By Alisher Aminov
In September, the Pennsylvania Latino Convention will be holding its 5th annual event in Allentown, Pennsylvania, hosting professional development workshops and panels to give the State’s growing Latino population access to the skills and resources they need to succeed in the Keystone State.
The Pennsylvania Latino Convention is an independently hosted event, initially organized in 2017. The initiative’s mission is to work with the growing number of Latino Pennsylvanians to help give them the skills and connections they need to integrate and work within the State.
According to Pennsylvania growth demographics, the Chairman and Founder of the Initiative Norman Bristol said that Latinos represent approximately 50% of the State’s growth within the last 30 years. In addition, he noted that Latinos represent the fastest-growing population within school districts, the creation of new businesses, etc.
Norman said one of the main reasons he began the initiative back in 2017 was that according to statistical projections at the time, the Latino population was slated to reach one million in Pennsylvania by the 2020 census, and yet there was no centralized effort to establish a “Latino agenda politically, socially, educationally, or economically” for people immigrating into the State.
He said that the initiative began so that Latinos within Pennsylvania could coordinate their efforts and strategically develop a collective plan that was not contingent on any political establishment.
Norman said that he created the event so that “we have an independent voice ensuring that the one million Latinos in Pennsylvania can share responsibility and progress in everything we do.”
Norman said that as the Latino population in Pennsylvania has grown dramatically over the years, the community is lagging in many vital areas, such as education and the workforce, politics, etc. Instead of simply hoping things would get better, he believed it was time for the Latino population to take full responsibility for the community’s well-being and future by developing a calculated and strategic forum for planning.
He said, “It is an opportunity for us to say the Latino population of Pennsylvania is here, we are here to stay, we are here to contribute, we are partners, we are your neighbors, and the only way we can achieve equality in all aspects of Pennsylvania life is by creating this agenda that will create progress for the Latino community.”
Norman said the convention would take place over the course of two and a half days with various conferences, workshops, and panels all happening simultaneously, such as the Latino Health Summit, the Latino Education Summit, the Business and Entrepreneurship Forum, etc.
He said the convention would also hold the State Latino Leadership luncheon, where Latino officials and representatives from all over the State can come and work towards making the convention’s agenda a reality.
Norman said it is vital for the Latino population of Pennsylvania to develop both a state and national agenda because, while they make up more than one million people in Pennsylvania, as a collective around the United States, they represent the largest minority within the country, totaling approximately 65 million people.
Norman said that as a community, the U.S. Latino population has a purchasing power of roughly $1.7 trillion, which, if compared separately to other global economies, would rank 13th worldwide. In addition, he said that the U.S. Latino population has a more considerable purchasing power than either Mexico or Canada.
While the convention works to coordinate with other national initiatives, Norman said that this initiative is unique to Pennsylvania, specifically geared towards this State’s needs.
Norman also said that this year the convention would host an event dedicated to naming the top 100 influential Latinos in the State for the year 2022.
The PA Latino Convention is designed to have something for all workforce demographics, whether professionals, educators, creators, artists, blue-collar, etc. With a host of workshops designed to help all people advance themselves through educational development, language assistance, etc.
Norman said that while this event is directed toward the Latino population, it is open to everyone. Approximately 50% of the event attendees are not Latino; folks from various backgrounds come to participate in the conversation, he said.
“It is a convention for Latino empowerment, but not only for Latinos. It’s for everyone, any organization serving the Latino community of Pennsylvania,” he said.
Norman said that the convention is also designed to help the Latino population develop a sense of pride and ownership within Pennsylvania as Pennsylvanians.
Despite how they are often portrayed in the news, Norman said Latinos are the fastest-growing workforce in the United States. In Pennsylvania, they are here to be contributing members of the State as a whole.
Norman said the convention wants to help instill a sense of community ownership within the Latino population. He said, “Having that sense of pride in being from Pennsylvania is also taking a sense of ownership,” whether it is taking care of streets, schools, cultural centers, etc… Latinos in Pennsylvania need to be part of the solutions.
If people would like to register for this event, they can do so at www.palationoconvention.com
Author: Amaury Abreu
