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Latino Leaders Unite to Celebrate 25 Years of Advocacy and Commit to Continue Fighting for the Latino Community
National Latino leaders come together on eve of Hispanic Heritage Month to honor NHLA’s history of advocacy for the Latino community; Ozomatli joins

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, September 14, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of the nation's 40 preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, hosted a celebration honoring 25 years of the coalition’s advocacy efforts on behalf of the Latino community. NHLA was established in 1991 as a nonpartisan association of major Hispanic national organizations and distinguished Hispanic leaders from all over the nation. For 25 years, NHLA has been a united Latino voice that has provided the Hispanic community with greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s affairs.

Original founders of NHLA, elected officials, current leaders of national Latino organizations, and past NHLA chairs from across the country came together in unity to honor NHLA, its history, its accomplishments, and its continued advocacy, including the 2016 Hispanic Public Policy Agenda, the coalition’s most inclusive and comprehensive compilation to date of the policy concerns and priorities of the nation's Latino community. The quadrennial policy agenda, originally released in February of this year, contains recommendations for presidential candidates and policymakers.

NHLA leaders and supporters were joined in celebrating the coalition’s 25th anniversary by the Grammy award-winning band Ozomatli, known for their innovation and creativity that gives voice to Latino culture and social justice issues.

“As we reach this milestone of a quarter century of advocacy for the Latino community, we can be proud of our coalition’s role in growing the Latino voice in the nation’s public policy debates. At a time when our community is under attack, NHLA represents a space of unity to advance a national agenda that is more inclusive and comprehensive of the needs of all Latinos and the nation as a whole. We stand together, more united than ever, to take on the work that remains to be done to advance Latino priorities,” said Hector Sánchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

“Each federal election, each Census report, each evaluation of public education, each workforce projection, each Supreme Court annual docket – all of these and more repeatedly demonstrate anew the critical significance of the growing Latino community to the future success of our nation. The founders of NHLA wisely anticipated the increasing importance of a unified coalition to promote and defend Latino interests in federal policy. Twenty-five years is just the beginning for NHLA,” said Thomas A. Saenz, NHLA Vice Chair and MALDEF President and General Counsel.

"The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is a proud member of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) because we believe it is important for our nation’s Hispanic leaders to join together and establish policy priorities which address the critical issues affecting the Latino community. As leaders of NHLA, we are united by our core principles and guided by our efforts to advance positive change for our community. As the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights organization, we know that being part of NHLA helps amplify our voice and raise needed awareness for Latino issues,” said Brent Wilkes, NHLA Treasurer and LULAC National Executive Director.

"It has been a privilege to serve on the NHLA Board of Directors, and a unique opportunity to have been there from the beginning. It's been an amazing 25-year journey through which some of the most prominent Hispanic leaders have brought a united voice to America's thriving Hispanic community. And, most importantly, NHLA has assured a new generation of Hispanic leaders access to political leaders and policy makers," said Juan Andrade, Jr., President of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI).

"Whether fighting for the rights of our most vulnerable communities of immigrants, promoting diversity in lands conservation, advocating for LGBT civil rights, or registering and mobilizing voters, NHLA has been on the frontlines for the past 25 years as a collective voice for Latinos. We join our fellow members in celebrating this powerful coalition, and look forward to many more years of unified advocacy on behalf of the Latino community," stated Jose Calderon, President of the Hispanic Federation.

“Felicidades NHLA! Maintaining a collective of any kind is no easy task and especially when it’s dedicated to a growing, marginalized and as yet, unrecognized, segment of the American people that come from so many diverse and beautiful home lands. LatinoJustice PRLDEF appreciates all that went into creating this national voice and applauds the vision of our founders. From the perspective of critical organizations like LJP that focus their resources outside the Beltway, having a seat at the table of policy makers in the capital is priceless. To know that our collective pueblo is mature enough to help each other in time of need – as with the fiscal crisis in Puerto Rico; to stand tall with the most vilified members of our familia – as we did to support LGBTQ Latinx’s; and to dig deeper and understand the depth of the harms of mass incarceration on our people – and do something about it, is a testament to the NHLA. And a testament to its leadership. Gracias Hector Sanchez and all of our 40 member organizations,” said Juan Cartagena, President & General Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDEF.

“Farmworkers -- the people who labor on our farms and ranches to feed us -- benefit from the valuable efforts of this coalition of national Latino organizations. We are pleased at the progress NHLA has made in recent years and look forward to even greater accomplishments on behalf of the Latino community, including farmworkers and their family members,” said Bruce Goldstein, President of Farmworker Justice.

"It is an honor and privilege to stand side by side with leaders in the Latino civil rights community to celebrate 25 years of advocating priorities of Latinos in the United States. The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health is proud of this historic policy agenda which is the most gender and LGBTQ-inclusive since NHLA's inception. As co-chair of the Latina Task Force and the Health Committee, we look forward to advancing the bold recommendations put forth in the agenda, including repealing the Hyde Amendment and building on the gains of the Affordable Care Act, so that all Latino/as can thrive," said Jessica González-Rojas, Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.

"NHLA’s greatest accomplishment and biggest strength is that it has brought all these groups, coalitions, and leaders together under one recognized and respected organization,” said Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. “Its success is a testament to both the vision of our founders, Raul Yzaguirre and Henry Cisneros, and to the commitment and dedication of today’s Hispanic leaders. At NCLR, we look forward to working together to advance both our country and the Latino community.”

“We applaud the NHLA on its 25th year of advocacy for healthcare and other key policies that impact our communities and for increasing Hispanic leaders in the Federal government,” said Dr. Elena Rios, President & CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association.

“The NHLA has been an invaluable ally in pushing for greater representation of Latino content and content producers in the news and entertainment industries. Together we have made progress in ensuring that our people and their issues receive the coverage they deserve from national media outlets,” said Felix Sanchez, President, National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts.

“Casa de Esperanza is proud to be a member of the NHLA. The 2016 Public Policy Agenda is a great example of the level of dialogue that resulted in the strongest, most gender-inclusive public policy agenda produced by the NHLA. As an organization working in the area of domestic violence and related issues for 34 years, we know that our participation in the NHLA makes us stronger and also benefits other members. Together we are creating change, through the policy agenda and ongoing advocacy and leadership,” said Patti Tototzintle, Chief Executive Officer of Casa de Esperanza.

“As the primary national network of Latin American immigrant-led organizations in the US, Alianza Americas is proud to stand next to the rest of national Latino organizations who come together in the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA). We have come a long way as a community in the past 25 years, but now more than ever, we need strong and diverse networks such as NHLA in order to reach higher and more effective ways to build synergies and achieve common goals, commensurate with what Latino/Hispanic communities represent for the nation and the world,” said Oscar Chacón, Executive Director, Alianza Americas.

“The idea of a coalition of the Nation’s leading Latino civil rights organizations was a recognition of the growing national importance of the Latino community. The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda brings together Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban and other Latino communities in an effective and much-needed collaboration to give voice to their collective concerns in Washington, DC and the rest of the country. This 25th anniversary is a testament to the important role that Latinos play in American society,” said Angelo Falcón, President, National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP).

“In the last 25 years, NHLA has emerged as a unified national voice for the Latino community. Utilizing the expertise, connection to communities nationwide, and the strength of the 40 coalition member organizations, NHLA has proudly and bravely advanced the national Latino agenda. MANA has been a proud coalition member and partner in elevating the issues facing Latinos in the United States, and we look forward to building on that work in the next 25 years and beyond,” said Amy L. Hinojosa, President and CEO of MANA, A National Latina Organization.

“CHCI is proud to join the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda in celebrating 25 years of positive impact for the Latino community,” said Domenika Lynch, CHCI President & CEO. “NHLA’s leadership has united Latinos to challenge the status quo and work towards an America where our community is treated fairly and viewed as an equal contributor in our society. CHCI looks forward to working with NHLA members for the next 25 years and beyond.”

“NHLA is moving forward with new agendas and new generations, engaging all leaders – male and female – listening to communities while keeping true to its core values. NAHP is proud to be a participant of this,” said Martha Montoya, Chair of the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP).

"We're honored to work together with our NHLA colleagues and family to build powerful, lasting, and growing movements for freedom, dignity, and justice. The NHLA's values and platform compel our diverse communities to say "Yes!" to a better world as well as "No!" against policies and practices that harm us. Now, more than ever, the NHLA is needed to make sure that government and private sector leaders are held accountable to the interests of Latinxs and other often marginalized communities so that we can all be free!” stated Matt Nelson, Executive Director, Presente.org.

“Today, more than ever before, the need for a united voice addressing the myriad issues affecting the Hispanic community is of paramount importance. SER Jobs for Progress National is proud to be part of the voice that comprises NHLA. Ensuring that all segments of our respective communities have a powerful and respected presence is important in addressing our various needs and collective positions. We congratulate NHLA for assuming that important and necessary leadership role. Thank you NHLA for 25 years of service and commitment!” said Ignacio Salazar, President and CEO SER-Jobs for Progress National, Inc.

“The co-founders of NHLA came together 25 years ago because they understood that the Latino community could achieve great things if we acted as one,” said Pedro J. Torres-Díaz, National President for the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA). “The HNBA is proud to have been part of NHLA’s fight for justice and equality over the years, including leading efforts to diversify our federal and state judiciaries. While our work continues, we take this anniversary to pause and thank the co-founders of this coalition for having the vision to foresee how impactful it has become.”

“I am proud to join together with the nation’s leading Latino organizations to celebrate the anniversary of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda and the substantial progress made by our community over the past twenty-five years,” stated Arturo Vargas, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund executive director. “As a former chair of the NHLA, I know firsthand how critical and powerful it is to have our organizations join together in unison to advance the issues of most importance to the nation’s second largest population group.”

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

| Michael Torra | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 425-0582 |
| Brenda Arredondo | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (915) 373-1483 |

ABOUT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP AGENDA

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda is composed of 40 of the leading national and regional Latino civil rights and public policy organizations and other elected officials, and prominent Latinos Americans. NHLA coalition members represent the diversity of the Latino community – Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Latino Americans. NHLA’s mission calls for unity among Latinos around the country to provide the Latino community with greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s affairs. NHLA brings together Latino leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit: www.nationalhispanicleadership.org.

NHLA MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

Alianza Americas | American GI Forum | ASPIRA Association, Inc. | Avance | Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network | Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute | Cuban American National Council | Farmworker Justice | Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities | Hispanic Federation | Hispanic National Bar Association | Inter-University Program for Latino Research | Labor Council for Latin American Advancement | Latino Justice PRLDEF | League of United Latin American Citizens | MANA, A National Latina Organization | Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund | NALEO Educational Fund | National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives | National Association of Hispanic Publications | National Association of Latino Independent Producers | National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. | National Council of La Raza | National Hispana Leadership Institute | National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators | National Hispanic Council on Aging | National Hispanic Environmental Council | National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts | National Hispanic Media Coalition | National Hispanic Medical Association | National Institute for Latino Policy | National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health | National Puerto Rican Coalition, Inc. | Presente.org | SER – Jobs for Progress National, Inc. | Southwest Voter Registration Education Project | United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | United States Hispanic Leadership Institute | United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce | U.S.-Mexico Foundation