Contact: Catherine Easby-Smith
(202) 833-0060
manacatherine@aol.com

Washington, D.C., June 18, 2004 – On Monday, June 7, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) held its Executive Board elections. NHLA’s leadership is instrumental in ensuring that the Latino voice is heard and in affecting policy in Washington on behalf of Latinos across the country.

The Board of Directors elected Ronald Blackburn-Moreno, President and CEO of ASPIRA as the new Chair of NHLA. Alma Morales Riojas, President and CEO of MANA, A National Latina Organization (MANA), has been elected Vice Chair. Gilbert Moreno, President and CEO of the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans will serve as Secretary/Treasurer. Executive Board Members-at-Large are Alfonso Martinez, President and CEO of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) and Dr. Nilsa Olivero, National President of the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc.
“It is an honor to serve as Vice Chair of NHLA,” stated Alma Morales Riojas. “As the largest minority population in the US, it is important that the Hispanic voice to be heard by policy-makers and that our issues are included. As a non-partisan coalition that represents thousands of Latinos across the country, NHLA has the responsibility and the obligation to work to ensure that legislation positively affects our community. I look forward to moving Latina issues to the forefront of our conversations and actions.”
NHLA was founded in 1991 as a non-partisan coalition of national Hispanic organizations and distinguished Hispanic leaders from across the nation. It is governed by a 37-member board of directors comprised of the chief officers of 31 national Hispanic organizations, along with elected officials, corporate executives, and other prominent professionals. NHLA’s goals are:
(1) to identify, analyze and shape public policies on Latino issues, based upon a consensus of Latino leaders nationally;
(2) to prepare and disseminate a consensus-based policy agenda that specifies the nature and scope of Latino concerns and needs throughout the country; and
(3) to promote greater awareness of and attention to Latino concerns among the nation's policy-makers and civic community leaders and the general public.

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MANA, A National Latina Organization, is a nonprofit, advocacy organization headquartered in the nation's capital, Washington, D. C. With chapters across the country, it is the oldest National Latina membership organization in the United States. MANA, whose mission is to empower Latinas through leadership development, community service, and advocacy, envisions a national community of informed Latina activists working to improve the quality of life for all Hispanics.

MANA also has the only national young Latina's mentoring program for girls 11 to 17, "HERMANITAS®" which brings over 200 girls to Washington DC to a summer institute that includes a briefing at the White House and a visit to the girls' Congressional representatives.