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e y v r e ACTION NOW

C M Keeping the Promise of a Bright Future Y

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CMY K A National Latino Children’s Summit October 19-20, 2012 Phoenix, AZ

In Partnership With

www.nlci.org elatinavoices.org

Table of Contents Action Now-Keeping the Promise of a Bright Future A National Latino Children’s Summit

Welcome / Bienvenidos 3

About the National Latino Children’s Institute and eLatina Voices 6

Friday Agenda 8

Saturday Agenda 9

Plenary and Panel Sessions 13

National Speakers 21

Local Speakers 26

National Latino Children’s Institute Recognitions 32

National Latino Children’s Institute Board of Directors 36

National Latino Children’s Institute Staff 39

National Latino Children’s Summit Arizona Planning Committee 41

National Latino Children’s Summit Sponsors 48

Summit Locations Map 49

National Latino Children’s Agenda 50

2 Letter from the Chair National Latino Children’s Institute - María Rita Jaramillo

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the National Latino Children’s Institute (NLCI), it is my pleasure to welcome you to, “ACTION NOW—Keeping the Promise of a Bright Future” for Latino Children! We are pleased to collaborate with eLatina Voices to focus the nation’s attention on the contributions and unique issues and challenges facing young Latinos.

Hispanics make up 16 percent of the overall American population and Latino youth are 25 percent of the country’s children. In several states, Latino students make up more than half of the student population. Who they become will be critical for the continued growth and prosperity of the nation.

NLCI was founded in 1997 by Rebeca Barrera and Bibi Lobo, long-time Latina children’s advocates who discovered during the NAFTA negotiations that the issues and concerns of Latino children were not being addressed. They responded by identifying like minded organizations and leaders and jointly developed a National Latino Children’s Agenda. This agenda still remains as the guiding principles for the organization and is the framework for this summit. Today, NLCI remains the only national organization whose sole focus is Latino children. We invite you to join the NLCI Promesa Network and help us in our mission to secure a bright future for Latino children and youth.

NLCI and eLatina Voices have established the following outcomes for the National Latino Children’s Summit: 1) inform summit participants about current research based data and relevant policy analysis, 2) engage and leverage the unique expertise of participants to provide insights and expertise regarding the key supports essential for the well being of Latino children, 3) cultivate alliances among conferees to advocate for and sustain the essential programs and initiatives that support the well being of Latino children and youth and 4) take action to create a strong and united voice for Latino children and advocate for reforms and policies based on the principles of the NLCI Latino Children’s Agenda.

We hope that you will enjoy the summit! We encourage you to engage in the discussion, meet others in your field, seek new opportunities in which to collaborate and focus your energy in identifying new ways to take action to keep the promise of a bright future for our children. They deserve the very best and America will be stronger tomorrow because of our actions today!

Adelante!

María Rita Jaramillo Chair, NLCI

3 Message from the Executive Director, National Latino Children’s Institute

Welcome to Action NOW! A National Latino Children’s Summit. It was 16 years ago in San Antonio, TX, that the first national summit on young Latinos was held bringing together youth, professionals and advocates to discuss the challenges, celebrate the best programs and to hear from young Latinos directly. From that summit, the charge to create a new organization was taken up and NLCI was born in 1997. Today, we celebrate our quinceañera, 15 years of advocating with and for Latino children, creating solutions to solve issues within the community and bringing together those that work hard every day through our Promesa network and other partners to ensure that every child has the promise of a bright future.

It hasn’t been easy. Like any new organization, there were those that weren’t sure about supporting the “new kid on the block,” while others provided a helping hand, strategic support and even housing and office space when needed. Little by little, we grew. We established El Día de Los Niños - Celebrating Young Americans to celebrate young Latinos and all American children. We created new bilingual and bicultural initiatives to improve the well-being of young Latinos, including our award-winning Salsa, Sabor y Salud to combat Latino childhood obesity. We built strategic alliances with both Latino and mainstream organizations and relationships with both corporations and government entities. But most of all, we never forgot that at the core, young Latinos needed an organization that not only acknowledged their importance in the United States, but also ensured that they were partners and had a say in every event and initiative. That’s why I’m so thankful for each and every student participating in this summit, voicing your concerns, suggestions and solutions.

I also want to thank eLatina Voices, Olga Aros and her committee for their tireless work in organizing this summit. Without all of you, this event would not be possible. We hope to take this valuable collaboration to other communities to promote the plight of Latino children. Gracias a todos hasta el fondo de mi corazón.

Again, thank you for joining us and helping to not only find solutions to our challenges, but also to celebrate the greatness of our youth and our quinceañera! I look forward to working with you, because only together we can create the change for the future prosperity of our country and our children.

¡Juntos adelante!

Josephine F. Garza Executive Director, NLCI

4 Bienvenidos and Welcome

On behalf of eLatina Voices, we welcome you to the 2012 National Latino Children’s Summit. Our thanks to the National Latino Children’s Institute for their commitment to join us in hosting this Summit. We are all here because we care about the future of our children and our families. We recognize that the Latino community is at center stage and that the success of the future of Arizona and this nation may rely on actions just like the very ones we take today.

We, at eLatina Voices, believe that the law of our land is that every child raised in the United States has the right to grow up in a nation that stands up for its children, protects their rights and cares about their future. Those of us who live in Arizona are committed to ensuring the equal rights of children under the law. We are concerned about the lack of priority in Arizona to improve our child protection systems, law enforcement practices, access to healthcare and the lack of interest in supporting the full education of our children.

This past year, Arizona proposed legislation that would have seriously placed our children in harm’s way and had the legislation passed, Arizona would have diminished the future of all children in the nation. Today, we zero in on the fundamental issues that are failing our children. We stand ready to engage in a mobilized movement to protect the rights of children in this nation and specifically in Arizona. As concerned citizens, we cannot stand back and allow any injustices or inequalities to go unanswered. Our voices will be heard in the halls of the legislature as well as in our communities.

We hope you enjoy the Summit and help us focus our unified voices and actions on what is good for kids.

Olga Aros Founder, eLatina Voices

5 About the National Latino Children’s Institute and eLatina Voices Action Now-Keeping the Promise of a Bright Future A National Latino Children’s Summit

About National Latino Children’s Institue Founded in 1997 in Texas, NLCI was formed in response to the projected growth within the Latino community and the dismal economic and socio economic indicators of the children. This is NLCI’s 15th year: Its’ quinceañera. For fifteen years, NLCI has worked to create a voice for Latino children and youth across the country. NLCI’s mission is to focus the nation’s attention on the contributions and challenges of young Latinos by advocating for their success and well-being through partnerships and programs.

The organization carries out its mission by partnering with NLCI’s La Promesa Network, as well as local, regional and national organizations working to improve the lives of Latino children. Our history and expertise in working with the Latino community makes NLCI ideally suited to create and implement strategies that eliminate barriers to building healthy communities for young Latinos by incorporating the principles of the National Latino Children’s Agenda.

About eLatina Voices eLatina Voices, formed on September 30, 2010, is the largest online community of active Latinas in Arizona. The member organization is committed to advocating for and taking collective action on issues that impact the well-being of children, families and the Latino community. eLatina Voices facilitates civic engagement and is focused on connecting active members to share ideas, work with elected officials and use their influential, collective voices to create change and improve lives of young Latinos and women.

By utilizing social media, eLatina Voices increases the exchange of information among Latinas to create an informed, active, engaged and mobilized community that addresses public policy issues, promotes equal education, encourages civic participation, and protects the rights of children and women with a focus on economic equality and justice in all of society. The women of eLatina Voices are committed to advocacy and the community they serve.

6 Arizona’s only Programs in Tucson, Phoenix and Online accredited college of public health

Phoenix Campus 714 E. Van Buren Street, Suite 119 Proud sponsor of the first National Phoenix, Arizona 85006 602.827.2319 Latino Children’s Summit [email protected] www.publichealth.arizona.edu

Change the world with publiC health Friday Agenda Action Now-Keeping the Promise of a Bright Future A National Latino Children’s Summit

Session Time & Room Details & Speakers

Youth Registration 10:00-10:30 am Pick up your badge, materials and connect with other youth. Bldg 4 Room 115

The Future is Now! 10:30-5:30 pm Bibi Lobo, NLCI Co-Founder Latino Youth and Civic Bldg 4 Room 115 Arizona mentors Engagement

12:15-1:00 pm Lunch Guest Speaker Henry Cejudo, Olympic Gold Medalist

2012 Summit 5:30-8:00 pm NLCI and eLatina leaders welcome participants, community Welcome Reception Virginia G. Piper members, and youth. Auditorium Josephine F. Garza, Executive Director, NLCI Screening of Olga Aros, Summit Chair, NLCI Board & Founder, eLatina Voices The Lemon Grove Incident Honorable Michael Nowakowski, Councilman, City of Phoenix

Guest Speaker Paul Espinosa, Professor, ASU, Department of Transborder Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies and Producer and Writer of The Lemon Grove Incident

8 Saturday Agenda Action Now-Keeping the Promise of a Bright Future A National Latino Children’s Summit

Session Time & Room Details & Speakers

Registration & Continental 7:30–8:00 am Pick up your materials, have breakfast, and connect with new Breakfast Virginia G. Piper and longtime colleagues. Auditorium

Opening Ceremony 8:00–8:30 am Josephine F. Garza, Executive Director, NLCI and Welcome Virginia G. Piper Olga Aros, Summit Chair, NLCI Board & Founder, eLatina Voices Auditorium

Plenary 8:30–10:20 am Moderator: Action NOW— Virginia G. Piper María Rita Jaramillo, Chair, National Latino Children’s Institute Keeping the Promise Auditorium of a Bright Future Panelists: Carlos H. Arce, Ph.D., Chief Methodologist, Ethnifacts Sarita E. Brown, President, Excelencia in Education Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel, MALDEF Félix R. Sánchez, Chairman and Co-Founder, National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts and CEO, TerraCom

Break 10:20–10:30 am

Panel 10:30 am–12:00 pm Facilitator: La educación— HSEB Rm. B212 Luis A. Hernández, Western Kentucky University & NLCI Board It’s everyone’s future Panelists: Youth participant Rebeca M. Barrera, Director of Hispanic Initiatives, Scholastic and NLCI Founder Paul Luna, President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation Rosemary Ybarra Hernández, CEO and Founder, Aguila Youth Leadership Institute Dr. Manuel Isquierdo, Sunnyside Unified School District, Superintendent

Panel 10:30 am–12:00 pm Facilitator: Juntos podemos— HSEB Rm. 202 Mary Lou de León Siantz, Ph.D., UC Davis- Health System Betty Building healthy Irene School of Nursing & NLCI Board, Second Vice Chair communities Panelists: Youth participant Kipling Gallion, Deputy Director, Salud America! Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Latino Children at UTHSC, San Antonio, TX John Molina, MD, CEO, Phoenix Indian Medical Center Dana Naimark, CEO, Children’s Action Alliance

9 Session Time & Room Details & Speakers

Panel 10:30 am–12:00 pm Facilitator: Latino, Growing up Bldg. 2 Rm. 2206 Windy López, Scholastic & NLCI Board Member American Panelists: Youth participant Benito Martínez, Actor Dr. Eugene García, Professor Emeritus, Arizona State University Dr. Nolan Cabrera, Professor, University of Arizona Stella Pope Duarte, Author, Let Their Spirits Dance

Panel 10:30 am–12:00 pm Facilitator: Who’s taking care HSEB Rm. 303 Beatriz Leyva-Cutler, BAHIA & NLCI Board of the children? Panelists: Youth participant Wendy D. Cervantes, Vice President, Immigration, First Focus Victoria López, Program Director, ACLU of Arizona Gladis Molina, Managing Attorney, Florence Immigration/Refugee Project Children’s Project

Panel 10:30-12:00 pm Facilitator: Who’s listening? HSEB Rm. 302 Olivia V. Meza, Chief, U.S. Pretrial Services, District of AZ (Ret.) Increasing accountability & NLCI Board Secretary/Treasurer in child safety Panelists: Youth participant Ana Luisa Cody, External Affairs Manager, NCMEC Honorable Linda López, Arizona State Senate Sandra T. Rentería, Commander, Phoenix Police Department

Special Author Presentation William Louis, Author, If There Were Any Victims...

Panel 10:30-12:00 pm Facilitator: Igniting your chispa! Bldg. 2 Rm. 2208 Alex Sánchez, Austin ISD & NLCI Board Creating change Panelists: Youth participant Liany Elba Arroyo, Associate Director of the Education and Children’s Policy Project at NCLR Petra Falcón, Executive Director, Promise Arizona Randy Parraz, President, Citizens for a Better Arizona Honorable Daniel Valenzuela, Councilmember, City of Phoenix

Break 12:00-12:15 pm

We the Children 12:15-1:45 pm Moderator: Luncheon Hosted by Virginia G. Piper January Contreras, Attorney & eLatina Voices member eLatina Voices Auditorium Special Remarks: Olga Aros, Summit Chair, NLCI Board & Founder, eLatina Voices Youth Participant 10 Session Time & Room Details & Speakers

Keynote: Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr., President, United States Hispanic Leadership Institute

Recognitions: Chicanos Por La Causa and NLCI Founder and Co-Founder

Work Session 2:00-3:00 pm Working together, Summit participants rejoin their morning groups La educación - HSEB Rm. 212 to identify potential solutions and actions most critical to advancing It’s everyone’s future young Latinos in each issue area.

Work Session 2:00-3:00 pm Juntos podemos - HSEB Rm. 202 Building healthy communities

Work Session 2:00-3:00 pm Latino, Growing Up Bldg. 2 Rm. 2206 American

Work Session 2:00-3:00 pm Who’s Taking Care of the HSEB Rm. 303 Children?

Work Session 2:00-3:00 pm Who’s Listening? HSEB Rm. 302 Increasing Accountability in Child Safety

Work Session 2:00-3:00 pm Igniting Your Chispa! Bldg. 2 Rm. 2208 Creating Change

The Future is Now! 2:00-3:00 pm Youth work together to finalize questions and remarks for Latino Youth Leadership - Bldg 4 Room 115 the Town Hall. Town Hall Preparation

Break 3:00-3:15 pm

Town Hall – 3:15-4:30 pm Youth dialogue with federal, state and local elected officialsand Youth Speak NOW! Virginia G. Piper policy makers. Auditorium Moderators: Bibi Lobo, NLCI Consultant Mario E Diaz, Mario E Diaz and Associates Honorable Raul Grijalva, Congressman, United States House of Representatives Invited Elected Officials & Policy Makers

Todos Juntos - 4:30-5:00 pm Josephine F. Garza, Executive Director, NLCI A Call to Action Virginia G. Piper Edmundo Hidalgo, President and CEO, Chicanos Por La Causa Auditorium Dulce Matuz, President, Arizona DREAM Act Coalition Olga Aros, Summit Chair, NLCI Board & Founder, eLatina Voices 11

Plenary and Panel Sessions Action Now-Keeping the Promise of a Bright Future A National Latino Children’s Summit

As Latinos work to achieve the promise of a brighter future for our youth, let’s first understand where we are today. National leaders will discuss demographics, current research, policies and civic engagement to address the complex set of interconnected issues facing young Latinos. These include the impact of poverty, immigration, and language barriers, which affect family status, access to education and health.

16.5%

More Latino children are living in poverty—6.1 million in 2010—than children of any other racial or ethnic group. http://www.pewhispanic.org/2011/09/28/childhood-poverty- among-hispanics-sets-record-leads-nation/

For the first time, more than 2 million 18- to 24-year- old Hispanics were enrolled in college, reaching a record 16.5% share among all college enrollments and making Hispanics the largest minority group on the nation’s four-year college campuses. (http://www.pewhispanic.org/)

2008

The NALEO Educational Fund projects that the Latino vote will increase 26% from 2008, and Latinos will account for at least 8.7% of the country’s voters. (http://www.naleo.org/latinovote.html)

Moderator: María Rita Jaramillo, Chair, National Latino Children’s Institute

Panelists: Carlos H. Arce, Ph.D., Chief Methodologist, Founding Partner of Ethnifacts Sarita E. Brown, President, Excelencia in Education Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund Félix R. Sánchez, Chairman and Co-Founder, National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts and CEO, TerraCom

NOTES: ______

13 Panel on Effective and Equitable Education

La educación—It’s Everyone’s Future

Everyone has a role to play in the educational success of young Latinos. What can we do right now to close the gaps?

According to recent PEW Hispanic Center reports, one in four children in the public education system is Latino. While the numbers continue to grow, young Latinos too often attend underfunded schools without the resources to successfully complete school. Some strides have been made by committed organizations, yet Latinos continue to lag behind in educational achievement. In this session, experts and practitioners, including young people, will discuss strategies and policies that support effective education including initiatives, funding and public private partnerships.

Hispanic children made up 26% of public nursery Hispanic Share of Pre-K through 12th Grade Public School Enrollment and 18- to 24-year-old College school enrollments in October 2011. However, Enrollment, 1972-2011 Hispanic children are less likely to enroll in nursery 25% 23.9 schools overall than other children. In October Pre-K through 12th grade public 2011, Hispanic children were only 20% of all 20 school enrollment, ages 3 and older nursery school enrollments at both private and 16.5 15 public schools.

10 Comparing Arizona’s Four-Year High School College enrollment, Graduation Rate in 2009, Latinos had a graduation 5 ages 18-24 rate of 69% while White students had a 0 graduation rate of 83%. Limited English Proficient

students had a graduation rate of 44%. Notes: “Pre-K through 12th grade public school enrollment, ages 3 and older” shows the Hispanic share of enrollment in public schools from pre-K through 12th grade. (Dropped. Latino Education and Arizona’s Economic Future, Public school enrollment figures for 1980 are not available. “College enrollment, ages Morrison Institute for Public Policy, Arizona State University, 18-24” shows Hispanic share among college students ages 18 to 24. 2012, based on data from the Arizona Department of Source: Pew Hispanic Center analysis of the October Current Population Survey (CPS) Education.) PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Facilitator: Luis A. Hernández, Western Kentucky University and National Latino Children’s Institute Board Member

Panelists: Youth participant Rebeca Barrera, Director of Hispanic Initiatives, Scholastic and Founder, National Latino Children’s Institute Paul Luna, President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation Rosemary Ybarra Hernández, CEO and Founder, Aguila Youth Leadership Institute Dr. Manuel Isquierdo, Sunnyside Unified School District, Superintendent

NOTES: ______

14 Panel on Health and Well-Being

Juntos podemos—Building Healthy Communities

How can our environment effect healthy choices? How can we incorporate cultural relevancy in promoting a healthy lifestyle and healthy community?

Being healthy -physically and mentally- is fundamental to academic success and a promising future. Risk factors for poor health, including obesity, and chronic disease, disproportionally occur within the minority youth populations and unfortunately, the numbers are growing. This session explores the concept of healthy communities; school health; access to health care insurance, including behavioral health services; nutrition; physical activity; and examples of national and local “healthy communities” at work in Latino communities through advocacy and policy.

Children Under Age 18 without Health Coverage by Race/Ethnicity, 2010.

One in six Hispanic children (16.3%)

One in ten non-Hispanic Black children (10.6%)

One in eleven Asian children (8.9%)

One in thirteen non-Hispanic White children (6.9%)

“Source: NCLR calculation using U.S. Census Bureau, “Current Population Survey (CPS) Table Creator,” 2011 Annual Social and Economic Supplement, http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/cpstc/cps_table_creator.html (accessed December 2011).”

Uninsurance is generally lower among children than adults, but Latino children are still more than two times more likely than White children to be uninsured.

The overweight rate of Hispanic students in Arizona is 17.1%, while the rate for all students is 13.9%.

Facilitator: Mary Lou de León Siantz, Ph.D., UC Davis-Health System Betty Irene School of Nursing and Second Vice Chair, National Latino Children’s Institute Board

Panelists: Youth participant Kipling Gallion, Deputy Director, Salud America! Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Latino Children at University of TX Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX John Molina, MD, CEO, Phoenix Indian Medical Center Dana Naimark, President and CEO, Children’s Action Alliance

15 Panel on Language, Culture, History and Identity

Latino, Growing Up American

What role do we have in keeping our identity, culture, language and history alive and vibrant?

Language, culture and history are part of the Latino identity, yet some non-Latinos are threatened by bilingualism and the teaching of cultural pride and history. This session highlights the value of including the history of Hispanics in the U.S. in the general media, arts, and in history books. Experts in media, arts, education, ethnic studies, and culture will discuss strategies that combat stereotypes in media while increasing positive reflections as well as ways to foster cultural pride in children and youth through public/ private partnerships.

Hispanic Media Presence within each Sector Newspapers had the greatest proportion of Hispanic related coverage of any sector. Overall, 4.3% of coverage that began on the front pages of the 13 papers studied contained substantial references to Hispanics. Cable television had the lowest proportion, (1.9%). Online, radio news and network TV fell in between. (http://www.journalism.org/analysis_report/differences_media_ sector) Journalism.org 2009

In the 2010 academic year, students who took Mexican American Studies (MAS) classes graduated at a 93.6% rate compared to non-Mexican American Studies students (Comparison Group) at an 82.7% rate, illustrating a +10.9% greater graduation rate for MAS students. Analysis and Evaluation of Mexican American Studies Student AIMS & Graduation Outcome Data that was produced by TUSD Director of Accountability & Research, 2011

Facilitator: Windy López, Scholastic & National Latino Children’s Institute Board Member

Panelists: Youth participant Benito Martínez, Actor Dr. Eugene García, Professor Emeritus, Arizona State University Dr. Nolan Cabrera, Professor, University of Arizona Stella Pope Duarte, Author, Let Their Spirits Dance

NOTES: ______

16 Panel on Children and Their Family and Immigration

Who’s Taking Care of the Children?

What can we do to support efforts to reform government policies and practices that too often lack safeguards for the youngest citizens?

Families become fragmented when parents are detained through immigration enforcement. Communication and operational gaps among Federal, state and local governments have severe consequences for families and children, including children who are U.S. citizens. Those caught in between government officials and courts can find themselves left in a legal limbo, without access to their parents or family. This session explores current practices and consequences occurring when children are separated from their parents due to the immigration system and the impact that state immigration enforcement laws like Arizona’s Senate Bill 1070 can have. Extended family care, kinship care, private and governmental supports are discussed as well as policy and operational improvements that can better serve children.

Children of Immigrants in the General Population

There are approximately 5.5 million children in the U.S. who have an un-documented parent, and about 4.5 million of these children are U.S. citizens.” SHATTERED FAMILIES - The Perilous Intersection of Immigration Enforcement and the Child Welfare System, Applied Research Center, November 2011.

A 2011 report estimates that in Maricopa County, 274 (4.5%) of the children in foster care had detained/deported parents. The number in Pima County was 130 children (5.2 %). General population data from Fortuny, K., Capps, R., SHATTERED FAMILIES - The Perilous Intersection of Immigration Simms, M., Chaudry, A. (2009). Children of Immigrants: Enforcement and the Child Welfare System, Applied Research National and State Characteristics. Washington, DC: Center, November 2011. Urban Institute

Facilitator: Beatriz Leyva-Cutler, Bay Area Hispano Institute for Advancement, Inc. & National Latino Children’s Institute Board Member

Panelists: Youth Participant Wendy D. Cervantes, Vice President, Immigration and Child Rights Policy, First Focus Gladis Molina, Director, Managing Attorney, Florence Immigration and Refugee Project’s Children’s Program Victoria López, Program Director, American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona

NOTES: ______

17 Panel on Community and Child Safety

Who’s Listening? Increasing Accountability in Child Safety

What will be done to ensure that crimes committed against children are deemed top priorities by the public, government leaders, and law enforcement?

Children do not always receive the protection they deserve from state agencies or law enforcement. Victimization of children is largely underreported, while reported cases can get caught up in administrative systems that don’t work and that are inadequate to handle the need. This session provides current data on crimes against children; efforts to address the safety of children; law enforcement’s role, and current efforts to increase accountability and transparency when it comes to crimes against children.

The Children’s Defense Fund reported (A Portrait of Inequality 2012. Hispanic Children in America. Washington, D. C. July 2012) that in 2010: • 20% of victims of child abuse and neglect and 16.6% of deaths from child maltreatment were Latino; • Hispanic victims constituted 37% of all sex trafficking victims and 56% of labor trafficking victims; • 63% of sex trafficking victims were U.S. citizens.

After a city that contracted with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for police services complained about dozens of uninvestigated cases, Sheriff Arpaio’s office reopened 432 sex-crimes cases, many involving victims who are minors, that were inadequately investigated or not investigated at all over a three-year period that ended in 2007. (http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/aide-arpaio-accepts-blame- for-botched-sex-cases)

Prior to new revisions, a 2011 City Auditor report found that poor case management and improperly conducted interviews are too common in a Phoenix Police Department unit that investigates crimes against children including abuse and sexual assault. City of Phoenix Auditors Department Report, October 2011

Facilitator: Olivia V. Meza, Chief, U.S. Pretrial Services, District of AZ (Ret.) Board Member, AZ Board of Executive Clemency (Ret.) & National Latino Children’s Institute Board Secretary/Treasurer

Panelists: Youth Participant Ana Luisa Cody, External Affairs Manager, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Honorable Linda López, Arizona State Senate Sandra T. Rentería, Commander, Phoenix Police Department

Special Author Presentation William Louis, Author, If There Were Any Victims...

18 Panel on Public Policy and Political Empowerment

Igniting Your Chispa! Creating Change

How can we influence policy decisions that affect our livelihood, our children and families? How can we create change and strengthen our voice?

The Latino community is heralded as a gold mine of influence yet this influence continues to be unharnessed. This session explores the potential within the Latino community to affect the economy, business, public policy and political outcomes through voter and civic engagement. The power of leader positioning will also be addressed along with opportunities to influence who serves in the public sector. This session includes local success stories with potential for rippling consequences.

23.5 million Latino citizens of voting age live in the U.S.

12.2 million are expected to vote in the 2012 election.

11.3 million remain that will not vote in the 2012 election.

“Why Latinos Need to Register and Vote” by Arturo Vargas, NALEO; http://www.naleo.org/latinovote.html

Of the total 13.1 million lawful permanent residents in the U.S. more than 8 million are eligible to become U.S. citizens but have not yet naturalized. (http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/ois_lpr_pe_2011.pdf)

There are 766,000 eligible Hispanic voters in Arizona—the fifth-largest Hispanic eligible-voter population. nationally (http://www. pewhispanic.org/2010/10/15/latinos-in-the-2010-elections-arizona/)

Facilitator: Alex Sánchez, Austin Independent School District, National Latino Children’s Institute Board Member

Panelists: Youth participant Liany Elba Arroyo, Associate Director of the Education and Children’s Policy Project, National Council of La Raza Petra Falcon, Executive Director, Promise Arizona Randy Parraz, President, Citizens for a Better Arizona Honorable Daniel Valenzuela, Councilmember Phoenix, AZ

NOTES: ______

19 Educating and Building Community for 50 Years

celebrate.maricopa.edu

MCCCD is an EEO/AA Institution.

The Maricopa Community Colleges are Proud Sponsors of the National Latino Children’s Summit

Chandler-Gilbert | Estrella Mountain | GateWay | Glendale | Mesa Paradise Valley | Phoenix | Rio Salado | Scottsdale | South Mountain Maricopa Skill Center | SouthWest Skill Center National Speakers Action Now-Keeping the Promise of a Bright Future A National Latino Children’s Summit

Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. | President, United States Hispanic Leadership Institute

Dr. Juan Andrade is the President of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute: Since 1982 the Institute has registered 2.2 million voters, trained over 285,000 present & future leaders, published 425 studies on Latino demographics, and sponsors the largest Latino leadership conference in the nation. He is the most decorated Latino leader in the nation. Among his many honors he has been one of four in history to be honored by governments of both Mexico and the US, been the recipient of five honorary doctorates, and recognized four times as one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in America. Moreover he has worked and participated in the democratization of Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Paraguay, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and Haiti.

Dr. Carlos Arce | Co-founder, Ethnifacts

Since 1973, Dr. Arce has conducted research and policy analysis on Hispanic quality of life and well- being; immigrant experiences; and consumption patterns in the Hispanic Market. After a 15-year academic research career, Dr. Arce founded and led several research consultancies, including NuStats and DataSource, both now owned by PTV AG of Karlsruhe, Germany; and Geostats, a geospatial consulting company in Atlanta. He chairs the PepsiCo Latino Advisory Board. A native to Mexico, Dr. Arce is a University of California (Berkeley) graduate and has a doctorate from the University of Michigan.

Liany Elba Arroyo | Associate Director of the Education and Children’s Policy Project at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Liany works to advance NCLR’s education priorities and policies affecting Latino children and youth. She focuses on identifying policy solutions that address the social disparities faced by Latino children. Liany has been with NCLR since 2002 where she served as Director of NCLR’s Institute for Hispanic Health. She has published several pieces on Latino health and has been cited by Spanish and English media, including The New York Times, Newsweek, and Univision. In addition to her responsibilities at NCLR, Liany serves on the Latino Initiative Advisory Group for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and as a Board member of the Coalition on Human Needs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wellesley College and a master’s degree in public health from Columbia University.

Rebeca María Barrera | Director of Hispanic Initiatives at Scholastic and Founder, National Latino Children’s Institute Scholastic is the world’s largest publisher of children’s books. Rebeca Barrera guides Scholastic with the cultural values and entrepreneurial ingenuity that is her trademark. As a non-stop designer she has impacted millions of young Latinos through policy, programs, and national initiatives. She is one of only 22 Latinas to serve on the Board of a Fortune 1000 company. Barrera’s fingerprints are on over two dozen curriculum programs, books, videos, DVDs, and on the legislation and design for El Día de los Niños. She has started companies, schools and non-profit organizations including the National Latino Children’s Institute. She established the first Texas high school on a college campus. Barrera is a tenth generation Tejana whose ingenuity is evident in Tres Rebecas, her cultural design firm. It is also a popular boutique and librería where authors and artists share their work through classes and special events. 21 Sarita E. Brown | President, Excelencia in Education

Ms. Brown started her career at the University of Texas at Austin by building a national model promoting minority success in graduate education. Coming to the nation’s capital in 1993 to work for educational associations, Ms. Brown was appointed as Executive Director of the White House Initiative for Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans under President Bill Clinton and U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley. In 2004, she maintains her commitment to improving the quality of education and co-founded Excelencia in Education, a not-for-profit organization working to accelerate Latino success in higher education by linking research, policy, and practice to serve Latino students.

Henry Cejudo | Olympic Gold Medalist

Henry Cejudo, the youngest of six children, was born in Los Angeles, California. His mom, Nelly Rico, a hard-working immigrant from Mexico, often moved her family from state to state looking for work. Henry’s father was absent from their lives, spending a majority of the time within the California Penal System. Nelly was forced to work two jobs in order to care for her six children alone. Motivated by the hardships of his childhood, Henry immersed himself in school and athletics. Henry’s brother Angel introduced him to the sport of wrestling. Driven by desire, Henry was focused on winning the World and Olympic championships. Upon graduation from high school, Henry took the bold and highly unusual road to the Olympic gold, foregoing the customary route of a collegiate wrestling program. Henry began training full time at the Olympic Training Center to prepare for the 2008 Olympic Games. He then went on to represent the U.S.A. in the Beijing Olympics, and brought home the gold. Henry not only achieved his dream of becoming an Olympic champion, he made history by becoming the youngest American wrestler to ever win an Olympic gold medal.

Wendy Cervantes | Vice President, Immigration and Child Rights Policy, First Focus

Ms. Cervantes previous work with La Plaza, Indiana Commission for Hispanic and Latino Affairs Education Committee, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation has consistently affirmed her as a long standing advocate for vulnerable Latino children and their families. In her role as vice-president, Ms. Cervantes is responsible for leading the organization’s work in cross-cutting policy areas that impact the children of immigrants and their families including child welfare, immigration, education, human rights, family economics, and health. Currently she serves on the Associate Board of the Latin American Youth Center, the Advisory Board of the We Belong Together Campaign, and as the Policy Co-chair of the Migration and Child Welfare National Network.

Ana Luisa Cody | Senior Manager of External Affairs, Outreach and Special Projects at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) Ana Luisa Cody, originally from Chile, has spent over 10 years working and advocating on behalf of communities to address diverse social and public health challenges. In working with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Ms. Cody directs and manages the preventive and outreach efforts to reach out to communities and diverse stakeholders across the country to increase awareness of issues surrounding missing and exploited children. She provides technical assistance and coordinates special initiatives to help mobilize communities, schools, and government representatives to advocate about the importance of child protection nationwide.

22 Kipling J. Gallion M.A. | Deputy Director, Salud America!

Mr. Gallion, a noted leader in the health communications field, is an assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. R. Kipling’s other current titles include: National Project Coordinator for RWJF Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Latino Children, Network Partner for Redes en Accion: National Latino Cancer Research, and Deputy Director at Institute for Health Promotion Research. His works have been published in various Journals such as Journal for Ethnicity and Disease, Community Genetics, Journal of Health disparities Research and Practice and Health Educ Behav. In addition, he co-authored a chapter, in the book Multicultural Populations: A Handbook for Practitioners. Kipling’s most recent work, Salud America! Developing a National Latino Childhood Obesity Research Agenda was published in Health Educ Behav on June 2011.

Dr. Eugene Garcia | Professor Emeritus, Arizona State University

Dr. Eugene García is presently professor emeritus at Arizona State University (ASU). From 2002-2006, he was the Dean of the Mary Lou Fulton College of Education on the Tempe campus of ASU. From 2006-2011 he was Professor and Vice President for Education Partnerships at ASU. Before joining ASU, he served as Professor and Dean of the Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Berkeley from 1995-2001. He received his B.A. from the University of Utah in Psychology and his Ph.D. in Human Development from the University of Kansas. He has served as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in Human Development at Harvard University and as a National Research Council Fellow. He has been a recipient of a National Kellogg Leadership Fellowship and received numerous academic and public honors. He has published extensively in the area of language teaching and bilingual development authoring and/or co-authoring over 200 articles and book chapters along with 14 books and monographs. Most recently he was appointed to the Board on Children, Youth and Families of the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council.

Virginia (Bibi) Lobo Somyak, B.A. | Co-Founder, National Latino Children’s Institute

Ms. Lobo is a co- founder of NLCI and served as staff liaison to the Latino Children’s Corporate Board and National Advisory Board, and the Board of Directors. She is an alumna of the National Hispana Leadership Institute. Ms. Lobo is an experienced writer and was the lead writer for all of NLCI’s programs, including Salsa, Sabor y Salud. She served as the liaison for 125 cities around the nation celebrating El Día de los Niños−Celebrating Young Americans, and created materials and provided support to each city. Ms. Lobo has worked with PBS creating culturally appropriate outreach materials and workshops for PBS stations for The Adventures of Maya and Miguel, a bilingual children’s television show.

Benito Martínez, | Actor

Benito Martinez is most widely recognized as David Aceveda, the character he portrayed on the long running hit drama “The Shield” (2002), winner of the Golden Globe for best drama. For his work as “David,” he has been recognized by the National Council of La Raza, winning the 2007 ALMA Award for best supporting actor as well as being recognized by the NOSOTROS Foundation and the National Hispanic Media Coalition for outstanding performance in a dramatic series. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mr. Martínez got his start on stage playing the vihuela in the Mariachi Del Norte de Bennie Martínez (his father’s mariachi) at the age of eight. Mr. Martínez’s film credits include Million Dollar Baby (2004), Saw (2004), New Suit (2002), Kill Your Darlings (2006) and My Family (1995), to list a few. Currently he appears as “Luis Torres” in FX Networks hit show “Sons of Anarchy” and CW series Supernatural.

23 Dulce Matuz | Chairman & CEO, Arizona DREAM Act Coalition

Dulce Matuz, Chairman & CEO of Arizona DREAM Act Coalition and Falcon Robotics mentor, arrived in the US with her mother as a young teenager unaware of the challenges of living as an undocumented youth. Despite obstacles she graduated from high school and earned a degree in electrical engineering at Arizona State University. She now leads Arizona DREAM Act Coalition, an immigrant youth-led organization focusing on the fight for higher education and immigrant rights. Recently, Ms. Matuz was named among Time’s 100 influential persons in the world.

Thomas A. Saenz | President and General Counsel, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund

Thomas A. Saenz is the President and General Counsel of MALDEF, where he leads the civil rights organization’s five offices in pursuing litigation, policy advocacy, and community education to promote the civil rights of Latinos living in the United States. Saenz re-joined MALDEF in August 2009, after spending four years on Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s executive team as Counsel to the Mayor. He previously spent 12 years at MALDEF practicing civil rights law as a staff attorney, regional counsel, and vice president of litigation. He served as MALDEF’s lead counsel in successfully challenging California’s anti-immigrant Proposition 187. Saenz graduated from Yale College and Yale Law School, and he clerked for two federal judges before initially joining MALDEF in 1993.

Felix Sanchez | CEO, TerraCom

Félix R. Sánchez is the Chief Executive Officer of TerraCom, a government and public relations firm in Washington, DC, and serves as the pro bono Chairman and Co-founder of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (NHFA). In 1997, he joined actors Jimmy Smits, Sonia Braga, and Esai Morales in establishing NHFA. Mr. Sánchez has developed a number of programs to assist the entertainment industry achieve its goals of promoting more Latinos in this business. Most recently, he established an educational/networking forum for NHFA’s students in California, Texas and New York. Under his leadership and in partnership with Children Now, NHFA produces an annual quantitative look at Latino portrayal on network primetime TV. He also has organized a partnership between NHFA and the entertainment industry to develop actor showcases; promote Latino writers; develop new talent development programs and assists the industry in addressing issues of concern to the Latino community. Mr. Sánchez received his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center and his MA and BA degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a former CNN contributor and has been profiled in many national media outlets.

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Local Speakers Action Now-Keeping the Promise of a Bright Future A National Latino Children’s Summit

Dr. Nolan Cabrera | Assistant Professor, University of Arizona

Dr. Cabrera is currently an assistant professor in the Center for the Study of Higher Education. He is also currently involved in the Tucson Unified School District controversy over Mexican American Studies. Prior to coming to the University of Arizona, Dr. Cabrera graduated from UCLA where he worked on Dr. Sylvia Hurtado’s NIH-funded project regarding diversifying the sciences. Dr. Cabrera’s primary research interests include diversity, race/racism in higher education, affirmative action, and the impact of summer programs on low-income, first-generation, and racial minority college students. Prior to his graduate studies, Dr. Cabrera was the Director of a Boys & Girls Club in the San Francisco Bay Area. He earned his BA from Stanford University and is originally from McMinnville, Oregon.

Mario E Diaz | President of Mario E Diaz and Associates

Mario E Diaz has owned and managed Mario E Diaz and Associates since 2001. Under Mario’s leadership, the firm serves as a resource for school districts, community colleges, tribal nations, non- profit and labor organizations, candidates for public office, corporations, and government entities. He began his career working for U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini and Congressman Ed Pastor and United States Attorney Janet Napolitano. Mario later successfully managed Janet Napolitano’s campaigns for Attorney General and for Governor. Mario served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Napolitano. Mario’s community leadership was recognized when he was awarded the Valle del Sol Lorraine Lee Latino Advocacy Champion Award, among other awards. He received his Bachelor of Science in Political Science degree and Masters of Public Administration degree from Arizona State University.

Stella Pope Duarte | Author

Ms. Pope Duarte is a critically acclaimed author, educator, and human rights advocate. Critics have described her as a major new literary voice in America. Her works include: Fragile Night, Let Their Spirits Dance, If I Die in Juarez, Women Who Live in Coffee Shops and Other Stories, and Writing Through Revelations, Visions and Dreams. Ms. Pope Duarte is hailed as a major, new literary voice in America. She teaches creative writing for colleges and universities in Arizona and received nationwide awards including a 2009 American Book Award, Southwest Book of the Year Award and the Arizona Book of the Year Award. Stella was born and raised in the Sonorita Barrio in south central Phoenix.

Petra Falcon | Executive Director of Promise Arizona (PAZ)

Ms. Falcon is a veteran organizer, activist, and community leader known for developing powerful grass roots strategies. She was affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation from 1990 to 2009, where she organized in border communities in Arizona, working with immigrants and farm workers. She has devoted her life to ensuring and expanding access to opportunities for the underserved, having achieved significant victories over her 25 years organizing within faith, Latino, and immigrant communities in Arizona and the Southwest. Falcon grew up in the Grand Canyon State as a fourth-generation Arizonan. From her earliest experience she learned the value of access to education and opportunity, and the social inequities and violence that result from the systemic denial of such opportunities. 26 Honorable Raúl Grijalva, Congressman, United States House of Representatives

In his fifth term as a Member of Congress, Representative Raúl M. Grijalva remains committed to his constituents in Congressional District 7. Over the past 40 years, Representative Grijalva has built an exceptional record of public service within his district. Since his election to Congress in 2002, education, job creation, employee rights and the environment have been among Raúl’s top policy concerns. His previous work has helped to fund early childhood and preschool programs within our nation’s consistently underfunded education system. He has successfully worked to improve funding to Migrant and Seasonal Head Start and to enhance outreach and services to Limited English Proficient children and their families. Raúl played the leading role in creating a permanent National Landscape Conservation System within the Department of the Interior and fought successfully to address the maintenance funding shortfall of American public lands. In addition, as Co- Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), Raúl has championed affordable health care for every American and has pushed for job creation measures that focus on improving America’s infrastructure and economic base.

Edmundo Hidalgo | President and Chief Executive Officer, Chicanos Por La Causa

Edmundo Hidalgo has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Chicanos Por La Causa Inc. (CPLC) since 2008. His dynamic leadership has led to double-digit growth every year for the past five years and has catapulted CPLC into the national spotlight as an advocate for social and economic development, particularly in low-income communities. Edmundo’s commitment to ensuring economic empowerment for everyone extends beyond leading the nation’s fourth largest Hispanic community development corporation. He is on the board of directors for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition and the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders and serves on the board of advisors for the Morrison Institute for Public Policy, the Tobacco Revenue Use Spending and Tracking Commission, the CHASE Community Advisory Committee, the Dudley Ventures advisory board, the Greystone CDE, and the New Markets Tax Credit Coalition advisory board. Edmundo has served as past chair of the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation and Treasurer of Sonoran Bank. He was honored as a 2008 Piper Fellow of the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, 2005 Minority Small Business Champion of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Arizona District Office, and with the Organization for Nonprofit Executives’ 2011 Director of the Year Innovation Award. Growing up in the southern Arizona town of San Luis planted the seed for the driven individual Edmundo has become, dedicated to making life better for all Arizonans. In 1988, Edmundo earned his B.A. in Economics. And in 2000, he received his MBA from Arizona State University. He has been married for 26 years to his wife, Rosanna, and has two sons, Jonathan and Matthew.

Manuel L. Isquierdo, Ed.D. | Superintendent, Sunnyside Unified School District

Dr. Manuel L. Isquierdo has served as an administrator in both urban and suburban school districts for the past 20 years. Dr. Isquierdo is experienced in implementing and managing change and designing successful comprehensive school reform initiatives that are being used as models at the state and national levels. As the leader of the Sunnyside Unified School District, Dr. Isquierdo spearheaded the launch of Project Graduation, an innovative program to improve graduation rates, attendance and student achievement. The Digital Advantage—an award-winning laptop incentive program—soon followed. Under his leadership, graduation numbers have skyrocketed from 598 in 2008 to a record-high 821 in 2010. Dr. Isquierdo was awarded his doctorate from National-Louis University in March 2004. He earned his master’s degree from Michigan State University and bachelor’s degree from Saginaw Valley State in Michigan.

27 Linda Lopez | Arizona State Senator

Senator Lopez was first elected to office in 2001 to serve District 29; She has served in many leadership roles including House Minority Whip 2003-2004; and Assistant Minority Leader 2005-2006.; She currently serves as a member of Appropriations ( B); Health; Rules; Joint Legislative Budget Committee; CPS Oversight; and the Governor’s Commission on Reforming CPS. Linda serves as Community Relations Coordinator for La Frontera Center, Inc., Tucson. She has been employed and worked for the center since 1991 and is responsible for pursuing funding opportunities for programs, collaborating with other agencies and providers to ensure optimum services for children and adults, and for promoting La Frontera Center to the community. Linda attended University of California at Berkeley. In 1973, she moved to Tucson. She is the mother to two beautiful daughters, Toni and Bobbi and a son Aaron. Linda has two grandsons, Kyle and Dylan and their wonderful mother Charla. She was also a foster mother to 44 abused/neglected children.

Victoria López | Program Director, ACLU of Arizona

Ms. López oversees non-litigation advocacy efforts in defending civil rights and liberties in Arizona. She joined the ACLU of Arizona in 2009 as the Immigrants’ Rights Advocate to lead a documentation project on immigration detention. She is the primary researcher and author of In Their Own Words: Enduring Abuse in Arizona Immigration Detention Centers, a report based on over one hundred in- person interviews with people detained in Arizona. Victoria is a former Equal Justice Works Fellow, staff attorney and executive director of the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. She holds a B.A. from the University of Illinois-Champaign and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

William Louis | Author

William C. “Bill” Louis grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and graduated from Brophy College Prep. After honorably serving in the United States Army he returned to Phoenix where he and his wife raised their family. Bill spent nearly 31 years with the Phoenix Police Department rising through the ranks to Assistant Police Chief. Assistant Chief Louis subsequently joined the City of El Mirage, Arizona in 2007 to help re-build and re-engineer their police department. Assistant Chief Louis was in charge of the El Mirage investigative team that uncovered the criminal investigations mishandled by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. Their team spent more than 12 months reviewing and re-investigating the child sex crimes and death investigations that Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s agency neglected. He is the author of “If There Were Any Victims...” providing an in-depth review of the crimes that were mishandled by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, what the victims endured and how the offenders were not brought to justice.

Paul J. Luna | President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation

Mr. Luna is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the growing organization, Helios Education Foundation, cultivating strong community relationships and initiating strategic partnerships in Arizona and Florida for the Foundation. He brings more than 22 years of public and private professional experience to his leadership role with the Foundation. A graduate of Stanford University, Paul holds a degree in Civil Engineering. He currently serves as a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership, Florida STEMM Task Force, and Center for the Future of Arizona Board of Directors, Arizona Community Foundation Board of Directors, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and Founding Chair of Expect More Arizona Board of Directors.

28 Gladis Molina | Managing Attorney Children’s Program, Florence Project

Ms. Molina’s work is focused on asylum and Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) cases. In 2006, she began her career as an attorney on behalf of refugees and immigrants in the United States. Her prior work experience includes working with Unaccompanied Children in South Texas and in Los Angeles on cases pending before the Immigration Court. She obtained her B.A. from the California State University and her J.D. from the University of California. Ms. Molina was born in Morazan, El Salvador and her American hometown is Long Beach, California, where she grew up with her parents and three brothers.

John W. Molina, M.D., J.D., L.H.D. | Chief Executive Officer, Phoenix Indian Medical Center

Dr. Molina is Chief Executive Officer for Phoenix Indian Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona. He is Founder of Las Fuentes Health Clinic, a non-profit health center serving the needs of a traditionally underserved population in his hometown of Guadalupe, AZ. He is a graduate of the UA, College of Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynecology and ASU, Sandra Day O’Conner College of Law. His academic interests include Indian Healthcare Law and Policy, Healthcare Disparities, and Patient Centered Medicine. He has served on the Advisory Committee on Women’s Health and Research with the National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Effective Healthcare Program, and the National Medicaid Medical Directors Committee.

Dana Wolfe Naimark | President and CEO, Children’s Action Alliance (CAA)

Ms. Naimark is an independent voice for Arizona children at the state capitol and in the community. CAA works to improve children’s health, education and security through information and action. Dana has been part of the CAA team for the past twenty years, conducting analysis, raising awareness, and lobbying the state legislature on a wide variety of policy issues that affect parents and children. Dana started her career in Arizona in 1986 working on tax and budget issues for the Arizona state legislature. She earned her Master in Public Policy degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Michael Nowakowski | City of Phoenix Councilman

Councilman Michael Nowakowski is a lifelong resident of Phoenix. He holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Religious Studies from Arizona State University. He is married to Delia Ortega-Nowakowski and is a proud parent of five children. Michael also is the Vice President of Communications of Radio Campesina, a network of 10 nonprofit Spanish-language radio stations. Prior to Radio Campesina, he worked with the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, where he served as Assistant Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. He currently serves on the Downtown, Aviation and Economy; Public Safety and Veterans; Seniors, Families and Parks; and Youth City Council subcommittees.

29 Randy Parraz | President, Citizens for a Better Arizona

Randy Parraz is an attorney, community organizer, and President of Arizona Citizens for a Better Arizona (CBA). CBA was a leading group in the historic recall of former President of the Arizona Senate Russell Pearce and continues to support efforts aimed at limiting the influence of extreme and divisive politicians. As a leader of the National Voter Rights Education Project and AFL-CIO, he spent many years advocating on behalf of workers and their families. From church based organizing in East Dallas, to national coalition building on behalf of 20,000 strawberry workers in the fields of California, to spearheading support for the Immigrant Worker Freedom Ride in Arizona, Randy has experience with many different methods of social change. A graduate of UC Berkeley, Randy earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a J.D. at Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law.

Sandra T. Renteria | Commander, Phoenix Police Department

Commander Renteria has been a law enforcement officer for over 24 years, serving the Phoenix Police Department for 19 years. She strives to continue to break barriers for women in a male dominated Law Enforcement field. She was the first Hispanic female hired as Deputy Sheriff for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in 1987. Sandra also became the first Hispanic woman promoted to Sergeant for the Phoenix Police Department in 1997, the first Hispanic woman promoted to Lieutenant in 2003, and the first Hispanic woman promoted to the rank of Commander in 2007. Sandra received her Bachelor’s Degree in Management and Masters Degree in Leadership with an emphasis in Disaster Preparedness and Crisis Management, both from Grand Canyon University. Her commendations include a Medal of Lifesaving, Distinguished Service Award, and Employee Excellence Award. She is a second generation native of Phoenix.

Daniel Valenzuela | City of Phoenix Councilman

Mr. Valenzuela has dedicated his entire life to public service, but began his four-year term of office for the Phoenix City Council on Jan. 3, 2012. He proudly represents District 5, which includes west and central Phoenix. He currently is a special operations firefighter with the city of Glendale, Ariz. In addition to his firefighter duties, he also serves as the public information officer for the Glendale Fire Department. Currently, he serves as president of the National Association of Hispanic Firefighters, representing nearly 30 chapters throughout the country. Daniel is a fourth-generation Phoenician. He and his wife of 17 years, Sonya, and children, Daniel and Danielle, are proud to call District 5 their home.

Rosemary Ybarra-Hernandez | CEO and Founder, AGUILA Youth Leadership Institute

A champion for education, Ms. Ybarra-Hernandez received her Bachelor of Science in Political Science/ Pre-Law and Certificate of Concentration in Women’s Studies, a Masters in Public Administration, and doctoral work in Juvenile Justice Policy (PhD - ABD) from Arizona State University. Rosemary has been recognized for her achievements in the design and delivery of award winning programs in government, education and non-profit organizations, in particular youth serving. She has received local, national and international recognition for her work. She is native of Phoenix, married, has four daughters and three grandchildren.

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National Latino Children’s Institute Recognizes Its Founder & Co-Founder Action Now-Keeping the Promise of a Bright Future A National Latino Children’s Summit

Rebeca M. Barrera

Rebeca Barrera is Director of Hispanic Initiatives for Scholastic, the global publisher of children’s books. In 1988 she became an advisor and writer for the magazine “Early Childhood Today”. Later she guided the company as the lead author on the highly successful The Early Childhood Workshop. In 1995 she became the first Latina to serve on Scholastic’s Board of Directors, serving for 14 years. She is one of only 22 Latinas to ever serve on a Fortune 1000 Board.

Breaking barriers is a regular activity for Barrera. Her professional work began as a high school teacher in San Antonio’s Edgewood Independent School District. Following that she was the Director of the AMANECER Project at Intercultural Development Research Association, taught at the Child Development Department of San Antonio College and University of Texas San Antonio, owned a child care center for 10 years, was Executive Director of the Corporate Fund for Children and directed the first high school on a Texas college campus at Palo Alto College.

Her adventuresome and entrepreneurial spirit has always inspired her to try to solve the problems faced by young Latinos, a challenge that led to the creation of the National Latino Children’s Institute. Fresh from her experience in the Executive Leadership Program of the National Hispana Leadership Institute, Barrera used her new-found skills to seek solutions to the issues faced by young Latinos on the U.S.-Mexico border. Leveraging her position on the Board of NAEYC, Barrera held a town hall meeting to discuss the problem nationally. A Ford Foundation officer in the room agreed to fund a national initiative to identify both the barriers and successes for young Latinos.

In 1994 Barrera invited 48 organizations to meet in Washington, DC to develop the National Latino Children’s Agenda. The Agenda is a statement of principles for the full development of young Latinos. The agenda led to the first Latino Children’s Summit and the creation of the National Latino Children’s Institute, which Barrera led as President until 2005. NLCI’s work has been to build healthy communities and advance youth leadership to implement the agenda’s principles. NLCI develops culturally authentic community programs that utilize the best thinking about what works for young Latinos.

Rebeca Barrera is the recipient of numerous awards for community service from organizations such as MALDEF’s Matt García Award for Community Service, Hispanic Magazine Achievement Award, National Hispanic Employees Association and Reading is Fundamental.

Barrera is a tenth generation Tejana and promotes cultural richness through her Latino boutique, librería, and craft school.

32 Bibi Lobo

An immigrant to the United States, Bibi has worked throughout her career to increase opportunities for success for all children. Bibi was born in Havana, Cuba, and has studied in France and Spain.

As a co-founder of the National Latino Children’s Institute, Bibi coordinated many of the programs developed for communities to use in their work with young Latinos. She was instrumental in guiding NLCI’s research of youth issues, and provided the leadership for youth involvement in policy and program development. She held annual forums with young Latinos throughout the country to explore their opportunities and barriers. Bibi served as the vice president from 1997-2004.

Bibi’s many contributions to NLCI revolved around her deep commitment to involving young people in creating their own destiny. As national coordinator for El Día de los Niños-Celebrating Young Americans, Bibi has always promoted the inclusion of young people in the planning and implementation of this national commemorative day.

Bibi is an experienced trainer, facilitator and writer. Published works include Mi Casa Es Su Casa, a professional development curriculum for Spanish-speaking family child care providers; and Scholastic, Inc.’s Early Childhood Workshop. Bibi also was the lead author of NLCI’s five premier programsSalsa, Sabor y Salud, an award winning healthy lifestyles curriculum for families; Corazón de mi vida, a child passenger safety program; Onda Sana, a program about making good choices for teens; ¡Ay Chispas! a fire safety program for preschool children; and Words for the Future, a public engagement and early brain development program for Latino parents of preschool children.

Her consulting company, Keep it Simple, has enabled her to continue her work on behalf of the community she loves. Bibi’s understanding of the Latino culture and traditions has enabled her to work with a variety of clients to develop workshops and other materials that reach Latinos including PBS Kids, AARP, the Century Council, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and other corporate and non-profit entities.

Bibi is a proud alumna (class of 1997) of the National Hispana Leadership Institute. She has served on numerous local and national boards, including the National Hispana Leadership Institute, Las Comadres para las Americas, and Latinitas, Inc.

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National Latino Children’s Institute Recognizes its Promesa Partner Chicanos Por La Causa Action Now-Keeping the Promise of a Bright Future A National Latino Children’s Summit

Started in 1969, Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. (CPLC), has become the fourth largest community development corporation in the United States. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, CPLC has expanded into Nevada and New Mexico, as they continue to establish a national presence. Through their 34 subsidiaries, programs, and services, the organization helps children from birth through college age.

CPLC believes that it’s better to, “give a hand up rather than a handout” and focuses on empowering and equipping individuals to become successful members of the community. Among the programs CPLC provides, are the following, which demonstrate breadth, depth, and quality:

Early Childhood Development - Migrant & Seasonal Head Start and Early Head Start Early Childhood Development (ECD), serves about 1,000 children daily from birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families, and is focused on increasing school readiness and social competence in low-income families. The apparent Policy Councils serve as critical advisors and resources to the program.

Children are provided individualized education plans that focus on specific learning goals. Every child enrolled in Head Start programs receives developmental screening, which is completed collaboratively between parents and teachers. ECD maintains a dual language policy to help support learning with the child’s home language, as well as, the acquisition of English.

CPLC Parenting Arizona Since 1977, CPLC Parenting Arizona (PA) has worked to reduce child abuse and neglect through parent education, community collaboration, and multicultural family support. PA offers in-home services, community-based parent education, after school programs, school-based services, and community outreach. And in 2011, PA impacted 16,914 individuals and served 2,472 families through home visits and parenting classes.

Scholarships Since 1988, CPLC has helped more than 1,200 students graduate from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, University of Arizona, and community colleges across Arizona by offering scholarships worth more than $12 million to educate deserving students.

With their unique model of building self-sufficiency, and through their four pillars of Economic Development, Education, Behavioral Health, and Housing, CPLC provides valuable programs, and services, that foster empowerment and self- sufficiency throughout the southwest. The Promise of Opportunity is lived very day through the practice of servant leadership.

For more information, please visit www.cplc.org and like us on Facebook “Chicanos Por La Causa”.

35 National Latino Children’s Institute Board of Directors Action Now-Keeping the Promise of a Bright Future A National Latino Children’s Summit

Olga Aros, President & CEO | ORA Worldwide Consultants Olga Aros is President & CEO, ORA Worldwide Consultants, an Arizona based management and consultant firm. She is an extraordinary visionary, businesswoman and community organizer. Ms. Aros has 40 years of management experience in executive positions including three Fortune 500 companies, several non-profit organizations and in city government. She is the founder of eLatina Voices, the Hispanic Women’s Conference in Arizona, the National Hispanic Corporate Council, and served as the founding Chair of the National Latino Children’s Institute. Over thirteen local and national, organizations have credited Ms. Aros as one who contributes to the betterment of Latinos, women and children. She was recognized as one of the 100 Hispanic Influentials, America’s Top Hispanic Woman in Communications, Girl Scouts World of Courage award, and Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year. She serves on the AZHCC Board of Directors and chairs the Latina Business Enterprise.

The Honorable Dolores (Dee) Briones A retired judge of El Paso, Honorable Briones has spent over 30 years working on public policy issues that affect women and children. In addition, she spent nine years in health and hospital administration and spearheaded the campaign for a 4-year medical school and a children’s hospital. In 2003, the Judge received a Texas Association of Counties Best Practices Award for Superior Innovation for “Strong Families, Strong Future.” her brain child to strengthen families to self-sufficiency and economic success. In addition, Judge Briones has served as appointee to the Texas Commission for Women, a former chair of the Texas Border Infrastructure Coalition (TBIC), Vice-president of the Texas Conference of Urban Counties, Vice President of Texans Care for Children, appointee to the Border Colonia Advisory Board and Honorary Chair of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in El Paso.

The Honorable Beatriz Leyva-Cutler | Executive Director, The Bay Area Hispano Institute for Advancement, Inc. Honorable Beatriz Leyva-Cutler has served BAHIA for 31 years, 22 of these as the Executive director. She has received many recognitions and awards from local and state organizations such as: Woman of the Year, Peace and Justice Award, a Leader in Education, Exemplary Leadership Award. In addition, she was featured on “Profiles of Excellence” by ABC/Channel 7. Currently, Honorable Leyva-Cutler serves as Berkeley School Board President, Co-Chair of the Chicana/Latina Foundation Board of Directors and Advisory Board of Somos Familia.

Diana Cristina Díaz | Director of Corporate & Community Relations, Univision Communications, Inc. In her role at Univision, Ms. Díaz creates new partnerships that produce national campaigns that raise awareness of our communities’ needs through various mediums both on and off air. A five time Emmy nominee, Ms. Díaz was an integral part of the team honored in 2008 with the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for Univision’s Civic Education Campaign, “Ya es Hora” (It’s Time) and in 2005 for “Salud es Vida…Entérate!” (Lead a Healthy Life… Get the Facts!), Univision’s Health Initiative. She has been awarded with the New York State Broadcasters Award, the Gabriel Silver Angel Award for best documentary for children living with Autism, the New York Associated Press Award for the best local documentary on New York Television and the CAN DO Award from the Community Action Network. 36 Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza | Vice President of Multicultural Markets with AARP & 1st Vice Chair, NLCI

Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza is Vice President of multicultural markets with AARP, spearheading organization-wide strategy and execution of AARP’s work to promote positive social change within the Hispanic community and deliver value to all AARP members. Prior to joining AARP, she had extensive community and governmental relations responsibilities, including serving as director of community development and international strategy for Ford Motor Company Fund, vice president of legislative affairs for AT&T in Florida and director of the Dade County Legislative Delegation. Ms. Egusquiza is active with numerous non-profit organizations and serves on the Board of Directors of the Smithsonian Latino Center, the Girl Scouts of the USA and the National Latino Children’s Institute.

Luis A. Hernández | Early Childhood Education Specialist Training & Technical Assistance Services, Western Kentucky University

At TTAS-WKU, Mr. Hernández’s work focuses in a wide range of early childhood education and professional development topics. His expertise includes early literacy, dual language learning, adult learning practices, changing demographics and diversity, and ECE management and partnership topics. Mr. Hernandez is active in a number of organizations that support children and family interests including the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership, the United Way’s Center for Excellence in Early Childhood, and serves on the Board of the National Latino Children’s Institute. For Mr. Hernandez, a new area of work and professional interest centers in advancing the goals of the World Forum on Early Care and Education.

María Rita Jaramillo, M.P.A. | Chair, National Latino Children’s Institute

Jaramillo has an impressive and diverse career in the public sector as well as an inspiring community service record. Through a variety of positions with the U.S. House of Representatives, The White House, four federal agencies, the National Education Association and an extensive civic career, Ms. Jaramillo has acquired a breadth of experience in a wide range of managerial, political and policy development functions. In addition to her public service record, Ms. Jaramillo has held leadership positions in the following civic and Latino organizations: Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute; MANA, A National Latina Organization; Hispanic Engineering Science Technology Initiative; National Hispana Leadership Institute; and Center for Women Policy Studies.

Windy Lopez | Director, Community Affairs, Scholastic, Inc.

In her role at Scholastic, Ms. López manages the project development and implementation of national literacy initiatives that help empower families and communities to improve children’s literacy development. In addition, she provides technical assistance to local and national non-profit organizations on program implementation and community building to help address literacy and education issues. Before joining Scholastic in 2005, she taught 2nd grade at the Bronx Lighthouse Academies Charter School in New York, where she was instrumental in training the teaching staff on Responsive Classroom™, a teaching methodology that emphasizes social, emotional, and academic growth in order to ensure optimal student learning.

37 Olivia V. Meza | Criminal Justice Professional, Retired & Secretary/Treasurer, NLCI

Olivia V. Meza is a retired criminal justice professional with 30 year’s experience with the criminal justice system as a senior federal court executive, a specialist in Indian Country and sex offenses, a pretrial services officer, and a probation officer in Arizona, Maryland and California. Her specialist work focused on child victims and victim rights from the perspective of the potential release of a defendant back into the community. As Chief of Pretrial Services for the U.S. District Court in Arizona she administered a multimillion-dollar budget and introduced cutting-edge software for supervision of federal defendants charged with computer-based sex offenses, and leadership training programs and professional staff development. Currently she serves as Project Specialist for the National Hispana Leadership Institute, Arlington, VA.

Alfred Ramírez | Vice President, Government Relations & Diversity, Group O, Inc.

Mr. Ramírez was selected as one of Hispanic Business Magazine’s 100 Influentials and one of six Des Moines Register Newspaper’s Top Influentials in Iowa. He has served as assistant director of admissions for Columbia University; special assistant to former San Antonio mayor Henry Cisneros; a corporate recruiter and human resource specialist; managing director for INROADS; special assistant to President Clinton at the White House, Corporation for National Service, and the U.S. Department of Education; and principal consultant for diversity initiatives at ACT, Inc. Prior to joining Group O, he served as President of the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GQCHCC). He currently serves on the boards of the Illinois Governor’s Business Enterprise Council, the national Community Training and Assistance Center (CTAC), National Latino Children’s Institute, the Johns Hopkins University Leadership Management Program, and the local Two Rivers YMCA and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Alex Sánchez | Executive Director, Department of Public Relations and Multicultural Outreach, Austin Independent School District Since July 2011, Mr. Sánchez has been charged with improving the Austin independent school district’s communications and community engagement strategies to build stronger links with employees, families and the community. Before moving to Austin, Sánchez held two senior cabinet positions with Denver Public Schools and a rewarding public affairs career representing pharmaceutical-giant Pfizer, Inc. In addition to his current work, Mr. Sánchez hosts Educa con Alex Sánchez, a nationally-recognized talk show on commercial radio aimed at better integrating Spanish-dominant families to the education system. Sánchez is a graduate of Colorado State University.

Mary Lou de León Siantz, PhD., R.N., F.A.A.N. | Professor Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing & 2nd Vice Chair, NLCI Dr. Siantz is nationally recognized for her interdisciplinary efforts to prepare health professionals for leadership and policy, and internationally respected for her research in migrant health. Her current research, funded through the Office of Minority Health Department of Health and Human Service, focuses on the development of educational strengths of Hispanic immigrant adolescents and the promotion of their reproductive awareness. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and an expert panel member for the National Academy of Science Institute of Medicine, Health of Immigrant Children and Immigrant Children’s Health. Other academic awards include the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Fellowship in Bioethics at Georgetown University, A Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellowship and recognition as a “Top Latina in health and Science by “Hispanic.”

38 National Latino Children’s Institute Staff Action Now-Keeping the Promise of a Bright Future A National Latino Children’s Summit

Josephine F. Garza | Executive Director, National Latino Children’s Institute

Ms. Garza holds a BA in Elementary Education with two certifications one in early childhood education and bilingual education; she also holds an MA in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in cross-cultural counseling and communications from University of Texas-San Antonio. She has 31 years of experience working in public schools and the non-profit sector. Ms. Garza began her career as a bilingual kindergarten teacher then in 1997 worked with NLCI as a consultant to design culturally appropriate activities for programs; prior to NLCI she has been actively involved with organizations dedicated to empowering and protecting the rights of young people and their families who have been disenfranchised, most of whom are minority (predominantly Latino) and poor, and many of whom ended up in the juvenile justice system. Ms. Garza has much experience in the field of leadership and youth development, and has worked with youth, youth workers, and youth organizations to design and implement programs and training models that are culturally appropriate for the field of youth development nationally and internationally. She is an alumna of the National Hispana Leadership Institute—class of 1993.

Virginia (Bibi) Lobo Somyak, B.A. | Co-Founder, National Latino Children’s Institute

Ms. Lobo is a co- founder of NLCI and served as staff liaison to the Latino Children’s Corporate Board and National Advisory Board, and the Board of Directors. She is an alumna of the National Hispana Leadership Institute. Ms. Lobo is an experienced writer and was the lead writer for all of NLCI’s programs, including Salsa, Sabor y Salud. She served as the liaison for 125 cities around the nation celebrating El Día de los Niños−Celebrating Young Americans, and created materials and provided support to each city. Ms. Lobo has worked with PBS creating culturally appropriate outreach materials and workshops for PBS stations for The Adventures of Maya and Miguel, a bilingual children’s television show.

Blanca Rodriguez, B.B.A., | Director of Finance, National Latino Children’s Institute

Ms. Rodriguez has more than 20 years accounting experience with over 10 years in non-profit sector alone. Before coming to NLCI Ms. Rodriguez served as Capital Assets Manager for the Northside Independent School District and as Vice President of Finance for the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Her responsibilities have ranged from all aspects of financial reporting and accounting, budgeting, internal controls, audit preparation, safeguarding of assets and human resources extensive Accounts Receivables, compliance with internal controls, developed and monitored accounting policies and procedures and audit preparation. . Ms. Rodriguez holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from University of Texas.

Elizabeth Vasquez, B.A., | Outreach & Communications Coordinator, National Latino Children’s Institute

Ms. Vasquez began as an intern at NLCI in 2007. She graduated Magna Cum Laude at the University of Texas San Antonio with bachelors in psychology and a minor in non-profit business management. At NLCI Ms. Vasquez has been instrumental in conducting research, literature reviews, maintaining open lines of communication between NLCI and its vast networks, in addition to providing office support to staff.

39 Magellan Health Services of Arizona is the Regional Behavioral Health Authority for central Arizona, which includes all of Maricopa County and part of Pinal County. In this role, Magellan serves as a critical point of connection to the more than 80,000 individuals who have experienced life challenges as a result of mental illness and substance abuse. Magellan gives these individuals voice and choice to realize their desired outcomes and supports them with caring, unrivaled customer service that is sensitive to the diversity of our communities.

For more information, visit www.MagellanofAZ.com or call Magellan of Arizona at (800) 564-5465, TTY (800) 424-9831. Information is available in English and Spanish. National Latino Children’s Summit Arizona Planning Committee Action Now-Keeping the Promise of a Bright Future A National Latino Children’s Summit

Management & Data

Olga Aros | Summit Chair - President/CEO, ORA Worldwide Consultants and eLatina Voices, Founder

Olga Aros is the President/CEO of ORA Worldwide Consultants, a small business firm specializing in management training, organizational development, strategic planning and the Hispanic market. An up from the ranks executive, Olga served for over 30 years as a corporate executive in Fortune 500 companies, specializing in human resources, marketing & sales, diversity development, franchise relations, restaurant operations and government and community relations. Aros also served as Deputy Director of Equal Opportunity for the City of Phoenix. She is the founder of eLatinaVoices.org, Arizona Hispanic Women’s Conference, National Hispanic Corporate Council and co-founder and emeritus chair of the National Latino Children’s Institute (NLCI). Olga helped conceptualize the NLCI “El Día de Los Niño’s” national campaign and served as the NLCI campaign chair. She serves on the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board and leads the Latina Business Enterprise Team.

Arjelia “Argie” Gomez | Summit Co-Chair - Chief Financial Officer, Chicanos Por La Causa

Arjelia “Argie” Gomez serves as Chief Financial Officer of Chicanos Por La Causa Inc. (CPLC) where she is responsible for the operational leadership of the company’s core services, which include Finance, Legal, Information Technology, Human Resources, Quality Assurance, Corporate Compliance, Marketing & Strategic Planning, Research & Evaluation, and Resource Development, as well as CPLC’s national community stabilization program. Prior to her appointment as C.F.O., Argie served as Chief Economic Development Officer and Chief Operating Officer for CPLC.

Known for driving innovation through cutting-edge business practices, Argie is the corporate champion for system-wide quality and results. By implementing her self-sustaining initiatives, she is heralding the organization into the future, ensuring that CPLC will be a valuable resource for clients for years to come.

For more than 30 years, Argie has successfully led community development initiatives in the government and judicial sectors, child welfare, legislative action committees, the Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority, and Tribal Regional Behavioral Health Authority. She is committed to realizing sustained economic growth and effective service provision for underserved communities.

Argie holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Northern Arizona University, Public Relations and Leadership training from the University of Texas in Austin, and an MBA from Grand Canyon University Ken Blanchard College of Business.

41 Erick Moreno | Summit Collateral Production- Multimedia & Creative Services Producer, Chicanos Por La Causa Erick Moreno is CPLC’s Multimedia & Creative Services Producer. He develops video and design content for print, electronic, and online distribution to promote events, programs, and CPLC’s family of brands. Prior to joining CPLC, Erick developed a strong background in video production and broadcast communications working for Telemundo Arizona in both the Tucson and Phoenix markets for more than nine years. He has experience as a videographer, editor, writer, director, and producer and has won two Emmy awards for editing and post-production design, as well as a Communicator Crystal Award. Erick has a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts with a Minor in Spanish from The University of Arizona, and a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Effects and Motion Graphics from Collins College School of Film and Video Production.

Program

January Contreras | Summit Program Chair – Attorney and Member, eLatina Voices

January’s commitment to public service has allowed her to advance the interests of women, children, and families at the highest levels of state and federal government. Most recently, she served at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the principle leader of the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, where she worked with the public to improve the delivery of immigration services. Ms. Contreras served as a Senior Advisor to Secretary Janet Napolitano and as a designee to the White House Council on Women and Girls where she created and led a DHS-wide collaboration on Combating Violence against Women resulting in new training and resources to support the investigation and prosecution of crimes against immigrant victims. Prior to her national appointment, January led the Arizona Department of Health Services, served as Health Policy Advisor to Governor Napolitano and was Assistant Director at AHCCCS. She previously served as a Deputy County Attorney and Assistant Attorney General in Arizona. She served on the Board of Directors for Los Abogados for ten years. She earned her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Arizona.

Jana Lynn Granillo | Summit Program Co-Chair - Advisor, eLatina Voices

Jana Lynn Granillo career spans over thirty years as a public servant. Her Professional work began while serving in the military in the field of Occupational Therapy and continued to the State of Arizona at the Department of Economic Security and Department of Health Services. In the State of Arizona, she expertly linked health professional leaders and community stakeholders to statewide programming and planning and was at the forefront of Healthy Arizona 2010. She served as an accredited community college instructor, public health community liaison, strategic planning facilitator and is a public health speaker and trainer. Jana currently serves as a Health Disparities Section Co-Chair for the Arizona Public Health Association and is active in many community volunteer projects to include eLatina Voices. She is a native Arizonan, a United States Air Force veteran and a graduate of Arizona State University.

42 Guadalupe Sosa Valencia | Summit Youth Program Committee Co-Chair- Advisor, eLatina Voices

Guadalupe Sosa Valencia dedicated 19 years to public service as a Senior Policy Advisor with the Arizona State Senate, Democratic Staff. Prior to retiring in March, 2011, she provided support to State Senators of the Democratic Caucus by negotiating amendments to bills, drafting speeches, and assisting constituents with complaints and inquiries about state agencies. During her time at the State Senate, Guadalupe received many requests to speak about the legislative process from schools, universities and organization. She has volunteered with political campaigns, community organizations, and non-profits in the Phoenix area. She now enjoys her volunteer work with the St. Agnes Conference of St. Vincent de Paul Society in Phoenix. She received a B.A. from Arizona State University and J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law, San Francisco.

Marketing

Ruth Enriquez | Marketing Committee - Vice President/Small Business, Bank of America

Ruth Enriquez is a Vice President, Small Business Banker for Greater Phoenix Market for Bank of America. She has 28 years of experience in banking and has served under a variety of capacities including managing, finance and business development. Ruth’s main directive is to grow Bank of America’s presence in the small business community by establishing relationships and trust to further grow customer base. She is committed to community service and served as an Executive Board Member of the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce. She is on the Board for the United Latino Business Coalition and an active committee member of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Latina Business Enterprise. She is a volunteer with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and is fluent in Spanish.

Yvonne Faustinos | Summit Marketing Chair - American Associates Real Estate

Yvonne is passionate about issues affecting our youth and is committed to doing her part in the community to ensure that our children’s future is bright. A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Yvonne has a background in corporate law with an extensive background in residential real estate. A board member of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, she serves on the Latina Business Enterprise Committee and is also a member of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. Married for 16 years, she is the mother of three beautiful larger than life girls and enjoys traveling with her family both nationally and internationally.

Raquel Leyva | Marketing Committee - Advisor, eLatina Voices – Professional Educator

Raquel Leyva is a professional educator and community activist. She began her teaching career at Phoenix Elementary and Tempe Elementary Schools before moving on to college teaching. She was an adjunct at South Mountain Community College and continued her tenure as a Residential Reading Instructor at Mesa Community College where she became the Reading Department Chairperson for thirteen years. She is a graduate of St. Mary’s High School, Phoenix College and Arizona State University with a B.A. and M.A. Her graduate studies have taken her abroad to Spain, Mexico and China. Even after retirement, Raquel developed and directed the only Spanish GED offered in Maricopa County, Arizona. She is an extensive traveler and contributes to her community by participating in religious, educational, political and Special Olympics projects.

43 Jerri Pastor | Summit Marketing Co-Chair - Co-founder, eLatina Voices

Jerri Pastor career spans over 35 years in government and non-profit work as a director and fundraiser. Her interest in politics and public administration was the basis for her decision to run for State Senator. While she did not win, it catapulted her career and she served as the Town Manager in Guadalupe, Arizona, Assistant Deputy Director for the Department of Economic Security under Governor Babbitt and the first female Director for the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. A graduate of Arizona State University, she also led the Arizona State University fundraising department and developed the funding base for the first private campaign. Jerri is a natural leader in her community and served as a member of the executive board/founder of MUJER, Inc., and a volunteer member of the Hispanic Women’s Conference. She is also an advisor and a founding member of eLatina Voices.

Registration

Nanda Cordova | Registration Summit Chair - Learning & Development Manager, Chicanos Por La Causa

Nanda Cordova has worked for Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC) for twelve years and currently is the Learning and Development Manager responsible for the development and training of employees. She is responsible for event/conference planning, project management, budget management, supervision, policy & procedure development and adult learning & curriculum development. She provides direct service to departments in behavioral health, early childhood development and youth prevention. Nanda also served as the liaison and prime coordinator for the CPLC Career Development Institute. Prior to CPLC, Nanda worked for Phoenix Union High School District for four years and Vice President of Elena’s Demos where she oversaw the marketing and branding of contracts such as Dr. Pepper, Peñafiel and 7UP. Her professional affiliations include Soroptomist for Women, where she was the recipient of an International Scholarship and is a member of eLatina Voices.

Melissa Lopez | Summit Registration Co-Chair

Ms. Lopez began her professional career and interest in politics by working in the home office of U.S Senator Dennis DeConcini. Melissa then worked at the Arizona Community Foundation, becoming the first Latina to work under the Ford Foundation grant to create diversity in philanthropy. Lopez has held other positions within academic environments. She worked at South Mountain Community College developing a strong Early Outreach program and helped create a collaboration of curriculum for world renowned museums in Chicago called MAPS. Most recently, Melissa worked with the Apollo Group Inc. (parent company of University of Phoenix) in maintaining over 20 properties and today, she works with CBRE and manages over a million square feet of building space. She is a founding member of eLatina Voices and serves as Board Chair for “Release the Fear”. As a volunteer she contributes to Girls Scouts, Junior League of Phoenix, MUJER, Inc. and other similar organizations.

44 Facility/Production

Carmela Ramirez | Summit Logistics/Production Chair - Arts & Culture, City of Phoenix

Carmela has served the City of Phoenix since 1990 as the Arts and Culture Coordinator and is a producer, a performing artist and an arts advocate. Carmela has worked the last two decades to enhance the lives of city residents through arts in education and community programs. As a band leader and vocalist, Carmela’s award winning bands have performed for hundreds of clubs, hotels, resorts, concerts, radio / TV as well as featured artist for the “National Museum for Women in the Arts” in Washington D.C, the “OTI TV Awards” and the “Himeji Castle 100th Year Celebration” in Himeji, Japan. Her work with the City of Phoenix has allowed Carmela a platform to connect arts and education opportunities to her community. Her work has received various awards including City of Phoenix - City Excellence, recipient of a 2010 Raul H. Castro Arizona Latina Trailblazer award, Valle del Sol Profiles of Success, New Times Arts Journal’s Best Salsa, Best R &B, Jazz and Fusion Band. She advocates for the arts and volunteers her time to community projects.

Yovani Flores | Logistics/Production Summit Co-Chair

Yovani Flores is an IT Professional, writer, producer and co-founder of Las Pilonas Productions. She recently produced a Photo Journal documenting Dr. Ana Castillo’s visit with Tucson Students, a benefit to Save Ethnic Studies. Following the Tucson event her video and review of the documentary film Precious Knowledge was published by La Tolteca ezine. Yovani co-wrote and produced the Award Winning short film Thresholds, a debut film by Las Pilonas Productions. Her published works include; La Cuchara published by Acentos Review. El Llorón, Journal of Chicana/Latina Studies. Writing award for El Llorón from Curbside Splendor Publishing. Featured on NPR. Poem, Saliendo del Sueño was published by Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter, CUNY.

Public Relations

María Jesús Cervantes | Summit Public Relations Chair - Manager of Media & Public Relations, Chicanos Por La Causa María Jesús Cervantes is Manager of Media & Public Relations for Chicanos Por La Causa. She is the producer and host for “Nuestra Causa” a community and public affairs television show featuring CPLC and invited guests. She is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with media executives, publicity colleagues, and community leaders and organizations, coordinating responses to key community issues, including press releases and dealing with media. Prior to joining CPLC, María Jesús managed media and political affairs for the Consulate General of Mexico in Phoenix, where she was responsible for addressing the needs of local, national, and international media. She has also served as a news reporter and anchor for Telemundo, where her stories were broadcast in Arizona, California, and Texas. María Jesús has a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcasting from Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University and is fluent in Spanish.

45 Relationship/Outreach - Maricopa/Pima/Pinal/Yuma

Dora L. Vasquez | Summit Relationship/Outreach Chair

Dora L. Vasquez is a lifelong resident of Arizona and a native of Pinal County. Dora holds an undergraduate degree in Justice Studies from Arizona State University and a Master of Science in Public Management from the College of Business, Northern Arizona University. From 2003 to 2009 Dora served as an advisor to former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano. A member of eLatina Voices, Dora is currently the Chair of the Arizona Historical Advisory Commission, a member of the Arizona Centennial Foundation and serves on the Advisory Board for Mi Familia Vota. In 2005, the Arizona Girl Scouts Cactus-Pine Council honored Dora with the Women of Distinction, World of Humanity Award for her work in mentoring youth and in the same year, Central Arizona College established the annual Dora Vasquez Award to recognize a student who embodies an appreciation for diversity, demonstrates leadership, and has overcome a personal obstacle/challenge towards a personal or academic goal.

Pima County Outreach

Dr. Sofia Martinez Ramos | Pima County Summit Chair – Founder, Las Luminarias Education Strategies

Sofía Martinez Ramos, M.B.A., Ph.D. - is Founder and President of Luminario Education Strategies, an education and career development organization. With over fifteen years of higher education experience, Dr. Ramos was an Associate to the Vice President at the University of Arizona working closely with top level administrators to increase the diversity at the university. She is an Associate of the Mexican American Studies Department at the University of Arizona (UA), where her research focus is the higher education career trajectory of Latinos. Dr. Ramos was a Founding Fellow at University California Berkeley’s Executive Leadership Academy and is actively involved in preparing the next generation of leaders to understand their own preparation and expectations and ensure their successful completion of undergraduate degrees and transition into graduate and professional schools. Dr. Ramos has ongoing relationships with the University of New Mexico Gallup; UA College of Medicine; Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU); the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI); the Center for Higher Education Studies at UC Berkeley and American Association of Hispanic in Higher Education (AAHHE).

Dr. Maria Aguayo Telles – Tucson Co-Chair – Confluencenter, The University of Arizona

Maria Aguayo Telles, Ph.D. has three degrees from the UA, including her doctorate in Language, Reading, and Culture with an emphasis in immigration. Her areas of research include Middle Eastern Studies, U.S.-Mexico relations, immigration, transnationalism and history. Maria has more than 25 years of high-level administrative experience at the UA and has served on many internal and external committees, boards and institutes including the boards of the Pima County Library Foundation, Catalina Community Services as well as Association of Women Faculty, Junior Achievement, Hispanic Professional Action Committee and the Arizona Association of Chicanos in Higher Education. She has facilitated policy workshops for students, administrators and faculty and has staffed many national level UA searches. She completed the many leadership institutes including Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social, Institute for Transformative Education, Chicanos Por La Causa Career Development/Leadership Institute, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Southern Arizona Campaign Institute and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Hispanic Leadership Institute.

46 Pinal County Outreach

Josephine (JoAnne) Galindo | Pinal County Summit Chair - Pinal County Public Health

JoAnne Galindo serves as School Health Liaison for the Pinal County Public Health Service District. As liaison she serves on the Santa Cruz Valley Union High School Governing Board and the Pinal County Juvenile Court Restorative Justice Panel. She believes in serving the community and works diligently for the youth of Arizona. Her community service includes the Arizona Board of Pharmacy, Pinal County Foster Care Review Board and the Pinal County Juvenile Court Community Advisory Board. She lives in Eloy, Arizona.

Yuma County Outreach

Arturo Magana | Yuma County Summit Chair - Director, Chicanos Por La Causa, Somerton

Arturo Magana has worked in Yuma County in Employment and Training and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs for 25 years. He served as the Regional Manager for Project PPEP and the Regional Operations Manager for Chicanos Por La Causa-Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs during that time. For 12 years, he served in public office as a member of the Somerton City Council as Mayor, Vice-Mayor and City Council member. Magana currently is the Vice-Mayor of the Somerton City Council. Arturo received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Administration and his Masters of Arts Degree in Education from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. He is a Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball coach and served as President of the Somerton Sports and Cultural Commission.

Summit Planning Committee Volunteers Facility/Production Committee Relationship/Outreach - Mary Ortega, Itsell, The Genesis Consulting Group, LLC Maricopa/Pima/Pinal/Yuma Lourdes Rodriguez Debbie Polisky, CEO & Founder, Words and Health, LLC Emily Malave Lupe Stillman, Volunteer Management & Data Pima County Outreach Silvia Urrutia, La Raza Development Fund Marisol Aguirre, REA Communications Michelle Aguilera, UA Promesa/Adelita Program David Cassalyn, Santa Cruz County Adolescent Network Ofelia Canez, Executive Director, Raul Castro Institute Marty Cortez, Pima Community College Board Member Beth Rosenberg, Arizona Children’s Action Alliance Andrea Huerta, Raytheon HOLA Scholarship Chair Marketing Pinal County Outreach Marisa Benincasa, Loyalty Manager, Cancer Treatment Ana Medina, Pinal Gila Council for Senior Citizens Centers of America Adelphia Sisson, Pinal Gila Council for Senior Citizens Registration Veronica Duran, Central Arizona College Blanca Silvia, Chicanos Por La Causa Rachel Hernandez, Casa Grande Latino Initiative/Villago Rafaela Cordova, Chicanos Por La Causa Middle School Public Relations Blanca Varela, Pinal County Attorney’s Office, Linda Torres, Arizona Latino Arts Cultural Center Administration Division Lisa Fitzgibbons, President, Latino Familia Initiative, Council member, City of Casa Grande 47 National Latino Children’s Summit Sponsors Action Now-Keeping the Promise of a Bright Future A National Latino Children’s Summit

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ASU Preparatory Academy PARKING IS FREE AFTER 5PM ROOMS B202, B302, & ON B303, & B212 SATURDAY

ROOMS 2206, 2208, ROOMS 115, 131 & 137 & VIRGINIA PIPER AUDITORIUM TheThe NationalNational LatinoLatino Children’sChildren’s AgendaAgenda We, the supporters of the Latino Children’s agenda, acknowledge that Latinos are an integral part of this country’s past,We, present, the supporters and future; of the that Latino the Children’sLatino population agenda, hasacknowledge contributed that significantly Latinos are toan this integral country’s part developmentof this country’s andpast, will present, continue and to future;do so; andthat thethat Latino children population are the hascenter contr andibuted the mostsignificantly precious to aspect this country’s of Latino development families and communities.and will continue to do so; and that children are the center and the most precious aspect of Latino families and communities. It is to our children that we presently and historically devote our lives. Our children are interconnected with their It is to our children that we presently and historically devote our lives. Our children are interconnected with their ancestors, extended family, and community. In advocating for Latino children, we are also advocating for the ancestors, extended family, and community. In advocating for Latino children, we are also advocating for the dignity, respect, and fair treatment of all children. We stand united in the effort to assure the physical, emotional, dignity, respect, and fair treatment of all children. We stand united in the effort to assure the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of those we represent: the children. mental, and spiritual well-being of those we represent: the children.

Therefore,Therefore, we we promote promote the the following following principlesprinciples forfor the complete and healthyhealthy developmentdevelopment of of all all children. children. ✻ ✻ Children Children will will be be treated treated with with dignity dignity andand respect.respect. ✻ ✻ Children Children will will live live in in loving loving and and healthy healthy homes.homes. ✻✻ Children Children will will live live in in a a secure, secure, safe, safe, andand healthyhealthy community. ✻✻ Children Children will will have have the the opportunity opportunity andand thethe rightright to achieve their highesthighest potential.potential. ✻✻ Children Children will will see see themselves themselves positively positively andand accuratelyaccurately reflected inin literature,literature, music,music, film,film, media,media, and and other other forms forms ofof artistic artistic expression. expression. ✻✻ Children Children will will have have a a voice voice and and a a rolerole inin thethe developmentdevelopment of their programsprograms andand services. services. ✻✻ Children Children will will receive receive comprehensive comprehensive servicesservices thatthat are affordable andand fullyfully accessibleaccessible regardless regardless of of their their parent’sparent’s citizenship, citizenship, language, language, work work hours,hours, migrantmigrant or economic status.status. ✻✻ Children Children who who speak speak languages languages otherother thanthan EnglishEnglish will have access toto bilingualbilingual educationeducation programs. programs. ✻✻ Children Children will will have have educational educational equity equity fromfrom earlyearly childhood to higher education.education. ✻✻ The The language, language, culture culture and and spirituality spirituality ofof LatinoLatino children and families willwill bebe respectedrespected as as an an integral integral and and necessarynecessary part part of of their their identity identity andand development.development. ✻✻ The The integrity integrity of of the the extended extended family family relationshiprelationship will be respected inin programsprograms and and policies. policies. ✻✻ Families Families will will be be included included in in the the creation creation andand implementationimplementation of theirtheir children’schildren’s programs.programs. ✻✻ Families Families will will receive receive culturally culturally and and linguisticallylinguistically appropriate services fromfrom competentcompetent agencies agencies and and organizations.organizations. ✻✻ Families Families will will participate participate in in developing developing newnew economiceconomic and self-sufficiency opportunitiesopportunities for for their their communities. communities. ✻✻ Latinos Latinos will will participate participate in in public public andand privateprivate policypolicy and funding decisions.decisions. ✻✻ The The workforce workforce and and community community leaders leaders willwill havehave access to professional preparationpreparation programs programs that that develop develop culturallyculturally and and linguistically linguistically appropriate appropriate skillsskills andand competencies. ✻ ✻ Funders Funders will will provide provide equitable equitable funding funding opportunitiesopportunities commensurate withwith populationpopulation size size and and need. need. ✻ ✻ The The community community will will reflect reflect andand supportsupport thethe valuesvalues and ideals ofof healthyhealthy LatinoLatino families.families. —September 1994 —September 1994

Join us in creating a voice: JoinIf your us organization in creating is interested a voice: in supporting or becoming involved in the efforts of If your organization is interested in supporting or becoming involved in the efforts of the National Latino Children’s Institute please contact us. the National Latino Children’s Institute please contact us. 118 Broadway, Ste. 615 • San Antonio, Texas 78205 118Phone Broadway, (210) 228-9997 Ste. 615 • •Fax San (210) Antonio, 228-9972 Texas 78205 PhoneEmail: (210)[email protected] 228-9997 • www.nlci.org • Fax (210) 228-9972 Email: [email protected] • www.nlci.org National Latino Children’s Institute • @theNLCI National Latino Children’s Institute • @theNLCI MilagrosMilagros

El Día de los Niños

April 30 Celebrating Young Americans

El Día de los Niños El Día de los Niños to go to 4rd grader. I hop I want get a jop. I hope I go to High School I hop I get to col- lepe * New computers * Folklorico dance classes * My school needs soccer team * Safe

April 30 bike routs to school * Garden please * Drug free schools * Peace among all tollerance April 30 Celebrating Young Celebrating Young Americans * More dance, music, school programs * Frequent city council style meeting for young Americans people to voice their concerns in their school or community * Deseo inventar cosas *

el taas * Mi sueño en este mundo es que aiga pas en este mundo y que no aiga violencia

want to be a chef at El Garrion * I wish that all schools get Spanish books to learn how to write and read. Give use good luck * When I grow up I want to be a teacher * Deseo C jugar basquetból para el NBA y lo que gane, voy a dar a mi mamá * I wish for a com- M puter * I wish that for me to hava a good education so I can have a good job * Deseo Y que mis padres estean juntos otra vez * Yo quiero que todos los niños tenemos paz y CM felicidad * I wish our community can learn to pay it forward * I want to be a doctor * I

MY

CY haya amor * I wish for a castle and a duck and toys and pants for my mom and dad *

CMY Deseo que caiga dinero del cielo para ayudar la familia * When I grow up I want to be

K an artist and teach kids how to draw * Cuando yo sea grande quiero ser una dentista y vivo en Houston Texas. Dentista porque quiero que todos los ninos tengan dientes boni- tos * Deseo que mi familia tengan más sitio en una casa grande * I wish I could stop world hunger * I wish there were no wars * Deseo que caiga dinero del cielo para ayudar a la fa- milia * If only I can have a friend that will not call me names. I know that I do not have all the nice shoes but I think that’s not what a best friends is * I wish for a house with curtains * Yo deseo tener un caballito! * DAD stop drinking * A SAFE and HAPPY home for ALL girls * I wish people won’t cut so many tree * Que en el mundo haya amor * When I grow up I want to be a children doctor * Deseo tener la fuerza de un tornado * Deseo inventar

El Día de los Niños

April 30 Celebrating Young Americans

For centuries, milagros have been used to ask for wishes, special intervention and good fortune. Made of wood, tin, bone paper and ribbon, milagros were placed in niches or crevices of churches or laid at the feet of a patron saint. NLCI has been collecting children’s and youth’s wishes, hopes and dreams since 1997. Children are encouraged to write about their dreams for themselves, their family, community or world. It is our hope that in promoting these milagros we encourage their dreams and inspire leaders.

*Because these are the children’s exact words we do not correct their spelling or grammar. National Latino Children’s Summit o cial print sponsor