Advocates Hold Closed Door Session in Washington with Latino Journalists on Issues Affecting Latino Children, Families in America

2/25/2003

From: Gerry Migliore, 914-526-3045 or Gerry757@earthlink.net

News Advisory:

On Tuesday, March 4, 2003 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road at Connecticut Avenue NW, The National Council of Latino Executives will hold a two hour, off-the-record, round table session with Latino journalists.

The group will discuss the problems facing children and families in the Latino communities across the nation, and the social and political implications for the country. Luis Media, Executive Director of St. Christopher's Inc., in New York and CEO of the National Council of Latino Executives will be moderating the interchange.

Latinos are fast becoming a potentially powerful force in this country. The Latino population in this country grew 61 percent between 1990 and 2001-from 21.9 million to 35.3 million making it the fastest-growing ethnic group in America according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Strategy Research Corporation estimates that the Latino population will triple in size by 2050, making up 24 percent of the total US population.

The session will be part of Children 2003-Imagine an America, a national conference sponsored by The National Council of Latino Executives (NCLE) and the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA). NCLE and CWLA will hold a conference "Children 2003 - Imagine an America" from March 4th-7th, 2003. The national conference will draw professionals from the child welfare, education, behavioral health, juvenile justice and related fields.

NCLE is a national group of Latino advocates who advise the Child Welfare League of America to enhance the well being of Latino children and families. The group provides leadership to the field by influencing and shaping policy, conducting research, and evaluating programs and practices to ensure the inclusion of and responsiveness to Latino Issues.

Journalists wishing to participate in the discussion should contact Gerry Migliore ASAP. (see above) In order to facilitate a productive interchange space is limited to twenty participants. For additional information about the conference itself, contact Margarita Quinones of the National Council of Latino Executives, Phone: 914-693-3030 Ext. 2378, E-mail: mquinones@sc1881.org.