Lifting Voices Through Diversity in Federal Government

June 18, 2013

Contact: Paloma Zuleta, 202-833-6130, PZuleta (at) LULAC . org

Las Vegas, NV - Today, during the Federal Training Institute (FTI) in Las Vegas, Nevada, LULAC discussed programs and opportunities in the Federal Government that will be focused on providing students, recent grads, veterans and those re-entering the workforce with a pathway to federal careers.

The FTI will take place Tuesday, June 18 through Thursday, June 20, 2013 at the Caesars Palace convention center as part of the weeklong 84th Annual LULAC National Convention. This year LULAC is offering the Las Vegas Metropolitan area government employees the opportunity to attend at no cost to them or their agency. The FTI is also offering community briefings open to all at no cost. The briefings will provide the community with information on how to find and apply for Federal employment and a Veteran’s Symposium.

LULAC discussed this program and their expectations for the government to increase the diversity among their ranks. FTI provides leadership training and professional development to enhance the skills of federal employees to progress and develop both within and beyond the employee’s potential.

“LULAC understands that the government-wide spending cuts have caused many Federal agencies to suspend all training, educational and public outreach programs,” said LULAC National President Margaret Moran. “However, we believe that the Federal government workforce needs to represent the population it serves. Therefore, it is critical that we continue addressing the Hispanic under-representation and the challenges that many Federal agencies may have in retaining and developing Hispanics within their agencies.”

Additionally, Moran announced that a similar free FTI Partnership will take place September 24 and 25 in Washington, D.C. with the support of various Federal agencies to include the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

The 84th annual convention takes place in Las Vegas, now home to more than 183,000 Latinos, one of the fastest-growing Hispanic communities in the nation. The Nevada unemployment rate was 9.7 percent in March 2013, significantly higher than the nation’s average. The Latino unemployment rate was 13.1 percent for the state during the last quarter of 2012.

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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 900 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org