How many participants will Convención 2007 attract? 

Chief organizer José Feliciano, a lawyer with Cleveland’s venerable Baker and Hostetler law firm, says between 1200 and 1400 people attended the 2004 event, and he believes an attendance of 2000 is a realistic goal.  However others, including González, believe the figure will reach 3000, more than double the attendance of the 2004 event. González says the venue can accommodate that many visitors.

 

“This event is sending the community the right message. We must do this for our people,” says Feliciano. “This is a source of power. I can take the results and sit down with the mayor and report to the commissioners and the school board.  This is the most important event the community can be engaged in…Hearing what we have to say and identifying issues. It is a huge undertaking.”

 

Richard Romero, who serves as a commissioner on the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs, agrees that it is important to get feedback to the resolutions. “Each community has different needs and different issues. We need to address this and it is anticipated that the Commission will take a role,” says Romero.

OCHLA Director Ezra C. Escudero informed La Prensa, “OCHLA is beginning to have some early conversations with the Convención organizers and we are excited for the opportunity ahead for partnership and cooperation.  But for now, we are looking forward to supporting Convención 2007.”

 

Sister Alicia Alvarado works in the office of Cleveland Councilman Joe Santiago. She is a member of the Kitchen Cabinet of Hispanic Roundtable Community Programs that is planning Convención 2007.  A veteran of the program, she recalls “There were five of us in 1984. I was a community organizer then.”  She chaired Convención 2004 with Al López and Adrian Maldonado, both of whom are involved with Convención 2007.

 

“So far, we have raised $71,000,” says Sister Alicia. “This is the only vehicle that we know brings people in the Latino community together for one day. We can make a difference in the city, the state and especially this whole region,” she says.

 

Northwest Ohio included

“I’m originally from Cleveland and I was involved with Convención 2004,” recalls Adelante’s Sonia Troche. “I now sit as a member of the Hispanic Roundtable. The first year I was involved, I carefully studied the program before I left for Toledo. I am working on the regional effort.  The program has worked in Cleveland, and I believe we can learn from each of us working together for the benefit of the community.”

 

Troche praised the vision of the organizers and especially their decision to expand the reach of the event through members in other areas.  “I laud state-wide efforts in the Latino community, because there is always strength in numbers,” says Troche. The planning for Convención 2010 calls for it to include Dayton, Cincinnati, and the entire state.

 

Troche says she has apprised Toledo community leaders Bob Vásquez, Luis Escobar, and David Ibarra about Convención 2007. Ibarra, the principal at Washington Junior High School confirmed his involvement in the program.

 

Troche said a committee is forming in Toledo to also get the education and community development components for Convención 2007 as well as a plan for implementation of those areas.

 

“On the health side, I invited Lydia Alejandro of Fremont, co-founder of Ohio Latino Health Coalition, to be the organizer of the health component at Convención 2007,” says Troche.

 

“People know it is a free event and there is plenty of food as well as some great workshops. We are planning to run busses from Toledo that will bring 50 to100 people to the event. We’re putting it together,” says Troche.

 

Alejandro told La Prensa the Ohio Latino Health Coalition “will develop the health tracks, workshops and speakers” for the event. She said she looks forward to doing health education and “more advocacy,” in partnership with Convención 2007.

 

Alejandro is cofounder of the Ohio Latino Health Coalition and can be reached at lydalejandro@yahoo.com

[See http://www.laprensatoledo.com/Stories/2005/November%202,%202005/
Latino%20Health%20Disparity%20Conference.htm]

 

Robert Torres attended Convención 2004 as the director of the city of Toledo’s Latino Affairs Commission. “I’m working on coordinating this with Ezra C. Escudero, the Director of the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs (OCHLA). I am happy to see the cohesion between the different leaderships representing Lorain, Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo,” says Torres.

 

History of Convención

 According to material supplied to La Prensa by González, the Hispanic Community Conventions began in 1982 as a collaborative research project involving the Latino community leaders and Kent State University. This led to the creation of the Hispanic Community Project, an informal survey of community leaders and a representative sample of the Latino community-at-large.

 

The following year saw a meeting of Latino leaders and community activists at which time the suggestion of organizing a community-wide convention received significant support. The Hispanic Community Forum was formed to develop and plan the convention. This was carried out by volunteers from all sectors of the community.

 

Convención ’84, “UNIDOS EN ACCION” (Unity in Action) was held on April 28, 1984. More than 1,000 participants adopted 61 resolutions.

 

Convención ’85 “HACIA EL FUTURO” (Toward the Future) took place on April 25, 1985. By now, the Forum had emerged as an informal resource group for community and area-wide organizations.

 

The Hispanic Leadership Development Program (HLDP) was organized in 1986 as a joint project of the Hispanic Community Forum and United Way Services. The group played an active role in Convención ’86, “ORGULLO HISPANO EN ACCION” (Hispanic Pride in Action), held on April 26, 1986. Community workshops were developed and opportunities were provided for organizations to report on their achievements in 1985 and their goals for 1986.

 

In 1987, the Hispanic Community Forum presented proposals for funding to the Cleveland Foundation and the George Gund Foundation.

 

A Regional Leadership Conference was held on the English Only language amendment to mobilize and bring together local community members with their counterparts in Toledo, Lorain, Youngstown, and other cities.

 

Convención ’88, “EL FUTURO ES NUESTRO, NUESTRAS ORGANIZACIONES: FUERZA PARA EL FUTURO” (The Future is ours, Our Organizations: Strength for the Future) took place on May 28, 1988 in conjunction with the National Image Convention at the Cleveland Convention Center.

 

The format changed when Convención ’90, “EL FUTURO ES HOY” (The Future is Today) was held. Policy and program plans became the Forum’s basic agendas for the next two years.

 

Convención ’92, “CRUZANDO HORIZONTES: CREANDO NUEVAS FRONTERAS” (Beyond Horizons: Creating New Frontiers) was held on April 11, 1992. It was followed by Convención ’94, “UNIDOS EN ACCION, DECIMO ANIVERSARIO” (United in Action, Tenth Anniversary) which took place September 10, 1994.

 

However, the Hispanic Community Forum, the sponsoring agency, closed its doors. But after a ten-year gap, Convención 2004, “PUEBLO UNIDO, FUTURO SEGURO” was held on Sept. 25, 2004 and featured Henry Cisneros as keynote speaker.  [See the Sept. 29, 2004 issue of La Prensa online in pdf format at: http://www.laprensatoledo.com/PDF/2002-5/Sept.%2029%20%2004.pdf]    

 

González says the Convención 2007 Website will be up and running by the end of June, The address is http://www.Convencionhispana.org