For Immediate Release: Contact: Martin Acevedo (202) 721-8290 ext. 12
New President at Helm of National Leadership Organization
National Community For Latino Leadership Makes Strategic Decisions For The New Millennium, Appointing National Latino Leader Alfred Ramirez

(WASHINGTON, D.C. - OCTOBER 21, 1999) The National Community for Latino Leadership, Inc. (NCLL), a premier think tank and clearinghouse for Latino leadership, announced the appointment of their new president, Alfred Ramirez. NCLL Board Chair, former Executive Director of Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, and recently appointed CEO of the Democratic National Convention, Lydia Camarillo, offered this statement, "We are extremely fortunate to have Alfred Ramirez join our efforts to develop and support Latino leaders who are committed to ethical, responsible and accountable actions on behalf of Latinos for all Americans. We are confident that his expertise and experience will help position NCLL as a valuable resource for applied research, community networking and public policy."

Luis Alvarez, NCLL co-founder and President of the National Urban Fellows, Inc. concurred, "Alfred's appointment was part of NCLL's strategic plan to move our national headquarters from Phoenix, Arizona to Washington, D.C., to foster a national dialogue on the leadership concerns of the Latino community. I am certain that Alfred's outstanding track record at The White House, the Department of Education, and non-profit organizations will enable him to effectively lead NCLL."

When reached for comment, Ramirez was enthusiastic, "The U.S. Latino community is larger, younger and economically more powerful than ever. Yet we must continue to prepare leaders who can address the complex issues and challenges that we will encounter in the next millennium. NCLL is breaking new ground with innovative and comprehensive efforts to document the values, visions and voices of emerging and established Latino/a leaders from across the country. As NCLL president, I will share our results to emphasize leadership development as a necessary component to strengthen our communities and institutions."

NCLL was established in 1989, its past activities have included regional leadership summits in Arizona and New York, the publication of a national directory of Latino leadership programs, and training and development workshops. NCLL efforts are made possible through support from the W.K. Kellogg and Ford Foundations.

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