7/13/2003 - LULAC OUTLINES VISION OF AMERICA AS HISPANIC POPULATION GROWS

74th Annual League of United Latin American Citizens
National Convention Provides Direction for the Changing Face
of America.



The 74th Annual LULAC National Convention, attended by a record crowd of
more than 10,000 people, was by far the most successful convention yet.
During the convention, there were a variety of high profile leaders who
addressed the LULAC membership. The convention concluded its weeklong
event in Orlando, Florida by offering members an enlightening view of
the future.

One of the top speakers was Louis Kincannon, Director of the U.S. Bureau
of the Census, who brought to bare some very interesting statistics. The
fact that Hispanics total over 38 million people, and are the fastest
growing minority in the country, making up 13 percent of the U.S.
population, was not a surprise to most, but what is surprising is where
Latinos are moving.

Although 58 percent of Hispanics still live in the top ten metro markets,
such as Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and Chicago, according to a study
released by LULAC during the convention, the remaining 42 percent have
spilled out to the suburbs of those cities, and even have ventured in significant numbers to places such as Little Rock, Arkansas; Orlando,
Florida; and Cicero, Illinois.

These are communities in small cities, towns and rural areas that are not
accustomed to the influx of anything other than, perhaps, tourists during
the summer season. The State of Arkansas, for example, experienced an
explosive growth of 337 percent in its Hispanic population, according to
the 2000 Census report.

A number of LULAC speakers offered insights into this phenomenon. Latinos
bring with them a unique combination of needs and assets. An infiltration
of Hispanics in any one community has the potential to change the local
economic and political landscape.

On Wednesday, LULAC’s National President, Hector Flores, who was
re-elected during the convention, addressed that very issue. He went
into detail discussing what the census numbers mean to Hispanics,
particularly concerning the need for services and the potential political impact. “Now more than ever Hispanics need to have a voice in Congress and in the administration,” said Flores. “Our numbers are growing but our political clout is not, we must work to change this immediately.”

Accordingly, the highest ranking Latina in the Air Force, Brigadier
General Maria Cribbs, addressed the fasted growing population in our
country, Hispanic women. Brigadier General Cribbs spoke at the Women’s
Luncheon about the need for more Latina leaders in the military and
other leadership positions.

In keeping with this year’s LULAC National Convention theme, “Latinos
Unidos: Realizing The Promise,” U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development spoke about Hispanic Homeownership Month and the launching of
HUD’s new Spanish language website. Under-representation of Hispanics in
the Federal government was another important topic discussed. During the
convention, LULAC issued a letter to Office of Personnel Management
Director Kay Coles James asking for an explanation as to why Hispanics
remain greatly under-represented in the Federal government.

At a press conference held July 20, the Department of Defense saluted
Hispanics for their contributions during the global war on terrorism.
Even though Hispanics are demographically under-represented in the
Department of Defense, more Latinos are now serving their country in
the U.S. military than in any other previous war in history.

Charles Abell, Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel
and Readiness, Brigadier General Jose Portela, Mobilization Augmentee for
the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs,
Rogelio Pardo-Maurer, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Western
Hemisphere Affairs, and Brent Wilkes, LULAC National Executive Director,
were on hand for this important accolade to the entire Hispanic community.
Mr. Abell also went on to discuss important contributions by Hispanics in
the military.

Education, as always, is a primary focus of the LULAC organization. One
in five Hispanics in the United States between the ages of 16 and 24 left
American schools without either a high school diploma or an alternative
certificate such as a GED, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Latinos
remain the most likely to drop out, the most likely to be found in large,
urban, high-poverty schools, and the least likely to enroll in college.

With those facts in mind, LULAC held informative workshops on important
subjects including the high drop out rate and the “No Child Left Behind”
Act. To bring home the importance of education to minorities, Raul
Yzaguirre, President of the National Council of La Raza and Reg Weaver, President of the National Education Association addressed the membership
during the Thursday, June 19 “Unity Luncheon.”

Other exciting events and speakers made this year’s convention stand out
from any other in the past. LULAC held events at Sea World and Epcot
Center, making the most of the Orlando venue. And LULAC members will
never forget the outstanding performances given by singers Olga Tañón
and Pedro Montero, not to mention the bilingual speech Florida Governor
Jeb Bush gave during the Friday, June 20 Presidential Ball.

Finally on Saturday, June 21 the LULAC membership passed their new
legislative platform for 2003 and elected their leaders for a one-year
term. The following are the officers for 2003:



Hector Flores, President (re-elected)
Rosa Rosales, VP for the Southwest (re-elected)
Vera Marquez, VP for Women (re-elected)
Dr. Juan Garcia, VP for Young Adults (re-elected)
Laura Medrano, VP for the Northeast (re-elected)
Haydee Rivera, VP for Southeast
David Rodriguez, VP for Farwest
Desi Pesina, VP for Elderly (re-elected)
Blanca Vargas, VP for the Midwest (re-elected)
Fernando Escabi, VP for Youth (re-elected)
Frank Ortiz, National Treasurer (re-elected)
Theresa Filberth, National Secretary (re-appointed)
Ray Velarde, Legal Advisor (re-appointed)
Luis Vera, General Counsel (re-appointed)
Lena Levario, Of Counsel (appointed)
Roman Palomares, Chief of Staff (re-appointed)
Adrian Rodríguez, Parliamentarian, (re-appointed)
Queta Fiero, Chaplain (re-appointed)



LULAC members also voted to hold their 2006 convention in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. San Antono, Texas is the site for the 2004 National
Convention; and Little Rock, Arkansas hosting the National Convention in 2005.

Some of the top priorities on the LULAC agenda for 2003 include continuing
to press for immigration reform, justice for farmworkers, increasing
Hispanic homeownership, economic empowerment and education. In particular
on the education side, LULAC plans to fight hard to see that the DREAM
Act legislation is passed so that students who meet certain requirements
will be able to obtain citizenship.

On the program side, LULAC will focus on the “LULAC Leadership Initiative.” This is an ambitious project to revitalize Hispanic neighborhoods from
within by creating innovative grass roots programs in over 500 Hispanic communities served by LULAC Councils. The initiative will identify best practices and publish a model program guide for Hispanic volunteers.

Excitement is already building for the 75th Diamond Anniversary LULAC
National Convention which will take place from July 6-10, 2004 in San
Antonio, Texas. As the largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights
organization in the United States, LULAC’s 75th anniversary will
celebrate the history of the Hispanic civil rights movement and the
promise of what’s to come.



League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).





Founded in 1929, LULAC’s membership extends into every state in the
Union and Puerto Rico with over 700 councils nationwide. LULAC represents
a broad cross-section of Hispanic Americans. The organization is committed
to advancing the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanics across the United States.





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