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National LATINA
Symposium
This year’s fourth
annual National
LATINA Symposium
held September 6
drew White House
executives, Members
of Congress, Latina
entrepreneurs,
business and civic
leaders from across
the country to
celebrate Latina
achievement and
success in the
military, Congress,
the corporate and
business world at
the Capital Hilton
Hotel in Washington
D.C.
With 600 plus
attendees, this
unique gathering
entitled “Power,
Politics & Pumps –
Conversations &
Stories on Money,
Men & Management”
offered workshops
and skills essential
for today’s and
tomorrow’s
professionals of all
areas.
During breakfast,
Robert Bard,
president and CEO of
LATINA Style
Magazine presented
Congresswoman Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen with
the “Glass Ceiling
Award.” With
enthusiasm and
respect attendees
gathered and
listened to insights
on issues that
impact the Hispanic
Community. “When I
was elected in 1989,
there were only 32
women members of
Congress,” she
reflected. “I was
the first Hispanic
woman and today, a
record number of
women serve in both
chambers-with 16
women serving in the
Senate and 73 women
serving in the
House.”
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Patricia
Richards,
manager
of
Supplier
Diversity
at Shell
Oil
Company
(left)
and
Congresswoman
Grace
Flores
Napolitano
(D-CA)
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Among her many
topics she mentioned
the importance of
passing several
pieces of
legislation that
address the needs of
the Hispanic
community such as
the Microloan
Modernization Act
and the SBA Trade
Programs Act. “Both
of these bills will
be extremely helpful
to our growing
Hispanic business
community—a growing
force in the
American economy,”
she said. “The
Hispanic community
has made incredible
milestones in recent
years. In congress,
we have seen a
Latina assume the
gavel as Chair of
the Small Business
Committee and there
is even a Hispanic
woman as ranking
member of the
Foreign Affairs
Committee, and the
best is yet to
come.”
After such
motivational remarks
were given, Patricia
Richards, manager of
Supplier Diversity
at Shell Oil Company
informed everyone
about the “new
political regime”
and what women are
capable of doing in
this new century.
“The Latino
community is the
largest group and
the most dynamic
community in the
market place,” she
said. “I feel that
Latinas can meet
challenges and
assure possibilities
better than any
other sector.”
Wondering if our
country is ready for
the upcoming
elections? Attendees
were updated on the
race for the U.S.
Presidency, and the
pivotal role
Hispanics,
especially Latinas
play in the upcoming
elections during the
first panel
“Elephants & Donkeys
– Who Will Govern
the Nation in 2009?”
moderated by Lydia
Camarillo, vice
president for the
Southwest Voter
Registration
Education Project
featured
Congresswoman Grace
Flores Napolitano
(D-CA), Robin Read,
president of the
National Foundation
for Women
Legislators, and
Leslie Sanchez,
author of “Los
Republicanos – Why
Hispanics &
Republicans Need
Each Other.”
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Leslie
Sanchez
(standing),
author
of
"Los
Republicanos–Why
Hispanics
&
Republicans
Need
Each
Other"
talks
to
attendees
during
first
panel |
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Attendees
converse
about
the
program
of
the
day |
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Patricia
Richards,
manager
of
Supplier
Diversity
at
Shell
Oil
Company
and
Congresswoman
Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen |
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Lupita
Colmenero,
publisher
of
El
Hispano
News
and
Roger
Guzman
of
Wal-Mart |
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Lydia
Camarillo,
vice
president
for
the
Southwest
Voter
Registration
Education
Project |
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Robin
Reed,
president
of
the
National
Foundation
for
Women
Legislators |
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next
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By Gloria Romano |
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