Washington, DC – The upcoming Annual Conference of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) will feature a host of activities for Los Angeles-area families – including the 2006 Latino Expo USA, Spanish-language workshops, and health and homeownership fairs – which are free and open to the public. The event kicks off on Saturday, July 8 and will run through Tuesday, July 11 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Latino Expo USA, presented by State Farm Insurance Companies, is a free, family-friendly expo that is both fun and informational. At Latino Expo USA the whole family can take part in games, raffles, prizes, live music, dancing, food, and information and product giveaways from more than 250 exhibitors. On Saturday, Latino Expo USA will open up with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to include community leaders and NCLR leadership. Children – and grown-ups – can pose for photos with PBS’s animated characters Maya and Miguel and the Los Kitos characters; watch live transmission of the World Cup Finals on Sunday; experience Disneyland through the “Touch of Magic Castle”; and get autographs from local celebrities, entertainers, and movie stars.

On Saturday and Sunday, Latino Expo USA also features the Homeownership Fair and the Health Fair. The Homeownership Fair, presented by JPMorgan Chase, offers free credit reports and other expert resources for families seeking information and counseling on such topics as establishing credit, qualifying and applying for mortgage loans, and working with realtors. The Health Fair, presented by Kaiser Permanente, features bilingual health professionals, free health screenings, information on access to health programs and services, and helpful tips and exercises for improving your family’s well-being. The Health Fair will also have free screenings, including dental, blood pressure, cholesterol, and others.

Also on Saturday and Sunday, a track of Spanish-language workshops will cover issues such as accessing health insurance, professional development, citizenship, and homeownership. The workshops, developed in conjunction with La Opinión, are free and open to the public.

Sunday, July 9 will kick off with the NCLR Diabetes Dash, a 5k run/walk which aims to strengthen public awareness of diabetes. The race is open to all, and free registration is available at www.nclr.org/diabetesdash. On-site registration opens at 5:30 a.m. at the corner of E. 2nd Street and South Hill Street. The race begins bright and early at 7:00 a.m. Free T-shirts and AltaMed Health Services’ mobile health unit, offering diabetes screenings and information on diabetes prevention techniques and programs, will be available. Following the Dash, Latino Expo USA will have live entertainment in a Talent Showcase presented by Viva Hollywood and LATV, taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The Expo will culminate with a Career Day on Monday, July 10, in which several exhibitors will be accepting résumés. For more information about the 2006 NCLR Annual Conference featuring Latino Expo USA or to receive press credentials, please visit www.nclr.org/press_registration or contact Diana Tejada at (202) 785-1670.

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COME JOIN THE FUN AT THE 2006 NCLR ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND LATINO EXPO USA IN LOS ANGELES!
Visit www.nclr.org/conference for more information.