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NCLR ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO WILL FEATURE PROMINENT SPEAKERS AND RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES AT LARGEST NATIONAL LATINO EVENT OF THE YEAR* ”A New Era ofResponsibility: Community, Unity, Purpose,” will feature special advisor to President Obama Valerie Jarrett, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Secretaryof Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, Secretary of Education ArneDuncan, Bank of America President and CEO Ken Lewis, and co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Melinda Gates,among the nation’s foremostbusiness and community leaders and government officials.”We are very excited to be back in Chicago and welcome Valerie Jarrett,members of President Obama’s cabinet, and philanthropist Melinda Gates tothe NCLR Annual Conference,” Murguía saida, also noting that the last timethe Conference was held in Chicago was 1997. “We expect attendance to beterrific. Our focus is on issues that are on top of everyone’s minds rightnow-the economy, homeownership, and health care-and we are offering familiesthe chance to take part in our Home Rescue Fair and health screenings andenjoy the children’s events, music, and dance acts that are free and open to the public.”Murguía announced that key topics to be featured in town halls and otheractivities at the Conference include the impact of the economic crisis onLatinos and the lack of health insurance among Latino working families.Forthe first time ever, NCLR will offer a Latinos and Philanthropy Track to help attendees develop an understanding of how Latinos can access the worldof philanthropy as funders and fundraisers.The NCLR Annual Conference is the largest national gathering of its kind inthe Latino community, serving as the meeting ground for community leaders,activists, elected and appointed officials; members of the corporate,philanthropic, and academic communities; and youth. Last year’s Conferencein San Diego contributed millions of dollars to the city’s economy andattracted nearly 25,000 participants.Below are some highlights of the 2009 NCLR Annual Conference.*Saturday, July 25*- A naturalization session, sponsored by ConAgra Foods, will provideinformation on the citizenship application process and step-by-step guidanceon how to complete the required forms to become a U.S. citizen.- A town hall titled “A New Era of Philanthropy: A Look at the CurrentEconomic Climate and Its Impact on Latino Organizations” will bring togethersome of the nation’s most respected Latino philanthropists to examine thecurrent economic climate. Melinda Gates, co-founder and co-chair of the Billand Melinda Gates Foundation, will be the featured speaker.- A Career Fair will allow job seekers to connect with Chicago-areaemployers and listen to human resources professionals give advice on how tomake the most of the fair.*Sunday, July 26*- A Home Rescue Fair will combine pro bono legal advice, housingcounseling, and loan negotiation services to assist families struggling tokeep up with their mortgage payments identify resources and solutions.- Sunday’s speakers include Valerie Jarrett, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Rep.Loretta Sanchez, Jackie Guerra, and Leslie Sanchez.- A Health Town Hall will bring together a panel of experts to discussthe current health care reform proposal, its impact on the community, andinnovative proposals and strategies that expand coverage while focusing onprevention and diminishing health disparities. The featured speaker will beSecretary of Labor Hilda Solis.*Monday, July 27*- Monday’s speakers include Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Presidential Professorof Arizona State University and President Emeritus of NCLR Raul Yzaguirre,and Soledad O’Brien.- The economic crisis will be the focus of Monday’s town hall andpanelists will explore how major policy solutions from the Obamaadministration affect Black and Latino families and their prospects for afull economic recovery. Panelists will include Secretary of Housing andUrban Development Shaun Donovan, National Urban League President MarcMorial, and Henry Cisneros.*Tuesday, July 28*- The final day of Conference will feature a variety of national speakersincluding Bank of America President and CEO Ken Lewis, NAACP PresidentBenjamin Jealous, Governor Tim Kaine, and Secretary of Education ArneDuncan. It will also feature Don Thompson, President of McDonald’s USA, theTitle Sponsor of the 2009 NCLR Annual Conference.Other workshops and activities will examine issues such as education,workforce development, immigration, community and family wealth-building,health, and nonprofit management.A major feature of Conference, Latino Expo USA, presented by UPS, willfeature a health fair that offers comprehensive eye exams (includingglaucoma screenings) provided by Johnson & Johnson and free dentalscreenings provided by Clear Channel. This year will also feature a careerfair, presented by Kraft Foods, which will bring together more than 20companies and offer a résumé writing skills session, a job seeker trainingand support area, a computer lab with workstations, and a privateinterview/discussion area. The Expo is free, family-friendly fun that isopen to all.Every year, NCLR concludes its Conference by honoring individuals andorganizations for their contributions to and work on behalf of the Latinocommunity at its Awards Gala. Some of this year’s honorees include AnthonyRomero of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Actress Rosie Perez,John Quiñones of ABC News Primetime, and Anthony Muñoz of the CincinnatiBengals. The Affiliate of the Year Award will go to Instituto del ProgresoLatino, based in Chicago.