Washington, DC—NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, today announced its strong, unequivocal support for the confirmation of Mari Carmen Aponte as the next U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador.

“During her distinguished career, Mari Carmen Aponte has demonstrated all of the qualities we would expect in an ambassador. She is both a highly accomplished lawyer and a wonderfully compassionate human being. I cannot imagine a more qualified person to serve as our country’s representative to El Salvador, a nation with which we have close, inextricable ties,” stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.

Aponte began her career as a teacher, and after finishing law school she opened a legal practice and served as associate counsel to Blue Cross of Pennsylvania. She was selected for a prestigious White House fellowship, under which she served as a special assistant to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Carter administration. She later opened a successful law practice in Washington, DC, was executive director of the Puerto Rican Federal Affairs Office, and served as a member of the cabinet of the governor of Puerto Rico.

Aponte has engaged in numerous community service activities, serving on the boards of NCLR and the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, among others; chairing or serving on a number of American Bar Association committees; and participating in many charitable projects.

“She has excelled at every level in her distinguished career. But through it all, she never forgot her community and always had a helping hand for those coming after her. Mari Carmen will make a great ambassador for our country because she’s such a great example of our country at its best,” concluded Murguía.

For more information, visit www.nclr.org | http://www.facebook.com/nationalcounciloflaraza | http://www.myspace.com/nclr2008 | http://twitter.com/nclr.

###