Democrats to Convene in Fayetteville, AR for Democratas Unidos Conference and Gala

Aug. 11, 2011 - PRLog -- August 10, 2011



The Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Arkansas and the New Latino Movement to host

Demócratas Unidos: 2012 Countdown Conference & Gala

Labor Day Weekend in Fayetteville, Arkansas



Fayetteville, AR. – On Labor Day weekend, September 3 and 4, 2011, Demócratas Unidos: 2012 Countdown, Unleashing Latino Electoral Influence, a national conference organized by the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Arkansas and the New Latino Movement, will take place in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Taking place exactly one year before the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina; Demócratas Unidos kicks off the 2012 election cycle.



HONORARY CO-HOSTS INCLUDE:

●      Illinois State Senator Iris Y. Martinez, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Hispanic Caucus Chair

●      Rep. Charles Gonzalez (TX-20), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair

●      Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (NM-03), CHC BOLD PAC Chair

●      Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair

●      Rep. Joe Baca (CA-43), Former Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair



Among the guest speakers and trainers are: Senator Iris Martinez, DNC Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman and first Latina elected to the Illinois State Senator - Dustin McDaniel, Arkansas Attorney General - Lioneld Jordan, Fayetteville Mayor - Luis Heredia, Arizona Democratic Party State Director - Victoria Cepeida-Mojarro, Wellstone & Democracy for America Trainer - Jessica Morales, Online Activist Manager, Obama for America - Jorge Garcia, Former Arkansas Justice of the Peace - Steve Smith, Former Chief of Staff to Governor Bill Clinton - Lindsley Smith, Former AR State Representative.



"It is our sincere hope and stated goal that by providing a training to familiarize those interested in running for office and making the tools readily available for them that we will inspire people to get involved in the democratic process and either chose to run for elected office or support another's candidacy." Maria Baez de Hicks, Co-Chair Organizing committee



Demócratas Unidos offers a forum for current and future Latino community leaders to develop, network and grow politically through panels and targeted training sessions.



The growth of the Hispanic population in Arkansas, and the growing influence of Democratic Latino outreach programs in the area, make Fayetteville an ideal setting for this groundbreaking conference.  Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States, now representing 1 in 6 Americans, and the national population growth of the last decade was largely carried by the growth of the Latino population in the Southeast, including Arkansas and its neighbors. In 2008, a record setting 9.7 million Latinos voted and, more importantly, a large number of those voters were actively engaged in political campaigns. In the wake of this growth, Arkansas saw its own Latino vote double in just a two-year period, from 2008 to 2010.



In preparation for the 2012 election cycle, this conference aims to:

●      Strengthen political, field, fundraising and communication skills of at least 100 Democratic Latinos from Arkansas and other states/territories.

●      Create action plans to implement following the conference into the 2012 election cycle.

●      Expose Democratic Latinos to progressive political role models.



In the 2012 election cycle, the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Arkansas and the New Latino Movement - a volunteer-run network of young, progressive Latinos - look to exceed these historic increases in voter participation in the Latino community through strategic planning, with grassroots organizing and by empowering Latinos to play a more active role in the Democratic party.



Additional information about Demócratas Unidos is available at www.demsunidos.com