Three-and-a-half-day institute will prepare nearly 70 Latino elected officials from across the country with the skills needed to serve in public office
HOLYOKE, Mass.—Holyoke City Councilor Jossie Valentin and Springfield City Councilor Orlando Ramos will join the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, the nation’s preeminent Latino leadership organization, and nearly 70 newly elected Latino state legislators, county and municipal officials, and education policymakers from across the country for the group’s 10th Biennial NALEO National Institute for Newly Elected Officials in Washington, D.C.
Both Councilors are scholarship recipients for this year’s NALEO Institute.
“I am honored to join other Latino elected officials at this year’s institute,” stated Councilor Jossie Valentin. “I am excited to participate in the many networking opportunities that will be available, and being able to bring tools and information back to my work with the City of Holyoke from the variety of sessions being offered.” Ramos agreed with Valentin, “I look forward to this wonderful learning opportunity. As a legislator I believe it is important to use all available resources in order to be the most effective leader I can be for the people I represent.” [pullquote]“I am excited to participate in the many networking opportunities that will be available, and being able to bring tools and information back to my work with the City of Holyoke from the variety of sessions being offered.”—Holyoke City Councilor Jossie Valentin[/pullquote]
The Institute, held at the Capital Hilton November 20-23, 2014, is an intensive training seminar designed to help newly elected Latino officials acquire the tools and information necessary to move their communities forward. The three-and-a-half day “bootcamp” will offer a comprehensive introduction to public service, with seminars addressing budgeting, staffing, policymaking, and other key governance issues. Councilors Valentin, Councilor Ramos and other participants will be grouped by level of office and join experts and other elected officials from all levels of government for this unique, non-partisan skills development and training program in the nation’s capital.
Several Latino candidates who made history in Election 2014 will join Councilors Valentin and Ramos for this event, including: NALEO President Alex Padilla, the first Latino elected to serve as Secretary of State in California, Nellie Gorbea, the first Latino elected to serve as Secretary of State in Rhode Island and statewide office in New England, Victoria Seaman, the first Latina Republican elected to serve in the Nevada State Assembly, and NALEO Educational Fund Chair Pauline Medrano, the first Latina elected to serve as Dallas County Treasurer. [pullquote]The Institute, held at the Capital Hilton November 20-23, 2014, is an intensive training seminar designed to help newly elected Latino officials acquire the tools and information necessary to move their communities forward.[/pullquote]
According to research on Latino representation conducted prior to Election Day for the 2014 NALEO Directory of Latino Elected Officials, 6,100 Latinos currently serve in elected office nationwide. This is up from the 4,853 Latino elected officials who held office in 2004, demonstrating the progress Latinos continue to make in finding success as candidates.
The event is made possible through the generous support of Title Sponsor, State Farm®, the Corporate Convener of the 10th Biennial NALEO National Institute for Newly Elected Officials.
For additional information, please visit the NALEO Educational Fund website at www.naleo.org/institutes/newlyelected/.
[From a News Release]
