A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM YOUR
LATINO LEADERS
“Latino leaders in communities across the country will match the
energy and leadership of the new Obama Administration so that
Latinos, too, help advance the expected change coming from
Washington. Our conference presents serious discussions on how
we fight for social equality and economic advancement and how
what happens in Washington will shape our community’s future.”
-- John Trasviña, MALDEF President and General Counsel
“Through the Latino State of the Union, we hope to spotlight the
Latino Agenda and how we will work with the new Administration
and Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to make this
agenda a reality.”
-- Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO
“This is a critical time to ensure that the issues of paramount
importance to the Latino community are brought to the fore. We must
not forget those in our country that need our help the most.”
-- Rosa Rosales, LULAC National President
Mission Statements
MALDEF: Founded in 1968 in San Antonio, Texas, the Mexican American Legal Defense
and Educational Fund (MALDEF) is the leading nonprofit Latino litigation, advocacy
and educational outreach institution in the United States. MALDEF's mission is to foster
sound public policies, laws and programs to safeguard the civil rights of the 45 million
Latinos living in the United States and to empower the Latino community to fully
participate in our society. www.maldef.org
NCLR: The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) -- the largest national Hispanic civil
rights and advocacy organization in the United States – works to improve opportunities
for Hispanic Americans. Through its network of nearly 300 affiliated community-based
organizations (CBOs), NCLR reaches millions of Hispanics each year in 41 states, Puerto
Rico, and the District of Columbia. In addition, it provides capacity-building assistance
to its Affiliates who work at the state and local level to advance opportunities for
individuals and families. www.nclr.org
LULAC: With over 700 councils across the United States and Puerto Rico, the League of
United Latin American Citizens is the largest and oldest Hispanic Organization in the
United States. LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment,
political influence, health, housing and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through
community-based programs operated by LULAC councils nationwide. The organization
involves and serves all Hispanic nationality groups. www.lulac.org
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast and Registration
Location: Capitol Room
Welcoming remarks
• Elmy Bermejo, Board Member, MALDEF
• Susan Gonzales, Corporate Senior Director
of Government Affairs, COMCAST
• U.S. Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard
(D-CA)
Formal Address
John Trasviña, President and General Counsel,
MALDEF
9:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Plenary session
Sponsored by Comcast
Location: Capitol Room
Priorities under the Obama Administration and
111th Congress
Moderator: Maria Elena Salinas, Co-Anchor
Noticiero, Univision
Distinguished speakers:
U.S. Representative Ben Lujan (D-NM)
Rosa Rosales, President, LULAC
John Trasviña, President and General Counsel,
MALDEF
Simon Rosenberg, President, NDN
*****************************
10:50 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
Workshops
Education, Hate Crimes and the Economy
Putting a Quality Education Within Reach
Moderator: Brent Wilkes, National Executive
Director, LULAC
Location: Yosemite Room
Sponsored by AT&T
Distinguished speakers:
Raul Gonzalez, Senior Legislative Director, NCLR
Moira Lenehan, Legislative Assistant, U.S.
Representative Ruben Hinojosa
Antonio Tijerino, President & CEO, Hispanic
Heritage Foundation
Peter Zamora, DC Regional Counsel, MALDEF
Standing up to Hate, The Latino Community
Responds
Moderator: John Amaya, Legislative Staff
Attorney, MALDEF
Location: Capitol Room
Distinguished speakers:
Delia Garcia, Kansas State Representative
Mark Kappelhoff, Criminal Section Chief, Civil
Rights Division, Department of Justice
Clarissa Martinez De Castro, Dir. Of Immigration
and National Campaigns, NCLR
Michael Lieberman, Washington Counsel, AntiDefamation League
Thomas E. Perez, Secretary, Maryland Department
of Labor
*****************************
The Economy in Retrospect: What Went Wrong to
What’s Next
Moderator: Eric Rodríguez, Deputy Vice President,
Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation
Location: Bryce Room
Distinguished speakers:
Sam Jammal, Legislative Staff Attorney, MALDEF
John Guerra, CEO, New America Alliance
Irasema Garza, Executive Director, Legal
Momentum
Mark Lopez, Associate Director, Pew Hispanic
Center
12:00 p.m.-1:45 p.m.
2009: Taking the Message to the Latino
Community
LUNCHEON
Sponsored by Exxon Mobil
Location: Columbia Ballroom
Welcome Remarks
• Mark Boudreaux, Exxon Mobil
• Rosa Rosales, President, LULAC
Formal address
• The Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa
Moderator: Maria Teresa Petersen, Voto Latino
Distinguished speakers:
U.S. Representative Mike Honda (D-CA)
Dolores Huerta, Founder, Dolores Huerta
Foundation
U.S. Senator Robert Menendez
Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR
Tony Plana, Actor
1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR
JOHN TRASVIÑA was appointed MALDEF President and General Counsel in
November 2006; Mr. Trasviña began his career at MALDEF in Washington, DC as a
legislative attorney in 1985. He later worked for U.S. Senator Paul Simon as General
Counsel & Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the
Constitution. He was the highest ranking Latino attorney at the U.S. Department of
Justice. A highly sought after advocate, Mr. Trasviña testified in the last Congress
before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in support of extension of the Voting
Rights Act and before the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee against
English Only legislation. He now serves on the boards of the Latino Issues Forum,
Campaign for College Opportunity and Harvard Club of Southern California and was
recently elected to be a member of the American Law Institute. A native of San
Francisco, Mr. Trasviña is a graduate of Harvard University and Stanford Law School.
MARÍA ELENA SALINAS is the co-anchor of Noticiero Univision with Jorge Ramos,
the most watched newscast by American Hispanics. She is considered as one of the
most recognized and influential female Hispanic journalist in the United States.
Salinas has interviewed some of the world's most politically influential figures,
ranging from U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Mexican President Vicente Fox, and U.S.
President Bill Clinton. Salinas is one of the founders of the National Association of
Hispanic Journalists. She sponsors the Maria Elena Salinas Scholarship for college
students interested in Spanish news broadcasting. Since 2000, she has been a co-host
on Aquí y Ahora (Here and Now) which is a 20/20 news type program on Univision.
The HONORABLE KEN SALAZAR has been nominated by President-elect Barack
Obama to serve as the Secretary of the Interior. Salazar currently serves as a
Democratic Senator from Colorado. He was elected to the position in 2004, and was
the second Hispanic man to serve in the position since 1977 (after Florida's Mel
Martinez). He describes himself as a moderate and often takes positions that are in
opposition to those of fellow Democrats. Prior to his time in the U.S. Senate, he served
as the state's Attorney General from 1999 to 2005. His political career began in 1986,
when he served as chief legal counsel to Gov. Roy Romer. In 1990, he was appointed
to the governor's cabinet as Director of the Colorado Department of Natural
Resources, where he focused on land conservation, environmental education and
mining and oil operations reforms. Salazar returned to private practice in 1994 until
his election as state Attorney General in 1998.
ROSA ROSALES presently, she still remains as the Director of the National
Association of Public Employees (NAPE), of which is the founder. Her involvement
with LULAC goes back to 1978, where she became Council President, then District
Director. State Director, and in 2000 became the National Vice-President for the
Southwest. Mrs. Rosales became the National LULAC President in July 1, 2006.Rosa
Rosales has been an icon for the Hispanic community in areas such as education, civil
rights, employment, housing, health, immigration, the elderly and other areas. She has
received too many awards. However, to name a few, she was awarded the
Community Achievement from the National American GI Forum in Kansas; and also
in 2006 received an award at La Feria de la Flores in Corpus Christi, Texas. Mrs.
Rosales graduated form the University of Michigan with high distinction
SIMON ROSENBERG is President and Founder of NDN, a leading progressive think
tank and advocacy organization. Rosenberg has worked in national politics and the
media world for more than 20 years. On the Clinton campaign, he was a member of
the 1992 Clinton War Room. After the campaign, Simon worked at the Democratic
National Committee, the Democratic Leadership Council and then started what is
now NDN in 1996. During his time at the helm of NDN and its predecessor
organization, the New Democrat Network, Simon has helped elect more than 50 new
members to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, has been an influential
champion of a new and more modern agenda for the nation, has been an innovator in
helping progressives reach out to and communicate with Hispanic voters, and has
been a leader in creating a 21st century progressive movement. A 1985 graduate of
Tufts University, Simon and his family live in Washington, DC.
BRENT WILKES is the National Executive Director for the League of United Latin
American Citizens this country's largest and oldest Hispanic organization. He has
worked in various capacities for LULAC since 1988 including Special Projects
Coordinator, Resource Developer, and Director of Policy & Development. As the
LULAC National Executive Director, Wilkes is working hard to improve the quality of
life for Hispanic Americans by guiding LULAC on its way to becoming a millionmember organization with extensive legislative, public policy, and service activities in
Hispanic communities throughout the United States. He is also an active board
member of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility which advocates for
the inclusion of Hispanics in corporate America at a level commensurate with
Hispanic economic contributions. A graduate Dartmouth College in 1988, Wilkes
majored in Government and Philosophy and studied Spanish in Morelia, Mexico.
PETER ZAMORA is the Washington, D.C. Regional Counsel of the Mexican
American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). As Regional Counsel, Mr.
Zamora develops and manages federal legislative strategies regarding education law
and policy, voting rights, immigration, and other Latino policy priorities. He has
testified before Congress and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights regarding Latino
education civil rights issues. Prior to joining MALDEF, Mr. Zamora served as a
bilingual-credentialed English teacher in California public schools, a legal consultant
to the District of Columbia Public Schools, and an attorney in a private federal
education law practice. Mr. Zamora has earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University
of California at Berkeley, a teaching credential from the University of San Francisco,
and a Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center.
RAÚL GONZÁLEZ currently emphasizes advocacy management for initiatives
with Congress, federal agencies, other nonprofits, and NCLR’s affiliated communitybased organizations to improve life opportunities for Latinos. Previously he worked
as a Legislative assistant, Office of Representative Major R. Owens; Teacher, New
York City Public Schools. Gonzales obtained his Bachelor’s degree in psychology and
a bachelor’s degree in expository writing from City College of New York.
ANTONIO TIJERINO oversees the 20-year-old, nationally-renowned nonprofit by:
executive producing the star-studded Hispanic Heritage Awards at the Kennedy
Center and TV specials broadcast on NBC and Telemundo stations; expanding the
Youth Awards, a leadership and national educational program providing more than
$700,000 in grants annually to more than 300 students at 13 ceremonies across
America; developing an inspirational speakers’ bureau; and creating the LOFT
(Latinos on Fast Track) program, which systematically identifies, prepares and places
emerging Latino professionals on a management track in America’s workforce.
Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) identifies, promotes and prepares Latino role
models through national leadership, cultural, educational, and workforce programs.
JOHN AMAYA is a Legislative Staff Attorney for MALDEF (Mexican American Legal
Defense and Educational Fund) where he is responsible for managing and executing
MALDEF's federal legislative strategies related to immigration policy. Prior to joining
MALDEF, Mr. Amaya served as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice in
the Civil Division where he represented the United States in Federal Circuit Courts of
Appeals and Federal District Courts. Mr. Amaya has previous legislative experience
having worked as a congressional fellow for Senator Maria Cantwell (WA) and as an
aide for Congressman Norm Dicks (WA).A native of Los Angeles, California, Mr.
Amaya holds a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the
University of Washington where he previously served on the Board of Regents. Mr.
Amaya is currently working on his LL.M. at the Georgetown University Law Center.
THOMAS E. PÉREZ is the Secretary of the Department of Labor, licensing and
regulation in Maryland. Tom Perez is a nationally recognized consumer advocate and
civil rights lawyer who was appointed by Governor Martin O'Malley in January 2007
to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
(DLLR). From 2002 until 2006, Secretary Perez was a member of the Montgomery
County Council. Secretary Perez was the first Latino ever elected to the Council, and
served as Council President in 2005. For the final two years of the Clinton
administration, Secretary Perez served as the Director of the Office for Civil Rights at
the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Secretary Perez received
an A.B. in International Relations and Political Science from Brown University in 1983,
a J.D. cum laude in 1987 from Harvard Law School and a Master's degree in Public
Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government also in 1987.
DELIA GARCÍA is the first ever Latina woman to be elected to the Kansas
Legislature, at age 27, as the youngest female elected to the Kansas Legislature. Ms.
Garcia is a professor of American Government at Butler Community College, as well
as helps with the family restaurant Connie’s Mexico Café, Kansas’ oldest family
owned Mexican café since 1963. She is one of five daughters, born and raised in the
district she represents today. In 2004, in the midst of her campaign for the Kansas
Legislature, Delia completed her Masters Degree in Political Science from St. Mary’s
University in San Antonio, Texas. Garcia received a National Award for Public Service
at the MANA 2005 Las Primeras Awards held in Washington DC at the National
Museum of Women. In 2007, she graduated from the Harvard University Executive
Leadership Program with the National Hispana Leadership Institute.
MARK KAPPELHOFF serves as the Chief of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights
Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He also supervised and assisted in the
prosecution of United States v. Kil Soo Lee, et al., the largest human trafficking case
ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice. Mr. Kappelhoff and the entire trial team
were awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, the second
highest award in the Department. He also led an extensive investigation into
allegations of widespread corruption involving police officers in the Rampart Division
of the Los Angeles Police Department. For his efforts, he received the Director’s
Award for Superior Performance. Mr. Kappelhoff received his Bachelor of Science
degree in Psychology from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. He earned
his J.D. degree from American University, Washington College of Law in Washington,
DC.
CLARISSA MARTÍNEZ is the Director for Immigration and National Campaigns at
the National Council of La Raza. Martinez’ expertise includes Immigration legislative
advocacy and strategy; Latino electorate, voter mobilization, and participation; state
advocacy efforts; coalition-building and management. Martinez’ current position
includes the oversight of work on immigration and efforts to expand opportunities for
Latino engagement in civic life and public policy debates. Martinez’ previous
positions include Manager of the Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform,
NCLR Director of State/Local Public Policy, and Public Policy Coordinator for
Southwest Voter Research Institute. Martinez obtained her Master’s degree in Public
Administration at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
and her bachelor’s degree in diplomacy and world affairs from Occidental College.
MICHAEL LIEBERMAN has been the Washington Counsel for the Anti-Defamation
League since January, 1989 and also serves as Director of the League’s Civil Rights
Policy Planning Center. One of three registered lobbyists in Washington for the ADL,
Mr. Lieberman helps coordinate the ADL's involvement in legislative initiatives before
Congress and helps to develop and implement ADL policy positions on a wide range
of domestic and international affairs. Mr. Lieberman received his B.A. from the
University of Michigan where he majored in Judaic Studies and International
Relations. He received his law degree from Duke University where he served as a
member of the Duke Law Journal, and Editor-in-Chief of the Duke International and
Comparative Law Institute.
ERIC RODRIGUEZ is the Deputy Vice President of the Office of Research, Advocacy
and Legislation at the National Council of La Raza. At NCLR, he helps to supervise
and coordinate core operations of the Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation.
He is also directly responsible for providing strategic guidance for public policy,
legislative, and advocacy activities related to economic mobility and financial security
policy issues. Rodriguez has also written or contributed to publications on economic
issues and their impact on low-income Latinos. This work includes preparing several
major reports, issue briefs, opinion-editorials, and papers on Social Security reform
and retirement security, financial services and wealth-building policies for the poor,
welfare reform, and other related economic security issues. Mr. Rodriguez serves as
Vice Chairman of the Board of the Coalition on Human Needs (CHN) and is a
member of the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI). He also holds a
bachelor's degree in History from Siena College in New York and a master’s degree in
Public Administration from American University in Washington, DC.
SAM JAMMAL is a Legislative Staff Attorney for the Mexican American Legal
Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF). Founded in 1968, MALDEF is a national
nonprofit legal organization that uses litigation, policy advocacy, and community
education programs to protect and promote Latino civil rights. Sam’s policy focus is
immigrant integration, language rights, health care and employment. He received his
bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and his Juris Doctorate
from The George Washington University Law School. Sam is currently licensed to
practice in the State of California and serves on the Board of Directors for The George
Washington University Law School Alumni Association. This past election Sam
chaired the DNC Latino Voter Protection Task Force.
JOHN GUERRA has more than 30 years experience in leading, marketing, and
building dynamic and rapidly growing organizations resulting in a solid track record
of leadership and success. He currently is the Interim CEO of the NAA, a national
organization comprised of prominent business leaders united to lead the process of
American Latino economic empowerment and wealth-building through economic
capital, leadership development, strategic philanthropy, and public policy advocacy.
John is also currently President and CEO of Aztec Worldwide Inc.
HONORABLE ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA is the 41st mayor of Los Angeles. He
was elected on May 17, 2005 and sworn in to office on economic development and
ethics. He also is a past President of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Civil
Liberties Union and the American Federation of Government Employees. In 1994,
Villaraigosa was elected to the California State Assembly; four years later, his
colleagues elected him the first Assembly Speaker from Los Angeles in 25 years. While
Speaker, Villaraigosa oversaw passage of landmark state legislation including the
modernization of public schools, the toughest assault weapons ban in the country, the
largest urban neighborhoods parks initiative in America, and the "Healthy Families"
program that provides healthcare for over a half a million California children. He ran
for mayor of Los Angeles in 2001 and narrowly lost the election. In 2003, he won the
14th District Los Angeles City Council Seat. Villaraigosa graduated from Theodore
Roosevelt High School and attended UCLA, where he received s B.A. degree in
history. He is a graduate of the People’s College of Law.
TONY PLANA currently stars as Ignacio Suarez, the widowed father to America
Ferrera’s Ugly Betty, in ABC’s landmark, groundbreaking hit series for which he
received the 2006 Golden Satellite Award from the International Press Academy and
an Alma Award nomination for best supporting actor in a television comedy. Having
co-directed and co-produced the film A Million to Juan with Paul Rodriguez, Plana
celebrated his solo directorial debut in December 2000 with The Princess and the
Barrio Boy. He has directed several critically acclaimed theatre pieces, including:
Judith Ortiz Cofer’s Don Jose de la Mancha and Nancy De Los Santos’ The Answer to
My Prayer. Plana has been very active in live theatre. On Broadway, his credits
include Zoot Suit and The Boys of Winter. Tony Plana was educated at Loyola High
School, Los Angeles and Loyola-Marymount University, where he earned a Bachelor’s
degree through the Honors Program in Literature and Theatre Arts, graduating
magna cum laude. He received professional training at the Royal Academy of
Dramatic Art in London, England.
JANET MURGUÍA has become a key figure among the next generation of leaders in
the Latino community. Since January 1, 2005, she has served as the President and
Chief Executive Officer of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR). Murguía began
her career in Washington, DC as legislative counsel to former Kansas Congressman
Jim Slattery, serving for seven years. She then worked at the White House from 1994
to 2000, as deputy assistant to President Clinton then served as deputy campaign
manager and director of constituency outreach for the Gore/Lieberman presidential
campaign. In 2001, Murguía joined the University of Kansas (KU) as Executive Vice
Chancellor for University Relations, overseeing KU’s internal and external relations
with the public, including governmental and public affairs. In 2007 she was featured
in Newsweek’s Third Annual Women and Leadership issue Named to Poder
magazine’s “The Poderosos 100”, chosen for Latino Leaders magazine’s “101 Top
Leaders of the Hispanic Community” and selected for Hispanic magazine’s “Powerful
Latinos 2007.” Janet Murguía grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. She received three
degrees from KU: a B.S. degree in journalism (1982), a B.A. degree in Spanish (1982),
and a J.D. degree (1985) from the School of Law.
PAUL WALDMAN works for Media Matter and has authored or co-authored four
books on media and politics, the latest of which is Free Ride: John McCain and the
Media. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and is a Senior Fellow
and Director of Special Projects at Media Matters for America. He is also a columnist
for The American Prospect.
MARIA TERESA PETERSON is the founding Executive Director of Voto
Latino. Voto Latino is a youth organization engaging the next generation of
Americans in civic participation. Under Maria Teresa's leadership, Voto Latino
launched the first ever national mobile texting campaign to register voters in 2006, has
produced award winning Public Service Announcements, created the Artist Coalition
of over 35 active celebrity voices, and has created a media coalition that includes
MySpace, YouTube, iTunes Latino, SiTV, LATV and MTV. She started her career as a
Legislative Aide for former Democratic Caucus Chairman Vic Fazio managing
international trade issues and appropriations. Maria Teresa is a Woodrow Wilson
Public Policy International Affairs Fellow and a National Hispana Leadership Institute
Fellow. Maria Teresa holds a Masters from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of
Government and a Bachelors from University California, Davis in international
economics.