October 21, 2008

McCain and Obama education platforms and HACU seven-point solutions presented to 400 Latino students and academic community

HACU recently partnered with The Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network (HITN) on a Town Hall meeting calling attention to an impending crisis that soon will impact the nation’s ability to compete in a global economy – the academic achievement of Latinos. The forum, “Hispanic Higher Education,” aired live to 33 million viewers nationwide from HACU’s 22nd Annual Conference and can be viewed online at the HITN website. 

“Obviously, in these difficult times of further financial constraints on families across the country, the challenges to Hispanic students are only increasing,” HACU President and CEO Antonio Flores told attendees and HITN TV viewers.  “Therefore, we have to step up to the plate and make sure our government and society invests what is necessary to open the doors of opportunity for our youth.”

"Latino youth are tomorrow’s corporate executives, high-tech engineers, and presidential candidates," said José Luis Rodríguez, President, CEO and Founder of HITN TV.  "We are excited about the opportunity to partner with HACU to bring the issue of Latinos in higher education to the forefront of the discourse between the American public and the presidential candidates

The special presentation of Destination Casa Blanca 2008, “Hispanic Higher Education” was hosted by noted journalist and Latin American researcher, Marcia Rivera. Panelists participating in the forum included. Dr. Antonio Flores, HACU President & CEO; Dr. Milton Gordon, President, California State University, Fullerton (CA) and newly-elected chair of the HACU Governing Board; Arturo Jimenez, Denver Public Schools Board member and representative of the Obama-Biden campaign; and Michael L. Barrera, President and CEO of the National Hispanic Business Information Clearinghouse and former President of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, representing the national Hispanic Advisory Board for the Republican National Committee. 

The HACU conference annually attracts more than 1,400 distinguished academic, corporate, federal, public policy and community leaders, along with top corporate and federal employers and college and university students.