Leading Latino Legal Civil Rights Organization Convenes 3rd Annual Latino State of the Union, Outlines 2010 Public Policy Priorities

Expectations around comprehensive immigration reform, Census 2010, redistricting and workforce development among issues to be presented

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, January 20, 2010, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) will host the 2010 Latino State of the Union: the 3rd Annual Roundtable on Law, Policy and Civil Rights at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.  The nation's leading Latino scholars and advocates will discuss the major policy initiatives facing the Latino community in 2010.  Among the participants will be Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Dr. Gabriela Lemus, Director, Office of Public Engagement U.S. Department of Labor (Invited), and Mark Hugo Lopez, Associate Director, Pew Hispanic Center.  MALDEF President and General Counsel Thomas A. Saenz will deliver the keynote address.  Among the issues to be addressed are: Census 2010, comprehensive immigration reform, workforce development, redistricting and universal broadband adoption.

WHAT:

2010 Latino State of the Union - The 3rd Annual Roundtable on Law, Policy and Civil Rights

WHO:

The Honorable Robert Menendez (D-NJ), U.S. Senate

The Honorable Xavier Becerra (D-CA), U.S. House of Representatives

The Honorable Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) *Invited U.S. House of Representatives

Dr. Gabriela Lemus, Director, Office of Public Engagement, U.S. Dept. of Labor *Invited

Maria Cardona, CNN Commentator and Principal, Dewey Square Group

Joaquin Avila, Executive Director, National Voting Rights Initiative & Distinguished Practitioner in Residence, Seattle University School of Law

Mark Hugo Lopez, Associate Director, Pew Hispanic Center

Lillian Rodriguez-Lopez, President, Hispanic Federation and Chair, National Hispanic Leadership Agenda.

Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel, MALDEF

WHEN:

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

12:00 pm – 2:00 p.m. EST

WHERE: The National Press Club, Grand Ballroom

529 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20045

Founded in 1968, MALDEF, the nation's leading Latino legal civil rights organization, promotes and protects the rights of Latinos through litigation, advocacy, community education and outreach, leadership development, and higher education scholarships. For more information on MALDEF, please visit: www.maldef.org.

SOURCE Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund