LULAC Convention & Expo in Las Vegas Expected to Attract 20,000

USA - English

• Latin America - español

LAS VEGAS, June 19, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 84^th Annual LULAC Convention opened its doors to a free Expo today at Caesars Palace.  Organizers anticipate 20,000 will attend the Expo which is free and open to the public today through Friday.

LULAC National President, Margaret Moran, LULAC Executive Director, Brent Wilkes, Walmart's Director of Corporate Affairs, Constituent Relations and Paul Gomez presided at the ribbon cutting ceremony.

"The National LULAC Convention is one of the greatest places to hear from our nation's leaders on the issues of greatest concern to the Latino population," said LULAC National President Margaret Moran.  "Health care, employment and education are always at the top of the list. That's one of the reasons why our free Expo offers thousands of local residents and tourists the opportunity to get advice on college applications and financial aid, take advantage of free health screenings and medical advice, talk to employment recruiters and Federal employment specialists, or simply have fun and meet Latino celebrities."

The 84th annual convention takes place in Las Vegas, now home to more than 183,000 Latinos, one of the fastest-growing Hispanic communities in the nation. The Latino community suffers high numbers of health care disparities, yet is one of the highest uninsured minority groups in the United States.  As part of LULAC's commitment to raise public awareness regarding the health care challenges, the Convention Expo Hall is a site committed to offer the public free health care screenings. Additionally, earlier in the day, LULAC and Tyson's donated 38,400 pounds of protein to a local food bank to help combat food insecurities among Latinos.

This year's convention theme is Lifting Our Voices Through Civic Participation, and a free concert will bring together artists raising their voices in support of immigration reform. Tickets for the free concert featuring War, La Santa Cecilia and Pee Wee, scheduled for Saturday, June 22, at the Augustus Ballroom at Caesars Palace, are available at corporate sponsored booths at the Expo.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities.  Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 900 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC's programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future.  For more information, visit www.lulac.org.

SOURCE League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)