexico where we will continue to see students from all over the country benefiting from this important program that develops future leaders,” said New Mexico State Director Pablo Martinez.

Other guests included the staff of Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-NM), LULAC National Educational Service Centers (LNESC) Albuquerque Director John A. Moya, LULAC State Director of New Mexico Pablo Martinez, LULAC National Youth President Jessica Martinez and LULAC Program Manager and Policy Analyst Elizabeth Garcia.

“The partnership provides students an opportunity to continue their leadership skills and give back to the community,” said National Youth President Jessica Martinez. “Last year the focus was on immigration and this year the students made their presentations on the environment.”

LULAC wants to thank the support of the local councils, LNESC centers and parents for sponsoring the students’ attendance at the program.

2008 graduates:

Malleri Acevedo, Windsor, CT
Kimberly Alvarez, Dallas, TX
Tracy Aparicio, Dallas, TX
Irene Araiza, Milwaukee, WI
Steven Astorga, Houston, TX
Margarita Barrón, Laredo, TX
Ashi Colina, Maywood, IL
Edgar Coronado, Sierra Vista, CT
Camila Cremata, Apollo Beach, FL
Omar Cruz, San Antonio, TX
Jason Delarosa, White Plains, NY
Desiree Frias, Bronx, NY
Jorge García, Albuquerque, NM
Eleno Garza, Corpus Christi, TX
Anali González, Albuquerque, NM
Jazmine González, Mundelein, NM
Ruben Gonzales, Gladstone, MO
Jhordan Granger, Albuquerque, NM
Christian López, Stockton, CA
Vicente Mares, San Antonio, TX
Salina McKinney-López, Crystal Lake, IL
Alexis Nuñez, Albuquerque, NM
Karyna Ramírez, Albuquerque, NM
Kimberly Romero, Albuquerque, NM
Xochitl Romero, Cicero, IL
Angelica Salinas, San Antonio, TX
Jennifer Schrock, Carlsbad, NM
Mikayla Soto, Carlsbad, NM
Solomón Soto, Carlsbad, NM
Mercedes Stone, Odessa-Gardendale, TX
Jessica Tena, Albuquerque, NM
Lizbeth Tenorio, Milwaukee, NM
Ruben Terán, Sierra Vista, AZ
David Uranga, Odessa-Gardendale, TX
Karissa Vásquez, Albuquerque, NM

In its first year, 26 high school Latino high school sophomores and juniors from across the country with scholastic potential participated in the week-long training. This year, the number of students increased and next year will accommodate more students to attend.

The League of United Latin American Citizens advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.”

Received via e-mail:

1. Attached is the press release from META and MALDEF on a very important Texas case on the education of English language learners and a copy of the decision.
2. META is the non-profit law firm that brought LULAC v. Florida Board of Education and handles the followup to implementation of the resulting Consent Decree.
3. Many of the Issues affecting English language learners in Texas are also concerns in Florida.

Release Major Ruling Texas English Language Learner.doc

Texas RECONSIDERATION DECISION FINAL.pdf

The U.S. Army deepened its partnership with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) participating in several activities during their Annual Convention and Expo on July 7-12, in Washington, DC. At the same time, during the event, the Army announced the creation of a national leadership seminar for youth that will be taking place in October 2008, thanks to its partnership with LULAC’s National Education and Service Centers (LNESC).

The program is an intensive, three-day seminar organized by LNESC, which brings fifty outstanding students from across the US and Puerto Rico together in Washington, DC. During their stay, students work on public policy issues and meet with national leaders from Congress and other institutions. Thanks in part to the U.S. Army’s support, this will be the first time since 2005 that LNESC will hold its three-day youth leadership program.

Throughout LULAC’s recent annual conference, U.S. Army representatives had the opportunity to emphasize the Army’s commitment to continue forming strong leaders that make a difference in their communities.

During the partnership luncheon, Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Víctor Rivera, addressed attending guests and briefly spoke about the Army’s ongoing relationship with LULAC and how both organizations focus on education, leadership and support of Hispanic students. Through this shared commitment, the important LNESC youth leadership development program is being revitalized.

Captain Rolando Rodriguez, Army ROTC representative from John Hopkins University, along with CSM Rivera and other military representatives participated in discussion panels, sharing with 300 students in attendance their day-to-day experience as Soldiers and how the Army has helped them to fulfill their goals. At the same time, and as special guest during the Presidential Dinner celebration on Friday, July 11, Brigadier General Gordon Bray provided a brief recognition to veterans and Hispanic heroes from all military branches of the United States.

Similarly, an exhibit that provided a hands-on experience with U.S. Army technology, including a robotics obstacle course for participants as well as information on professional opportunities and career paths available within the Army, was available in the crowded exhibit hall during this well-attended national convention.

About the United States Army Accessions Command (USAAC)
USAAC, headquartered at Fort Monroe, Virginia, oversees recruiting and training of both enlisted Soldiers and Officers for the U.S. Army. USAAC is composed of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) at Fort Knox, Kentucky, the U.S. Army Cadet Command (USACC) at Fort Monroe, Virginia, and the U.S. Army Training Center at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

About LULAC
The League of the United Latin American Citizens (www.lulac.org ) advances the economic conditions, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide. “

LULAC, which stands for the League of United Latin American Citizens announced that it will hold it’s 2011 convention in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati, Orlando and Dallas were contending for the conference.”*

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez issued the following statement praising the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) for calling on Congress to schedule a vote on the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement. “*

Presumptive presidential nominees Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain addressed a record number of delegates including Ventura County members at the 79th Annual League of United Latin American Citizens National Convention in Washington D.C. recently. Both candidates spoke before large audiences in separate events at the Washington Hilton on Tuesday July 8.”*

As the presidential candidates stumped their way across the country from LULAC to NCLR, delivering a slightly altered version of a speech they gave the week before, Latino voters, as all voters, are faced with an interesting dilemma.”*

The Prunedale resident and mother of four has been recognized for her work with the North Monterey County League of United Latin American Citizens Council at the local and state level, and she just was named LULAC’s California Woman of the Year in May.”*

The following was released today by the Democratic National Committee:

Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA) and Eliseo Medina held a conference call today to respond to John McCain’s speech at NCLR, and call for straight talk from the GOP candidate on his promise of a third Bush term and contradictions on immigration reform.

To listen to the remarks from the conference call, click on the link below:
www.democrats.org/page/-/audio/calls/071408_conferencecall_remarks.mp3

The following are excerpts from the call:

Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA) (0:37)
“In terms of Senator McCain’s remarks to the National Council of La Raza, we were hoping to find out which face of John McCain we’d see today, and we learned that we saw both faces. This is an individual politician who has become very good at sending different signals, depending on which audience he’s addressing. At the National Council of La Raza I think he left probably more ambivalent feelings than anything else. It sounded like he might be in support of the Dream Act, but we’ve heard him say he hasn’t been for the Dream Act; to try to help young Latino and other immigrant students make it into college.

“We find that he continues to be out of touch on issues relating to the economy, and certainly with regard to Iraq. We know that on immigration he has flip-flopped too many times to count, and at the end of the day this, to me, boils down to an issue of trust. For Latino voters, the issue of who will become the person who can deliver after eight years of seeing the serenades of President Bush and the Republicans, Latinos are very anxious to see someone who will deliver on the commitments to improve their economy, their job prospects, opportunities for good schools for their kids, healthcare, and certainly opportunities to become vibrant Americans, who are former immigrants. And so what we learned today, from John McCain in his presentation to the National Council of La Raza is that we didn’t learn anything. We continue to see the two faces of John McCain, and we’re trying to figure out which one we can trust, it’s hard when you have someone who’s flip-flopping on the issues.”

Eliseo Medina, SEIU Executive Vice President (2:37)
“It seems to me that Senator McCain has had three opportunities, first with NALEO, second with LULAC, and third with NCLR to make his case of why the Latino community ought to support him for President of the United States. And I think that the Latino community more than anything else was hoping for some straight talk from the Senator, but I actually think after listening to him three times that we got the exact opposite. And it seems to me that the Senator is trying to have it both ways. First he says to our community that he appreciates our contributions to this society and that we are God’s children, but at the same time, when it comes down to actually taking action to…match his words with acts, he fails. He walked away from McCain-Kennedy, the bill he helped to introduce, and carried his name. He walked away from the DREAM Act as the Congressman said. And at the same time, while doing all of these things, he wants us to believe that he’s on our side and I think he’s having a really hard time making it clear which side he’s on.”

Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee,

Award-winning journalist Jackeline Cacho is chosen as Master of Ceremonies for the 79th Annual LULAC National Convention’s Presidential Reception featuring Senator Hillary Clinton on July 11, 2008. In Addition Jackeline is meeting personally with leaders and politicians such as LULAC National President Rosa Rosales, Treasurer of the United States Ana Cabral, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles as well as Senator John McCain, to discuss the image of Latinos in American media and her new television show entitled “En Familia with Jackeline Cacho” which is designed to show the real face of Latino’s on American television.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) July 10, 2008 — Award winning journalist Jackeline Cacho is chosen as Master of Ceremonies for the 79th Annual LULAC National Convention’s Presidential Reception featuring Senator Hillary Clinton on July 11, 2008.
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The largest annual event of its kind in the United States, the 79th annual LULAC national convention is being hosted in Washington, D.C., and runs from July 7 through July 12, 2008 where an estimated 15,000 political, community and business leaders are uniting in the nation’s capital to discuss the impact of the Latino vote that is taking center stage at this year’s presidential election.

“This election year is a true reflection of the increased mobilization of Latinos,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. “We are delighted to have Ms. Jackeline Cacho to be Master of Ceremonies for our Presidential reception with Senator Hillary Clinton. Jackeline is a true leader in the Latino community and we support her new TV show which will show the Real Face of Latino’s in America.”

Ms. Jackeline Cacho, who has most recently been selected as one of the Top 25 Most Influential Latina Women in America by Latino Leaders Magazine in it’s April 2008 edition and is in development on her ground-breaking TV show entitled “En Familia with Jackeline Cacho” says, “I am very honored to be representing fellow Latinos at such an important event where our voting power in America is being recognized and promoted by the current and future leaders of this great country”.

On the first day of the convention Jackeline met personally with Senator John McCain, Treasurer of the United States Ana Cabral and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles to discuss how the Latino population is not being presented properly today in the American Media and how her new TV show “En Familia with Jackeline Cacho” is a catalyst for positive change. Both leaders were very supportive and offered their support as Jackeline develops her ground-breaking show. “I am the Mayor of the most diverse Latino population in the country so I know it is very important to have the real face of Latino’s presented properly in the media, and I believe that your show has the right format for today’s Latino’s,” said Mayor Villaraigosa.

Presidential candidate Barack Obama also attended the conference and delivered a moving speech to to the LULAC conventions highly influential Latino leaders in an effort to capture the powerful Latino vote in time for the Presidential election.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide
Ms. Cacho’s television show is currently in development and is designed to be a magnet for today’s American Latino’s. “We are so excited to be receiving such great support from the entire Latino community and we are working very hard to make sure that the Real Face of Latinos in America will soon be seen on American TV.” Said Ms. Cacho.

In addition to being recognized by Latino Leaders magazine, Ms. Cacho is also currently Ambassador and National Spokesperson for The Peace Alliance, has proudly represented The City of Hope as Official National Spokesperson for The “La Gota De La Vida” campaign, and has also been awarded “Advocate Of The Year” from the Latin Business Association (2007), “National Television News Personality of the Year” from the Hispanic Women’s Professional Association (2006), and has received many other awards and recognition throughout her vast career in media.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Ca., Ms. Jackeline Cacho is co-founder of JC Enterprises, Inc., Finding Productions, and Sunlight Art Designs which are privately held companies focused on bringing the best television, events, entertainment, and publications to the Latin community. For business inquiries or customized sponsorship packages please contact business manager Gary Christmas at 714.915.1183 or just visit Jackeline Cacho’s website.”*

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The UNM College Enrichment and Outreach Programs (CEOP), part of the Division of Student Affairs, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and the Department of Energy (DOE) are proud to team to up once again for the “UNM/LULAC Annual Leadership Program” for incoming junior and senior high school students”*

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the AT&T Foundation, the corporate philanthropy organization of AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) announced today that LULAC will receive a $1 million grant from the AT&T Foundation’s Aspire initiative, to implement LULAC’s Adelante America program, which will provide academic classes, mentoring and student leadership development for underserved, at-risk Latino teens in grades eight through 10. “This important educational initiative in our community will help ensure that our nation’s rich high-tech future and digital empowerment is within reach of our Latino youth,” said LULAC president Rosa Rosales. “A good education is the key to a successful future. And as a long-time leader in broadband and mobile communications, and a long-term dependable partner of the Hispanic community, AT&T is once again demonstrating their corporate leadership by keeping the American Dream accessible to Latino students all across the country.” The $1 million grant will be spread out over two years and will serve a total of 910 at-risk participants in the eighth through the 10th grade. The Adelante America program will develop services and activities that will link classroom learning with the challenges that students face in post-secondary education and the workplace of the future. The goals include increasing rates of on-time promotion to the next grade; improvement of academic performance as measured by grades and test scores; improvement of interpersonal relationships between the children and their peers, teachers, family and other adults; reduction of the dropout rate, delinquency and gang involvement; and achieving a higher graduation rate for its participants. “As one of the most well-respected advocacy organizations in the country, LULAC will help ensure that Latino students have the tools they need to live up to their maximum educational potential,” said Susan Santana, assistant vice president, External Affairs, AT&T. “We are honored to play a small part in helping today’s Latino youth become tomorrow’s world leaders.” The AT&T Foundation’s Aspire program was launched earlier this year, in an attempt to address the fact that nearly one-third of U.S. high school students drop out every year, which amounts to one student dropping out every 26 seconds — a disproportionate number of whom are Hispanics. The $100 million philanthropic effort announced in April reflects AT&T’s commitment to help to strengthen student success and workforce readiness. Currently, Latinos are vastly underperforming when compared with other groups. The percentage of adults over the age of 25 that has earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, is 27.2 percent. Among Latinos, that percentage is only 12.2 percent. In addition, Hispanic secondary school students have the highest dropout rates of any ethnic or racial group in the U.S. “*

Barack Obama’s speech on Tuesday before the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) was very important for several reasons. First, it signals that Obama has rebounded from his primary perception deficit with Latino voters and has built a two-to-one advantage over John McCain. Second, and this is more important, this could signal the beginning of a working partnership between African-Americans and Hispanics in the adoption and implementation of public policy initiatives, but, as we all know, you have to win before you can govern.”*

Candidates Obama and McCain are gearing up to do what the mainstream media is touting as a “mini-Latino voter tour” that includes speeches at the LULAC Convention today and speeches at the National Council of La Raza’s (NCLR) convention in San Diego next week.

For discussion’s sake, let’s do as the mainstream media does and forget that the voice of LULAC is but one very well-funded voice in a cacophony made up of more than 40 million Latino voices and thousands of Latino organizations in the U.S. And, in the name of being part of this often inane (as in anybody seen that political Chupacabra - the widely-reported Latino unwillingness to vote for a black candidat e- lately?) conversation labeled “Latino politics”, let’s also ignore that lurking beneath that brown blob of a media construct called “Hispanics” in headlines and sound bites are inconvenient truths; Inconvenient truths like the fact that organizations like LULAC do not always speak for many, if not most, of us, when, for example, leaders like NCLR’s Janet Murguia or LULAC’s Ray Velarde gushed with support for disgraced former Attorney General and war criminal Alberto Gonzales.”*

Part of the expectations of any niche group, that is lucky enough to snag a high-profile speaker, is that the speaker’s remarks will be specifically tailored to the group and reveal, if not startling news, something to maintain a buzz after the applause dies down.”*

With a historic turnout expected from Latino voters in the upcoming November election, presumptive presidential nominees Barack Obama and John McCain will be trying to drum up support in SanDiego at the National Council of La Raza convention this weekend.”*

By the time she finished clapping, Roselia Rameriez had made up her mind. Ramirez, who had traveled to Washington from Big Spring, Tex., to attend the national convention of LULAC–the League of United Latin American Citizens– entered the Washington Hilton Tuesday afternoon still undecided about who she would support for president. Though a lifelong Democrat, who had only gone over to the other side once, to vote for Ronald Reagan, she had been unsure through the spring. But after hearing the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, give an impassioned speech that stirred the subterranean interiors of the Hilton’s International Ballroom, Ramirez related to him in a new way. Once she had heard his thoughts on how to help Latino children, and of his own experience as a community organizer in Chicago, everything suddenly seemed clear.”*