Anuncios de COHO

A blog for the Coalition of Hispanic Organizations, a membership group based in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Latino Civil Rights Summit this week!

Hola!
The Latino Civil Rights Summit is upon us.

The Coalition of Hispanic Organizations (COHO) is pleased to announce its Fourth Latino Civil Rights Summit, Thurs., Oct. 22 at Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, Mo. The theme of this year’s event: Family. All events held on Saturday are free to the public; there is a $10 fee for boxed lunches. Please call 816-531-2251 to register for Thursday and Friday events.

Mayor Kay Barnes and Mayor Joe Reardon will kick off the summit at 5:30 p.m., Thurs., Oct. 20 at the Jack Reardon Center, in Kansas City, Kan., regarding the State of Latinos in their respective cities.

The three-day-event, spearheaded by COHOs Civil Rights Committee, is chaired by Rita Valenciano, president of COHO. “Family is the backbone of Latino culture, and therefore is the focus of this year’s summit,” said Valenciano. “It is important that COHO; all Latino organizations; and the leadership of Kansas and Missouri fully understand the needs of Latino families. Our hope is to empower and educate families throughout both states, respectively, with information about resources that will help to preserve their civil rights.” In addition, Valenciano is also the director of Assistance to Parents of Youth Organization (APOYO), a parent education program based in Kansas City, Kan.

With family in mind, on Sat., Oct. 22 the summit will feature a variety of activities for parents and children. Mattie Rhodes Art Center and MANA de Kansas City will offer art based activities, along with face painting for children. Volunteers from the Irene Ruiz Public Library, Biblioteca de Las Americas, will lead a child focused booth that will include story-telling and reading activities. The flyer for the event can be seen by clicking Flyer

Additionally, members of the National Latino Peace Officers Association’s (NLPOA) Greater Kansas City chapter will conduct a workshop that will inform children about “Stranger Danger.” The NLPOA GKC Chapter will also provide free Identi-Kid photography and fingerprinting services to combat child abduction.

Members of the community will also have an opportunity to learn more about the “The Dream Act.” The act, which could offer in-state tuition to undocumented students who have resided in the United States for a long period of time, has been mired in controversy from opponents of illegal immigration. It has, nonetheless, gained support from both Democrats and Republicans. A workshop geared toward discussion of the Dream Act will analyze both sides of the important issue that could affect future generations of Latino families.

LATINO CIVIL RIGHTS SUMMIT EVENTS to note:

- Rose Castillo Guilbault, author of “Farmworker’s Daughter, Growing Up Mexican in America” will be the keynote speaker at the Summit’s luncheon from 11a.m. to 1 p.m., Fri., Oct. 21 at the Kauffman Foundation, 4801 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO. For a review of Ms. Guilbault's book by Rigoberto González, click here
- The Summit’s Community Event is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sat., Oct. 22 at Penn Valley Community College, 3201 Southwest Trafficway, Kansas City, Mo., and will feature workshops that will include information and discussions about key issues in the Latino community like predatory lending and racial profiling.
- On Sat., Oct. 22, the Summit will also feature a variety of informational booths and free literature regarding the local Latino community along with door prizes and other giveaways.

To register for the Coalition of Hispanic Organizations’ Fourth Annual Latino Civil Right Summit, please call 816-531-2251 or fax (816) 421-7332, the registration form can be viewed by clicking Registration. While the event on Saturday is free, there is a $10 charge for box lunches, which must be ordered in advance. Refreshments will also be available at the event. For more information regarding the event, please contact Rita Valenciano at 816-421-7577 or by e-mailing: coho_gkc@yahoo.com.