Institute Kicks Off Hispanic Heritage Month

 WASHINGTON – As part of its Hispanic Heritage month festivities, the National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI), the nation’s premier leadership organization for Latina Leaders, will hold two important events on Thursday, September 16, to honor Latina leaders in public service and discuss pressing issues affecting Latinas.

 
The Latina Leaders Breakfast Honoring Latinas in Public Service will take place from 8:30 to 10:30 am at the Department of Labor, Frances Perking Building, Visitors Entrance 3rd & C streets, 200 Constitution Avenue, Washington, DC 20210.
 
These year’s honorees include:
 
Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis
 
United States Treasurer Rosie Rios
 
Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, (NY 12th)
 
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL 18th)
 
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA 34th)
 
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA 47th)
 
Sara Manzano-Diaz, Director of the U.S. Department of Labor's Women's Bureau

Barbara J. DesMarteau (NHLI 2004 alumna) U.S. Department of Labor's Deputy Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration
 

 
Later that day, NHLI is partnering with AARP to hold dialogues on Latinas, Jobs & The Economy2:00 to 3:00 pm and Wealth Building & The Wealth Gap for Women of Color from 4:30 to 5:30 pm.
 
Both events will take place at AARP headquarters, Brickfield Room, 610 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20049. The panels are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged for media wishing to attend the panels.
 
These activities are organized as part NHLI’s Executive Leadership Program (ELP) Washington, DC week. The 2010 program ends on September 17 with the graduation of 22 Latina leaders from the public and private sector.
 
ELP is held in conjunction with the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the Center for Creative Leadership, and consists of a four-week training curriculum that spans nine months and is implemented in four cities. The learning experience provides training in cross-cultural communication, strategic management, public policy, and leadership skills building. Upon graduation each participant mentors two young Latinas and completes a leadership project in her community. ELP fellows will gather at NHLI’s 2010 Executive Leadership Training Conference and Mujer Awards in Miami on November 4-5, a gathering of hundreds of Latina leaders open to the public. 

NHLI

Founded in 1987, NHLI has trained and empowered more than 10,000 Latina leaders from the public and private sectors who have been appointed to leadership positions in government, corporate America, nonprofits, foundations or have started their own businesses. NHLI’s mission is to develop Hispanas as ethical leaders through training, professional development, relationship building, and community activism.