Present:
Oscar Miranda (National Latino Police Officers Association]
Victor Flores (Community Partnership of Southern Arizona)
Richard Montenegro (THC)
Barclay Goldsmith (Borderlands Theatre)
Adela Gonzales (CPLC)
Elizabeth Gonzales Genn for Tomás Leon (Hispanic Chamber of Commerce)
Mary Malaby (Women’s Commission)
Geraldo de la Torre (CASA Program)
Berta Soto (League of Mexican American Women)
Carmen Almazan (League of Mexican American Women)
Rudy Ayala (Devereux Arizona, Foster Care Programs & Support Services)
Candido Mercado (AACHE)
Adela Allen (Los Descendientes del Presidio de Tucson)
Alex Rodriguez (TUSD Governing Board)
Yolanda Herrera (Sunnyside Neighborhood Association)
Oscar Lujan & Dominic Ortega (UA Hispanic Alumni)
Gloria Alvillar (THC)
· Marty Cortez welcomed the participants on behalf of Frank Felix who was unable to attend due to a family emergency.
· Oscar Miranda introduced the new THC Board:
President – Oscar Miranda
Vice-President – Victor Flores
Corresponding Secretary – Richard Montenegro
Treasurer – Mary Malaby
Recording Secretary – Gloria Alvillar
Immediate Past President – Frank Felix
Webmaster - Antonio Arroyo
Board Member – Marty Cortez
Oscar told the members that THC’s priorities for the year would be:
- Community Development
- Professional development
- Crime and violence
- Cultural capital
- Building trust and providing education K-20
He said that we urgently need members and people in general to lobby t.v. stations about the need to see Hispanic faces and roles models in their programs.
He invited all participants to attend the Coalition meetings on the third Wednesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
· Each person representing an organization was asked to talk about their top two priorities:
- Alex Rodriguez asked what the group thought should be done with students at graduation if they have not passed the AIMS test? Several recommendations were made.
- Oscar Lujan and Dominic Ortega urged people to join the Hispanic Alumni Association and announced that Diego Navarrette is the new Communications Officer for the Association and not the corresponding secretary.
- Yolanda Herrera talked about the urgency of limiting the number of liquor licenses in the Sunnyside Neighborhood and she urged people to attend the meetings in Phoenix in support of this position. She also talked about the $300 All American Student awards that her organization give to four students.
- Carmen Almazan said they have awarded more than $1M in scholarships. There will be a fashion show in May to raise funds and in September the Florecitas event also raises funds.
- Victor Flores talked about the importance of recruitment and retention of individuals in behavioral health.
- Elizabeth Gonzales Gann reported that CPLC is providing tax training from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays to help people get as much back as possible.
- Candido Mercado talked about the concern that AACHE has regarding undocumented students. Upon high school graduation, these individuals — who have grown up in the United States — would be able to apply for six years of conditional legal immigration status, which would be made permanent if they continue on to college or to serve in the military. He also talked about Pima College becoming a four-year school for health professions.
- Rudy Ayala talked about the tremendous need for Hispanic advocates for Hispanic children. There are 10,000 kids in the system. They also need volunteers to serve on the Child Advocacy Board as currently there are so few Hispanics serving.
- Barclay Goldsmith described the upcoming artistic programming which will include a play about Japanese American and Mexican American farm workers, a Hispanic film festival, a play about students who are registered as “other” at school. He also talked about their attempts to get the All Saints Church as a venue because the Leo Rich Theatre is great but expensive. He reminded everyone that we can use Borderlands productions as a fundraiser and that they need underwriters.
- Elizabeth Gonzales Gann said the HCC Foundation is very concerned about education and its effect on the business community. She said they are willing to include information in El Informe and to include out hyperlinks in their web site. She also strongly encouraged us to have one calendar where everyone’s events (especially fundraising ones) can be shared. This idea met with great enthusiasm from everyone in the group.
The meeting ended promptly at 9 a.m. as many needed to go to their next meeting.
Respectfully submitted
Gloria E. Alvillar