Nation's Latino Elected Officials to Meet as Community Prepares to Turn Numbers Into Clout

After 2010 Census Data Reveals Country's Growth Fueled Largely by Latino Community, Officials Gather to Address Policy Implications and Ensure Fair Opportunity for Civic Participation at All Levels of Government

Participants to be Addressed by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Texas Governor Rick Perry, and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro at NALEO's 28th Annual Conference Next Week

LOS ANGELES, June 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With 2010 Census data demonstrating that the Latino community now numbers more than 50 million strong, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) will assemble more than 1,000 Latino officials to focus on the implications of these changes for the country and ensure that Latinos are able to fairly and fully participate in the political process at all levels of government. The NALEO 28th Annual Conference will take place in San Antonio, Texas from June 23-25, 2011.

The three-day event, which has long served as the nation's Latino political convention, will bring together officials from across the nation, at every level of elected office, with leading policy experts from the public, private and non-profit sectors to address a broad public policy agenda, including issues specifically relating to the State of Texas, healthy communities, education and governance and political empowerment (including sessions on redistricting and immigration).

Sessions at the Conference are designed to enhance the governance skills of participants and deepen their understanding of critical policy issues so they are able to translate their knowledge into strategies for building stronger and healthier communities. Conference participants will be joined by U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Texas Governor Rick Perry, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information Anna G. Gomez, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro and Representatives Charles Gonzalez and Francisco "Quico" Canseco.

Last year's NALEO conference in Denver, CO featured appearances by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis, than Mayor of Denver John Hickenlooper, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Thomas Perez, and Representatives John Salazar and Lucille Roybal-Allard.

All sessions are open to the press and take place at The Grand Hyatt Hotel San Antonio. To view a full conference agenda and registration info, please visit: http://www.naleo.org/annualconference.html

WHAT:	NALEO 28th Annual Conference
WHO:	NALEO, the nation's membership organization of Latino public servants and NALEO Educational Fund, the leading organization that empowers Latinos to participate in the American political process, will host more than 1,000 elected and appointed officials and their supporters at the nation's Latino political convention.
WHEN:	June 23 - 25, 2011
	Thursday, June 23
12:00 - 1:30 PM	National Leadership Luncheon
	Texas Ballroom DEF, Level 4
Keynote Remarks:	Honorable Rick Perry, Governor, State of Texas
	Honorable Julian Castro, Mayor, City of San Antonio
	Saturday, June 25
12:00 - 2:00 PM	National Congressional Luncheon
	Texas Ballroom DEF, Level 4
Keynote Remarks:	Honorable Ken Salazar, Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior
	Honorable Charles Gonzalez, Member of Congress
	Honorable Francisco "Quico" Canseco, Member of Congress
WHERE:	The Grand Hyatt Hotel San Antonio
	600 E. Market Street
	San Antonio, Texas
MEDIA	Advance registration is preferred. To register, please contact Amanda Bosquez at [e-mail] or by phone at [phone].
REGISTRATION:
	Please be advised that members of the press MUST present credentials (including a photo ID) at the time of registration on-site in order to receive NALEO conference materials and press passes.

SOURCE National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO)