La Liga: Weekly Newsletter
August 20, 2020

Issue No. 23
LULAC.org

Thank you to all who joined us for the LULAC Virtual Summit!

Here’s what you need to know: Dr. Biden joined us with various representatives for a conversation on the impacts of COVID-19 on Latinos. Also, we co-hosted a set of conversations on Latino outreach with state and national representatives to kick off the Democratic National Convention. Help us congratulate the awardees of the Latino Flash Pitch conference!

Here’s what else you will find in this issue:

• Vanessa Guillen’s body has finally been laid to rest, here’s how you can continue her story.
• Find something that is right for you with a “Month of Development” in our Federal Training Institute Partnership.
• Read LULAC’s CEO piece on the justice fight ahead.
• Take a moment to help a LULAC council win a $25,000 grant!

By Diego Tum-Monge

LULAC Virtual Summit 2020

Tapping Technology to Overcome COVID-19

The LULAC Virtual Summit last week successfully connected members and allies of the nation’s largest and oldest Latino civil rights organization via the internet. It was a three-day state-of-the-art event that brought together thousands of participants for what may well be a preview of the future in LULAC’s advocacy.

More than 80 expert speakers filled 30-plus hours of presentations, panel discussions and training workshops. One of the summit highlights was the compelling conversation with Dr. Jill Biden, the country’s former Second Lady and wife of Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden. She was on a panel with two Latino congressional leaders and a labor advocate for nurses examining the impact COVID-19 is having on Latinos.

“There is power in kindness and this helps to build the bonds of communities during our difficult times,” said Dr. Biden. Then, she outlined how her husband, if elected, will activate what she called his Plan for Recovery which would create millions of jobs and help essential workers in all frontline sectors with free testing and more assistance. The panel agreed it will take all Americans coming together to rebuild the nation’s economic, education and health systems which have been strained beyond their limits during the pandemic. Dr. Biden concluded by saying that how America recovers from COVID-19 will be a reflection of the nation’s vision, character and stamina.

Additional conversations included: a focus on democracy in action with Julian Castro, former presidential candidate and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; a highlight on the state of the civil rights struggle in the U.S. with leaders of LULAC, NAACP, National Urban League (NUL) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL); and a timely examination of the U.S. military and veterans affairs with a panel of retired female officers in the wake of the death of Ft. Hood Army Private Vanessa Guillen. You can read more about each of these sessions at the latest entry on our LULAC Blog.

To see the panels or the entire summit, go to our playlist of live-streamed videos available on demand at our Facebook page.

Vanessa Guillen Update

Read more about the memorial service. | Vanessa can now rest.

On Friday, August 14, a memorial service was held at Cesar E. Chavez High School in Houston, Texas for Vanessa Guillen. Family, friends, community members and school staff paid their respects after Vanessa’s sister Lupe, delivered an emotional speech. LULAC was present that evening and you can watch our Facebook live stream of the final moments of the event.

The next day, LULAC joined LULAC Herencia Council 4297 at Vanessa Guillen’s resting place. Watch our short Facebook live stream of that moment and join us in our call to action to continue demanding justice for Vanessa. Please help sign the petition calling for a congressional investigation into Vanessa’s case.

2020 Federal Training Institute Partnership

It started this week! | “A Month of Development”

The LULAC Federal Training Institute (FTI), The National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM), Leadership Consultants and several Federal agencies have come together to coordinate and provide training through the 2020 Virtual LULAC Federal Training Institute Partnership “A Month of Development” for Federal employees and the community during these challenging times. All this is free of charge and it’s an opportunity attendees can enjoy thanks to the generosity, collaboration, and in-kind support of all the partners.

Register today at LULAC.org/ftipreg. You can also explore the full list of workshops at LULAC.org/ftip/agenda.

The FTIP participants understand how the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is impacting all activities. This includes access to training and development opportunities for diverse staff and employees. However, now more than ever, we need to continue recruiting, retaining, motivating, and developing a federal workforce reflective of an increasingly diverse nation. Our goal is to provide the tools to help participants lead, aspire to leadership positions and become the leaders of tomorrow. Our success together will be men and women who will understand, be sensitive to and address the needs of diverse communities.

Follow LULAC on social media and never miss our notifications for live events!

The Fight for Justice

Read the full article! | Sindy Benavides on race in America.

In a Q&A article, Sindy Benavides shares the significance of recognizing the role of race in America and what we can do for the road ahead. Here is a short excerpt from the article:

Q: What does social justice mean to you personally and why should others care?

A: The ability of every person in this country to live freely, think freely and be able to have and achieve our goals no matter what zip code we grow up in should be a standard. If I am willing to do the work, no one has the right to say I cannot pursue the same opportunities or realize the same dreams of making the most of my life. Our country must dismantle an oppressive system that affords some people of a certain race or color the opportunity to achieve, but not others for that very same reason (or excuse).

We are reflected as a nation, in the faces and lives of those who make our country what it is. Just as we take pride in being associated with winners, we must be willing to shoulder some of the burden for our society’s failures that contribute to the greatest social challenges facing America. If we lose that which is in our human nature to care for fellow human beings, we will have lost part of ourselves. We must see social justice as impacting ‘us’ and not the ‘other.’ When we understand that social justice applies to all of us, then we will continue to see a steady surge of people acknowledging the role(s) that they must play to not be the oppressor or the individuals on the sidelines.

Women's Suffrage Was a Milestone, Not an Endpoint.

Read more from 5 voting rights activist women! | Sindy Benavides on women’s voting rights.

“We have seen various tactics like eliminating polling locations causing long waiting lines, banning early voting, placing restrictions on voting by mail, moving polling sites to obscure, inaccessible locations, and purging voters’ names from rolls. We are also seeing deliberate disinformation on social media targeting Latinos and communities of color that includes promoting the wrong election date, incorrect polling hours, or the use of fear tactics such as stating that ICE is at the polling locations.” See the full statement at Elle.com.

Submit your local event or stay up-to-date with our LULAC Calendar.

Latino Flash Pitch Conference

Congratulations to our 2020 awardees of the competition!

Last week, we had an amazing time with our attendees at the Latino Flash Pitch Conference. The two-day conference started with key speakers in the industry of small business, venture capital, and finance. Our participants and applicants learned more about how to seek funds and manage their cash flow for their venture ideas.

On day two, we hosted a panel of Latino entrepreneurs that shared their experience and knowledge of available entrepreneurial programs. Immediately following, the Latino Flash Pitch Competition Awards announced seven winners of the generous funding from Verizon. Two entrepreneurs each won our top prize of $5,000, and five more rising entrepreneurs received an award of $2,000. The event concluded with an open and honest fireside chat on resiliency as an entrepreneur in the Latino community. We hope that each participant was able to enjoy and take away a great learning experience!

Read here what our two top winners had to say:

Evelyn Brito (Executive Producer of Bodega Makeover) wrote: “This opportunity allows me to continue to pursue my passion and it wouldn't be possible without programs like Latino Flash Pitch Competition.”

Joel-Lehi Organista (CEO of Machitia) shared: “I am so impressed by all the Latinx entrepreneurs who were in this! It truly inspired me to not feel alone.”

Prepare your immigration forms for FREE!

Immigrants Like Us has a new online app that’s easy-to-use

Immigrants Like Us can help you prepare and file all of the forms needed for the following immigration benefits: naturalization, DACA renewals, green cards, and permits. This free service can help many low-income families save time and money, especially as costs to apply for citizenship are being increased to as much as $1,170. See their services or read more in the Chicago Tribune about their impact.

Support these programs and others by donating today!

LULAC Councils

VOTE for Richmond Region LULAC’s Luisa in the Coors Light Lideres Program!

Luisa Soaterna-Castañeda is among 12 national finalists for the Coors Light Lideres Program which recognizes emerging Latinx leaders for civic leadership and noteworthy contributions to the lives of others. Luisa represents the Richmond Region LULAC Council 4614, and winning the $25,000 grant would further her council’s work empowering young Latinas through personal and professional growth. Take a moment to vote for Luisa and invite 5 others to do the same! Voting ends on August 31, so don’t miss out! Use this tutorial here if you need guidance.

LULAC Riverside Council 3190 works to highlight the achievements and contributions of Hispanics in America

Riverside Council members look to Hispanic Heritage Month as a time to highlight the important contributions of Hispanics, and they want to share three important duties we each have for the upcoming special month:

1. Ensure that both our contributions and the injustices we have suffered are given due recognition in our school curriculum and the media.
2. Promote respect and appreciation for all our people and the work they do.
3. Fulfill LULAC’s mission to advance our people’s economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, and health, especially in the continued fight for racial justice and civil rights.

National Partners

FREE Hispanic Network Magazine Subscription for LULAC Members!

Hispanic Network Magazine (HNM) Is the premiere resource magazine dedicated to the advancement of Latinos, Latinas, Hispanics & Native Americans. HNM provides and informs cutting edge concepts and is the link between the qualified students, career & business candidates, educational institutions, corporate America, and the federal government. Subscribe for FREE today!

Data Science For All / Empowerment offers the best data analytics training in the world.

AI is changing jobs in every industry and accessing the jobs of tomorrow requires data fluency. This program, taught by instructors from top universities like Harvard and MIT, is an immersive 13-week (Saturdays only) training program in practical data skills. Entry is merit-based, competitive, and open only to traditionally under-represented students & working professionals. Graduates are connected to the jobs of tomorrow in technology, finance, consulting, sales, marketing, engineering, research, product, and entrepreneurship. Apply or share today: https://lulac.org/r/E/MjA2NDYz/MTkxMzcy/0/0/YmlnamFja2J1bHdhcmtAZ21haWwuY29t/aHR0cHM6Ly9yYi5neS95cmU3dmIjISMh/2861/1!

Take part in supporting our communities by donating today!

Upcoming Elections

Many states have taken measures to protect citizens from exposure during the COVID-19 outbreak. Here are the latest updates and what you should keep an eye on.

Election Alert:

The Democratic Party has officially nominated Joe Biden as its candidate for president at the virtual Democratic National Convention. The Republican Party will hold its National Convention next week.

August 25: Oklahoma

Oklahoma will hold state runoff primary elections and special elections starting at 7 a.m. on the 25th. Early voting is available today and will end tomorrow at 2 p.m. See more.

Up Next… September 1: Massachusetts; September 8: New Hampshire, Rhode Island; September 15: Delaware; November 3: Louisiana, Presidential General Election.

News and Updates

Trump Cabinet officials voted in 2018 White House meeting to separate migrant children, say officials

Thursday, August 20—NBC News

Black And Latino Essential Workers Experience Greater Safety Concerns Than Their White Counterparts (Study)

Wednesday, August 19—Latino USA

California Picks Up Fight Over DACA Restrictions Again

Tuesday, August 18—NPR

Activists: Police killings of Latinos lack attention

Monday, August 17—Star Tribune

National Museum of the American Latino gets closer to becoming a reality

Monday, August 17—The World

LULAC in the News

How to Continue the Fight for Women's Voting Rights, 100 Years After the 19th Amendment

Tuesday, August 18—Harper's Bazaar

Women's Suffrage Was a Milestone, Not an Endpoint.

Tuesday, August 18—ELLE.com

Rep. Raul Ruiz joins Jill Biden in virtual summit on COVID-19 impact on Latinos

Sunday, August 16—Desert Sun

Our Press Releases

Read our latest press releases published at LULAC.org. The following are selected highlights from the week:

LULAC Marks The 100-Year Anniversary Of 19th Amendment

Tuesday, August 18

LULAC Virtual Summit Success Is A Preview To Future Advocacy

Tuesday, August 18

Jill Biden Tells LULAC Virtual Summit: Latinos Will Have A Place At The Table

Saturday, August 15 - En Español

LULAC Remembers Trini Lopez

Wednesday, August 12

Do you have a special story? Connect with us via email!

Latino Discovery Hub
Look here to find new authors, stories, artists, podcasts, and social influencers who helped shape the identities, cultures, and thoughts of your fellow readers.

This week is about: CHICANO LITERATURE

Chicano literature tends to focus on themes of identity, discrimination, and culture, with an emphasis on validating Mexican-American culture or Chicano culture in the United States. It is often associated with the social and cultural claims of the Chicano movement

Remembering A Giant Of Chicano Literature: Rudolfo Anaya

“We celebrate the life of novelist Rudolfo Anaya, a giant of Chicano literature, who passed away on June 28, 2020 after a long illness.” - Latino USA

Literature: Chicana writers you CAN'T miss this August

“Heirs to great authors like Gloria Anzaldúa, Cherrie Moragas and Ana Castillo, the three writers we're going to talk about should be a MUST on your to-read list this August. “ - Al Día

Next week will be about FOOD & DESSERTS. Share your ideas via email!

Engage with us online.

Use @LULAC and #LULAC for a chance to be in the next issue of La Liga!

That's it for now. See you again soon!

WHAT’S NEXT?

• Take a look at and share our Federal Training Institute Partnership sessions for a full month.
• Connect on all our platforms to be a dedicated LULAC Advocate.
• Look ahead: Hispanic Heritage month is coming up! Stay tuned on ways you can get involved.

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What do you think of the newsletter? What would you like to see in the next issue? Email us with your suggestions or questions at [email protected].