Spring Break
Conference focuses on Latino voters
BRIAN McGINLEY
Issue date: 11/16/06 Section: News
A speaker from the Northampton County Latino Democratic Caucus urged the Latino community to embrace politics and use their right to vote during The Latino Fall Conference held Oct. 14 in College Center on the Main Campus.
"The number of Latino voters are too few," said Johnny Cruz, vice president of the caucus, adding that "There are very few Latinos in office."
The conference provided a forum for discussion. "One of the main objectives was to bring together the community and the college," said conference organizer Sandra Del Cueto, an associate professor of Spanish at NCC.
Politics was on the mind of many. Santa Shillea of the Women's League of Voters of Lehigh and Northampton Counties stressed the importance of minorities uniting to make their votes count.
"All minorities must be publicly aware that voting and support of politics are necessary," she said. "There is a lack of diversity in the government, as well as in state and local offices. Our Congress is lacking liberal role models."
Lack of financial support hinders minority members from running for office, Shillea said. "The huge bankrolls limit opposition. Most women and minorities are simply outspent."
Ismael Arcelay, president of the Northampton County Latino Democratic Caucus and special assistant to the mayor of Allentown, discussed heritage and culture. Speaking on prejudice, he said, "Lack of awareness creates hostility," implying that Americans need to be aware about how they treat and perceive one another.
"We need to celebrate more differences," he said.
Speaking of the future, he said, "Culture will be so mixed that stereotypes won't matter."
In the global economy, Arcelay said, "students will be competing for jobs all over the world," so they need to learn other languages.
"Don't insist that English is the only language," he said.
Also speaking at the conference was professor Ricardo Viera from Lehigh University, who described the importance of photography in our society.
Explaining the use of photography in science, space and in art, he presented a slide show featuring the works of famous Latino photographers, including Albert Chong, Martin Chambi, Luc Chessex, Arturo Cuenca, German Herrera, Silvia Lizama, Roberto Machado and Erika Harrsch.
"The number of Latino voters are too few," said Johnny Cruz, vice president of the caucus, adding that "There are very few Latinos in office."
The conference provided a forum for discussion. "One of the main objectives was to bring together the community and the college," said conference organizer Sandra Del Cueto, an associate professor of Spanish at NCC.
Politics was on the mind of many. Santa Shillea of the Women's League of Voters of Lehigh and Northampton Counties stressed the importance of minorities uniting to make their votes count.
"All minorities must be publicly aware that voting and support of politics are necessary," she said. "There is a lack of diversity in the government, as well as in state and local offices. Our Congress is lacking liberal role models."
Lack of financial support hinders minority members from running for office, Shillea said. "The huge bankrolls limit opposition. Most women and minorities are simply outspent."
Ismael Arcelay, president of the Northampton County Latino Democratic Caucus and special assistant to the mayor of Allentown, discussed heritage and culture. Speaking on prejudice, he said, "Lack of awareness creates hostility," implying that Americans need to be aware about how they treat and perceive one another.
"We need to celebrate more differences," he said.
Speaking of the future, he said, "Culture will be so mixed that stereotypes won't matter."
In the global economy, Arcelay said, "students will be competing for jobs all over the world," so they need to learn other languages.
"Don't insist that English is the only language," he said.
Also speaking at the conference was professor Ricardo Viera from Lehigh University, who described the importance of photography in our society.
Explaining the use of photography in science, space and in art, he presented a slide show featuring the works of famous Latino photographers, including Albert Chong, Martin Chambi, Luc Chessex, Arturo Cuenca, German Herrera, Silvia Lizama, Roberto Machado and Erika Harrsch.
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