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NATIONAL LATINO CONGRESO
LOS ANGELES * SEPT 6-10, 2006

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“The Latino community has a great stake and responsibility in the environmental future of our country and the passage of numerous environmental resolutions during the Latino Congreso is a national demonstration of Latino engagement in issues such as climate change. The National Hispanic Environmental Council and Earth Day Network, along with the dozens of local and regional environmental organizations which participated in this event, firmly established the environment as a pillar of the national Latino platform."

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Remarks

“It was a great honor for me to address the Latino Congreso on climate change and global warming. This gathering of Latino leaders from all over the country – community activists, elected officials and so many others helps foster understanding and action on the most important environmental issue facing us today.”

California State Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez
Remarks

“Though some of the environmental issues being discussed today are not traditionally thought of as Latino concerns, they directly affect the Latino community. The environment has been a lonely battle that Latinos have fought for a long time. Whether we're talking about unwanted manufacturing projects that pollute or the increased risk of asthma among Latinos living in metropolitan areas with poor air quality, we've been in this battle for a long time."

U.S. Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34)

“The National Latino Congreso was a major step toward improving the quality of life in our communities and developing long-term strategies and solutions to preserve our natural resources and protect public health.”

U.S. Representative Hilda Solis (CA-32)

 

Environmental Health Resolutions

 

EDN in the Media

 

 

AGENDA

Broadening Our Agenda: Environment & Healthy Communities / Ampliando nuestra Agenda: El Medio Ambiente y Comunidades Sanas

Friday, Sept. 8th, 2006 / Viernes, 8 de Septiembre, 2006

*Denotes Invited Speaker

 
8:00 a.m.

Latino Leaders Breakfast on Climate Change / Desayuno para Líderes Latinos sobre los Cambios del Clima

Introductions / Introducciones: 

  • Kathleen Rogers, President, Earth Day Network
  • Roger Rivera, President, National Hispanic Environmental Council (NHEC)
  • A Message from the Honorable William Jefferson Clinton, 42nd President of the United States
  • Hon. Fabián Núñez, Speaker, California State Assembly
  • Hon. Hilda Solís, U.S. Representative
  • *Dr. Mario Molina, Professor and Noble Prize Winner in Chemistry, UC San Diego
10:00 a.m. 

Workshops / Talleres*

  1. The Future of Energy: Climate Change, Energy Issues and Latinos / El Futuro de la Energía: Cambio de Clima, Cuestiones sobre la Energía y los Latinos

    Moderator: Vicki Arroyo, Director of Policy Analysis, Pew Center on Global Climate Change

    • Panelist:
      • Robert Babik, Director, Public Policy Center, General Motors Corporation
      • Gene Rodrigues, Southern California Edison Company
      • S. David Freeman, The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners
      • Joel Rogers, Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison & Founder and Director, Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS)
    • Discussant
      • Juan Martinez, Energy Action Coalition

  2. The Dot Green Era: Latinos, Economic Development, and the Environment / La Era del Punto Verde: Desarrollo Economico y el Medio Ambiente

     Moderator: Ari Swiller, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
    • Panelists: 
      • Tom Soto,  President, PS Enterprises
      • Dr. Mario A. Piedra, Director, Continuing Education and Outreach Program, EARTH University (Costa Rica)
      • Jorge Luis Rodriguez - President, Stage of the Arts, Inc
    • Discussant:
      • Orson Aguilar, Associate Executive Director The Greenlining Institute
      • Cecilia Aguillon, Kyocera SOLAR, Inc.

  3. Greening Our Cities, Parks, and Communities – Issues for Latinos / Reverdeciendo Nuestras Ciudades, Parques, y Comunidades – Temas para Latinos

    Moderator: Elva Yañez, Director, Local Government Relations, Trust for Public Land

      • Panelists:
        • Robert Garcia, Executive Director, Center for Law in the Public Interest
        • Nancy Sutley, Board Member Representing Los Angeles, Board of Directors, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
        • Carmel Sella, Community Development Manager, Wells Fargo Bank
      • Discussants:
        • Teresa Villegas, Vice Chair, Citizens Oversight and Advisory Committee for Prop. O
        • Stefan Anderson, Headmaster, Conserve School
        • Mary Luévano, Legislative Director, Global Green

  4. Revitalizing the Los Angeles River (A Case Study) / Revitalización del Río de Los Angeles (Un ejemplo para estudiar)

    Moderator: Lillian Kawasaki, Assistant General Manager of Environmental Affairs and Economic Development, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

    • Panelists:
      • Adán Ortega, Jr., Tetra Tech Consulting Team, Los Angeles River Master Plan
      • Irma Muñoz, President and Founder, Mujeres de la Tierra, Allianza de los Pueblos del Rio
      • Dr. Fabian Wagmeister, Professor, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
    • Discussants:
      • Raúl Macias, Director, ANAHUAK Soccer Association
      • *Cynthia Ruiz, Commissioner, City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works

  5. Latino Stewardship of Our Wild Heritage / Gerencia Latina sobre Nuestra Herencia Agreste

         Moderator: Alfredo Gonzalez, Senior Program Manager, The Nature Conservancy

    • Panelists:
      • Belinda Faustinos, Executive Director, San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy
      • Arturo Sandoval, VOCES
      • Sergio Avila, Outreach Director, Sky Island Alliance
    • Discussants:
      • Roger Rivera, President and Founder, National Hispanic Environmental Council
      • Nobby Riedy, Program Manager, Wild Spaces Foundation
      • Juana Torres, Representative, Sierra Club

  6. Community/Environmental Health and Wellness: A Latino Perspective / La Salud Comunitaria/Ambiental: Una Perspectiva Latina

    Moderator: Guillermo Brito, Executive Director, National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention

    Slide Show Presentation: Ken Cook, President, Environmental Working Group (20 min)
    • Panelists:
      • Hon. Lucille Roybal-Allard, U.S. Representative
      • Dr. Michael Gonzalez, US Environmental Protection Agency
    • Discussants:
      • Martha Dina Arguello, Director of Health and Environment, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Los Angeles
      • *Edgar Quiroz, Kaiser Permanente
      • *Representative from Sanofi-Aventis

  7. Clean Air, Clean Water, and Clean Communities - Issues for Latinos / Aire Limpio, Agua Limpia, y Comunidades Limpias – Temas para Latinos

    Moderator: Armando Nieto or Nidia Bautista, Coalition for Clean Air, California

    • Panelists:
      • Luis Arteaga, Executive Director, Latino Issues Forum
      • Elsa Lopez, Education and Partnerships Programs Manager, Water Replenishment District of Southern California
    • Discussants:
      • Celeste Cantu, Director, California State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento
      • Nidia Bautista, Coalition for Clean Air, California

  8. The Ranch, Farm, and Beyond – Environmental Issues and Latinos in Rural Areas / El Rancho, La Granja, y otros Temas–Temas Medio Ambientales y Latinos en Zonas Rurales

     Moderator: Albert Jacquez, Principal, Strategic Solutions

    • Panelists:
      • Ralph Grossi, President, American Farmland Trust
      • Nelson Carrasquillo, Executive Director, CATA Farmworkers Support Committee
      • Scott Faber, Food and Agriculture Systems Program Director, Environmental Defense
      • Adrianna Quintero, NRDC
      • Teresa de Anda, Californians for Pesticide Reform and Center on Race, Poverty, and the Environment

  9. Fifteen Years Later: NAFTA – the Border, Our Environment, and Latinos / Quince Años después de NAFTA–la Frontera, Nuestro Ambiente, y los Latinos

    Moderator: Fernando de Necochea, Southern California Edison

    • Panelists:
      • Lic. Juan Antonio Flores, North American Development Bank
      • Hon. Joaquin Castro, Texas State House of Representatives
      • Lori Wallach, Public Citizen
      • *Ignacio Chapela, Associate Professor, Division of Ecosystem Sciences, UC Berkeley
    • Discussants:
      • Esteban Torres, Former U.S. Representative
      • Byron DeLear, Green Party
12:00 p.m.

Luncheon: Using Our Power to Create Healthy Communities / Usando Nuestro Poder para Crear Comunidades Sanas

Introductions / Introducciones: 

  • Hon. Cruz Bustamante, Lt. Governor, State of California
  • *Hon. Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor, City of Los Angeles
  • *Hon. Gloria Molina, Supervisor, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
  • Keynote Speaker: Teresa Heinz
2:00 p.m.

State/Regional and Issue Breakout Sessions / Sesiones sobre Temas Estatales y Regionales

Session I: "California Initiatives" Prop. 84, 86, 87, 89, and 90 / “Iniciativas en California” Prop. 84,86, 87,89, y 90

Moderator:

  • Yvette Martinez, Progressive Strategy Partners (Yes on 87)
  • Felipe Agredano, CA Clean Election Campaign (Yes on 89)
  • Katherine Culliton, Policy Director, National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention (Yes on 86)
  • Leo Briones, President and CEO, Centaur North (Yes on 84)
  • Roy Ulrich, Public Interest Attorney (No on 90)

Session II: Latinos and Environmental Justice – Progress Made Or Progress Delayed? / Latinos y La Justicia Medio Ambiental – ¿Progreso obtenido o a la espera?

Moderator: Roger Rivera, National Hispanic Environmental Council

  • Catania Galvan, Board Member, National Hispanic Environmental Council (NHEC)
  • Juan Parras, Community Outreach Coodinator, Environmental Justice Clinic
  • Carlos Padilla, Co-Founder, South Bronx Clean Air Coalition
  • *Rosa Ramirez, Youth Organizer, Little Village Environmental Justice Organization
  • *Anthony Sanchez, Executive Director, Eagle Eye Institute
  • Luis Cabrales, Campaign and Outreach Associate, Coalition for Clean Air

Session III: The National Agenda (Federal Environmental Policies, Programs, and Latinos Today – The National Perspective) / La Agenda Federal (Política Federal Ambiental, Programas, y Latinos de Hoy en Día)

Moderator: Joel Rogers, Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison & Founder and Director, Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS)

  • Jennifer Chavez, Earth Justice
  • Luis Martinez, Energy Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council
  • Michael Gelobter, Executive Director, Redefining Progress
  • Ana Unruh-Cohen, Center of American Progress
3:30 p.m.

Plenary Session: Creating a New Environmental Agenda / Sesión Plenaria: Creando una Agenda Nueva sobre el Medio Ambiente

Speakers:

  • Antonio González, President, William C. Velasquez Institute
  • Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor, City Los Angeles
  • Presiding Officers:
  • Kathleen Rogers, President, Earth Day Network
  • Roger Rivera, President and Founder, National Hispanic Environmental Council
7:00 p.m. 

Latina Leadership Reception / Recepción de Líderes Latinas

Hosted by various Latina Organizations and Elected Officials / Ofrecida por Organizaciones de Mujeres y Rep. de Gobierno

Special Guests:

  • Hon. Lucille Roybal-Allard, U.S. Representative
  • Hon. Loretta Sanchez, U.S. Representative
8:30 p.m.

Film: “An Inconvenient Truth”

Introduction: Nadine Velasquez, Actress. Currently in the television show My Name is Earl (nominated as best comedy for the Golden Globe awards).  Nadine was nominated as Best Supporting Actress on a comedy or drama for the NCLR ALMA Awards, and she was named one of five rising stars to watch closely by USA Today and named one of Variety’s Ten Actors to Watch 2005.

9:00 p.m.

Environmental Rooftop Party

Hosted by Earth Day Network, National Hispanic Environmental Council, and the Sierra Club

Featuring: DJ Fenix, Playing the Best of Latin Music Sound, and Insecto Sound, a Latin Electronica Band from Columbia
9:00 p.m. State / Local Caucuses / Comités Estatales y Locales