Conference thanksyouletter

2006 HEARTLAND LATINO LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

""LLaattiinnooss TTrraannssffoorrmmiinngg tthhee PPrreesseenntt aanndd IImmppaaccttiinngg tthhee FFuuttuurree""

1

Thursday, November 16 10:00-11:30 a.m. Registration and Welcome 11:30-1:30 p.m. Opening Ceremony

"The Value of Immigration: How Latino Immigration is changing America" Raul Yzaguirre - Former President/CEO National Council La Raza (Sponsored by ConAgra Foods)

1:30-2:00 p.m. Break 2:00-3:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions I

Leadership Track

Room: 210 Workshop:The great American Home-ownership Challenge: Do you know that owning a home is the single most important step to get out of poverty and accumulate financial wealth? What do Latinos think about home-ownership? What are the barriers they face when buying a home? What are their alternatives? This workshop will answer those questions and more. You will leave inspired to initiate a revolution to create wealth-building opportunities in your own life. Adrian Diaz, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Manager and Celina Fontes, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Consultant, will introduce you to the basics of the home ownership process and inspire you to maximize the benefits of homeownership now! Social Issues Track Room: 216 Workshop: Immigration Today! What are the alternatives in current legislation being debated in congress? Learn the pros and cons of each proposal and make a personal commitment to action. Flavia Jimenez, National Council La Raza Immigration Policy Analyst, will present an immigration policy update. Mrs. Jimenez will give an overview of what may occur over the next year, where should we go from here and what are the implications for the Latino community. Flavia Jimenez has worked extensively with immigrants and on comprehensive immigration reform both at the grassroots and the national level. A first generation Latina, Mrs. Jimenez has defended victims of domestic violence, as well as workers in non-payment of wages cases as an employment rights attorney at CASA of Maryland, Inc. In 2004, she began to work to reform our immigration laws at the National Council La Raza. She has extensive media experience including foreign



2

press outlets such as the BBC, Ecuadorian press, CNN en Español, as well as print media and radio experience. Diversity Track Room: 211 Workshop: Power, Privilege And Its Impact On The Latino Community: The concept of power and privilege in America isn't new. But an irony of power and privilege is that those who enjoy the special advantages that power and privilege confer often aren't even aware that the playing field is tilting in their favor. In this thought-provoking seminar, you will get an overview of power and privilege in America, the special challenges it presents to the Latino community and strategies for achieving true equity in both institutional and personal level. Peter Shinn, President of Diversity Chat.Com, a Kansas City based organizational development consulting firm, will present this thought-provoking workshop. Peter Shinn first began his career in human services as an addictions counselor and human relations instructor for the United States Air Force in 1988, and has worked in the military equal opportunity career field ever since. Shinn has the unusual distinction of having served as an equal opportunity advisor and substance abuse counselor at units for all three Air Force components - Active Duty, Reserve and Air National Guard - and has won awards in each for his outstanding accomplishments as an instructor, counselor and advisor. Shinn is currently the non-commissioned officer in charge of Military Equal Opportunity at Sioux City Air National Guard Base in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. In May, Shinn was named the new Chief of Military Equal Opportunity for the base and awarded a commission in the Iowa Air National Guard. Education Track I Room: 212 Experts Panel: Scholarships, Grants, Educational Loans And All That Jazz! If you are worried about the high costs of education today and want to learn what the available alternatives are, then this workshop is for you! You will get all the information you need to make the best decision on how to afford the education you deserve. This expert panel is composed by Brad Brown, Director of the Omaha Office for EducationQuest; Judith Monarriz Diaz-Kelsey, Student Recruiter and Academic Advisor for the University of Nebraska at Omaha at the Peter Kiewit Institute; Tammy Buffalohead, representative of the Bill Gates Scholarship Program; Troy Romero, Director Goodrich Scholarship Program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha; and Gina Ponce, Outreach Director at Bellevue University. Education Track II Room: 213



3

Workshop: Dream Act And The Future of Latinos In The U.S.A. Research produced at a local and national level indicates that there is an educational achievement gap between children of color and white children. The gap becomes more evident when statistics about poverty and income level are compared to grades. At a time when Latinos are becoming the largest and the poorest minority group in the U.S.,how will educational opportunities shape the opportunities that Latinos have to succeed in the XXI Century? This workshop intends to educate, motivate, and inspire you to take action today and do your part to save the future of our children.

The speaker at this session is Milo Mumgard, executive director of the Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest, a nonprofit, nonpartisan law project committed to equal justice for all Nebraskans. Under Mumgaard's leadership, Nebraska Appleseed has played pivotal roles in securing the Living Wage Ordinance for Omaha, the Meatpacking Workers Bill of Rights, demanded fair and decent treatment for welfare recipients, and ensured legal assistance for the poor where none existed. In 2003, he was profiled as a voice for justice in the heartlands on the PBS weekly news show "NOW with Bill Moyers."

Prior to joining the Nebraska Appleseed Center, Mumgaard served as a staff attorney for the Texas Rural Legal Aid Farmworker Division, as a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Omaha, Farm Desk, and as director of the Nebraska Center for Legal Services.

In 2001, the Ford Foundation honored Mumgaard with its prestigious Leadership for a Changing World Award in recognition of his strong advocacy in tackling tough social problems. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska Lincoln and New York University School of Law.

3:00-3:30 p.m. Break 3:30-4:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions II

Leadership Track Room: 210 Workshop: Leading With Your Gifts And Talents: This fast-paced interactive session will provide participants with research on seven thinking behavioral styles measured by the Emergenetics Profile, a powerful, science based tool. Participants will be able to explore their individual preferences and gain an understanding of how this information can aid them in unlocking their true potential and the role it can play in increasing team engagement and productivity. Sherry Helmke, President of New View Now Consulting a firm based in Seattle, and former Executive Director of ICAN in Omaha, is an experienced practitioner of the Emergenetics Profile and theory. Sherry has more than twenty years of experience in organizational development in the private sector and has trained with Geil Browning Ph. D, author of



4

Emergenetics: Tap Into the Science of Success. Social Issues Track Room: 216 Workshop: Targeted Alcohol and Tobacco Marketing as a Latino Civil Rights Issue: As more cities across the country continue implementing partial and total tobacco bans in public places and restaurants, tobacco and alcohol companies are moving their targets to young Latinos. This workshop will present the realities of the situation and the alternatives that community-based advocates are using to fight the war to promote policy change and enhance community health. Katherine Culliton graduated from the law school at American University as valedictorian in 1993, and she has been practicing civil rights and human right law since then. She was awarded Ford Foundation and Fulbright grants to develop the body of law protecting freedom from discrimination as a fundamental right, and has worked for various NGOs on race/ethnic/gender issues in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and the United States. Ms. Culliton is the author of a series of publications, in English and Spanish, which have been used to protect civil rights in the Americas, with a strong focus on women's human rights, as well as Latino civil rights and immigrants' rights. Ms. Culliton also conducts strategic campaigns to protect the Latino community's rights to health. Her most recent publication, The Impact of Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising on the Latino Community As a Civil Rights Issue, was published in Berkeley La Raza Law Journal, Vol. 16.2 in December 2005. Diversity Track Room: 211 Experts Panel: Young People in Politics: As Latinos become the second largest ethnic group in the U.S., it is evident that the large increases in population have not translated into more representation in political involvement, public offices and elected positions. A Latino presence in these fields will be critical in the future, as others that may not be representing us will make many decisions that will affect our lives. This will be an open discussion about where the Latino community stands in the political world in the Midwest, and why young Latinos should get involved as leaders of their own communities. The expert’s panel will discuss how several Latino political leaders competed and were successful running or being appointed for an office. This will be an open discussion about where the Latino community stands in the political world, and why young Latinos should get involved as leaders of their own communities. Lisa Cuevas-Jorgenson,is currently a member of the Board of Regents Metro Community College in Omaha; Mark Martinez is the only Latino



5

elected to the Omaha Public Schools Board; Sarah Monroy is the only Latino woman elected in Iowa. She is a Storm Lake City Council Member. Maria Vazquez is a former member of the Board of Regents Metro Community College in Omaha and was the first Latina appointed to Mayor Mike Fahey Executive Cabinet. Education Track Room: 212 Experts Panel: Latino School Drop Out: The school drop out rates of Latinos compared to other groups are alarming. Several programs have proven to be successful where others have failed. Which are the best alternatives, the realities; challenges and opportunities that schools, families and communities have in helping Latino youth succeed in the academic field? This group of experts in the academic field has worked for many years with Latinos in public and private schools and they will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches. Kent Butts and Josephine Ramos have more than forty-five years of combined experience working with youth in schools and communities. They both work at the Omaha Public Schools. Dr. Joanne Hamilton is the director of English as Second Language services at South High School in Omaha, and Andres Traslavina is the director of admissions at Saint Peter Claver/Cristo Rey High School in Omaha. Business Track Room: 213 Experts Panel: Fighting Predatory Lending And Other Fringe Financial Services That Erode The Economic Health Of Our Communities: Payday loans, car title loans, check cashing, money wire services and other fringe financial services empty many Latinos pockets from their hard earned money and steal the asset building opportunities for our communities. This group of experts has researched the different types of fringe financial services offered in our region, how individuals fall victims of the lending abuses, and what are the alternatives to mitigate the problem. Steve Vigil is an attorney and Director of the Community Economic Development at the Abrahams Legal Clinic at Creighton University Law School. Mr. Virgil received a B.A. from St, Johns College in Maryland and a J.D. from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. His areas of practice include consumer loans, representing consumers under the Truth in Lending Act and the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act, by preventing foreclosure and return of fees and costs charged by lenders. Dick Schenck, is a Community Development Vice-President at Wells Fargo Bank in Omaha. Mr. Schenck has more than thirty-eight years of experience in banking and specializes in the Community Reinvestment Act area. Dan Padilla is the manager of Latino Outreach at Pinnacle Bank.



6

5:30-7:30 p.m. Reception and opening celebration of the exhibition, "Our Journeys/Our Stories: Portraits of Latino Achievement"

El Museo Latino, 4701 South 25th Street Sponsored by The Smithsonian Institution and Ford Motor Company Fund Friday, November 17 7:30-8:30 a.m. Late Registration/Exhibit- Booth Viewing 8:30-10:00 a.m. "Building Our Legacy For Future Generations" Julio Melara- Publisher and Motivational Speaker Sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank 10:00-11:00 a.m. Break/Exhibit Booth Viewing 11:00-12:00 p.m Breakout Sessions III

Leadership Track Room: 210 Workshop: Black & Brown Coalition: An alternative For Racial Unity And Understanding. Race and culture in the XXI Century are defined by more than the color of the skin, language, or geography. Brown people, black people, and white people are finding more questions than answers in their quest to close the divides that have separated them for years. The Black and Brown Coalition effort in Omaha presents a clear an honest approach on how to work from the commonalities and celebrate the shades of gray rather than concentrating on the differences. Josephine Ramos is a Student and Community Relations Specialist at Omaha Public Schools and Chris Rodgers, a Douglas County Board Commissioner, and member of the Board of Regents at Metro Community College in Omaha are co-founders of the Black and Brown Coalition of Greater Omaha. Social Issues Track Room: 216 Workshop: Domestic Violence In The Latino Community- Learn the truth about how Latinos view domestic violence. Who are the victims and what is being done to protect them? What are the alternatives the social and justice systems offer to prevent and mitigate domestic abuse in our communities? This session presents a real life approach to the experiences of victims of domestic violence in our community and the alternatives that law and society offers to them. The speakers are Beatriz Garcia, a domestic violence counselor at the Latina Resource Center in Omaha; Karen Hadley, Executive Director of



7

the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council of Greater Omaha; and Jan Mengenhauser, a L.M.H.P working with victims of domestic violence at Heartland Family Services. Diversity Track Room: 211 Workshop: Hypersensitivity or Discrimination? If you have ever wondered what constitutes discrimination and what does not, this workshop will give you the answers you need. Learn what the rules of the game are and find out everything you ever wanted to know about workplace discrimination, government regulations regarding Equal Employment Opportunity and your rights and responsibilities under the law. Peter Shinn is the President Diversity Chat.Com, and Blanca Ramirez is a Public Information Office for the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission. Business Track I- Spanish Only Session- En Espanol! Salon: 212 Herramientas Financieras Para Los Pequenos Negociantes: Obtenga la informacion que necesita para poner las finanzas de su negocio en orden. Esta session presentara los conceptos basicos de presupuesto, planeacion, mercadeo y credito. Todo lo que usted necesita saber para poner su negocio en el camino del exito sera ofrecido en esta sesion, y lo mejor es que va a ser en Espanol! Los presentadores son Karen Mavropolous, coordinadora del Centro de Microempresa del Juan Diego Center en Omaha, y Juan Picon, especialista de negocios del Wells Fargo Bank. Business Track II Room: 213 Workshop: The U.S. Hispanic Market- A Business and Cultural Perspective- This workshop will provide deep insights on the facts of the Hispanic market in the U.S. Such factors as assimilation vs. acculturation, geography language preferences, core values, consumption trends, and behaviors have strong implications to those trying to reach the different segments of the Hispanic market and must be addressed by companies intending to penetrate this market. OzzieGodinez is an expert in the Hispanic market in the U.S. and his firm, PACO Communications is a leader in providing marketing consulting to companies in the Chicago area.



8

12:00-1:30 p.m. Scholarship Luncheon "Self-Empowerment: Make Challenges Become Opportunities" Sandra Guzman- Journalist, Author, and Editor "Latina Style Magazine" Sponsored by State Farm and Union Pacific 1:30-2:30 p.m. Break/Exhibit Booth Viewing 2:30-3:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions IV

Leadership Track Room: 210 Experts Panel: The ABCs of Corporate And Business Leadership: Learn what it takes for Latinos to succeed in corporate America and in the entrepreneurial world today. This group of successful Latinos will talk about their experience breaking the glass ceiling in corporate America. They will also give advice on how to avoid mistakes that can be costly for your career without loosing your connections to your roots and staying grounded to the needs of your comunidad. The presenters are Francisco Onate, Owner of the Restaurant Chain La Mesa Restaurants; Abril Garcia, Owner of the Mundo Latino Newspaper based in Iowa; Nannete Rodriguez, President of the consulting firm VivaMedia in Des Moines, Iowa; and Rob Rubio, Vice President at Woodmen of the World Insurance Company in Omaha. Social Issues Track Room: 216 Workshop: Targeted Alcohol and Tobacco Marketing as a Latino Civil Rights Issue: As more cities across the country continue implementing partial and total tobacco bans in public places and restaurants, tobacco and alcohol companies are moving their targets to young Latinos. This workshop will present the realities of the situation and the alternatives that community-based advocates are using to fight the war to promote policy change and promote community health. Katherine Culliton graduated from the law school at American University as valedictorian in 1993, and she has been practicing civil rights and human right law since then. She was awarded Ford Foundation and Fulbright grants to develop the body of law protecting freedom from discrimination as a fundamental right, and has worked for various NGOs on race/ethnic/gender issues in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and the United States. Ms. Culliton is the author of a series of publications, in English and Spanish, which have been used to protect civil rights in the Americas, with a strong focus on women's human rights, as well as Latino civil rights and immigrants' rights. Ms. Culliton also conducts strategic campaigns to protect the Latino community's rights to health. Her most recent publication, The Impact of



9

Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising on the Latino Community As a Civil Rights Issue, was published in Berkeley La Raza Law Journal, Vol. 16.2 in December 2005. Diversity Track Room: 211 Workshop: Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Issues in the Latino community: The purpose of the workshop is to have an honest and open dialogue with the participants, to raise awareness, dismiss stereotypes, and decrease homophobia in the Latino community. Presenters will discuss their own experiences and challenges in their personal and professional lives of what it’s like to have a “dual identity” of being Gay and Latino/a in today’s society. Presenters are Gay and Lesbian rights advocates, Gabriel Gonzalez, Vickie Falcon and Amelia Montes. Education Track Room: 212 Experts Panel: Violence Prevention Programs That Work: The violence levels in today’s society are affecting our youth dramatically. Violence and gang involvement rates are constantly on the rise in our schools and neighborhoods. Learn from several youth violence prevention programs experts and youth advocates about the alternatives that are really working in our communities today. The speakers are Alberto Gonzalez, gang and violence prevention counselor at Boys and Girls Clubs of Omaha; Christianne O'Connor, coordinator of the Young Women’s Club and the In School Violence Prevention Program at Girl Scouts-Great Plains Council; Barbara Mueting, Guidance Counselor at Omaha Public Schools; Sheila Rocha- Independent artist; and Antonio Espejo from the Omaha Police Department/GREAT Program. Business Track Room: 213 Workshop: Tools For The Small Business Owner Success: Come and learn with the experts! Every year the Small Business Administration assists thousands of small business owners with education, training and networking opportunities to help their business grow. Representatives from the SBA will share their knowledge and expertise on the area of small business to provide solutions for you. The speakers are Barbara Foster, business development specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration and Kathleen Piper, deputy director of the U.S. Small Business Administration in Omaha.

3:30:4:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions V

Leadership Track Room: 210



10

Workshop: Leading With Your Gifts And Talents: This fast-paced interactive session will provide participants with research on seven thinking behavioral styles measured by the Emergenetics Profile, a powerful, science based tool. Participants will be able to explore their individual preferences and gain an understanding of how this information can aid them in unlocking their true potential and the role it can play in increasing team engagement and productivity. Sherry Helmke, President of New View Now a Consulting firm based in Seattle, and former Executive Director of ICAN in Omaha is an experienced practitioner of the Emergenetics Profile and theory. Sherry has more than twenty years of experience in organizational development in the private sector and has trained with Geil Browning Ph. D., author of Emergenetics: Tap into the Science of Success. Social Issues Track Room: 216 Experts Panel: The Latino Health Report Card: This group of experts in minority health will present an update on the gap and health disparities between Latinos and other groups. Learn about the challenges and alternatives available to reduce those disparities. This session will present a comprehensive report of the current trends in Latino’s health, and how it can affect our leadership capacity and the potential for social and economic development as a community. Mr. Edwin Galan, MA, MSN, RN, FNP, is a Captain in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and serves as the U.S. Regional Minority Health Coordinator for the Region VII states of Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. Captain Galan also serves as the senior minority health advisor to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Regional Health Administrator. He is an advanced practice nurse with over 25 years of experience in various areas of health care, which includes 20 years of federal service in both the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Captain Galan enjoys active clinical practice, keeping current with ambulatory health care services through civilian work at local clinics that predominantly care for underserved populations in the metro Kansas City area. Dr. Raponzil Drake is the Chief Administrator of the Office of Minority Health (OMH) within the Nebraska Health and Human Service System, which includes two satellite offices in Omaha and Lexington, and offices in Gering and Lincoln. Her responsibilities involve the efforts to coordinate and monitor programs intended to address health disparities in racial ethnic minorities, newly arrived immigrants and refugees, and Native American people to improve health outcomes in the State of Nebraska. Athena Ramos is a recognized community leader in Omaha and health



11

educator with the Cardiac Center at Creighton University Medical Center; Steve Jackson is a community health educator with the State of Nebraska Minority Health Office. Diversity Track Room: 211 Experts Panel: The Diversity Within Us! Is it patacon or toston? Rubia, guera or mona? Hispanic or Latino? Hmm, though we all share the same language we are not all alike! Come and learn how Latinos can be united despite of the ethnic, cultural, and racial diversity that makes us who we are. This workshop promises to offer a fun and thoughtful debate on the cultural differences and commonalities among different Latino ethnic groups. Panelists are Luis Fernando Alva from Mexico; Maria Luisa Gaston from Cuba; Martha Sonia Londono from Colombia; Sheila Rocha from the United States; Veronica “Katty” Petak from Chile; and Aura Whitney Jackson from Panama. Education Track Room: 212 Workshop:The Early Years: Closing The Achievement Gap For Our Children. Many Latino children are at disadvantage by the time they enter kindergarten. Educational and community leaders will discuss the opportunities available to close the pre-school year’s educational gap and what it takes to make the future of our children a brighter one. Kathy Jones and Diva Wilson work with the Educare/ Head Start Program of Omaha. Business Track Room: 213 Workshop: Securing The Workforce You Need For Your Business Success: One of the major challenges for businesses today is to find the qualified labor and know-how that will take their enterprises to the next level. With school drop out rates on the rise and less people graduating from critical technological fields, one attractive alternative is to bring foreign workers with HB1 Visas. This workshop will present updated research and a clear diagnose of the issue of foreign worker’s visas. Come and find out if this may be an opportunity for you! Mabel Alarcon Craven is a small business banker at the First National Bank of Omaha an author of research on HB1 Visas. Thomas Inkelaar is an immigration attorney with private practice in Omaha.

6:00-6:30 Cocktail Reception Sponsored by Woodmen of the World 6:30-8:30 p.m. Community Awards Banquet “A 20/20 Vision of Hispanic America”



12

John Quinones- Journalist Sponsored by Woodmen of the World 8:30-Midnight Dance Sponsored by Woodmen of the World

Conference thanksyouletter

Documents

Transcript of Conference thanksyouletter