Our Conference Sponsors:
Our Conference will feature:
Featured Events:
Key Note Speaker:
Opportunities in Uncertain Times – Unleashing the Potential of Latino Leadership
Theresa Fay-Bustillos, Former Vice President, Worldwide Community and Corporate Citizenship Department for Levi Strauss & Co. and the Executive Director of the Levi Strauss Foundation
Theresa Fay-Bustillos currently works for the International Finance Corporation (IFC), member of the World Bank Group as a consultant. She provides strategic advice on issues of stakeholder engagement, disclosure and transparency. She is the former Vice President, Worldwide Community and Corporate Citizenship Department for Levi Strauss & Co. and the Executive Director of the Levi Strauss Foundation for over eight years, 2000 through 2008. Previously, she was the Vice President of Legal Programs for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. She has also been an adjunct law school professor, an administrative law judge, a managing attorney at a plaintiff’s law firm and a trial attorney at several government agencies. She serves on many boards including the Board of Directors for the Council on Foundations, California Women’s Foundation, International Funders for Indigenous Peoples, and TransFair USA.
A Speech on the Potential Economic Impact of Immigration Reform
Eliseo Medina, International Executive Vice President, SEIU
Eliseo Medina is described by the Los Angeles Times as "one of the most successful labor organizers in the country" and was named one of the "Top 50 Most Powerful Latino Leaders" in Poder Magazine. He is currently leading the Service Employees International Union's (SEIU) efforts to achieve comprehensive immigration reform that rebuilds the nation's economy, secures equal labor- and civil-rights protections for workers to improve their wages and work conditions and provides legal channels and a path to citizenship.
A Town Hall-Style Meeting with Elected Officials: Economic Recovery at the State and Local Level - Prospects for Latino Communities
Moderator:
Arturo Vargas, Executive Director, NALEO
Presenters:
California Assembly Member Kevin DeLeón, 45th District
Maryland Delegate Victor Ramirez, 47th District
New York City Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito, District 8
Focus on Rural America
Plenary Speech by Tammye Treviño, USDA Administrator for Rural Housing and Community Facilities
On June 8, 2009, Tammye Treviño was appointed by President Obama to serve as the Administrator for the Rural Housing Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Development. The first Latina to serve in this capacity, Administrator Treviño is a lifetime advocate for rural communities who brings over 25 years of experience in community development to the Department.
Administrator Treviño previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Families United to Utilize Regional Opportunities, Inc. (FUTURO), a Texas non-profit that focuses on economic and community development. A certified Economic Development and Housing Development Finance Professional, Administrator Treviño has also served as the Economic Development Director for LaSalle County, Texas and as a staff member in the Operations and Planning Department of the Middle Rio Grande Development Council of Governments.
With the housing market at a critical juncture for rural Americans, Administrator Treviño is working closely with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Under Secretary for Rural Development to strengthen the nation's rural housing portfolio by promoting and expanding programs that enable America's rural communities to develop quality, affordable housing and sustain the American dream of homeownership.
Plenary Speech by California Assembly Member Anna Caballero, 28th District
A strong advocate for public safety, affordable housing, quality health care and education, Assembly Member Anna Caballero was elected to serve the 28th Assembly District in November of 2006. The district is largely rural, consisting of San Benito County, the Salinas Valley, North Monterey County, Watsonville, and South Santa Clara County. Now in her second term, Caballero has been re-appointed as chair of the Committee on Local Government. Ms. Caballero is the former Mayor of the City of Salinas and former member of the Salinas Planning Commission.
She moved to the Salinas Valley 30 years ago to work for California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA). As an attorney, she represented striking farm workers and fought side by side with unions to prevent plant closures. Ms. Caballero also served as executive director of Partners for Peace, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the community together to prevent gang violence.
See our updated Conference Agenda (pdf).
(updated September 2, 2009)