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¡Punto Final!

Building Significant Alliances

I am honored to have been given the opportunity to write a column regarding the partnership that has existed between the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Department of Labor.

LULAC along with the Department of Labor, U.S. Secretary Elaine L. Chao have worked together on issues such as labor force education, job safety, wage and hour law enforcement and the Gulf Coast hurricane recovery.

Government cannot do it all, and that is why the Department of Labor has forged partnerships with LULAC.

For the fourth year, LULAC has participated as a co-sponsor in the annual Opportunity Conference in Philadelphia. I was a participant at this event along with the National Executive Director Brent Wilkes and the national staff.

This event has celebrated the contributions of the region’s Asian Pacific, Hispanic and African American communities, the Opportunity Conference emphasizes key components of economic development and working with federal, state and local government.

Workshop topics have included access to capital, job training, financial literacy, understanding federal procurement opportunities, addressing the needs of workers with limited English proficiency and accessing faith-based and community grants.

In addition, the Department of Labor and LULAC have remained active in Gulf Coast recovery efforts, working with the media, churches and community-based organizations to help vulnerable workers.

In the last two years, LNESC has received the Wagner-Peyser grant. These funded programs involve a Federal-state partnership between the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the state workforce agency. The Federal government provides general direction, funding, and oversight. The grants are given annually to various organizations to provide workforce training programs and are administered by the Texas Workforce Commission. LNESC received $490 dollars this year and $500 dollars last year beginning in December 2006.

Both Secretary Chao and I are committed to comprehensive immigration reform. We are both immigrants to this country and understand that families come to the United States to seek a better way of life. Both of our parents endured hardships so that our brothers and sisters could benefit.

That is why helping traditionally underserved communities access opportunity is one of our highest priorities.

I look forward to continuing to build upon the dynamic partnerships among the Department of Labor and the Hispanic American community.

Rosa Rosales is the National president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a political advocacy group for Latinos in the United States.