PODER’s Hispanic Heritage Month Breakfast & Summit

We're excited to present a pivotal conversation that aims to shape the future landscape of Latino leadership in Oregon.

Date: September 13th, 2024

Community Resource Fair at 8:00am-9:00am

Breakfast at 9:00am-9:30am

HHMB at 9:30am-11:30am

Lunch at 12:00pm

Summit at 1:00pm-4:00pm

Conclusion at 4:00pm

Venue: Salem Convention Center

Ticket Price: $75

Registration gets you access to the morning breakfast and to the afternoon summit.

About HHMB & Summit 2024

Join us as we celebrate the kickoff of Hispanic Heritage Month with our annual Hispanic Heritage Month Breakfast & Summit. This year marks a special occasion as we celebrate our 15th anniversary! PODER is thrilled to host this year's event once again.

Thanks to your support over the years, we have collaborated to build a prosperous future for Oregon's Latino community.

Our event transcends mere celebration—it signifies a collective stride towards envisioning a future abundant with inclusivity and opportunity. We look forward to your participation.

Agenda

  • Come and meet a diverse array of local businesses and their representatives. This is a great opportunity to network with other guests.

    • Gourmet Breakfast

    • MC

    • Keynote Speaker

    • Presentations

    • Entertainment

    • Enjoy a buffet-style lunch.

    • Networking

    • Healthcare

    • Higher Education

    • Leadership

  • End of the event.

Community Resource Fair

Come and meet a diverse array of local businesses participating in this year's event. Each booth will be staffed by representatives ready to engage with you personally and provide detailed information about their services and offerings. It's a great opportunity to connect directly with the local business community and discover the unique products and services they have to offer.

    • HealthCare for All Oregon

    • Immigration Counseling Service (ICS)

    • IZO PR & Marketing

    • Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman

    • Oregon Bankers Association

    • OYEN Emotional Wellness Center

    • Salem Keizer Coalition for Equality

Our Keynote Speaker

Nanci Luna Jiménez has committed to her own healing for more than 30 years to be a transformative guide, heart-centered listener, and authentic companion for leaders and change-makers committed to racial healing and social justice. Since founding the Luna Jiménez Institute for Social Transformation in 1994, she has reached tens of thousands of people with her core message of human goodness and connection as a transformational approach to social change.

Her approach centers healing and authentic relationships as the foundation for sustainable systems change and accountability. As a sought after TEDx speaker, coach, and master-level facilitator, Nanci’s approach honors the legacy and teachings of Dr. Erica “Ricky”Sherover-Marcuse, who coined the term “unlearning racism,” and Lillian Roybal Rose, M.Ed., an expert incross-cultural communication. 

Of Afro-Puerto Rican and Mexican Heritage, Nanci was born in Detroit, MI. She currently lives in Portland, OR.

Our MC

Cristian Mendez Garcia is the Assistant Director of Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives at Western Oregon University. Working with both current students, and leveraging relationships with surrounding community organizations, Cristian works to drive Western Oregon from an Emerging HSI to reaching Federal HSI Designation Status through a focus on servingness.

As an immigrant from Mexico, Cristian knows the value of pursuing education to open opportunities for a better quality of life. He graduated from Western Oregon University in 2008 and moved into the corporate sector where he was an Operations Manager and a DEI Chapter Chair before his current role.


Panel Sessions

Throughout the day, immerse yourself in enlightening sessions focused on Leadership, Higher Education, and Healthcare, each designed to envision a prosperous future for Oregon's Latino community. All three sessions will be happening simultaneously. Each session will have panel discussions. You are open to attend any session that you would like.

Healthcare

Join us for an afternoon of insights and visioning, as we explore the essence of Latino healthcare in Oregon. With leading professionals and passionate advocates at the helm, this forum aims to envision a robust healthcare future for the Latino community.

This session will have two panels. Panel times are at 1:00pm-2:15pm and 2:30pm-3:45pm.

How Do We Support Each Other to Address These Gaps?

  • Panel Time: 2:30pm-3:45pm

  • Katherine Lara ND, LAc -Naturopathic physician and acupuncturist at Open Wellness. 

    • Gerardo Ochoa- Vice president for enrollment management and student success at Linfield University

    • Zenaida Gabriel-DNP, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)-BC at Sky Lakes Behavioral Health Clinic.

    • Daniela Valle-Registered Nurse (RN) at Adventist Health Columbia Gorge

    • Kimberly Valdez-Martinez- Equity Coordinator at ODHS Youth Services

    • Dr. Ana Castilla-Owner of Castilla Orthodontics

What Are the Most Critical Gaps in Latino Health?

  • Panel time: 1:00pm-2:15pm

  • Leocadia Montero-Hainley-Principal of Leocadia Consulting

    • Carmen Duran- Executive Director/Peer Support Specialist at Arcoíris Latino

    • Eddie Ramirez-Managing dentist at Lombard Smiles. 

    • Salvador Amezola-Program Director at BestCare Latino Services -Programa de Recuperación de Madras (PRM).

    • Leda Garside-¡Salud! Services Manager & Cultural Liaison at OHSU Hillsboro Medical Center

    • Dr. Carlos Texidor Maldonado-Director of Behavioral Health at Bridgeway Community Health

Our Summit co-host is CareSource.

Higher Education

Bringing together a dynamic ensemble of visionaries, leaders, and trailblazers from the Latino higher education community. This summit promises enlightening discussions.

This session will have two panels. Panel times are at 1:00pm-2:15pm and 2:30pm-3:45pm.

Hispanic Serving Institution (HSIs)

  • Panel time: 1:00pm-2:15pm

    Join us for a panel discussion on Oregon’s Latine population and how our community colleges, public and private 4-year universities are transforming as they are or are becoming Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI). Hear from leaders about the unique challenges they face in today's higher education landscape, including strategies they employ to navigate the barriers and their successful approaches in creating culturally responsive and servingness-based environments to increase student engagement and success. The panel will discuss how they foster inclusive environments while facing internal and external pressures in addition to discussing a statewide collaboration effort that will strengthen relationships among Oregon’s institutions of higher education through the development of an Oregon HSI Consortium. Attendees will gain valuable insights into best practices, practical advice, and actionable strategies for navigating the intricate landscape to becoming and succeeding as an HSI. 

  • Rudyane Rivera-Lindstrom- Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility at Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC).

    • Osvaldo F. Avila- Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Specialist at Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC).

    • Dominique Vargas- Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Western Oregon University.

    • Manuel Guerra- Executive Dean at Chemeketa Community College.

    • Dr. Darilis Garcia- Vice President of Enrollment Student Success & Engagement at Warner Pacific University.

Our Summit co-host is Unitus Community Credit Union.

Colegio Cesar Chavez

  • Panel time: 2:30pm-3:45pm

    This panel will provide the historical significance of Colegio César Chávez from 1970 to1983, focusing on issues and personal successes during Colegio’s most difficult period. Discussion around Colegio's historical impact and catalyst for equal educational opportunities for Chicano and other minority students will also take place. Our panelists will share some personal stories involving César E. Chávez and the lessons learned from their involvement with the Colegio.

    • Natalia Fernández-Curator of the Oregon Multicultural Archives and OSU Queer Archives

    • Sonny Montez-Founder of the Colegio Cesar Chavez

    • José Romero-Activist for Social Justice and Equality

Leadership

We're excited to present a pivotal conversation that aims to shape the future landscape of Latino leadership in Oregon! Dive into a transformative afternoon. Witness a panel of esteemed Latino leaders who will share their insights, challenges, and vision for Latino representation in political landscapes.

This session will have one panel. Panel time is at 1:00pm-2:15pm.

Empowering Voices: A Latino Leadership Panel

  • Coming soon!

  • Jaime Rodriguez-Project Coordinator at CAPACES Leadership Institute

  • John Haroldson- District Attorney at Benton County

    Melinda Avila- CEO at OYEN Emotional Wellness Center

    Elaine Rodriguez-Community Organizer of Mano Amiga

    Cristian Salgado-Senior Broadband Investment Coordinator at Washington County

Our Summit co-host is IZO PR & Marketing

Want to Partner With The HHMB & Summit, Sponsor a Table or Participate in the Community Resource Fair?

Want to shape the future of Latino leadership in Oregon? Sponsor the HHMB & Summit event and lead the charge for inclusivity and change. Reach out to Anthony Veliz today to explore how your support can make a powerful impact. Let’s create a brighter future together!

Contact anthony@poderoregon.org.

Our Sponsors

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

COMMUNITY