2009-2010 Fellows Blog

CHCI Public Policy Conference

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

One of the most impressive aspects of the CHCI Public Policy Conference is the opportunity to meet and network with many professionals and prominent leaders across the United States. Listening to President Obama's speech was a highlight of the conference. He emphasized about the importance of developing the next generation of Latino Leaders and explained that many Latina/os have been appointed to government positions during his first tenure as president. Great news and motivation to the next generation of Latina/o leaders.

Attending the CHCI conference allowed me to learn from many politicians including US Representatives and Senators. Listening to various speakers and panelist allowed me hear about the issues that policy makers face at ground zero of policy making. After the conference, I realized that stakeholders have a powerful and direct influence in policy-making process. As constituents, we have the power to influence public opinion, which is a driving factor in political decisions. The Latino community needs to get more involved in our political system to influence policy! The Latino community needs to come together in health care and immigration reform.

Inspired

The White House, Office of Legislative Affairs

The 2009 CHCI Public Policy Conference was a great success. As a first time attendee, the conference has made me much more knowledgeable about the issues affecting the Latino community, including immigration, healthcare, and education. However, the issue of healthcare impacted me the most, especially because of the current issues that Congress and President Obama are facing. The number of people who are uninsured is enormous and a good portion of those are Hispanics. Additionally, those Hispanics with prior conditions are being denied by insurance agencies and are forced to choose between putting food on the table and their own health. It is clear that we have a broken system and it needs to be fixed. It's up to our political leaders to determine the best policy solution. The Conference opened my eyes to all the issues our community is facing. As a future leader, the conference has inspired me to one day find solutions for the problems facing the Latino community.

Conference Week Blog

The Office of Senator Robert Menendez (NJ)

I think the opportunity to witness the great leaders of our time come together and discuss a plan of action for the future of Latinos in this country was unbelievable. To see the great amount of passion and dedication on their behalf to not only advance the Latino community, but also this entire nation, really instilled a sense of inspiration towards what drives me as a Latino to make a difference in this country. I consider myself privileged to have been given an insight into the policymaking discussions in the fields of health care, housing, labor, immigration. The most impressive part about the different policy conferences throughout the week was the chance to question different expert panelists over the topics being discussed.

When I was looking for a fellowship placement a few months ago, I really wanted to work for Senator Menendez because I knew he would soon be the only Latino Senator with a great deal of influence in the Latino community. Not to mention his record of being a public official dedicated to implementing real reform in this country spoke for itself. However, the opportunity to see Sen. Menendez speak at the Immigration plenary reinforced everything I had heard about him and I was proud to be working in his office. To see him speak with such passion and integrity on issues that affected the Latinos was truly inspiring. I remember him saying: "Immigrants are the ones that pluck the feathers on the chicken you eat with their bare fingers, Immigrants are the ones that clean up your fancy hotel room when you leave, and Immigrants are the ones that pick the fruit that's on your plate. We PROUDLY take the jobs that other American's don't want." Along with Congressman Gutierrez, Cecilia Munoz and other expert panelists, Sen. Menendez tackles the reality of our broken immigration system and calls out for comprehensive immigration reform. His vision of an America with secure borders while finding a way to welcome the 12 million undocumented immigrants into mainstream society is a vision that I too would like to see the United States realize.

For me, having the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people from all across the country with different types of backgrounds and credentials was very valuable. I enjoyed the chance to see hundreds of talented leaders across the nation united with a common goal: to advance the Latino community and help us become progressive members in a mainstream society. I had the chance to met CHCI alumni, journalists, Members of Congress, students, etc, from all over the country that were very passionate abour pursuing a solution to the problems that plague Latinos in the U.S. I tried really hard to engage myself with issues that I was not very familiar with. Having expert panelists afforded me the opportunity to ask the questions that I wanted in an attempt to learn more about the issue. My positive experience throughout conference week was only reinforced when we were given the chance to relax and meet new people over a delicious meal. It was nice to relax and network with individuals that share likewise ambitions and that were adamant about offering a helping hand if we ever need it.

Growing up, everyone's vision of lawmaking most likely consisted of the old man with the long curly white wig and the long black robe waiving his gavel around and slamming it hard on the wood, finally making it into law. While that would definitely be much easier, being in the heart of D.C. has opened my eyes to the long and complex process that we know as 'policymaking'. I've always known that Policymaking is a long and complicated process. However, I didn't know just how complicated it was until I saw the different stages legislation must go through and the multitude of people and groups that want to chip in their two cents. First, it was interesting to see the impact that companies and corporations have in working with legislators to formulate policy. The fact that corporations, through financial contributions and advocacy support, have a large impact on how U.S. policy is formulated is very interesting (but also kind of scary). Second, I was surprised by the amount of coalitions that exist within the legislative chamber that focus on a specific agenda that they, as a group representative of a much larger group within the national public, feel must be addressed immediately. For example, there were many Congressional Hispanic Caucus members that spoke throughout the conference to address the need for immediate immigration reform. It was clear to me that coalitions exist to be that nagging force needed to push legislation through the chambers. They can either be for focusing on a special agenda or focusing on ruining someone else's agenda. Anyone that somewhat understands American politics knows that we have one of the most complicated, yet interesting, policymaking systems in the world. After all, our system of checks and balances is one of the great hallmarks of American Democracy. However, just because I recognize our policymaking system does not mean I agree with it. This complex melting pot of lobbyists, coalitions, and legislators,  have created a process that has made it increasingly difficult for Congress to pass laws efficiently. While I understand the reality of partisanship and the need for party loyalty, I do not understand why it should be at the expense of millions of Americans being affected by it. I agree with leaders such as Luis Gutierrez and Robert Menendez who identify the need for bipartisanship on heated issues such as Immigration and Health Care. Now more than ever we need to stray away from shady politics, put the people first, and work TOGETHER to create laws that benefit the American people and not special interests. We need to build on the foundations set by the founding fathers of this country and not destroy them. I know that its easier said than done, but considering our current health care and immigration crisis, now more than ever we must work harder to make this seemingly utopian policymaking system a reality. Bipartisanship is the answer.

Jenny's Blog on CHCI Conference Week

The White House, Office of Managment & Administration

The most impressive aspect of the CHCI Public Policy Conference has definitely been the Gala. I will never forget watching President Obama speak, and hearing him mention the fellows that work tirelessly in the White House. His key message came loud and clear, "We know that here in America, we only progress as one nation, as one people. We know that here in America we rise or fall together," Obama said, adding, "Our success has always depended on our willingness to see our challenges as one we have to face together, our willingness to live up to a simple ideal: Todos somos Americanos." The issue that has had the most impact on me is immigration reform. Being a child of Mexican immigrants and growing up in a Hispanic immigrant community in New York City, I have seen numerous individuals struggle with the hard and difficult process of living in America without legal citizenship. I was born in what is today considered the capital of the world only because of a faithful decision that my parents made to abandon their impoverished town in Mexico, and I have adopted not only the customs and identity of what it means to be an American but also the advantages that come along with it. Sec. Hilda Solis and Senator Menendez touched on this concept of immigration reform and how our immigration system is broken. Our values are tarnished when we allow 12 million human beings to live in the dark shadows of abuse as undocumented immigrants, and Sen. Menendez had the biggest impact in understanding how immigration reform affects the Latino community. Attending the CHCI conference is such a valuable experience, and I would recommend every young Latino who is interested in public policy to attend. There were so many amazing speakers gathered in one place, it was an unforgettable experience. Conference week has enhanced my knowledge of how policy gets formulated in many different ways. I gathered information from all the different speakers, which included Secratary Solis, Secretary Duncan, Senator Menendez and many other Congressmembers, and have realized how dedicated they all are to public service.

CHCI HHM

Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

Perhaps my favorite aspect of CHCI's Public Policy Conference and Gala was being surrounded by successful Latinos eager to offer their encouragement. Everywhere one turns, there was someone with a smile and enthusiasm toward his or her work. Though "work" is probably not the best word; for these individuals, it is truly a matter of passion. On a very personal level, listening to the only Latino U.S. senator, Robert Menendez, was especially inspiring. He brought valuable perspective to the current immigration debate in front of people who have such a large vested interest in the topic. The ardor with which he spoke demonstrated just how passionate our communities must be toward the issues that impact us. He also serves as a reminder that all can accomplish what they set their mind to, so long as they invest the appropriate effort and enthusiasm. I would recommend that people attending the conference maintain an open mind toward the material to which they will be exposed. Also, be sure to seize every opportunity presented and do not second-guess yourself.

Conference Week- A Call to Action

The Office of Congressman Jose Serrano (NY-16)

This year's conference week flew by, with little time to catch ones breath. When I look back at this week's events, I truly am grateful that I can participate with the prime leaders and decision makers of our great nation. It was like being at an NBA All-Star game, being in the presence of Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Congressman Xavier Becerra, Congressman Luis Gutierrez, Senator Robert Menendez, Speaker Nancy Pelosi etc... I am use to seeing these members of Congress on TV, never mind brushing shoulders with them. The advantage of attending the CHCI Conference is that one could hear the latest information from the top policy officials. One day you could learn the issues confronting health care while the next hour you learn about the green economy and how it can positively impact our Latino communities. I attended the Healthcare Reform: Impact on the Latino Community summit. The summit moderator was the Hon. Lucille Roybal-Allard, a congresswoman leading the fight for health care reform. By attending this summit, it gave me a chance to hear from health care leaders who pressed why health care reform is so badly needed. Each presenter was armed with statistics, personal experience, and patient testimonials that truly showed me the dire realities that people are facing because of the lack of health care and health professionals in their communities. As the week went by, it confirmed the importance of being involved as a participant of policy building rather than a bystander. There are many other stakeholders, policy experts, public officials, and community organizers that are a wealth of knowledge and motivation. If you are truly invested in trying to make an impact for our communities and Nation than you can connect with others and inform yourself and your community about how to get involved and create a change in policy.

Policy Making

The Office of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34)

People will go to great lengths to make sure their voices are heard, and this is especially something I learned from the beginning of the conference. I realized this is an important part of the policy making process, while another component is without a doubt, compromising. I also learned that partnerships and resources, especially money is 'what make the world go round,' in other words; money is a green light to move policies forward. I learned to a great extent the power of building relationships and using those relationships as building blocks to move agendas forward. These agendas translate into ideas for potential policies. I look forward to learning more about policy making, especially understanding how policies trickle down to the local level and the impact these policies have on our Latino communities.

Networking and building relationships

The Office of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34)

If I could rename the conference, it would be Networking and Building Relationships Conference. The networking opportunities provided valuable experience to meet and greet high level officials and representatives from federal agencies. Like myself, others may benefit from tapping into a breadth of combined resources and knowledge, however, the conference wasn't just about meeting people, it was about establishing fundamental relationships. It was nice to see people's happiness and enthusiasm when sharing their professional experiences with me and I was happy to be a sponge and humbly take it all in. The networking experience was invaluable for me, and I know it would be the same for others.

...and more Healthcare Reform

The Office of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34)

It is increasingly clear that healthcare reform will have the most significant impact in our Latino community and I was eager to hear our President speak about this important issue at CHCI's Gala. I remember sitting in the table with the fellows, while the press bundled toward the front of the stage to make note of the President's remarks. "Todos somos Americanos" were the words President Obama resonated. I felt inspired by his words. I instinctively thought about my family, my neighbors, and friends, people in my community and neighbors in general, people I know firsthand who are afflicted by this issue. I'm passionate about public health and a huge proponent of healthcare reform so President Obama's remarks were of particular interest to me. On a similar note, I enjoyed learning more about health care reform in the summit moderated by Congresswoman Roybal-Allard. The Congresswoman and panel experts including health policy makers, nurses, physicians and analysts spoke about the legitimate concerns of our community, issues that negatively impact our Latino community such as cost, quality and access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health care. We know that our country doesn't have the best care in the world; we have the best care for those who can afford it, therefore it was gratifying to listen to the sentiments of people in the room denounce any bills circulating in congress that will compromise quality or access to healthcare. When speaking of healthcare reform, Hispanics are a tough sell. These days, when healthcare reform is discussed, immigration too is discussed as a tagline. With lawmakers already immersed in health care, many are using this as a platform to speak about the importance of immigration reform. I agree that one of the most underserved populations in this country is the Latino community. We need health care and immigration reform. This was a clear message echoed throughout the conference. I look forward to the day I share with my kids the fervent joy I felt listening to President Obama and Congresswoman Roybal-Allard speak on healthcare and immigration reform.

CHCI 2009 Public Policy Conference. Sept. 13-16.

The Office of Minority Health

The CHCI Public Policy Conference brought together many important Latinos leaders to discuss various issues concerning our community. I was overwhelmed to see panels composed completely of strong and intelligent women, in particularly Latinas, that work hard to make a difference in their communities. One of the most impressive aspects of the conference was the opportunity to be in an environment where I could listen to the expertise of the panelists, intermingle with them and the audience after the discussion, and network for future collaboration.

I felt that the conference underlined the importance of collaborating with each other to better educate, advocate, and help our communities. I had the distinct honor of presenting Congresswoman Grace Flores Napolitano in the CHCI Summit for 'Salud Mental: Discussing Youth and the Public System'. The panel discussed the approach, progress, and areas of need of mental health issues facing youth in the foster care system and the juvenile correctional system.

I enjoyed learning about Dr. Panayiota Courelli experience in the Foster Grandparent Program. This program takes in young Latino men in the correctional system and inspires in them the philosophy that they are capable of making a good impact in society. Dr. Courelli encourages us to think of different approaches to tough issues. The Foster Grandparent Program teaches these young men skills to be successful in finding a job, and even provides them with a new interviewing suit and shoes. Some in the program are given the task to train a dog that will then be given to a family in the local communities. Others take advantage of a program that removes tattoos so that those permanent images won't inhibit their changes to find job opportunities. The main goal of the program is to address the social barriers that many of these young men confront and to give them the opportunity to invest in the community so that they understand that they are also capable of positive change.

The CHCI Conference will inspire you to strengthen your voice for Latino and worldly issues. Representative from Congress and the Senate, experts of several fields, sponsors of various businesses, and students come together to learn about healthcare, economic, and immigration issues Latinos confront. I felt an enormous sense of empowerment to fight for my community. The conference week has enhanced my knowledge of what are the issues that we as Latino face and the reasons why many of these important issues are not being properly addressed. The discussion on the 2010 Census highlights this point. Panelist after panelist emphasized that the 2010 Census can have a remarkable impact on the Latino community. By filling out the census and ensuring that our families, friends, and neighbors do the same, we can allocate government dollars to our local communities. This money can be used to improve schools, hospitals, senior care centers and other areas of the communities. But if we don't do our part to ensure that 2010 is a Latino Census, then the opposite can also true. Our numbers won't be correctly counted and we could not only lose government money to our communities, but worst, we could be misrepresented in Congress and many of our issues ignored.