Plenary
Friday, August 8, 2025
9:00 - 9:50 am
OPENING SESSION - Being Latino in 2025: Voices from a Changing America
This session is meant to spark the kind of honest, grounded reflections that will frame our upcoming plenary conversations—not with pundits or polished talking points, but with the voices of everyday Latinos. Immigrant parents, students, workers, and community advocates will speak to the realities they face: rising attacks on their rights, deep disparities in health, education, tech access, and economic opportunity. This is where the conversation begins—raw, real, and rooted in the truth of lived experience.
Undergraduate Student, Trinity University (San Antonio)
Undergraduate Student, UC Berkeley
Civil Engineer, STEM Advocate, DACA Recipient
Veteran Law Enforcement Officer, Oxnard Police Department
Mother of Angelina Resendiz
Room: 104
10:00 - 10:45 am
EDUCATION - Roadblocks to Opportunity: The Impact of Recent Policy Shifts on Public Education
This session will examine the escalating threats to public education, focusing on recent federal budget cuts to key programs like Head Start, proposals to dismantle the Department of Education, and the expansion of charter schools and school voucher initiatives. Panelists—experts in education policy and advocacy—will also discuss the impact of immigration enforcement actions, such as ICE raids on schools, on immigrant children and their communities. The conversation will highlight how these developments disproportionately affect Latino, immigrant, and low-income students, and explore strategies for communities to respond and advocate for equitable education.
Speakers:
Secretary-Treasurer, National Education Association
Chief Executive Officer, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Room: 104
11:00 - 11:45 am
JUDICIAL ADVOCACY - Under Attack: The Role of Courts in Preserving Rights
This session will focus on how the courts can play a pivotal role in restoring and protecting the rights of immigrants, Latinos, and marginalized communities, particularly in light of recent changes at both the federal and state levels. With policies that threaten to undermine civil rights, from immigration enforcement actions to restrictive state laws, judicial advocacy has become essential in challenging discriminatory practices and ensuring equal protection under the law. Panelists will discuss key legal battles, the role of the judiciary in defending Latino rights, and how courts can act as a safeguard against erosion of these rights. This conversation will highlight the importance of judicial action in upholding justice and equity for all communities.
Speakers:
Attorney, Immigrant Rights Advocate, and Chief Development Officer
Attorney General, State of New Mexico
President and General Counsel, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
Co-founder and Board Member, State Democracy Defenders Action
Room: 104
2:00 - 2:45 pm
HEALTH - Hard Truths, Real Solutions: Chronic Disease and the Latino Experience
Chronic diseases are often diseases of the powerless. In Latino communities, conditions like diabetes, obesity, and asthma reveal deep systemic failures—limited access to care, food insecurity, environmental injustice, low health literacy, and a long history of exclusion. This session brings together a panel of healthcare leaders to examine where we are, how we got here, and what it will take to turn the tide. From clinical care to community-based interventions and research-backed strategies, speakers will share what’s working and why. Attendees will leave with a clearer picture of the root causes of health disparities—and practical tools to help close the gap.
Speakers:
Chief Executive Officer, American Diabetes Association
Director, Division of Clinical and Health Services Research
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
National Institutes of Health
National Director of Research and Policy, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Room: 104
3:00 - 3:45 pm
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - The Latino Surge: Redefining and Reshaping Politics
This session examines the transformative impact of Latino civic engagement on American democracy. As the Latino population continues to grow in economic and electoral influence, this timely session brings together leaders from organizations at the forefront of Latino political participation. The discussion will highlight successful voter mobilization efforts, analyze legal and structural barriers to participation, and outline actionable strategies for increasing Latino representation and influence in civic spaces. Whether you're an advocate, policymaker, organizer, or ally, this session offers a unique opportunity to learn from the people and organizations leading the charge to protect democracy, ensure accurate and inclusive representation, and unlock the full potential of Latino civic leadership.
Speakers:
President and CEO, Mi Familia Vota
Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO)
Director of Voting Advocacy and Partnerships, Campaign Legal Center
President & CEO,
Common Cause
Room: 104
4:00 to 4:50 pm
COMMUNITY FORUM - Now What? What Comes Next.
As the final session of the Convention, this Community Forum brings together the themes and insights from the past two days—covering healthcare access, economic opportunity, civic engagement, and more. In this moderated discussion, participants will reflect on the key challenges facing our communities while also identifying clear, actionable steps to move forward. This session is designed to center community voices, elevate shared experiences, and close the Convention on an empowered and optimistic note—grounded in purpose and ready for action.
Facilitator:
President and CEO, TheDream.US
Room: 104
