LATINO UPSTATE SUMMIT Friday October 21st

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tim Trent 315-525-5591 timtrent@usa.net

Tony Colon 315-733-1399 tcolon699@aol.com

Sonia Martinez 315-738-1083 X121 sonia@mvlautica.org

315-542-2561 mvla@mvlautica.org

www.latinoupstatesummit.org



LATINO UPSTATE SUMMIT
COMING TO UTICA ON FRIDAY



Utica, NY… Leaders from across New York State will visit Utica on Friday, October 21 for the fifth annual Latino Upstate Summit.

The local Mohawk Valley Latino Association (MVLA) will host the event, 8am to 4:30pm, in the Information Technology Building at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC).

“We’re very proud to welcome this assembly of distinguished leadership to Utica for the first time,” said MVLA President Sonia Martinez. Earlier summit conferences have been held in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany.

“Nearly 250,000 Latinos live north of the Hudson Valley in urban, suburban, and rural settings,” Martinez added, “This vibrant population has been a major contributor in the development of New York State and will continue to be a key resource in shaping the future of the Mohawk Valley Region.”

The summit will address the role Americans of Latino descent in the fabric of regional community life and civic affairs. Key topics will include economic development, education, health, and services for youth and families.

Experts on these subjects will participate in panel discussions to develop policy recommendations for New York State leaders. Panel experts will include:

· Workforce / Economic Development. Edwin Lopez-Soto, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University; David Mathis, Oneida County Workforce Development; Ryan Leogrande, NYS Department of Labor.

· Education. Dr. Andy Lopez-Williams, Mohawk Valley Charter School for Excellence; Mickey Smith, Adult Learning Center; Melanie Pores, NYSABE, Karen Castenada and Sharon Egghigian, ESL Teacher for the Utica School District, Jan DeAmicis, Professor, Utica College, and Ralph Hernandez, President of the Buffalo Board of Education.

· Youth. Gary Harvey, Youth Construction Initiative Program, Proctor High School; Kitzia Burgos, House of Good Shepherd; Mary Hayes-Gordon, Young Scholars, Utica College; and Rita Paniagua, Spanish Action League of Onondaga County.

· Health. Dr. Patricia Bomba, Excellus Health Plan; Dr. Aymme Belen, DMD PC; Dr. Martin Morell, MD, Arthritis Specialists; Dr. Cynthia Jones, Utica Community Health Center, and Dr. Jaime Torres, US Dept. of Human & Health Services.

· Immigration. Peter Vogelaar, Executive Director, Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees; Peter Mares, La Casa & Catholic Charities of Wayne County; Andrea Callan, NY Civil Liberties Union.

· Community. Juan Thomas, Utica College; Patrick Johnson, New Life Institute, Cathie Bullwinkle, Oneida County Health Department.

· Best Practices. Anthony Colon, President of Techno-Logic Solutions, Inc.; Rialda Alibegic, MVCC & Pratt Institute Instructor & Certified Bosnian Interpreter; Mark DeSalvo, Principal, Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary School; William Garrett, Exec. Dir. Boy Scouts of America–Revolutionary Trails Council; Jeanette Lenoir, News Reporter, Anchor, and Producer, Townsquare Media; Robert Maciol, Oneida County Sheriff; Dr. Randall Van Wagoner, President Mohawk Valley Community College; Edward P. Welsh – General Manager, AAA of Central New York & Board Chair, Central Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired; Tim Trent – Regional Community Advocate; Donna Latour-Elefante – Executive Director, The Family Nurturing Center; Bruce Martin, Community Leader; Emily Wallis, Executive Director, The Interpreting Connection, Rome, NY; Ms. Pegine Echevarria, MSW, CSP will be the keynote speaker during lunch. Ms. Echevarria is CEO/President of Team Pegine Inc., a global think tank, training, and organizational development company focusing on leadership, diversity and motivation. Her clients include the US Navy, US Army, National Guard Bureau, Colgate Palmolive, Intel, and Northrup Grumman.

In addition to MVLA, other agencies and organizations participating in the summit include Hispanics United of Buffalo, Ibero-American Action League, the Spanish Action League of Onondaga County, Centro Civico of Amsterdam, Noticias y/e Notas, Capital District 100 Hispanic Women, and New York State United Teachers (NYSUT).

Sponsors for the 2011 Upstate Latino Summit include Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield, AmeriCU Credit Union, AT&T, Central NY Association for the Blind, CNY Latino, IBOPE Zogby International, Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce, Resource Center for Independent Living, 484 Design and No Sheep Designs.

Mohawk Valley residents are invited to attend and encouraged to participate in the summit.

Reserved tickets for the summit are available at $75 each through website www.latinoupstatesummit.org. A limited number of last minute $50 tickets will be available at the door, first-come, first-served, on the day of the event.

The MVLA 2011 Annual Gala will celebrate and mark the grand finale of the summit. The gala will be held 6 to 11pm at Daniele’s Valley View, 620 Parkway East Utica, NY. Reserved tickets for the gala are at $35 per person, $60 per couple (special rates for students) are available through website www.latinoupstatesummit.org. A limited quantity of last minute tickets will be available at the door, first-come first-served.

For more information about the summit, please visit web site— www.latinoupstatesummit.org or phone Sonia Martinez at 315-738-1083 x 121.

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Thanks! Gracias!

Mohawk Valley Latino, Inc.
309 Genesee Street, 3rd Floor
Utica, NY 13501
315/738-1083, X121 or 147
www.mvlautica.org
MVLA in facebook
Motivation * Vision * Latin Pride * Attitude
Motivacion * Vision * Orgullo Latino * Actitud
www.latinoupstatesummit.org