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Wednesday, February 15, 2012
LULAC’s Presidential Address
I. 9:00am – 9:15am, Hyatt Regency, Columbia B
LULAC’s 2012 Policy Agenda
This is a crucial election year for our country. Within the context of a disappointing economy, high unemployment rates, poor health outcomes, and educational inequalities, LULAC National President Margaret Moran will speak about how to move LULAC’s agenda forward with a vision for overcoming these challenges.
Speaker: LULAC National President Margaret Moran
EDUCATION POLICY BRIEFINGS
II. 9:25am – 10:35am, Hyatt Regency, Columbia B
Federal Climate
Dramatic shifts in Congress brought fresh faces to Capitol Hill, while state budgets faced continued shortfalls and a backlog of education legislation waiting to be addressed. Education advocates are asking themselves: What's in store for education reform and how will it affect Hispanic students? Join LULAC as we discuss the budget outlook for federally funded programs, opportunities for reauthorizing the Elementary & Secondary Education Act, and whether adult learners will see any developments in the Workforce Investment Act this year.
Guest Speakers: Kristor (Tor) Cowan, Director of Legislation, American Federation of Teachers; Jose Rico, Executive Director, White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans; and Raul González, Legislative Director, National Council of La Raza (Moderator)
THE LATINO VOTE PRESS CONFERENCE
III. 10:45am – 11:15am, Hyatt Regency, Lexington Room
The Power of the Latino Vote
The power of the Latino vote in the 2012 Election
EDUCATION POLICY BRIEFINGS
IV. 11:30am – 12:30pm, Hyatt Regency, Columbia B
Accountability
Fifty-eight years after Brown v. Board of Education, there is a vigorous debate about the federal government’s role in closing achievement gaps and ensuring equal educational opportunity for all students. Proponents of a strong federal role insist that a robust federal accountability system -- with a focus on historically underachieving groups of students -- is needed now more than ever, especially as states and districts grapple with an epic dropout crisis, while also facing historic budget shortfalls for the foreseeable future. Others, however, believe education policy should be the exclusive domain of states and support the principle of local control. This session will provide an overview of how the ESEA's accountability provisions have evolved since they were first introduced, where the states have fallen short in meeting the equity requirements for assessment and accountability under ESEA, and summarize current proposals to overhaul ESEA's accountability. We will identify some of the elements of an effective accountability model and discuss the relative merits of the various policy proposals now being debated.
Guest Speakers: Jacqueline Ayers, Legislative Director, Education & Health Policy, National Urban League (moderator); Melanie Anderson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning & Policy Development, Department of Education; Dianne Piche, Senior Counsel and Director of Education Program, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
JOBS & THE ECONOMY POLICY LUNCHEON
V. 12:30pm – 2:00pm, Regency C
Job Creation
Sponsored by Walgreens
According to a report released by The Pew Research Center (November 2011), Latinos have the highest rates of poverty in the nation. Investment in infrastructure and job training initiatives are crucial for improving our economy and getting Latinos back to work, especially when 26.7% of the Latino population lives in poverty. In order to ensure long-term economic stability for the U.S., we have to prioritize and turn the fastest growing segment of our population into a strong and innovative workforce. Join representatives from the White House and the Department of Labor, as they speak about their plan to create more jobs by providing advanced career awareness, mentorship opportunities, and workforce development training through the Summer Youth Jobs Program.
Guest Speakers: Richard Cordray, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; Debbie Garza, Walgreens Divisional Vice President of Government and Community Relations
HEALTH POLICY BRIEFING
VI. 2:00pm – 3:30pm, Hyatt Regency, Columbia B
Built Environment
Where you live matters: How your zip code can influence your health outcomes. People who live in low income neighborhoods are more likely to be obese or have diabetes, according to a 2011 study conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This study indicates that the neighborhood where you live impacts your health and the choices people make. Due to high poverty rates and limited resources, the neighborhoods where Latinos live oftentimes have limited access to supermarkets that are stocked with healthy and affordable foods, public transportation, safe places to walk and play, and quality health providers. This briefing will explore the relationship between Latino neighborhoods and their impact on the community’s health, as well as recommendations for how advocates can become engaged in creating active, healthy, and sustainable communities.
Guest Speakers: Salin Geevarghese, Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Sophie Milam, Senior Policy Counsel, Feeding America; Marice Ashe, Executive Director, National Policy & Legal Analysis Network to Prevent Childhood Obesity (NPLAN)
LULAC Awards Gala ** Ticketed Event **
VII. 6:00-9:00pm, Regency Ballroom
Celebrating Legislative Service to the Hispanic Community and LULAC’s 83rd Anniversary
Honoring:
 Presidential Award
Professor Joaquin Avila, Esq.
Distinguished Practitioner in Residence and Director,
Seattle University School of Law
 Legislative Award
The Honorable Richard Durbin,
Assistant Majority Leader,
United States Senator for Illinois
 Legislative Award
The Honorable Jorge A. Santini Padilla,
Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico
Black Tie Event
6 pm Cocktails; 7 pm Awards; 8 pm Dinner
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Advocacy Day
Capitol Hill
I. 8:00am – 9:30am LULAC Advocacy Training
II. 10:00am – 5:00pm Advocacy Visits
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