On Friday and Saturday, March 5-6, the Partners in Hispanic Education, consisting of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, the U.S. Department of Education and some of the nation's leading Hispanic organizations, corporate leaders and national private entities, will convene to host the fourth of seven nationwide education outreach events for Hispanic American families.

The two-day Feria Educativa will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Friday in the Student Union on the campus of the University of Arizona in Tucson. The program will consist of presentations, plenary sessions and panel discussions on ideas aimed at closing the academic achievement gap and improving college access for Hispanic Americans, our nation's largest minority group. Arizona Superintendent of Education Tom Horne will speak at the conference on Friday at 10:30 a.m. and U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe (Ariz.) will deliver a keynote address at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 6 in the Stevie Eller Dance Theater.

"Our country possesses a wealth of talent and it resides in the minds and hearts of children and youth in communities all across this great nation. Tucson and countless other communities across America are no exception," said Adam Chavarria, executive director of the White House Initiative. "The Partners in Hispanic Education are working together to engage a range of stakeholders throughout the state of Arizona to support a strong investment in educational reform and the prosperity it promises for a new generation of Hispanic children. We all must work together to make the promise of No Child Left Behind – a quality education for all children, regardless of race, language or economic background – a reality."

The event, organized by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USHCC Foundation), will also feature several resources available from local schools, institutions, community-based organizations and businesses that serve the Tucson community, along with programs from national organizations and the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the USHCC Foundation's Youth Entrepreneurship BizFest, an intensive training session for future business leaders.

"The Feria Educativa is an opportunity to connect with young Latinos in order to empower them with fundamental attributes, educational tools and mentors that will help them focus on what they need to do to be successful in school as well as in life. As business and community leaders, we have the responsibility to collaborate with all stakeholders within our community to leverage our resources in a way that will directly benefit our Latino youth, the future leaders of our community and this country. Nothing short of this high level of commitment and unified effort in support of our youth can suffice," stated Frank Lopez, President of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the national lead partner for the Tucson event.

Partnership participants have committed to hosting a total of seven programs over the next several months. Each will involve a series of events including town hall meetings, a seminar on student financial aid and scholarships, and educational workshops for parents, students, educators and business and community leaders. Additional future pilot cities include Albuquerque, N.M.; El Paso, Texas/Las Cruces, N.M.; and Detroit.

The Partners in Hispanic Education members include the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans; U.S. Department of Education; National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP); United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USHCC Foundation); MANA, A National Latina Organization; Girl Scouts of the USA; Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU); State Farm; United States Army; National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP); Hispanic College Fund (HCF); Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options (CREO); National Society of Hispanic MBA's (NSHMBA); Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA); Cuban American National Council (CNC); El Valor; and the College for Texans Campaign, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Media interested in attending should contact Julieta Gonzalez at the University of Arizona, 520-626-4336, or on the day of the event, David Almacy with the White House Initiative, 202-549-7094 cell. For general event information, please contact Jaime Gutierrez at the University of Arizona, 520-621-3316.

To learn more about No Child Left Behind, visit the U.S. Department of Education Web site at www.ed.gov and the Web site for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans at www.yesican.gov and www.yosipuedo.gov.

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