Volume 1, Edition 12 — September 2007

was killed in a mistaken identity shooting by gang members.  Both of these incidents affected him differently, but ultimately taught him his community needed leadership and led him to embark on his journey into public office where he could actively serve his neighborhood.

He began his career promoting immigrant and children’s rights through the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law.  In 1999, he began serving the 7^th council district as a field deputy and in 2001 was appointed Deputy Mayor of the San Fernando Valley .  Felipe managed the Mayor’s Office of the Neighborhood Advocate, Volunteer Corps, Constituent Services, and was the Mayor’s liaison to the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment.  Felipe then went on to serve the 7^th council district as Council President Alex Padilla’s Chief of Staff.  In that post, Felipe was an integral part of the construction and revitalization of the Northeast Valley ’s police and fire stations, libraries, and infrastructure improvements.  He worked diligently to bring more parks and open space to the Valley, including new neighborhood parks and soccer fields.  

Now, as an Assemblymember, Fuentes is expected to continue his long history of service to the residents of the San Fernando Valley .  Being the Assemblymember of a district that has long suffered from groundwater contamination, a high concentration of land fills, and the Los Angeles basins notoriously bad air quality, Fuentes will have his work cut out for him; but it is a challenge, he is more than ready to address. 

Assemblymember Fuentes currently resides in Sylmar with his wife, Lena Wu-Fuentes, owner of a Los Angeles based children’s apparel company.  Lena and Felipe are the proud parents of a one-year-old daughter, Iliana Flor Fuentes. 

California Latino Legislative Caucus Newsletter — September 2007

 Cesar Chavez

of UCLA, Dr. Susan Babey also of UCLA, Lupe Alonzo Diaz, executive director of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California and Diane Aranda, MPA program officer with the California Endowment.

 One of the most compelling statements made at the hearing was that today’s children will be the first generation not expected to outlive their parents due to such problems as diabetes and obesity.   Seeing this as an issue and with the hope of bringing more awareness to the health ills faced by our children, ACR 114 created the task force to remedy these problems.   

It is the goal of the task force to utilize the information presented by the experts at this and future task force meetings to craft better policies to address the needs of our communities.  The task force will take a multiple strategy approach in their analysis of policy considerations for the 2008 Legislative Session and support legislation that makes the greatest difference within communities most affected by this epidemic. 

On Wednesday, August 29, the Latino Caucus hosted a reception honoring Mr. David Sanchez, the first Latino President of the California Teachers Association (CTA) at the California State Capitol in Sacramento .  Among the 100+ attendees of the reception were CTA board members, invited guests and 25 Legislators. 

Coming from a teaching background, with both parents working as long-time educators, it is not surprising that Mr. Sanchez would eventually rise through the ranks and fill the position he holds today.  His mother, Amparo D. Sanchez, is a retired teacher who spent more than three decades teaching in San Luis Obispo County .  His late father, Dr. David J. Sanchez, headed the Department of Ethnic Studies and Multicultural Education at California Polytechnic State University , San Luis Obispo . 

80 Latino“Leaders of the Future” in California in 2006, by La Opinión newspaper.  He has held positions as a kindergarten teacher, a community college instructor, as well as taken on leadership roles within CTA, including secretary-treasurer, vice president, and the post he currently holds as President. 

CTA and its chapters represent nearly 95 percent of the state's public school teachers and other non-supervisory, certificated personnel, which includes a membership totaling more than 340,000.  He is leading California ’s largest teachers union at a time when nearly half of the state’s student population is Latino.

It is for these and many other reasons that the Latino Caucus honored Mr. David Sanchez.  “We believe that a collaborative effort between the CTA and the Latino Caucus will enhance the quality of education  students receive and improve the quality of life they are able to lead,” said LC Chairman Joe Coto. 

Minority and woman owned businesses represent the fastest growing segment of business growth in the United States .  Driven by significant ethnic and racial shifts in the nations' demographics, new private investment opportunities are opening up to these businesses in order to better compete in a marketplace increasingly dominated by the growth in minority purchasing power.

Assemblyman Juan Arambula, in conjunction with the Latino Caucus and the California Hispanic Chambers Association, is sponsoring the Emerging Domestic Market (EDM) Working Group. Comprised of national investment leaders, including members from Yucaipa Corporate Initiatives Fund, the New America Alliance, and Nogales Investors, the working group will focus on concrete actions to remove impediments and increase private sector investment in California 's EDMs. 

EDMs are defined as people, places, or business enterprises with growth potential, that face systemic capital constraints.  The demographics of EDMs serve low-to-moderate-income populations, as well as, other small and medium-sized businesses.

sector investment, many communities and small businesses can become investment ready. 

Assisting communities and small businesses to become EDMs is a very smart strategy for California .  Even relatively "small" investments by large institutional investors represent significant new economic and community development funding for California communities. 

Already, both California Public Employees Retirement System and the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) adopted an EDM investment goal of two percent of their entire portfolio.  CalSTRS investment in California 's underserved and emerging markets was $2.3 billion as of December 31, 2007 , representing a $364 million increase in direct investments in California communities from the previous year.  The public sector working alone, could never possibly outpace the volume or impact of large institutional investors actions. 

The EDM Working Group will convene this fall and have its first report back to the Latino Caucus in January 2008, which will include recommendations for strengthening California 's small businesses and better aligning public resources to leverage private investment capital.

The first, annual policy briefing sponsored by Latino Issues Forum (LIF), in partnership with the California Latino Legislative Caucus will be held on Thursday, October 18, 2007 , from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. , in the Eureka Room.  Attendees will include statewide Latino elected officials and staff, advocates, researchers, representatives, and organizations. This event will provide a forum to present LIF’s research and key issues impacting Latinos in the areas of education, technology and telecommunications, sustainable communities and the environment, and health. 

will be compiled and presented in a report to the California Latino Legislative Caucus in January. 

LIF and the California Latino Legislative Caucus are looking forward to the opportunity to bring stakeholders together and find policy solutions to key issues impacting Latinos in the State.  If you would like information on co-sponsorship opportunities, please do not hesitate to contact Erika Rincón Whitcomb, program coordinator for LIF at (415) 547-9018 or erinconwhitcomb@lif.org.

Latino Issues Forum (LIF) is a non-profit public policy and advocacy institute dedicated to advancing new and innovative public policy solutions for a better, more equitable and prosperous society.  LIF has offices in San Francisco , Fresno and Los Angeles .  For more information or to contact their offices, please visit our website at www.lif.org.

California Latino Legislative Caucus Newsletter — September 2007

            The Latino Caucus is proud to promote the work of the CoMadres Artistas’. The artwork of these five outstanding Chicana female painters is being showcased at the State capitol in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. The group’s name, the CoMadres Artistas, refers to women selected to be godmothers of a family member or friend’s child or children.  It also signifies the strong personal relationship among these women.  The women have known each other many years through their participation in a variety of Chicano art activities in

the Sacramento area. These women stand up for themselves as self-sufficient and strong. 

We encourage you to visit the exhibit -   

Friday, September 14 through Friday, October 13, 2007 , 7:00 am — 6:00 pm at the California State Capitol, Eureka Room

The CoMadres Artistas are - Laura Llano, Mareia de Socorro, Helen Villa, Carmel Castillo, and Simona Hernandez.

 California Latino Legislative Caucus with the support of Comcast put the spotlight on the Juarez Murders to engage the public, legislative leaders, the community and media to take action to end the violence against women. 

The California Latino Legislative Caucus invited international award winning author Alicia Gaspar de Alba to explore the underlying issues surrounding the lack of attention and enforcement into the more than 400 murders of women and young girls in Juarez and Chihuahua . 

Since 1993, more than 400 women and young girls have vanished on their way to work—maquiladoras or sweatshops—and turned up dead a few days later showing signs of sexual violence or rape.  The majority of these horrific acts of violence have gone unsolved.  

To break the silence, author Gaspar de Alba has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the killings through her work— from organizing the international conference in 2003 titled ‘The Maquiladora Murders or, Who Is Killing the Women of Juarez?’ and through her riveting mystery novel Desert Blood:  The Juarez Murder about the ten-year crime wave of murdered and mutilated poor women of Juarez.   

The Latino Caucus and Comcast joined forces to convene and capture the unprecedented discussion on the issues surrounding these unsolved murders.  

"This event affords the State Legislature a first-hand look at the horrific acts of violence against women in Juarez and around the world. By partnering with Comcast, we are able to capture this unprecedented event with Californians to urge them to join us in the fight to end violence against women,” stated Assemblyman Joe Coto.