LULAC Contributes to Women's History Month by Hosting its 2014 National Women's Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
March 28, 2014
Contact: Paloma Zuleta, pzuleta at LULAC.org, (202) 812-4477
This year’s conference focuses on bringing awareness to key issues which impact women’s lives. The conference includes workshops and seminars that cover issues such as retirement, the Affordable Care Act, domestic violence, human trafficking, and women in government.
“The women’s conference has not always been part of the organization’s 85 year history,” said LULAC National President Margaret Moran. “Throughout the years, the role of women in LULAC has changed to reflect the changing role of women throughout the country. Today, the women’s conference is a critical component of LULAC which offers a woman’s perspective on critical issues.”
Women continue to face a variety of challenges that limit their ability to realize their dreams. According to the Pew Research Center, in 2012 women earned 84 cents for every $1 made by men. Women also face health challenges. Although women make up a little over half of the world's population, they are more likely to go hungry than men. In addition, domestic violence continues to pose a real threat to women. In the U.S., nearly 3 in 10 women (29%) have been victims of rape, physical violence and/or stalking. However, women understand the power of civic participation for effecting change. During the 2012 Presidential elections, 63.7% of women voted to change the social conditions that impact their lives.
Another important issue for women is affordable health insurance. As of Thursday, more than 6 million Americans have enrolled in quality affordable health insurance. LULAC wants to help the Latino community continue to take advantage of this great opportunity. That is why this Saturday, at the exposition hall of the Women’s Conference, Milwaukee area residents can have their questions answered or start the application process with the help of a navigator. Particularly for the Latino community, navigators are an important part of the enrollment process because they provide personalized assistance.
Finally, as part of the 2014 LULAC National Women’s Conference, LULAC and Sherwin Williams will be brightening up the community by painting the UMOS Latina Resource Center. Sherwin Williams has donated their time, manpower, and supplies to help restore a critical asset to the Milwaukee community which brings important resources for victims of domestic violence.
LULAC is grateful for the support of its Ruby and Pearl sponsors which include the Ford Motor Company, Sherwin Williams, P&G/Orgullosa, Clear Channel, McDonald’s, the National Education Association, Southwest Airlines and Walmart. Their assistance and support are critical to making this conference a success.
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About LULAC: The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the largest and oldest volunteer-based civil rights 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. www.facebook.com/lulac.national.dc. www.twitter.com/lulac.