ABOUT US

Hispanic Roundtable

Mission
The Hispanic Roundtable is a not for profit organization whose mission is “to act as a catalyst to empower the Hispanic Community to become full partners in economic, education, political, civic and social life of Greater Cleveland.”

2010 Executive Committee
Chairman – Jose C. Feliciano
Vice-Chairman – Andres E. Gonzalez
Secretary/Treasurer – Diana I. Centeno-Gomez

Hispanic Roundtable Committees

Standing Committees

• Economic Development
• Education
• Empowerment

Other Committees

• Governance

Members of the Hispanic Roundtable

• Abelino (Al) López President of Lopez Consulting
• Adrian Maldonado President of Logik Construction
• Sister Alicia Alvarado, O.P. Leadership Team, Sisters of St. Dominic of Akron, Ohio
• Andrés E. González Director, Office of Diversity Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Artemio San Martin Dell Finance-Consumer at Dell Corporation
• Diana Centeno-Gomez Research Biomedical Engineer NASA Glenn Research Center
• Diana del Rosario Dean of Student Affairs at Tri-C Western Campus
• Felicia Soto Vice President Recoveries Process Integration & Control at Chase BankCard Services, Inc.
• Gustavo (Gus) A. Hoyas State Sales Director Nationwide Insurance
• Henry Guzman Director Ohio Department of Public Safety
• Judge José A. Villanueva Court of Common Pleas
• José C. Feliciano Partner Baker & Hostetler LLP
• Joseph Lopez President New Era Builders
• Lorraine Vega Senior Vice President, Senior Program Officer KeyCorp Foundation
• Pastor Max Rodas Executive Director of Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center
• Maureen Dee Assistant Executive Director, Catholic Charities Services
• Miriam Lugo-González Founder of LATINA, Inc.
• Robert Torres Director, Department of Development at City of Canton, OH
• Sonia Troche Executive Director Adelante, Inc.
• Victor Ruiz Executive Director at Esperanza, Inc.

Resolutions

ENCOURAGE THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT HISPANICS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF EVERY INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THE STATE OF OHIO WHICH HAS A HISPANIC PRESENCE

WHEREAS, a college graduate earns nearly a million dollars more than a high school graduate; and
WHEREAS, more education equates with higher earnings; and
WHEREAS, college graduates enjoy a higher level of savings; and
WHEREAS, college graduates enjoy increased personal and professional mobility; and
WHEREAS, college graduates improve the quality of life for their offspring; and
WHEREAS, college graduates make better consumer decisions; and
WHEREAS, college graduates have a higher correlation of good health for themselves and for their children; and
WHEREAS, college graduates increase tax revenues; and
WHEREAS, college graduates are more productive in the work force; and
WHEREAS, college graduates decrease reliance on government financial support.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hispanic Roundtable and other Ohio Latino
Leadership Groups will encourage the Governor to appoint a Hispanic to every institution of
higher learning in the state of Ohio which has a Hispanic presence, particularly although not
exclusively, in Cleveland, Toledo, Lorain, Youngstown, and Columbus.

TO APPOINT HISPANICS TO LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL OFFICE

WHEREAS, the Latino population explosion has dramatically changed America and has had a spectacular social, economic, cultural and political impact; and
WHEREAS, the median age for Hispanics was 26.7% in 2003, the lowest of all groups, compared with 35.9% for the overall U.S. population; and
WHEREAS, in 2004, 34.1% of Hispanics were younger than 18 years of age; and
WHEREAS, by the year 2040, the U.S. Hispanic population is expected to reach or exceed one-hundred million, where one in four persons will be of Hispanic descent; and
WHEREAS, Hispanics are more likely to be appointed rather than elected to public office; and
WHEREAS, the Hispanic viewpoint is not today being recognized in proportion to the demographics in government; and
WHEREAS, Hispanics are underrepresented in public service.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hispanic Roundtable and other Ohio Latino Leadership Groups will encourage and lobby the Governor of Ohio, and the County Commissioners and Mayors throughout Ohio which have a Hispanic presence, to appoint Hispanics to public office and/or support candidates who are running for public office.

TO ESTABLISH A MECHANISM FOR CONDUCTING, COLLECTING, ANALYZING AND DISSEMINATING RESEARCH ON HISPANICS IN NORTHERN OHIO, ON AN ONGOING AND SYSTEMATIC BASIS

WHEREAS, there is a lack of research on Hispanics in Northern Ohio, and
WHEREAS, there is no established mechanism for conducting, collecting, analyzing and reporting research results on Hispanics in Northern Ohio on an ongoing basis; and
WHEREAS, the research serves to inform the Hispanic community and its leaders about needs and trends within the community so that its organizations can develop programs and priorities to improve the status and well-being of Hispanics in Northern Ohio; and
WHEREAS, data-driven decision-making is widely accepted in the philanthropic, corporate, and political arenas as the basis for providing funding and support; and
WHEREAS, ongoing research on Hispanics in Northern Ohio can assist leaders, funders, and policymakers in the private, public and nonprofit sectors to identify and establish priorities to meet the most critical issues confronting the Hispanic community in a more culturally competent and effective manner.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Hispanic Roundtable, in collaboration with other institutional partners, will commission research on educational, economic and civic status of the Hispanic community of Northern Ohio, the findings of which will serve as the basis for more extensive and longitudinal research.
FURTHER, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Hispanic Roundtable, in collaboration with other institutional partners, will establish a mechanism for conducting, collecting, analyzing and distributing longitudinal research on Hispanics in Northern Ohio, on an ongoing and systematic basis.