LULAC Brings Nation's Leaders to Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2010 LULAC Convention is an exciting, history-making convention because it convenes the national delegates of LULAC to discuss issues, set policies, and elect the organization's leaders.  

With the theme "New Strategies for Community Empowerment: New Leadership through Action," approximately 20,000 people are expected to attend, including top leaders from business, government, and other sectors of the Latino community. It will feature policy workshops, banquets, a job fair, a three-day exposition and a federal training institute.  

"Over a decade has passed since LULAC was in Albuquerque and we return because this is a critical time in our nation's history.  Right now, next door in Arizona with SB1070, we are facing potentially unconstitutional laws that encourage racial profiling and discrimination," said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. "We are having high level Cabinet Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries and national leaders coming to speak to us on this issue along with other key concerns such as diversity, health care and education."

"We are honored and grateful that LULAC has chosen Albuquerque as its choice city for this year's convention," Mayor Richard J. Berry said. "Albuquerque has so much to offer and I'm sure that visitors will find New Mexico is full of history, culture, and diversity."

Confirmed speakers include: Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar; Secretary of Labor, Hilda L. Solis; U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios; OPM Director Jon Berry; Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, John Trasvina; Assistant Secretary Elementary and Secondary Education, Thelma Melendez, PhD; Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, Tom Perez; NAACP President, Ben Jealous; Assistant Administrator for Water, EPA; Ed Avalos; Assistant Administrator for Water, EPA, Peter Silva; Undersecretary Marketing and Regulatory Programs, DOA, Ed Avalos; Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy and Planning, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Rep. Ben Lujan, New Mexico; Silvestre Reyes, Texas; Rep. Joe Baca, California; and co-founder of United Farm Workers.  

"We're especially gratified to host Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis," Rosales said.  "We are grateful for Secretary Salazar's attendance on Saturday at the President's Celebration and Secretary Solis will speak on Wednesday at the Partnership Luncheon."

LULAC will host a free concert extravaganza, Voces Unidas por America, to unite the divided people of Arizona through celebrity performances featuring many artists. The event will take place on Saturday, July 17th and will focus on helping hard working immigrants realize their American Dream.

LULAC has focused on education, civil rights, and employment for Hispanics.  LULAC councils provide a million dollars in scholarships each year, conduct citizenship and voter registration drives, develop low income housing units, conduct youth leadership training programs, and seek to empower the Hispanic community at the local, state and national level.

SOURCE LULAC, League of United Latin American Citizens