NEWS RELEASE

Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2006

Contact: Marisa Ramirez
713.743.8152 (office)
713.204.9798 (cell)
mrcannon@uh.edu
LEADERSHIP SUMMIT AT UH FOR LATINO IMMIGRANT STUDENTS

The University of Houston’s Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS), together with student group Jovenes Imigrantes Por Un Futuro Mejor (Young Immigrants for a Better Future), will hold a leadership training summit for Latino immigrant high school and college students and their supporters this weekend with the goal of planning a youth march.

The leadership summit will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at the Agnes Arnold Hall Auditorium on campus.

“Our purpose is to shore up the leadership and organizational skills of immigrant students and their supporters in light of the current debate over immigration reform,” Lorenzo Cano, associate director of CMAS said. “The result will be a massive student march, planned for a future date, which will include high school and college students.”

Cano will facilitate a workshop to discuss the establishment of an area wide student alliance in support of student immigrants. In addition, attorney and high school teacher Andre Rodriguez will discuss “Knowing Your Rights as a Student,” and UH student Julita Rincon will lead a discussion on the Dream Act, which provides an avenue for immigrant students to be given permanent residency status. The dance group Azteca Danzante Group will perform.

WHAT: Latino Immigrant Student Summit
WHEN: Noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, May 20
WHERE: Agnes Arnold Hall Auditorium
Entrance 14 off of Cullen Blvd.
For directions and parking information please visit www.uh.edu/campus_map/buildings/AUD1.html
WHO: Center for Mexican American Studies
Jovenes Imigrantes Por Un Futuro Mejor (Young Immigrants for a Better Future)

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.