Friday, June 27, 2008
Conference Program & Events (Download PDF)

Opening Session and Breakfast:
Race, Gender, and Politics: the Road to the White House
8:00am - 9:30am

Breakout Sessions:

High School Equity: Ensuring No Child Left Behind
Meets the Needs of Latino Students
10:00am - 11:30am
(In partnership with The National Hispanic Caucus of School Board Members,
a Council of the National School Boards Association)
Education is a core civil right, but too many of our children are being denied access to educational opportunities in our nation’s public schools, especially Latinos and other students of color. The nation’s high schools are graduating just over 50 percent of Latino students. Moreover, about 2,000 of the nation’s 22,000 public high schools produce roughly half of the nation’s high school dropouts, and not surprisingly, these “dropout factories” serve mostly students of color. For many, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is seen as a vehicle for ensuring that more students of color leave high school with a diploma in hand and prepared to reach their full potential in order to enjoy productive and fulfilling lives. This session explores issues related to NCLB, including educational equality and student success, and also offers recommendations for ensuring that NCLB meets the needs of Latinos and other students of color.

Taking Action to Build Healthy Communities
10:00am - 11:30am
One of the most important issues our communities face today is the staggering increase in the rates of obesity and chronic disease. Inherent in everyday decision making, Latino elected officials have the opportunity to inform and shape policies concerning school wellness, community design, neighborhood safety, transportation, and housing, as well as recreation, and access to affordable fresh foods and quality health care. These very decisions affect opportunities for physical activity and healthy eating, which are both directly associated with the prevention of obesity and chronic disease. This session will provide an overview of the critical health issues facing communities and provide strategies to enhance the impact of Latino leadership for healthier communities.

Latino Families and the Impact of the Economic Crisis
10:00am - 11:30am
As the economy continues towards a recession, many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, with financial crisis looming as their debt continues to grow. The housing market is responding to the economic downturn with mounting rates of foreclosure. In 2006, 47 percent of all Latinos who purchased a home received a sub-prime loan, while 25-50 percent of those qualified for prime loans. In the same year, the foreclosure rate grew by 42 percent, with more than 1.2 million foreclosures filed. Although Latino homeownership rates continue to rise, only 48 percent of Latinos own their homes compared to 75 percent of non-Hispanic whites, and many are in jeopardy of losing their homes. Policymakers attending this session will hear from policy and industry experts and discuss model practices and practical solutions for assisting Latino families through the economic crisis.

Public Pension Funds: Investing in the Latino Community
10:00am - 11:30am
State, municipal and other public pension funds control enormous resources that have the potential to provide opportunities for Latino-owned financial services firms, improve Latino-owned businesses’ access to capital, and ultimately contribute to the economic development of our communities. Latino elected officials at the state and local level can influence the decision-making of public pension funds to ensure that Latino financial professionals, business owners and communities have the opportunity to take advantage of investment decisions and provide positive returns to the funds. This session will provide policymakers with the tools they can use to increase Latino participation in these funds and to ensure they are more accountable and transparent to the public.

National Leadership Luncheon
12:00pm - 1:30pm

NALEO Republican Presidential Nominee Forum
2:00pm - 4:00pm
The nation has witnessed historic Latino voter participation in this year's presidential primaries and caucuses, and the impact Latino voters have had on Senator John McCain’s successful GOP nomination prospects. The consistent growth in Latino voter participation ensures that these voters again will play a critical role in electing the next President of the United States. As November approaches, the presidential nominees need to know what is important to Latino voters. This spring, the NALEO Educational Fund, in partnership with AARP, Entravision Communications Corporation, ImpreMedia, Mi Familia Vota Education Fund, National Council of La Raza (NCLR), and Univision Communications Inc., held eight Town Halls throughout the country to understand what the priorities are for Latino voters. The next President also will need to work in partnership with the nation’s Latino elected officials who represent important constituencies across the country. This Forum is an opportunity for the presumptive Republican nominee to respond to the voters’ concerns as expressed in the NALEO Town Halls, and address the gathered leadership of the Latino community.

Millennium Reception
5:00pm - 7:00pm

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