Hispanic issues target of summit

Thursday, Oct. 21, 1999 | 10:37 a.m.

Hispanic Leadership Summit

Friday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

Community College of Southern Nevada, 3200 Cheyenne Ave.

$100 for materials and meals.

474-0041.

Hispanic community leaders from across the region are preparing to meet at a two-day leadership summit Friday and Saturday.

It will be the third year for the statewide summit, and as in previous years organizers promise that some of the most contentious and important issues facing the Hispanic community will be discussed.

Topics for presentations and workshops include the scarcity of economic opportunities for young Hispanics, youth gang activity, the high dropout rate for Hispanic teenagers, bilingual education, immigration and other issues.

The focus of the summit is on education, debate and dialogue, said Elaine Hernandez, a summit organizer and a board member of Hispanics in Politics.

"We're trying to educate other Hispanics about political issues, social issues, economic issues," she said.

Hernandez said the summit will be an opportunity for people to learn more about the issues, but it will also be a chance for policy-makers to meet the future leaders of the Hispanic community.

Those scheduled to attend the summit Friday or Saturday include Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., Sens. Harry Reid and Richard Bryan, both D-Nev., California Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Clark County Commissioner Dario Herrera, state Sen. Jon Porter, R-Boulder City, and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca.

Jose Melendrez, summit coordinator and regional representative for Reid, said the summit is open to all -- Hispanic or not, liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat.

Some of the issues are likely to spark contentious debate, he said, but the idea is to get the thoughts and opinions from all sides out in the open.

Summit organizers will pull together the varying points of view for a report on the issues discussed at the event, Melendrez said. The report on the 1998 summit will be presented to those who attend this year's event, he said.

Hernandez said culture in the Hispanic community will also be spotlighted.

"Not only are we educating the Hispanic community politically, we are also celebrating our culture," she said.

A reception at 5:30 p.m. Friday will feature Simon Silva, a Hispanic artist and poet, who will give a poetry reading and take questions from the audience.