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Tuesday, July 13, 1999

Diversity Jackson's LULAC topic
Race profile criticism also is expected
By Jonathan Osborne
Caller-Times

John Kennedy/Caller-Times

Special Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Mickey Ibarra addresses the LULAC national convention Monday. His speech covered the state of employment of Hispanics, the most underrepresented minority in the federal government.

   The Rev. Jesse Jackson, president of the National Rainbow Coalition, is in Corpus Christi today to speak to the 70th annual League of United Latin American Citizens convention about the importance of racial unity.
   LULAC Executive Director Brent Wilkes said Jackson plans to talk on diversity issues and unity issues between Hispanics and blacks.
   "He talks about the quilt," Wilkes said. "The fabric is stronger because the patches in the quilt are sewn together. We're stronger because we're diverse."
   Wilkes said Jackson likely also will talk about his role in freeing American soldiers held prisoner in Bosnia.
   Jackson also may touch on racial profiling by law enforcement agencies as part of the convention's focus on Hispanics in Law Enforcement.
   "Hispanics are routinely singled out," Wilkes said. "If you're Hispanic, you're assumed to be a possible illegal immigrant."
   Wilkes said that a few bad apples are enforcing the law based on racial profiles, a practice LULAC plans to combat at every turn.
   "We are calling for the law enforcement agencies . . . to stop any type of racial profiling," Wilkes said. "It should be a colorblind enforcement."
   Aside from addressing racial profiling, Wilkes said LULAC plans to honor Hispanics in law enforcement.
   "We want to change the public's perception that Hispanics are often in trouble with the law as (opposed) to enforcing the law," Wilkes said. "Hispanics really are serving the community admirably. We're going to highlight those folks."

What: Luncheon featuring the Rev. Jesse Jackson, president of the National Rainbow Coalition
When: Noon today
Where: Bayfront Plaza Convention Center, 1901 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Cost: Tickets, which include lunch, can be purchased at the Bayfront Plaza Convention Center for $40, full 10-seat tables for $400

   On Monday, Special Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Mickey Ibarra and U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Janice R. Lachance called for a boost in federal employment of Hispanics, the most underrepresented minority in the U.S. government.
   "Hispanics are the only minority group that are underrepresented," Lachance told the audience of about 1,000. "We need more smart, talented, hard-working individuals. I know I can find them in the Hispanic community. We must increase the number of Hispanic employees at the leadership levels of government."
   LULAC estimates that Hispanics make up 3 percent of the federal workforce while comprising 12 percent of the U.S. population. Lachance said her office puts the percentage of federally employed Hispanics at 6 percent, a number that she described as higher but still inadequate.
   "We have to do much better than that," Lachance told the delegates. "We have to double that number."
   To signify both the government and LULAC's dedication to improving the numbers of Latinos employed by the federal workforce, the Office of Personnel Management and LULAC signed a partnership agreement Monday to continue efforts to increase Hispanic representation in government.
   Wilkes said it is critical to increase the number of Latinos working in the government.
   "Not only are we missing out on excellent job opportunities," Wilkes said. "The federal government has a huge amount of money. When you have so few Hispanics in the federal government that are doling out federal dollars in the community, it's not surprising that Hispanics are short-changed.
   "If you take a look at your demographics, Corpus Christi is probably being short-changed compared with, say, Atlanta," Wilkes said.
   Local federal opportunities
   Lachance said the government, as the largest employer in the country, should set the standards for corporate America.
   "We can't overlook our own government," Lachance said. "The federal government should be a model."
   LULAC President Rick Dovalina said the problem could lie in the public's perception of the government.
   "It's an educational problem," Dovalina said. "People do not see the government as a high paying good career. People continuously think applying to get a civil service job is too hard ... too much paperwork."
   Dovalina said that working for the federal government does not mean packing up and heading to Washington, D.C. He said there are vast number of local federal career opportunities for Hispanics, especially in Corpus Christi.
   "I think this theme today is key in Corpus Christi," Dovalina said. "We need to focus on getting people to really consider the government."
   LULAC, founded in 1929, is the country's oldest and largest Hispanic organization. The organization has a membership of about 250,000 and councils in almost every state and Puerto Rico.
   This year's national convention, which is expected to draw more than 6,000 members from across the country, runs through Saturday. Members will be arriving throughout the week.

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