Leadership training for immigrant candidates set for April 6-7, in Santa Ana

Press Advisory

Contact: Nina Spensley, 917.864.8400, nina@newamericanleaders.org

“Ready to Lead “ Training Prepares Immigrants for Potential Candidacy and Leadership

SANTA ANA, California – The New American Leaders Project (NALP), Engage San Diego, Mobilize the Immigrant Vote, the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA) and the Orange County Labor Federation, in partnership with Wellstone Action will hold its “Ready to Lead” training to prepare first and second generation Americans with immigrant backgrounds for the rigors of running for office this April 6 –7, 2013 in Santa Ana, California. This event marks the first non-partisan program held in Orange County specifically aimed at training immigrant candidates to run for office at the local, state and national level.

Twenty-eight African, Asian, Latino and Arab-American first-and second-generation immigrants, as well as civic leaders who work with immigrant communities, will attend the two-day training. “Ready to Lead” is a signature program developed by NALP for potential candidates and other immigrant leaders who want to learn crucial, in-depth electoral skills such as communications, base-building and fundraising. The weekend will also include two expert panels featuring local elected leaders who will speak to participants and aspiring candidates about their own paths to leadership roles and personal electoral experiences.

The New American Leaders Project is the only national organization specifically focused on training first-and second-generation immigrants for civic leadership and has been developing their training programs for immigrant leaders since the fall of 2010. Mobilize the Immigrant Vote (MIV) was started in 2004 as the first-ever statewide campaign in California to organize a multi-ethnic coalition of community-based organizations working within immigrant communities and building their capacity to register, educate, and mobilize their constituents for electoral participation. Today, MIV leads non-partisan campaigns working in 10 counties across the state to activate the voices of immigrant families and New American voters. The Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance, Inc. (OCAPICA) started in 1997 as a way to enhance and increase Asians and Pacific Islander’s community participation via service, education, advocacy, organizing, and research. The Orange County Labor Federation represents over 140,000 men and women and seeks to build a labor movement to enhance political and workplace organizing for worker justice.

WHO:

• The New American Leaders Project
• Horacio Arroyo, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA)
• Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez, Asusa Unified School District Boardmember
• Al Jabbar, Anaheim Union High School District Board of Trustees
• Bao Nguyen, Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Trustees
• Julio Perez, Orange Country Labor Federation
• Dr. Jose Moreno, Anaheim City School Board
• Salvador Ramirez, El Monte Union High School District Boardmember

WHAT:

Organizations and current and former elected officials conduct “Ready to Lead” training programs for immigrants to prepare them for potential candidacy and leadership.

WHEN:

April 6 – 7, 2013; Media availability Saturday April 6, 11 AM – 4 PM

WHERE:

Laborers Local 652
1532 E Chestnut Ave
Santa Ana, CA 92701

About The New American Leaders Project: NALP recruits recognized individuals with a track record of civic involvement and trains them in the key skills needed for leadership from the community to the Capitol. Our goals are threefold: to expand the number of immigrants in leadership positions, increase voter participation in immigrant communities and allow immigrant voters more opportunities to engage with leaders who reflect their unique experiences. We believe that through civic engagement and leadership, first- and second-generation immigrants can help strengthen the fabric of American democracy.

Visit http://newamericanleaders.org for additional information or call Nina Spensley – Media and Communications, at (917) 864.8400.

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Nina Spensley
Media + Communications
The New American Leaders Project
t: 310.439.9982 | www.newamericanleaders.org

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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