Contact: RaeAnn Pickett
SKDKnickerbocker for the Aspen Institute
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Business and thought leaders discuss the importance of participation and collaboration to ensure America’s continued success
Washington, D.C. –– May 12, 2015 –– The Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program wrapped-up its inaugural summit, America’s Future: Conversations on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Inclusion, and Leadership today. The two-day event discussed how Latinos are driving the new economy through creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and inclusion efforts. From May 11-12, America’s Future featured national voices, Latino leaders and Aspen Institute Fellows joining forces to advance issues and policies of importance to Latinos and the country as a whole.
Key speakers included Donald Graham, Chairman and CEO of Graham Holdings Company; Cecilia Muñoz, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council; Julian Castro, US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Kevin de Leon, California Senate President pro tempore; Dr. Diana Natalicio, President of University of El Paso Texas; Dr. John Deasy, Superintendent in Residence of The Broad Academy, Karl Dean, Mayor of Nashville and Walter Isaacson, Aspen Institute President and CEO, among others. Discussions highlighted the importance of inclusive and transformative leadership as a way to address the challenges facing communities across the country.
“The Latino population of the United States is projected to reach 26 percent by 2050. With such a significant and comparatively young population, Latinos literally represent America’s future. Policies that help ensure Latinos have opportunities to succeed are an investment in the future success of our country,” said Monica Lozano, chair of the Latinos and Society Program. “I am excited to be chairing this program at the Aspen Institute and believe that by focusing a lens on and by empowering Latinos, we will strengthen the United States.”
“America’s future competitiveness is increasingly contingent on the success of the Latino population,” said Abigail Golden-Vázquez, Executive Director of the Latinos and Society Program. “It is crucial that we work across boundaries and bring together influencers from Latino and non-Latino communities to develop Latino leadership capacity and ensure we have a seat and a voice at decision-making tables.”
“I applaud the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program for bringing a new and strong voice for diversity and inclusion,” said Laysha Ward, Target’s Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer. “At Target, we have seen firsthand how diversity and inclusion strengthen an organization and improve performance. By committing to develop a pipeline of Latino leaders in its own programs and leadership, the Aspen Institute is walking the walk. Target is proud to support this effort.”
The Latinos and Society Inaugural Summit: America’s Future was made possible thanks to title sponsorship from Target with additional support from Toyota North America and Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo.
The Latinos and Society Program was made possible thanks to a founding gift by the Ricardo Salinas Foundation, as well as additional support from the Woody and Gayle Hunt Family Foundation, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation and the Blum Family Foundation. You can find out more about the Latinos and Society Program at http://www.aspeninstitute.org/policy-work/latinos-society.
The Latinos and Society Program is a policy program of the Aspen Institute committed to increasing the understanding of, and improving outcomes for, the growing US Latino population and therefore, the United States. The Latinos and Society Program will convene meaningful dialogues among cross sections of society with the goal of influencing more informed decision making, contributing to public awareness of Latino issues as America’s issues, infusing the work of the Aspen Institute with Latino voices, faces and ideas and developing Latino leadership capacity and networks. You can stay updated on the Latinos and Society Program with #AspenLatinos on Twitter @AspenInstitute and Facebook.com/AspenInstitute.
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