• Release ID: 12-112
• Release Date: 6/7/2012
• Contact: Neil Greenberger 240-777-7931 or Delphine Harriston240-777-7931
• From: Council Office

ROCKVILLE, Md., June 7, 2012—White House officials on Saturday, June 16, will host a Hispanic Community Action Summit for Maryland from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring. Montgomery County Council Vice President Nancy Navarro, a member of the White House Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, proposed the summit that will include the participation of Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Congressman Chris Van Hollen and County Executive Isiah Leggett.

Latino officials from around the region also will speak at the summit and participate in breakout worksessions at Blair, which is located at 51 University Blvd. in Silver Spring.

Most recent census figures reveal the state’s Hispanic population has more than doubled, with a majority being residents of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

The Community Action Summit for Maryland will be the latest in a series of regional meetings across the country organized by the White House. The Action Summit will provide an opportunity for senior White House and cabinet officials to interact with members of the Hispanic community on a wide range of issues critical to the Hispanic community and the nation.

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley is the honorary chair of the event’s steering committee.

Topics of discussion will cover a wide-range of policy issues—from jobs and the economy to education and health care. Breakout sessions also will focus on comprehensive immigration reform and housing.

“The issues that will be discussed all recognize that the future of our nation in the 21st century is inextricably linked to the success of the Hispanic community,” said Councilmember Navarro.

Summit organizers have established three key goals for the event:

Establishment of a space where community leaders can meaningfully engage and interact with key decision-and policy-makers in the federal government’s executive branch on matters involving diverse policy areas that affect the Hispanic community.

Identification of policy and programmatic areas of concern, receiving and responding to constructive criticism and feedback, and identifying local success stories and practices in policy areas that benefit the Hispanic community and the nation.

Identifying and developing opportunities for Hispanic leaders and stakeholders to collaborate with the federal government’s executive branch and other leaders from across the country in addressing the interests and concerns of the Hispanic community.

The Action Summit will utilize an “open space” format to provide a forum for all participants to actively engage in the discussion. The format provides each of the participants with a chance to share their interests, experiences and motivation to better serve the Hispanic community. It is one of the few processes where everyone, not just a handful of speakers, has an opportunity to join in the conversation.

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