President Obama may have left the city yesterday, but the White House line-up isn't over just yet.
On Saturday, Denver will host a Hispanic Community Action Summit at the Center for the Performing Arts that will feature administration officials appointed by the president. Expected speakers include Juan Sepulveda, director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios, Director of the Office of Public Engagement and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Teresa Nino, Senior Policy Advisor Felicia Escobar, Deputy Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics Jose Rico and others.
At the New York City summit, Rico explained to the Manhattan Times why the gatherings carry importance for the local community:
There will be plenty of time for politics and campaigning, but we've spent the last two and half years passing legislation, and we have not spent time going into communities telling them about what's going on. Now we need to let people know how the legislation will benefit them. That's what government should be doing.
The day before the summit, senior officials will also be joining local administrators for a tour of West High School on Friday, Oct. 28 "To discuss the potential impacts of the American Jobs Act on Denver's public schools and the area's Hispanic community," according to a press release.
The summit follows the president's two-day Denver visit while on his Western tour earlier this week during which he attended two fundraisers and a delivered speech for the city's collegiate community with a plan to help salve the burden of students burnt-out on loans.
Other White House-hosted Hispanic community summits will take place in Las Cruces and Albuquerque, N.M., and Inland Empire, Calif. Three summits have already taken place in Orlando, New York City, and Las Vegas. The conference is free, but members of the public who wish to attend must register.
During the summit, administration officials will connect with leaders and members of the Hispanic community to discuss topics like education, illegal immigration, housing, and health care over a continental breakfast, coffee break and lunch.
There are three listed goals for the summits, along with stimulating community activism:
1. Have community leaders interact with key decision and policy makers in the Obama Administration from a diverse array of policy areas;
2. Share concerns, constructive criticism, feedback and success stories with the Administration;
3. Find ways to collaborate with the Administration and other leaders from across the country in addressing the needs of the Hispanic community.
The forum will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday Oct. 29 at the Studio Loft at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 908 14th Street, Denver.