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Press Release

LULAC Brings Summit for Hispanic Veterans to Orlando, Florida.

Topics to Include Education, Employment and Entrepreneurship

November 8, 2007

For more information, contact:
Lizette Jenness Olmos,
202-833-6130 ext.16

Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest Latino organization in the United States, is bringing a summit for Hispanic veterans to Orlando starting today through Saturday. The three-day event is expected to draw 5,000 participants to discuss key issues impacting veterans including education, health, employment, immigration, home ownership and entrepreneurship. The summit is being held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and features workshops and a veterans opportunity expo that is open to the public and free of charge including free parking at the resort.

Key speakers include Rosa Rosales, LULAC National President, Brent Wilkes, LULAC National Executive Director, Ana Cabral, U.S. Treasurer, Clarence Johnson, Principal Director, Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity, Department of Defense, Bishop and Organizer of the Community Councils, Angel E. Marcial-Estades, Church of God, Fidencio Burgueno, Director, Hispanic Ministry, Dr. Richard D’Costa, Project Executive Director, Member of Community Council of Puerto Rico, Honorable Daniel L. Cooper VADM (Ret) Undersecretary for Benefits Department of Veterans Affairs, General Patrick Rea, Regional Administrator, Small Business Administration, Anna Maria Farias, Director Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, Housing and Urban Development, Honorable Jose A. Aponte, President House of Representatives, Puerto Rico, Alfonso Aguilar, Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Homeland Security, Bobby Dyer, Orlando Mayor, Mildred Fernandez, Orlando Vice Mayor and Orange County Commissioner, Vivian Feliciano, LULAC Vice President for the Southeast, Bettina Rodriguez Aguilera, LULAC Florida State Director, Raymond Suris-Fernandez, Esq, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of the Army, Brigadier General Thomas Sullivan, Deputy Commander, Joint Forces, Florida Army National Guard, R. Allen Pittman, Executive Vice President, U.S. Oncology and Mike Trujillo, Director, Departmental Office of Civil Rights, Department of Transportation.

“LULAC pays tribute to all of our veterans in the United States that have served our country, lost their lives so we could have the freedoms and benefits and liberties we enjoy on a daily basis,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. “There is a concern by the numbers of our veterans who are being left behind. A study by National Alliance to End Homelessness found that more than 25 percent of the homeless population in the United States are military veterans, although they represent 11 percent of the civilian adult population. We also know a great percentage of them have no insurance. There is so much to be desired in their care. LULAC is proud to sponsor the Veterans Summit along with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Florida Community Counsels.”

“The Department of Veterans Affairs congratulates President Rosales and the members of LULAC on seventy-eight years of dedicated and untiring service to this country’s Latino population. As the nation’s largest and oldest Hispanic organization, your commitment to the advancement of Hispanics in education, employment, health and civil rights is unparalleled,” said Undersecretary Cooper.

The LULAC Expo and workshops are open and free to the public. Registration will be held Friday and Saturday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. For more information please visit www.lulac.org or call (202) 833-6130.

We would like to thank the following sponsors: Gold – Billetel, City of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Silver - Department of Defense, Univision, The Walt Disney Company, Bronze – American Airlines, Enterprise, Seguros Multiples, El Nuevo Dia Orlando and Freedom Team Salute.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States. LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

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