Sherria Cotton
Dr. José Velázquez
(202) 785-1670

Mar 2, 2009

How the Economic Crisis is Impacting Community-Based Organizations

Washington, DC—The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, is holding a summit for the community-based organizations in its Affiliate Network to address the effect of the economic crisis on the Latino community. The summit will take place on Wednesday, March 4, at NCLR’s headquarters in Washington, DC at 1126 16th St., NW.

Philanthropic donations at the corporate, national, and community level have dropped off significantly due to the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, leaving nonprofits scrambling to do more with fewer resources. When funds are not available for community-based organizations to maintain vital services, it not only diminishes the opportunities for Latino families to succeed, it also takes a disastrous toll on the whole community.

At this summit, which begins at 9:00 a.m., 26 of NCLR’s community-based Affiliates from 16 states will convene with corporate funders and philanthropic foundations—including W.K. Kellogg, Toyota USA Foundation/Toyota Motor North America, Inc., and The Bridgespan Group— in a three-part panel discussion on maintaining vital resources needed in the community despite a weakened economy. Panelists will present an intimate look inside the foundation world from a Latino perspective, discuss the role that community-based organizations play in shaping policy, and offer strategies and tools to help local nonprofits manage during economic hardship.

Media Advisory

WHAT:	“Resourceful and Resolved: Soaring to New Heights in Uncertain Economic Times,” an economic summit for community-based organizations in the NCLR Affiliate Network (not open to the public)
WHEN:	Wednesday, March 4, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
WHO:	26 community-based organizations from 16 states Speakers include: Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR Andrea Bazán, President, Triangle Community Foundation / Chair, NCLR Board of Directors Ramón Murguía, Former Chair, NCLR Board of Directors / W.K. Kellogg Board Member Patricia Salas Pineda, Group Vice President, National Philanthropy and the Toyota USA Foundation / Toyota Motor North America, Inc. Jeri Eckhart Queenan­, Partner (Boston), The Bridgespan Group Eric Rodríguez, Vice President, Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation, NCLR José A. Velázquez, Ph.D., Deputy Vice President, Affiliate Member Services, NCLR Ruben Gonzales, Deputy Vice President, Resource Development, NCLR
WHERE:	NCLR headquarters, 1st Floor Conference Room Raul Yzaguirre Building 1126 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036

*ATTENTION: This summit is NOT open to the public. This document is distributed with the intent of reaching media personnel. Reporters interested in attending may contact Sherria Cotton at scotton@nclr.org.