AGENDA

Wednesday, February 14th

Legislative Conference

Registration & Credentials

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM EST

Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:00 AM - 9:15 AM EST

Speakers:

Domingo Garcia

LULAC National President

Juan Proaño

Chief Executive Officer, LULAC

Education Session "Bridging the Gap in Latino Education" Focus on educational disparities and solutions.

9:15 AM - 10:00 AM EST

Educational disparities faced by Latino students in the United States encompass various dimensions, including access to quality education, cultural relevance, and socio-economic factors. These disparities significantly impact the academic performance and future opportunities for Latino students.

Speakers:

Domingo Garcia

LULAC National President

Rebecca Pringle

President of the National Education Association

Edward James Olmos

American actor and social activist

Rafael Agustin

Award Winning Writer, Author and National Film Preservation Board Member

Economic Empowerment Session "Fostering Latino Economic Growth" Discussion on entrepreneurship and economic opportunities.

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM EST

The economic empowerment of Latinos in the United States has become a critical aspect of the nation's overall economic growth. Latinos contribute significantly to the economy, both as consumers and entrepreneurs, showcasing the dynamic role this community plays in shaping the economic landscape

Speakers:

Secretary Gina Raimondo

U.S. Secretary of Commerce

Alejandra Y. Castillo

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development

Domingo Garcia

LULAC National President

Pedro Rojas

White House National News Correspondent, Televisa-Univision.

Climate Change Session "Environmental Impact on Latino Communities" Addressing the disproportionate effects of climate change.

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM EST

The disproportionate impact of climate change on Latino communities is a significant concern, highlighting the necessity for environmental justice.

Speakers:

Bernie Sanders

United States Senator from Vermont

Secretary Deb Haaland

U.S. Secretary of the Interior

Jeffrey Prieto

EPA General Counsel

Brett Matulis

Communities Program Director, ecoAmerica

Phil Radford

Chief Strategy Officer, Sierra Club

Edwin Canizalez

Program Manager, Policy and Legislation, LULAC

Health & Obesity Session "Addressing Health Disparities in the Latino Community" Exploring social determinants of health, focusing on obesity.

11:45 AM - 12:30 PM EST

The social determinants of health significantly impact the Latino community, particularly concerning obesity, diabetes, and type II diabetes. These conditions are influenced by a complex interplay of social, economic, and environmental factors that shape health outcomes among Latinos.

Speakers:

Dr. Ray Serrano

Director of Research and Policy, LULAC

Dr. Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable

Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) at the NIH

Dr. Elena V. Rios

President & CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association

Dr. Yanira Cruz

President and CEO of the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA)

Networking Luncheon

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM EST

The Final Legislative Hurdle For The National Museum Of The American Latino

Local and national leaders continue the work to ensure that 500 years of U.S. Latino contributions to our nation’s military, the arts, business and economic strength are finally included on our National Mall.

Speakers:

Estuardo Rodríguez

President & CEO of Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino

Technology Session "Unleashing the Potential of AI for Latino Empowerment" Addressing the technology divide and AI advancements.

1:30 PM - 2:15 PM EST

The technology divide faced by Latino communities, particularly in the context of the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), presents both risks and benefits. This divide can significantly impact access to opportunities, resources, and equitable treatment within technological advancements.

Speakers:

Juan Proaño

Chief Executive Officer, LULAC

Alan Davidson

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator

Mark Colon

Director of Public Engagement for NTIA

Immigration Session "Navigating the Latino Immigrant Experience" Discussion on immigration policies and their impacts.

2:15 PM - 3:00 PM EST

The current state of immigration policies in the United States significantly impacts Latino communities, with several challenges faced by Latino immigrants due to existing and evolving regulations.

Speakers:

María José Espinosa Carrillo

Executive Director, Center for Democracy In The Americas

Anya McMurray

President & COO, Welcome.US.

Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian

Director of the Department of Social Inclusion, the Organization of American States (OAS)

Dan Restrepo

Strategic Advisor, Dinámica Americas

Media Representation Session: "Shaping Latino Narratives" Tackling Challenges In Media Representation

3:15 PM - 4:00 PM EST

The accurate and fair representation of Latinos in media is crucial for shaping public perception and empowering the Latino community. Media portrayals play a significant role in how communities are viewed and treated in society. When the media portrays Latinos negatively or inaccurately, it can lead to widespread misinformation and perpetuate harmful stereotypes.

Speakers:

Anna M. Gomez

FCC Commissioner

Tom Castro

Founder and CEO of El Dorado Capital

Edward James Olmos

American actor and social activist

Lillian Rodriguez Lopez

Government Relations, Diversity & Equity, Stakeholder Management

Rafael Agustin

Award Winning Writer, Author and National Film Preservation Board Member

Voting Rights Session "Ensuring Latino Representation in Democracy" Focusing on the importance of voting rights and political participation.

4:00 PM - 4:45 PM EST

The need for Latino representation in democracy is underscored by their significant impact in the 2020 presidential election and the barriers to voting and political participation they often face. The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative reported that in 2020, Latinos cast 16.6 million votes, a 30.9% increase over the 2016 presidential election, playing a key role in swinging election results in several battleground states.

Speakers:

Michael J. Frias

CEO, Catalist

Tyler Sterling

NAACP National Mobilization Director

Marc Sandalow

Senior Faculty Member, University of California’s Washington Program

Leslie Proll

Senior Director of Voting Rights Program, at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Edwin Canizalez

Program Manager, Policy and Legislation, LULAC

Closing Remarks

4:45 PM - 5:00 PM EST

Thursday, February 15th

Advocacy Day

Meet in Lobby to Depart for Capitol Hill Advocacy Day

8:00 AM EST

Capitol Hill Advocacy Day

10:00 AM EST

27th Annual LULAC National Legislative Awards Gala

Pre-Gala Reception

6:00 PM EST

27th LULAC National Awards Gala

7:00 PM EST

Grand Ballroom

The LULAC National Legislative Awards Gala highlights critical legislative issues affecting Hispanic Americans and recognizes key leaders who have served the Hispanic community well. At this year's gala, LULAC will present its policy issues to our council members and will present awards to three distinguished elected officials at our twenty-sixth gala. We will celebrate the 95th anniversary of LULAC, which was formed on February 17, 1929.

*Ticketed event

Legislative Award Honorees