United Way Latino Vision Council to host 8th Annual Leadership Conference in partnership with Hispanics Inspiring Students' Performance and Achievement (HISPA)

Lawrenceville, NJ- The United Way of Greater Mercer County Latino Vision Council (LVC) and HISPA with support of the presenting sponsor ETS will host its 8th Annual Leadership Conference at on Friday, April 27, 2012 at the ETS Campus in Conant Hall in Princeton, New Jersey. The conference theme is “Building Healthy and Highly-skilled Leaders for a Vibrant America.” The keynote speaker will be Debra J. Perez, M.A., M.P.A., Ph.D. , Interim Assistant Vice President Research & Evaluation at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Dr. Perez is responsible for research and evaluation work on the Public Health Team and leads programs that focus on increasing the diverse perspectives that inform the Foundation’s grant making. "At the heart of HISPA's vision is the volunteerism found in the professional role models that step into the classrooms across the state to share their experiences with the youth. We are excited to partner with LVC to provide a unique professional development opportunity to our HISPA Role Models," said Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, President of HISPA. Ana I. Berdecia, Chair of the Latino Vision Council adds, "It is wonderful when two organizations that share similar synergy come together with a shared vision to empower leaders and support efforts that have the potential to grow young leaders and provide the skill development for leaders from all walks of life. LVC is a network of leaders that are committed to working to together to build culturally and linguistically responsive communities."

Following the keynote, the conference will offer three tracks in leadership, education and health. Each track will impart to attendees tips for a healthy and high-skilled vibrant America as it pertains to specific fields and areas. "Working with businesses and organizations to build strong alliances in our community will enable to us to build not only strong networks for growth but will help identify and develop sustainable Latino leaders for the long term, is the goal of Latino Vision Council, said, Ely Mateo, Assistant Vice President of Resource Investment at the United Way of Greater Mercer County.

This conference will serve as a conduit for a dialogue about the skills necessary for a vibrant America, while helping to raise funds for youth development through Trenton High School FUTURO Mentoring Program, HISPA Role Model Program, and the Latino Vision Council’s Leadership Institute. The conference committee is very grateful for the sponsors that already joined us with their sponsorship. LVC and HISPA would like to thank our sponsors, ETS, PNC Bank, Williams, Inc., Rider University, and the many individual donors throughout the community that have already pledged their support. Space is limited and the conference registration packet can be found by visiting: www.uwgmc.org or by calling Ely Mateo at (609) 637-4918 or email ely.mateo@uwgmc.org.

About United Way of Greater Mercer County: United Way of Greater Mercer County is a community-based organization that mobilizes local resources to meet health and human care needs in greater Mercer County. It utilizes the collective power of people to work toward long term solutions in three focus areas: Helping Children Succeed (Education), Fostering Self-Sufficiency (Income), and Caring for Seniors and People with Disabilities (Health). For more information about United Way of Greater Mercer County, please call 609.896.1912 or visit www.uwgmc.org. For information on HISPA visit www.hispa.org

United Way of Greater Mercer County
Crossroads Corporate Center
3150 Brunswick Pike, STE 230
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
P: 609.896.1912 • F: 609.895.1245
www.uwgmc.org

For additional information:
Ely Mateo
Assistant Vice President of Resource Investment
609.637-4918
ely.mateo@uwgmc.org

April 27th, Conference Program

8:00 am – 8:45 am Registration / Continental Breakfast/Resource Table

8:45 am – 9:00 am Welcome Remarks – Ely S. Mateo, United Way, and Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, Ph.D.,( HISPA), Conference Co-Chairs

Greeting Representative- Educational Testing Service Representative (ETS)

9:00 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. Latino Vision Council Overview – Ana I. Berdecia, M.Ed. United Way Latino Vision Council, Chairperson

9:20 am – 10:15 am Keynote Speaker- Dr. Debra J. Perez, Ph.D. , Interim Assistant Vice President of Research & Evaluation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

10:15am – 10:40am - Respond to Keynote’s Message-Jorge Cardenas

PSEG, Vice President – Gas Operations – (Invited)

10:40 am–10:55 am-Break/Resource Tables / Networking

11:00 am–12:30 pm - Morning Breakout Sessions

Track A: Succeeding as Leaders for Change in America: Empowering Yourself as a Leader for Change Presenter: Rod Colón Consulting, LLC, Executive Coach / Motivational Speaker - Note: 3 CEU’s will be provided for this track.

Track B: Healthy Living is within Our Control: Strategies to Improve Our Intellectual, Emotional, Social, and Spiritual Health Presenter: Alminda D’ Agostino, MPH, CHES, Horizon NJ Health

Track C: Developing Today, Tomorrow’s Leaders: Securing English Language Learners (ELL) School Success Presenters:

Abraham Lopez, Director, Hispanic Affairs & Center for Hispanic Policy, Research & Development; Mayra Caceres, Past National VP of Operations at AT&T/HISPA Liaison; Mikyung Kim Wolf, Ph.D., Research Scientist – ETS; Laura Morana, Ph.D., Superintendent, Red Bank Borough School District; John Moreno, Co-Executive Director LYHEP – Latino Youth for Higher Education; Lillian Occhipinti, Retired Director of Bilingual and English as a Second Language Program, Trenton Public School.

12:30 pm–1:30 pm - Lunch, Resource Tables/Networking

1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Afternoon Breakout Sessions

(Same as your morning registration)

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. A ZUMBA Experience- Yamilet Puppo & Vignette Fleury

3:30 p.m.–3:40 p.m. Evaluation

3:40 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Open Networking