The United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) today announced the panelists for a forum on "Using the Power of Education and Community Engagement", which will be presented at 2:30-4pm on Friday, February 15 during its 31st National Conference in Chicago.  Panelists will include Lenora Green, Dr. Lorena Gonzalez, Dr. Angelica Ramsey, and Randy Parraz.

Dr. Lorena Gonzalez, founder of Urban Strategies, provides training and technical assistance that teaches practitioners, educators, policymakers, and community leaders how to build successful programs that drive positive change.  She develops effective community engagement strategies, and is instrumental in creating partnerships that strengthen the power of underserved communities.

Dr. Angelica Ramsey is the Chief Academic Officer at the Santa Clara County (CA) Office of Education.  As Chief Academic Officer, she leads the COE's Educational Services Branch. The branch supports the county's public school districts through professional development, curriculum and instruction development, assessment and accountability, and district and school improvement services.

Randy Parraz, Executive Director of Citizens for a Better Arizona, organized citizens, noncitizens, students, Democrats, Republicans, and Independents into a coalition to force the successful re-call election of State Senate President Russell Pearce, the main sponsor of SB 1070.  Just as SB 1070 has served as a blueprint for copycat anti-immigrant legislation in other states, Randy's coalition strategy now serves as a blueprint for effective grassroots organizing against anti-immigrant and anti-education forces.    

In making the announcement, USHLI President Dr. Juan Andrade said "We are fortunate to have a well-trained, well-educated, and experienced group of panelists for this forum that will drill deep into the heart of the most important issue in the Latino community today - education and community engagement, which we believe are two sides of the same coin."