LICI Recognizes Pioneers in Community and Economic Development

PHOENIX, Feb. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Latino Institute for Corporate Inclusion (LICI) held its first 2010 quarterly board meeting in Phoenix, AZ, February 1-2.  A key objective of the meeting was the recognition of individuals from the Southwestern United States who have been instrumental in economic development efforts.  

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100215/LA54439)

LICI honored a cross-section of Phoenix's business and community leaders that included Tommie Espinoza, John C. Lopez, Ronnie Lopez, Louis Olivas, Gary L. Trujillo, and Raul Yzaguirre at a reception held at the Univision television studios, which was sponsored by Cox Communications, PepsiCo, Univision and Verizon.

"LICI understands the critical role played by these pioneers who have contributed to the collective economic progress of Latinos in the United States," said LICI Chairman Jess D. Haro of San Diego, CA.  "With the majority of our nation's Latinos residing in the Southwest, LICI continues to focus its corporate inclusion efforts on the Southwest and its private and public stakeholders."

One of the honorees, Raul Yzaguirre, did not attend the event as he was called to Washington, D.C. to prepare for confirmation hearings related to his nomination as Ambassador to the Dominican Republic.  After serving 30 years as President and CEO of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) -- founded in Phoenix in 1968 -- Mr. Yzaguirre returned to Phoenix in 2005 to head Arizona State University's Center for Community Development and Civil Rights.  During the reception, he was referred to as "a nationally renowned community and business leader" by Ron Parker, Senior Vice President of Human Resources of PepsiCo North America, on whose Board of Directors Mr. Yzaguirre serves.

In 2008, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the Hispanic population to be 46.9 million -- or 15 percent of the U.S. population.  Nearly 60 percent of the nation's Latinos resided in the states of Arizona (1,956,000); California (13,457,000); Colorado (997,000); Nevada (669,000); New Mexico (891,000); and Texas (8,870,000).

LICI's quarterly meetings, which are held in major markets throughout the Southwest, provide corporate sponsors, business/community leaders, academia, and elected public officials an opportunity to identify and discuss effective strategies and tactics for implementing greater Latino inclusion initiatives in areas of employment and procurement.

"Through its resources LICI is well positioned to assist in identifying workforce and procurement solutions to help the private and public sectors become more responsive to the interests of Latino consumers, taxpayers, voters, and employees," said LICI President and CEO Ruben Jauregui.  

About LICI:

The Latino Institute for Corporate Inclusion was restructured in 2007, to expand on its 20-year history of advocacy in the area of corporate social responsibility.  LICI's goal is to encourage and support community and corporate stakeholders in the advancement of economic health for members of the U.S. Latino business, consumer, taxpayer, and voter segments as their influence on our country's economy grows.  More information at: www.latinoinclusion.org/.

SOURCE Latino Institute for Corporate Inclusion