Washington, DC - The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the nation’s premier Latino youth leadership development and educational services organization, and its 2014-15 class of CHCI Graduate Fellows, will continue the 2015 Capitol Hill Policy Briefing Series on Monday, April 13 at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. National leaders and subject matter experts will participate on three diverse panels featuring in-depth discussions addressing some of the most critical economic development issues facing the Latino community today. The Fellows will also present white papers on the topic of each panel.

What: 2015 Capitol Hill Policy Briefing Series

Who: CHCI 2014-15 Graduate Fellows

Where: U.S. Capitol Visitor Center – Meeting Room North # 268

When: April 13, 2015
9:30 – 10:45 am
"Spurring Economic Development in Latino Communities with Housing Policy as
the Catalyst”

11:00 am – 12:15 pm
"The Earned Income Tax Credit Conundrum: The Unintended Exclusion of Latina/o Children”

1:00 – 2:15 pm
"Accessing Government Contracts and Developing the U.S. Economy: Leveling
the Playing Field for Minority-Owned Businesses”

For more information on speakers and panelists, please visit the 2015 Capitol Hill Policy Briefing Series.
For media RSVPs, please send email to Irving Burbano at iburbano@chci.org.

9:30 – 10:45 am
"Spurring Economic Development in Latino Communities with Housing Policy as the Catalyst"
Moderated by CHCI Housing Graduate Fellow Cheye-Ann Corona
According to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro, we are currently in the “Century of Cities”, a time when America is falling in love with the city again. Given the trends, this century will continue to see the ethnic diversification of suburban areas as a result of a lack of affordable housing in urban cores. With the recent wave of gentrification, Latina/o communities that have long existed in urban cores are being displaced. Currently, the federal government seeks to increase its investment in urban centers through the Promise Zone initiative. Yet, our country must reinvest in its economic future in a way that acknowledges demographic shifts and cultural relevancy. Placing affordable housing at the center of the Promise Zone Initiative proves crucial because with access to secure, safe, habitable, and affordable homes, a person’s quality of life and economic situation improves. This briefing will explore the role of the federal government in place-based revitalization initiatives by framing the discussion around current and relevant issues such as the racial wealth gap, revitalization impacts on small businesses, and affordable housing for low-income communities.
Click here to learn more about this briefing

11:00 am – 12:15 pm "The Earned Income Tax Credit Conundrum: The Unintended Exclusion of Latina/o Children"
Moderated by CHCI-PepsiCo Foundation Law Graduate Fellow Israel Nery
2015 Higher Education Graduate Briefing White Paper - Israel Nery
Ambitious national completion goals set by the Obama Administration have prompted dialogue around unmet workforce demands, educational equity, and the role of Latino college completion. Although representing a significant portion of the American mosaic, educational attainment for Latinos remains relatively low, as they continue to face barriers towards college completion. In 2012, it is estimated that 21.3 percent of Latino adults had earned an associate’s degree or higher compared to a 40.1 percent average of adults in the country. To increase college completion among Latinos, federal policy must play a central role by ensuring sustained funding of Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) and advocating for more efficient streamlining of students from community college to four-year institutions. This briefing explores recommendations for re-authorization of the Higher Education Act, which advances the country’s push to once again become the most educated country in the world by addressing concerns of equity among Latino college students across the country.
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12:15 – 1:00 pm Afternoon Intermission

1:00 – 2:15 pm
"Accessing Government Contracts and Developing the U.S. Economy: Leveling the Playing Field for Minority-Owned Businesses"
Moderated by CHCI-Ford Foundation Law Graduate Fellow Ana Pupo
2015 Economic Development Graduate Briefing White Paper - Ana Pupo
Programs to support Minority-Owned Businesses (MBEs) in government contracting have developed as a response to executive and congressional findings of MBE discrimination in the marketplace. Though these programs have evolved over the years to better level the playing field for these businesses, access to support for MBEs lingers as an issue and during the recent economic downturn these inequities have been exacerbated. This briefing brings together experts to discuss ways to improve these programs in areas ranging from competition, contract management, and publicity of programs, to contract bundling in order to reduce the barriers that preclude MBEs from having an equal opportunity at developing our economy.
Click here to learn more about this briefing

About CHCI
CHCI is the premier Hispanic nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) leadership development organization in the country that educates, empowers, and connects Latino youth by providing leadership development programs and educational services. CHCI directly impacts the lives of more than 1,700 students and young professionals each year through its fellowships, congressional internships, scholarships, Ready to Lead (R2L®) college readiness program, and R2L NextGen program. CHCI NextOpp is its latest resource allowing young Latinos to save, search and share life-changing opportunities for Latinos across the United States.

The CHCI Board of Directors is comprised of Hispanic members of Congress, nonprofit, union and corporate leaders. Visit www.chci.org, or join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.