Thursday, June 26, 2008
Conference Program & Events (Download PDF)

Opening Session and Breakfast: 2008, The Year of the Latino Vote
8:00am - 9:30am
The story of the 2008 Primary Election season was written by Latino voters. Breaking previous turnout numbers and in some states outperforming the general electorate, Latino voters are a driving force in determining who will be the next President of the United States. The opening session will provide a demographic analysis of the Latino
electorate, its impact on Presidential politics, and will highlight the issues Latino voters care most about as identified through Ya es hora Voter Town Halls.

Breakout Sessions:

Pre-K and Latinos: Policies and Programs for Access and Success
10:00am - 11:30am
(In partnership with The National Hispanic Caucus of School Board Members,
a Council of the National School Boards Association)
When compared to other groups, Latinos are least likely to participate in Pre-K programs even though Latino children are most in need of these services. Without early intervention, many Latino children will start kindergarten lagging behind their peers—and many of them never catch up. There is a growing body of evidence that high quality Pre-K programs can have a positive impact on the school careers of many children, especially Latinos. In addition to reviewing what is known about early childhood education for Latino children, the experts on this panel will offer policy recommendations for what can be done to expand Pre-K access and program quality for Latinos.

Out of the Shadows: Mental Health in Our Community
10:00am - 11:30am
While mental health disorders affect an individual first, the outcome of untreated mental disorders has costly consequences for families, communities and the health care system. Latinos are identified as a high-risk group for depression, anxiety, and substance abuse; however they face multiple barriers to treatment. The availability, access, use and appropriateness of care are challenges the community faces in addressing issues of mental health. This session will provide an overview of the current state of mental health among Latinos, explore strategies to achieve
mental health insurance parity, and highlight innovative state and local policies that support programs developed to address the needs of those affected by mental health issues.

Census 2010 and the Latino Community: The Countdown Begins
10:00am - 11:30am
With Census 2010 less than two years away, we are now at a critical time for the preparations for the next decennial enumeration. During this session, panelists will address key issues involving the planning for Census 2010 and its impact on the Latino community, including outreach efforts to educate Latinos about the importance of the Census and the confidentiality of their responses. This session also will address opportunities and strategies for Latino elected officials in their own jurisdictions to help ensure the most accurate count possible of the nation’s population.

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

NALEO Democratic 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 the Democratic candidates’ 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 Democratic nominee to respond to the voters’ concerns as expressed in the NALEO Town Halls, and address the gathered elected leadership of the Latino community.

The Edward R. Roybal Legacy Gala Reception
6:00pm - 7:00pm
Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, Washington, D.C.

The Edward R. Roybal Legacy Gala
7:00pm - 11:00pm
Andew W. Mellon Auditorium, Washington, D.C.
Our signature social event of the Conference is so named for the many contributions the late Congressman Edward R. Roybal made to the nation, to NALEO and to the NALEO Educational Fund, of which he is Founder Emeritus. Congressman Roybal served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1949 to 1962, and in the U.S. House of
Representatives from 1963 to 1992. In 1976, Congressman Roybal and several of his colleagues founded NALEO and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. He served as NALEO's President until 1999, when he was named President Emeritus. Congressman Roybal’s legacy lives on in the work of those bestowed with the prestigious Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service. Beginning in 2009, the NALEO Edward R. Roybal Legacy Gala will be an annual Washington, DC, event, separate from the NALEO Annual Conference. Next year’s Gala will be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 the anniversary of Congressman Roybal’s birth.

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