23rd National Hispanic Women's Conference Oct.9-10 - Latina Power: Call to Action

Phoenix, AZ, September 24, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Latinas Call to Action at the Largest Gathering of Hispanic Women in the Nation.

Latina Power Expo will be open to the public both days.

The Hispanic Women’s Corporation (HWC) is hosting the 23rd National Hispanic Women’s Conference and Expo on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 9-10, at the Phoenix Convention Center. “Latina Power: Call to Action” is this year’s conference theme. The two-day conference is the largest gathering of Latinas in the country and will provide leadership and professional development to more than 2,500 participants while raising funds for college scholarships to benefit Latino students.

The conference kicks off Thursday, Oct. 9, with a Youth Leadership Institute targeting approximately 500 local-area school students. The Latina Power Expo will be open to the public both days – Free of charge. Expect more than 150 exhibitors, including private, government, non-profit and health organizations. Various exhibitors will be accepting resumes and some will offer celebrity autograph sessions.

Attendees will also experience the Hispanic Women’s Corporation and Latino Future Magazine Charity Fashion Show and Reception presented by Macy’s and Saturn, a Division of General Motors, on Thursday, Oct. 9. Lingerie designer and Project Runway favorite, Ricky Lizalde, will be the Fashion Show’s special guest, courtesy of Saturn. In addition, the Fashion Show will showcase current styles and trends from national and international designers as seen in Macy’s stores nationwide.

The Scholarship Benefit Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 10 will honor Rosa Rosales, national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Mrs. Rosales has been an icon for the Hispanic community, dedicating much of her energy to promoting issues on education, civil rights, employment, housing, health, immigration and the rights for the elderly. 2008 Olympic Wrestling Gold Medal champion Henry Cejudo will make a special appearance at the luncheon to present the Latina Leadership award to his mother Nelly Rico, for overcoming obstacles faced as a single mother in her quest to raise seven children.

This year’s speakers and presenters include Maria Marin. She is an author, radio host, a national newspaper columnist and an international motivational speaker; Julie Stav, considered the financial expert for the more than 41 million Hispanics in the U.S., Kathy Cano-Murillo, known as Crafty Chica, is a nationally syndicated craft columnist and has become a leading force in America’s craft industry.

Also, CNN correspondent based in Los Angeles, Thelma Gutierrez, will join this year’s ensemble of special guests. Gutierrez has traveled to Kuwait and Mexico on assignment; and has reported on numerous issues including human trafficking, immigration and on the trials and tribulations facing those currently serving in the U.S. armed forces.

Key sponsors for the conference include:

Diamond Sponsors – Saturn a Division of General Motors, SRP, State Farm Insurance and Wells Fargo.
Platinum Sponsors - 12 News, azcentral.com, La Voz, The Arizona Republic, Latino Future Magazine and Prensa Hispana.
Gold Sponsors - APS, Ford Motor Company, Qwest Communications, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Silver Sponsors – Allstate Insurance, American Family Insurance, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Macy’s, Univision and Telefutura Arizona.

The Hispanic Women’s Corporation was founded in 1981 and is a model organization, recognized as a 501 © (3) non-profit corporation known for being a proactive leader in the development of Hispanic women. HWC empowers women through its commitment to the culture by promoting higher education, community involvement, professional advancement and leadership development for the improvement of Latinas’ cultural quality of life. For more information on the conference, to register or to purchase tickets to the fashion show, visit hispanicwomen.org or call 602-954-7995.

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