The theme of our session was "What Can the DNC do to Better Reach Out to Hispanic Voters?"

The very wording of the question came under fire at first, when Mario Champion, of Latinos for Texas expressed that in his campaign experience, it is a misnomer to call some of this activity "outreach." It really shouldn't be that a candidate or campaign should have to reach out to certain constituencies, but that members of that group should rise up as leaders and self-organize.

We also heard from Zulema Farber, who works in various capacities in New Jersey and has a lot of political experience. She countered an earlier opinion aired by another participant by saying that Latinos are much stronger as a political group when we can present a single front. The other participant had posed the question of whether we would be able to attract more Latinos by fine-tuning our message and acknowledging the differences between those of Central American, Mexican, Caribbean and other heritages.

This question was further resolved by comments from Carlos Soles, a principal of Puente Latino, who offered useful information about a successful campaign he had been involved with in the past, where he not only spoke Spanish with the audiences he was addressing, but in additino, spoke Chilango, Chapin, Guanaco (the varieties of Spanish, using expressions and idioms of the peoples of Mexico, Guatemala and other countries.)

DNC staff faithfully took notes and copied them onto easel-boards, so that participants could draw from prior comments and build on their input.

--Jerome Wiley Segovia

He suggested that the problem really is one of supply and demand. The day that there is no longer a demand for additional labor will be the day that two immigrants will look at each other, shrugh their shoulders and say "why did we come here, there's nothing here for us!" In the meantime, he offered that the Minutemen would be more effective by casing construction areas, and housing developments, and arrest the foreman and the business owner, for violating US law and for aiding and abetting this criminal activity of hiring undocumented workers.

He also expressed outrage at the actions of "creative policemen" in certain jurisdictions. When not explicitly authorized to request documentation demonstrating legal presence, these creative policemen decide to use frequently minor infractions of traffic and administrative law to pursue those they perceive as undocumented immigrants. Congressman Gonzalez suggested that these same policemen should help the Minutemen in arresting construction site owners and housewives who hire undocumented nannies, rather than endanger our communities with their reckless vigilante methods.

He was able to then elegantly tie this in to a later session (taking place as I write this) regarding judicial nominations and their importance to the hispanic community. Specifically, if the Voting Rights Act of 1965 had not been passed, Gonzalez suggests we would not have seen an increase to over 6,000 Latino elected officials. The way the reauthorization of this act is carried out in the following weeks and months will determine whether or not the new Bush Supreme Court judges will be able to find legal weaknesses.

--Jerome Wiley Segovia

The breakout workshops were a great idea, because it gives the party the opportunity, if it is able to do so, to really study comments and input generated for possible solutions and follow-up in the following cycles. One component that did not seem clear was whether there was a Task Group or Office, or perhaps and individual, that would eventually go through and process all of this information.

Networking is a third and critical part of the summit, which attendees made liberal use of before, during and after other sessions. This enabled "power-brokers" to meet some of the newer, up-and-coming leaders, it enabled those working for similar campaigns or projects in disparate geographic areas to learn about each other, and it allows groups such as National Lawyers Council and Latinos for America to do some recruiting.

--Jerome Wiley Segovia

Also heard from Adolfo Carrion, Bronx Borough President, who gave a very articulate speech outlining some of the successes that they've seen in their borough. Specifically, he stressed that we need to get away from the "AyBendito!" philosophy and pursue a focus on those actions which will most efficiently help our people. In the case of his borough, they tackled a soaring unemployment rate, which had stood at 12.5%, and by last week had been reduced to 6%, a truly remarkable achievement.

A single job can really affect a community in so many indirect ways. I remember my first job during college in the midwest (Indiana!), where I was a video club clerk. The happiness of opening that first paycheck and the pride that you had earned that money...

The Governor also praised Alvaro Cifuentes' work with the DNC Hispanic Caucus, mentioning that this would probably be the first and not third Summit were it not for Alvaro's tireless work. Looking around at the hundreds of participants, check-in volunteers, numerous workshop rooms, press briefing facility, and lineup of speakers, I have to agree that putting this event together must have been an incredibly complex project.

The Governor again touched on the 50 state strategy, and begin to outline some of the important ideas that differentiate us from the Republican party: why Education is so important, and shoring up our public schools. Public schools is the channel by which people begin their climb towards achievement in this country.

The difference today is that you can really gain a sense that there is a coalescing unity among the participants. This is a critical time when one party is dominating all branches of government, and it is the party least friendly to the hispanic community here in America. As Governor Dean goes on to point out, in the 40 years since the passage of the Voting Rights Act, there are now 81 members of Congress that are minorities. Of these 81 minority members of Congress, 4 are Republican.

This Summit is being carried out at a critical juncture, when the President will be nominating at least one (if not more) new Supreme Court justices, changes are looming on the horizon with respect to immigration, changes that could negatively impact the quality of life of millions of hispanics living and working in this country, many of the parents of very young US citizens. I am looking forward to hearing more concrete ideas about where we are going as a party, and how we are going to be able to strengthen the party and improve our communities.

NEXT: some ideas that have yielded incredible results in New York, presented by Adolfo Carrion.

We had both arrived from different corners of the country for the Hispanic Leadership Summit, and after similar episodes of airline craziness had arrived in this great Texas city within five minutes of each other, at about 5 a.m. The obvious question was, after 12 hours plus of traveling, where were we going to find the energy to keep us going into and through the Summit? The answer was easy. This is why we support the Democratic party, why we travel long distances to help in primaries, ... at some level, it's why we exist.

Its uplifting to see so many members and leaders of the hispanic democratic world gathered in one place. We've just heard some great remarks from Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (CA-38), and also some remarks from DNC Vice Chair Linda Chavez-Thompson.

As I look around the room, at the hundreds of faces, my first question is "who are these people?" I recognized a few of those present, most of the organizers are familiar to me, but the majority of those in the room represent the current and potential leadership of tomorrow, and they are hear to listen to new ideas, learn from each other, and most importantly, to provide invaluable input on how to work from within the hispanic community to help them organize and reach their political goals.

I wish I could interview each one of them, find out where they were from, what was that special magic moment or event that got them interested in participating in politics and the Democratic party.

--Jerome Wiley Segovia

Editor's Note: It took Jerome over 12 hours to get from Washington to San Antonio. I just want to publicly append our thanks for taking the time - in the face of what he went through last night - to get there and blog this summit.

Governor Dean made some remarks, energizing the crowd by focusing his message on a few key issues. Making sure that the Democrats fight in races in all 50 states, building a strong and well organized grassroots movement in every state and county. More importantly, he emphasized working with Latinos to help lead the party in reaching out to one of its most important constituencies in many areas of the country. In addition, it will be important to recruit Latinos to run for office to lead the party in the right direction, the Democratic direction.

Later in the evening, at La Villita assembly hall, Congressman Charlie Gonzalez from San Antonio and hundreds of local people were present to participate in the coming together of so many hispanic Democrats.

Governor Dean again spoke about democratic values, to stand for justice and equal rights for every men woman and child. He spoke about health care access and increasing access to health insurance. He also emphasized the importance of each individual's participation and set the stage for what will surely be a substantive gathering and meetings tomorrow, during the main day of the Summit.

--Carlos Soles

Location: Los Rios Foyer

6:00 - 7:00 p.m. DNC Hispanic Caucus Meeting (Members Only)

Location: Director's Room

Saturday, August 6

7:30 - 9:00 a.m. Registration

Location: Los Rios Foyer

8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Breakfast

Location: Regency Ballroom West

8:45 - 9:00 a.m. Welcome *

Charles Soechting, State Party Chair

Invocation: TBA

Pledge of Allegiance: State Representative Carlos I. Uresti

Location: Regency Ballroom West

9:00 a.m. Introducing Guest Speaker *

Congressman Mike Honda, DNC Vice Chair

Location: Regency Ballroom West

9:00 - 9:15 a.m. Guest Speaker & Topic *

Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano, Chair, Congressional Hispanic Caucus

Location: Regency Ballroom West

9:15 a.m. Introducing Gov. Howard Dean *

Alvaro C. Cifuentes, DNC Hispanic Caucus Chair

Location: Regency Ballroom West

9:15 - 10:15 a.m. Opening Remarks *

Governor Howard Dean, DNC Chairman

Location: Regency Ballroom West

10:15 - 11:00 a.m. Poll Presentation

Cornell Belcher, Brilliant Corners, DNC Pollster

Location: Regency Ballroom West

Note: CLOSED SESSION TO PRESS

Times and rooms are subject to change.

11:00 - 11:15 a.m. Break

11:15 a.m. Introducing Panelists *
Senator Kenneth McClintock, Puerto Rico
Location: Regency Ballroom West

11:15 a. m.- 12:15 p.m. Plenary Panel Session *

Economic Growth

Adolfo Carrion, President, Bronx Borough

Education

State Representative Pete Gallegos

Congressman Henry Cuellar, 28th Congressional District, TX

Healthcare

Congresswoman Hilda Solis, 32nd Congressional District, CA

State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer, District 116

Voting Rights/Judicial Appointments

Congressman Charles Gonzalez, 20th Congressional District, TX
Location: Regency Ballroom West

12:15 - 12:25 p.m. Announcements

12:30 p.m. Lunch

Location: Regency Ballroom Center

1:10 p.m. Introducing Keynote Speaker *
Linda Chavez-Thompson, DNC Vice Chair
Location: Regency Ballroom Center

1:15 - 2:00 p.m. Keynote Speaker *

Location: Regency Ballroom Center

2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Working groups Session *

Group 1: Regency Ballroom East 1/3

Group 2: Regency Ballroom East 1/3

Group 3: Regency Ballroom East 1/3

Group 4: Llano

Group 5: Pecos

Group 6: Directors

2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Working groups Session (continued) *

Group 7: Rio Grande West

Group 8: Rio Grande Center

Group 9: Rio Grande East

Group 10: TBA

Group 11: TBA

3:45 - 4:30 p.m. End Remarks/Wrap-up *

Tom McMahon, DNC Executive Director

Moses Mercado, Deputy Executive Director, Intergovernmental Affairs

Albert Morales, Deputy Director, America New Majority

Location: Regency Ballroom West

Sunday, August 7

9:00 a.m. - Noon Grassroots Training

Jason Leon, Deputy Political Director, DNC

Parag Mehta, Director of Training, DNC

Anna Martinez, Executive Director, National Lawyer's Council, DNC

Luis Miranda, Director, Regional & Specialty Media

Sabine Romero, Sandler, Reiff & Young PC

Location: Rio Grande East