Community Forums Draw Legislators, Activists to Texas

CPA Launches Initiative for Hispanic Communities

Thirty Hispanic legislators and community activists from across the southwestern states gathered in San Antonio, Texas, in May at the inaugural Southwest Community Policy and Leadership Forum. The goal of the forum was to identify key legislative issues going into the 1999 state legislative session and find ways to work together to strengthen Hispanic communities.

The Southwest Forum builds on the success of the Southeast Forum for African American legislators, which was founded in 1996 and also had a concurrent meeting in San Antonio (see related article). The two groups met jointly for one session to compare policy priorities and forge new alliances.

"It’s time to put up or shut up," said State Rep. James Taylor (N.M.) during the conference. "This group has started the engine and it is up to us to keep our communities on the road forward."

Issues surrounding economic development, from job training to education, emerged as top priorities for future, issue-driven meetings of the Southwest Forum. Participants expressed a need for good model legislation and alternative reform policies in the areas of bilingual education and K-12 education reform.

The goal of the meeting was to establish a core network that Hispanic legislators and activists can draw on for best practices and policies. Many attendees expressed a desire to expand the Southwest Forum and work with other Hispanic community groups to build a solid and broadly based infrastructure.

"It’s heartening to know there are other legislators and community activists that feel the way I do," said Rep. Patsy Trujillo Knauer (N.M.). "Making a difference together is powerful."

The next Southwest Community Forum meeting is tentatively scheduled for next fall. .