CHIP’s April 28 Leadership Conference to include Rubén Navarrette

Elyria, OH: The 12th Annual Hispanic Leadership Conference, hosted by the Coalition for Hispanic/Latino Issues and Progress (CHIP) and slated for April 28, 2007, features syndicated columnist Rubén Navarrette Jr. as the keynote speaker.

Navarrette’s keynote address titled A Clash of Absolutes: The Rights and Wrongs of the Immigration Debate analyzes the volatile issue of immigration reform. Navarrette will also be moderating a panel discussion with area newspaper publishers, senior editors, television producers, and Latino print and television executives on media coverage of Hispanic Arts & Artists.

Rubén Navarrette Jr.

The conference will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2007 at the Lorain County Community College Spitzer Conference Center in Elyria. The conference begins at 9:00 a.m. (doors open at 7:30 a.m.) and runs through 4:00pm. This will be followed by an evening Gala sponsored by State Farm Insurance (2007 Title Sponsor) at the Lorain party Center from 6:00 p.m. through midnight featuring cultural presentations, dinner and dancing to the music of the Roberto Ocasio Latin Jazz Project.

On Friday, April 27, 2007 a speaker/media/sponsor reception will be held at the Holiday Inn in Elyria from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at which time all guests and the Lorain County community will be invited to the Lorain Palace Theater to view the movie, “Innocent Voices” depicting the life of children in El Salvador during the civil war in the 1980s when children were inducted into the army at the age of 12. This movie is free and open to the public. Movie begins at 8:00 p.m.

Other notable speakers presenting at this years conference include:

Bobby Sanabria: a world renown drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger, multi-Grammy-nominated recording artist, producer and educator who has performed with a veritable Who's Who in the world of jazz and Latin music, as well as with his own critically acclaimed ensembles. His diverse recording and performing experience includes work with such legendary figures as Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Paquito D'Rivera, Charles McPherson, Mongo Santamaría, Chico O'Farrill, Candido, Henry Threadgill, and the Godfather of Afro-Cuban Jazz, Mario Bauzá. Mr. Sanabria will present his world famous, “Clave”, “The Key” an interactive journey tracing the Cuban and African influences on Latino music and Latin Jazz.

Sylvia Sykes: Senior Program Officer for the Chicago Community trust will present to grantmakers and non-profit organizations information on Chicago’s Nuestro Futuro programs which have generated 5 million dollars to meet the needs of Chicago ’s Hispanic/Latino community.  Participants will be informed as to programs that are meeting the needs of Hispanic/Latino communities around the country and the need to understand not only demographics but fairly consistent migratory patterns.

Alvaro DeCola: One of two federally certified interpreters/translators in Ohio will inform organizations of the mandatory translator/interpreter laws, current trends and non-compliance penalties being implemented toward those organizations found to be in non-compliance with current legislation. DeCola will conduct a workshop for individuals who wish to understand their personal rights in terms of interpreter/translator assistance. That workshop will be conducted entirely in Spanish.

Murray Bilfield & David Arredondo: Will present separate workshops on the History of U.S.-American Immigration/Demographics (Arredondo) and “Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) in 2007: Are you ready?” (Bilfield) analyzing current legislative proposals from the U.S. Congress and the President and how this legislation may affect families, social service agencies and businesses in the United States.
 

Dave Arredondo

The Conference will also feature cultural presentations, hands on dance workshops, and a youth leadership track by Brenda Aldana (Valencia), a high school athlete and good student who was interviewed on “60 Minutes” after being released from prison where she served 10 years for giving someone a ride to what later turned out to be a drug dealing establishment. Mrs. Aldana will also be talking at Lorain Admiral King high school on Friday, April 27th.

The cost of the conference is $70.00 for the conference and evening gala, $35.00 for the conference or gala only, and $15.00 for the dance only. College students can register for half price and 100 high school students will receive full scholarships covering all conference costs through the Nordson Corporation. Program Book ads can still be placed and sponsorship opportunities explored. Over 700 individuals from 3 states are expected for the Conference and evening gala.

For more information, sponsorship opportunities and registration contact Michael & Dina Ferrer, conference coordinators at 440-336-1501 or 440-989-1178 or via email [email protected].

Bobby Sanabria to join Navarrette in CHIP’s conference