I am off to Chicago today for the annual NCLR- National Council of La Raza conference. NCLR is the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights organization (www.nclr.org) and I've been involved with them for several years, initially as a nonprofit that needed their guidance when we started that nonprofit (El Pueblo: www.elpueblo.org), then as an affilated nonprofit when El Pueblo officially became part of NCLR's network of several hundred nonprofits around the US, and then as a board member. I still remember the day Raul Yzaguirre, who served as President of NCLR for many years, called me to serve as a board member. I was humbled, honored, amazed... I have learned so much as a board member, and taken this role seriously. I eventually became Chair of the Board- and are now stepping down from that role. This conference, which is taking place in Chicago- will be critical. Thousands attend the annual meeting that NCLR organizes, and it's a great chance for me/for us, as Latinos and those who are involved with the Latino community, to learn, share, discuss, network, and do so much more. It is one of those gathering where every minute counts- there are no breaks!
As an NCLR leader, I have certainly, personally, taken my hits. There are some who feel the organization is on the wrong track- or who feel threatened by the advocacy agenda that NCLR pushes to advance opportunities for HIspanic Americans. Conference is always an opportunities for the corporate, philanthropic, nonprofit, sector to come together- and go beyond this- but also tackle the criticism head-on.
Stay tuned about what happens in the next few days.
Si se Puede..
