FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lonne Hamilton 626. 796-2262 pasadenaudh@gmail.com MEDIA ADVISORY: Latino Voter Outreach Roundtable at United Democratic Headquarters in Pasadena

LATINO VOTES COUNT!

Si Se Puede!
PASADENA - On Sunday August 19, the United Democratic Headquarters in Pasadena will host an informal roundtable discussion on issues relating to increasing Latino voter participation. The panel of participants will explore issues relating to voter education, voter registration and the challenges of voter outreach in the Latino community. Research shows that the Latino voter will have a large impact on the political landscape of America during the 2012 elections. President Obama campaigned with a slogan that is close to the hearts of many HispanicAmericans; a slogan, after nearly 40 years, that still brought hope and excitement to the Latino Community: "Yes We Can."

In 2012 the United Democratic Headquarters will continue to share the vision of President Obama that has inspired many. We must win the Democratic ticket -- we cannot afford to go back. We will follow the roundtable with a brief Voter Registration training and yummy home cooking by Chef Rita.

Participants confirmed:
Mark Gonzalez, Corresponding Secretary - Los Angeles County Democratic Party, facilitator Victor Griego, Diverse Strategies for Organizing Christopher Guerrero, Political Director, Wendy Greuel for Mayor 2013 Marie Martinez, Educator and Community Activist Anthony Reyes, President - Democratic Student Alliance, University of La Verne Jared Rivera, SEIU CA - Political Organizer Nilza Serrano, Honor PAC

TOPICS TO BE COVERED:
How to increase Latino voter registration Why Latinos are underrepresented in the voter rolls in relation to voter eligibility Voter education
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Voter outreach Effective messaging Strategies to recruit Spanish-speaking volunteers

BIOS:

Mark Gonzalez:
Mark currently sits on numerous boards and community groups. In particular, the Northeast Los Angeles Community Clinic Board, Presidents Latino Advisory Committee for Pasadena City College and Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. Mark is an elected member of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party Central Committee where he serves as the Corresponding Secretary, Chair of the 51st Assembly District Delegation, Executive Board Member for the California Democratic Party and convention Delegate to the California Democratic Party. As both a long time resident and native to Eagle Rock, Mark served as Field Representative for Assemblymember Anthony J. Portantino, 44th District, and currently serves as a Senior Field Representative to Speaker of the Assembly, John A. Perez, 46th District, representing East Los Angeles, Little Tokyo, Huntington Park Central City East, Boyle Heights and Downtown Los Angeles.

Victor Griego:
A nationally recognized political strategist, facilitator and organizer with 25 years of successful experience in political, grassroots and community organizing, Victor has been an instrumental catalyst in planning and conducting various community involvement projects, including union wage and benefit issues, voter registration drives, public education campaigns and in the elections of local, state and federal candidates. Victors reputation as an astute political and community organizer is the result of years of notable success in coordinating community leaders, neighborhoods and organizations in their efforts to influence public policy
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decisions. He has been an advisor on more than 50 local, state and federal elections and ballot measures.

Christopher Guerrero:
Christopher was the Field Director for the California Democratic Party from 2010-2012. He has spent much of 2011 on the Latino Voter Registration Project / It Gets Bluer campaign targeting Californias largest populations of unregistered Latinos across the Inland Empire and Central Valley. Christopher is an Executive Committee Officer for the California Young Democrats and is an elected member of the Young Democrats of America National Committee where he serves as officer for the YDA Hispanic & LGBTQ Caucuses. Christopher currently is the Political Director for Wendy Greuel for Mayor 2013.

Marie Martinez:
Marie's exposure to elections goes as far back as the Kennedy campaign, there she saw her parents work tirelessly on getting the out the vote in support of President Kennedy. She picked up the baton and began participating in local city elections. She supported a coucilman in Azusa by holding phone banks in her office, and then began working on various general elections on behalf of Democratic candidates in various capacities. She is currently engaged in making sure that the Latino Communities "Voices" are heard in this very important election. She wants to make a difference and voter registration is the key to make sure we get the right people elected. What she means by right, are all the Democrats running for office.

Anthony Reyes:
Anthony is a young community activist and student at the University of La Verne. He is the founder and current president of the ULV Democratic
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Student Alliance and one of the Judy Boggs Interns at the United Democratic Headquarters. A first generation Mexican-American, Anthony believes in the vision of the Democratic Party and will continue moving forward.

Jared Rivera:
Jared Rivera is a political organizer with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU CA), currently working on the "Yes on Prop. 30" campaign. He came to SEIU after 7 years of experience as a Community Organizer and Executive Director of LA Voice. LA Voice is the Los Angeles affiliate of the PICO National Network, one of the largest organizing efforts in the United States. He graduated from UC Berkeley in 2000 and was raised in California's Inland Empire. He is obsessed with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Nilza Serrano:
Nilza Serrano is an aggressive advocate for advancing the Latina agenda. As a successful entrepreneur, she serves as a Board of Director for various committees with the purpose to bridge the gap between private enterprise and public service. She works relentlessly for all to have an equal opportunity in politics and healthcare. Her main focus is on improving State and National policy affecting the lives of Latinas in the country.

DATE:
Sunday, August 19, 2012

TIME:
4pm-5:30pm

LOCATION:
Pasadena Area United Democratic Headquarters

519 S. Lake Avenue Pasadena, CA 91101

PRESS PARKING:
Press may park in the parking lot on Hudson Avenue, behind the Democratic Headquarters

RSVP: RSVP online at: http://latinovoteroutreach.eventbrite.com or call 626-79-OBAMA (796-2262)