Latinx Institute For Public Service | Portland State University

Latinx Institute

Latinx Institute for Public Service

Newly Elected Officials
Incumbents
Past/Future Candidates
Citizen Advisory Board Members and Key Staff
Newly Elected Officials

Oregon Latino Agenda for Action (OLAA) and the Center for Public Service (CPS) in the Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University, are offering a specially-designed training program, for Latinx by Latinx, to support your efforts to effectively represent your constituency at-large and the Latinx community. You will learn how to navigate challenges and opportunities as an incumbent, newly-elected official, past/future candidate, board member or key senior staff member.

This first-of-its-kind event will kick-off with a Reception on August 10th 6 pm - 8 pm featuring an exciting national speaker to be formally announced in July. Come network and meet other Latinx leaders like you. Additional reception guest tickets can be purchased for $25 per ticket.

Following an invigorating night of meeting with other Latinx leaders, the Conference on August 11th 9am-5pm, will address core challenges facing Latinx leaders, beginning with a discussion with key Oregon Latinx leaders on the essence of leadership, including, leading with values, how to be an effective leader, representing multiple constituencies, communication strategies, and coalition building.

PRICING

Pricing includes your reception entrance, conference, and parking. (Reception RSVP on August 10 is automatically added to your conference/event registration.)

Individual Rate: $300
Jurisdiction Rate (2 person minimum): $150*

Accommodation options are provided at PSU's Ondine dorms at an additional cost.

Single Room Rate: $60
Shared Room Rate: $30

Additional Reception Guests (plus one's) $25/person

*For small jurisdictions, those with a budget of less than $2 million dollars, please email mar36@pdx.edu for a 50% discount code on individual and jurisdictional rates. Limited Scholarships are available, but before requesting a scholarship we encourage that you first ask your jurisdiction to fund your attendance. The deadline to apply is July 14, please contact Jennifer Martinez Mar36@pdx.edu.

RECEPTION

Schedule

Friday, August 10, 2017
6:00pm–8:00pm

Location

Ace Hotel Cleaners
1022 SW Stark St. Portland, OR 97205

Reception Tickets

CONFERENCE

Schedule

Friday, August 11, 2017
9:00am–5:00pm

Location

Parsons Gallery, Room 212
506 SW Mill St. Portland, OR 97205

Conference Tickets

NATIONAL SPEAKERS

Cristobal J. Alex - Friday, August 10, 2017

Cristóbal is President of the Latino Victory Fund and previously served as Hillary for America’s National Deputy Director of Voter Outreach and Mobilization, where he helped manage efforts to register, persuade, and mobilize the core coalition groups that form the base of the Democratic Party: African Americans, Latinos, women, millennials, and organized Labor; as well as the Expansion States program to elect Democrats up and down the ballot in 37 states.

Prior to launching Latino Victory with Henry R. Muñoz III and Eva Longoria, Cristóbal spent more than five years in philanthropy serving at both the Open Society Foundations and the Ford Foundation. During that time Cristóbal led more than $60M in investments designed to increase political participation in communities that have been historically excluded from our democracy.

Before moving into politics, Cristóbal was a civil rights lawyer. He served as Director of the National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights, where he led a coalition of more than 100 organizations to raise awareness of the civil rights rollback and develop strategies to win in the federal courts and the United Nations.

We are delighted to have him on stage and are looking forward to hearing him speak about Latinx community.

Emmy Ruiz - Saturday, August 11, 2017

A political strategist and political staffer and most recently served as Colorado State Director for Hillary Clinton's 2016 Presidential Campaign.

After graduating from the University of Texas at San Antonio she began her campaign career in Nevada as Latino Outreach Director on Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. She received the Rookie of the Year Award from the Association of Political and Public Affairs Professionals for her work during the 2008 election cycle. Subsequently, she was the National Field Director for the Young Democrats of America.

In May 2011, Ruiz worked as a field director for Organizing for America in Nevada and Texas for President Barack Obama. During the 2013 Presidential Inauguration, she was the Deputy Director of Public Engagement and later joined Organizing for Action to lead their Comprehensive Immigration Reform campaign.

She then served as Political Director at Annie’s List - working daily to recruit, run, and elect Democratic women to office in Texas.

We are delighted to have such high-caliber speakers on stage and are looking forward to hearing them speak about the Latinx community.

SPEAKER PANELISTS

Martha Sonato

Martha Sonato is a first generation Mexican immigrant from Michoacán, Mexico.

In 2000, Martha immigrated to Hood River, Oregon with her family where her parents are currently farmworkers. In 2015, Martha became the first in her family to earn a Bachelor’s degree from Willamette University in Politics, with a minor in environmental science. Since then, Martha has worked in Governor Kate Brown’s office as a policy assistant on housing and human services and as a legislative aide in Senator Sara Gelser’s office. In 2016, Martha joined Accion Politica PCUNista (APP), and led a team of eight young leaders of color in a historic parallel campaign to elect Teresa Alonso Leon to HD 22. In May 2017, Martha led A.P.P in electing three Latinx candidates to the Woodburn School Board, making it the first majority Latinx school board in Oregon. Martha is passionate about developing public and political leadership, equitable policies for underserved communities and eventually also wants to run for public office.

Teresa Alonso Leon

Teresa Alonso Leon was elected to represent House District 22 in November of 2016 and is currently serving in her first term.

The daughter of migrant farmworkers and an immigrant to the United States, Teresa grew up in House District 22, attending schools in Gervais and Woodburn. Due to the influence of a dedicated high school counselor Teresa became the first in her family to attend college, and now holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Portland State University. Education was Teresa’s path to success, and now she is passionate about increasing opportunity and access for Oregon students.

Teresa previously worked for the Higher Education Coordinating Commission as the High School Equivalency and GED Administrator working to give ensure that every Oregon student has the education that they need to succeed. She also served as a Woodburn City Councilor after being appointed in 2013. Teresa is looking forward to continuing to be a voice for students and hardworking Oregon families as the State Representative for her district.

FACILITATORS

Jessica Vega Pederson

Currently serves on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners District 3 and prior to being elected to the commission, Jessica served as a State Representative in the Oregon legislature where she was the first Latina elected to the House. In the legislature, Jessica fought for issues such as immigration rights, paid sick time and pay equity to improve the lives of working Oregonians. As chair of the House Energy and Environment Committee, she championed the renewal of the Clean Fuels Program and passage of a bill to remove coal from Oregon's energy mix. She serves on the board of Portland State University’s Center for Women’s Leadership and lives in East Portland with her husband and two children.

Joe Hertzberg

A partner in Solid Ground Consulting and formerly on the Political Science faculty at Yale University – has worked in Oregon for more than 25 years, specializing in strategy, leadership, and organization. He has helped many state and local government agencies set goals and determine how to work together more effectively. He has worked with elected city councils (including Portland, Beaverton, Bend, Coos Bay, Lake Oswego, and Los Angeles), county commissions (including Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, and Lane), school boards (including Portland, Beaverton, and Hillsboro), and special districts.

Joe Gallegos

A Professor Emeritus of the University of Portland–in 2012 he served in the Oregon House of Representative where he sponsored no less than a dozen successful bills promoting the welfare of communities of color and low-income citizens. As vice-chair of the Higher Ed and Workforce Development committees, he continued to pass several bills enhancing education and welfare in Oregon. The National Association of Social Work recently honored him as a Pioneer for his contributions. Dr. Gallegos continues to provide social research and program assessment/training through his consulting firm, Western Research Associates.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Jennifer Martinez

(503) 725-8261
mar36@pdx.edu

Our Sponsors

Oregon Community Foundation

Oregon Latino Agenda Action

Center For Public Service