On May 24, 2025 the Coalition for Hispanic Issues & Progress (CHIP) will host the 26th Annual Hispanic Leadership Conference at Lorain County Community College’s Spitzer Conference Center from 8:00am – 3:00pm. The Hispanic Leadership Conference serves as a forum where civic leaders, educators, students, social workers, non-profit organizations, union and corporate representatives, Hispanic/Latino advocacy groups and concerned citizens, can exchange views, network, and review information provided, enabling us all to better understand major issues affecting the Hispanic/Latino and greater community. The theme selected for this year’s conference is Unidos Podemos (United We Can). The Lorain County Commissioners Visitor’s Bureau is serving as this year’s Conference and Gala Title Sponsor.
The 26th Annual Hispanic Leadership Conference will feature multi-media presentations on Opening Digital Doors: harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for empowerment & progress (Dr. Vince Granito,, Professor), discerning Fact from Fiction within Social Media (Scot Allyn, Librarian/Journalist), Surviving Domestic Violence (Mari Colon, Riveon Mental Health & Recovery), understanding the Legislature and how to utilize its processes (Representative Joe Miller), locating Resources for Older Adults (Nicole Bellmore-Pierce, Lorain County Office on Aging), accessing Counseling Services for newcomers and Migrant Communities (Daniel Aguado Orneloas, Deputy Consul of Mexico), Social Determinants of Health (Erin Murphy, Lorain County Public Health), Empowering Your Future (Attorney Robert Cabrera), Keeping “Cool” during Turbulent Times (Rebecca Jones, MHARS) and how to utilize Chair Yoga to enhance one’s health (Marie Contreras Deshuk, Certified Instructor),
During the morning plenary sessions Sheriff Jack Hall will share with area communities the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office policies, processes and considerations when interacting with undocumented individuals. This will be followed by a panel discussion on “Defamation, opinion, or free speech” featuring Lorain County Commissioner David J. Moore, Chief Editor for La Prensa Newspaper Linda Alvarado-Arce and well-known Attorney Robert Cabrera. This panel will be moderated by Rey Carrion, Safety Service Director for the City of Lorain.
CHIP will continue to feature a free Medical Corner where medical professionals and organizations dedicated to providing medical expertise to the community offer free health screenings, supplies and information, Mental Health, Addiction & Recovery Services offers anxiety and depression testing and advice to participants, and Dr. Robert Thomas MD and Mercy Nursing professionals will be on-hand to answer questions and address health concerns. Vendors from a host of organizations serving the Hispanic/Latino and greater community will also bring their services and expertise to the conference at no cost to participants.
The Youth Leadership tract will provide students with hands-on strategies to help verify whether internet material is fact based or mostly fiction and Riveon Mental Health & Recovery Services Mari Colon will provide her much needed “Basta Ya” (Enough is Enough) workshop on Domestic & Sexual Violence.
The conference will be followed by a Saturday evening Gala at the Emerald Event Center from 6:00pm-11:00pm. Comedian Dennis Gaxiola will headline the evening’s entertainment followed by award winning band Son Gitano. The evening’s featured DJ is Abner “Gozadora” Santiago.
Cost for the Conference and Gala is $100 (which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner), $50 for the Conference (breakfast/lunch included) or Gala (dinner included). College student registrations are half priced and registered high school students can attend the conference at no cost. High school students participating in the conference receive a no cost Gala registration.
If interested in serving as a Co-Sponsor, or in placing an ad in the conference program booklet, or securing a display table at the conference, call 440-336-1501 or via email at mf777df@msn.com. For updated information prior to the conference please visit the CHIP website at www.chiplorain.org.