Save the date to attend a one-day conference on Latino civic engagement in Iowa. The ¡Adelante! conference, sponsored by Iowa State University Extension — Community and Economic Development, will be held on Thursday, November 13 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Hotel Pattee in Perry.
The conference will bring together municipal officials, civic leaders, and community advocates throughout Iowa to learn about successful capacity-building projects for members of the Latino community, share our stories of successes and challenges, and spark further conversation in our home communities.
Specifically, the conference will touch upon three interrelated themes: advocacy, engagement and leadership.
Guest panelists include:
Dr. Timothy Steigenga,
professor of political science and chair of social sciences and humanities at the Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Steigenga was integral in founding Corn Maya Inc., a community based organization for and by Guatemalan Mayans and El Sol, a neighborhood resource center created in partial response to conflict over day laborers in Jupiter, Florida. Dr. Steigenga will discuss the role that resource centers can play in addressing community-wide issues and how they can act as a positive catalyst for city engagement with immigrant communities.
Axel Fuentes and Carlos Rich, community organizers working with Rural Community Workers Alliance in Milan, Missouri. Mr. Fuentes and Mr. Rich work to improve immigrant worker health, prevent wage theft, and enhance community integration of migrant workers in meat-packing and poultry processing communities. They will share their experiences of the conditions of migrants working in hog and poultry confinements, the challenges these industries pose to community integration, and the importance of advocacy with migrants for community and economic development.
Alba Perez, Executive Officer for the Office of Latino Affairs for the State of Iowa and co-founder of the Latina Leadership Institute, a leadership training program designed to prepare young Latina professionals for service in the greater Des Moines Area. Ms. Perez will discuss the importance of identifying and preparing young Latinos for civic leadership positions and the need for a culturally sensitive curriculum that takes into account participants’ personal and community histories.
Registration fee is $25, refundable upon attendance to the conference. Lunch will be provided.
If you have questions, or would like to reserve your spot, please contact Jon Wolseth at [email protected] or 515-509-0558.
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