Sen. Juan M. Pichardo led a delegation of Rhode Islanders on a visit to the Dominican Republic to meet political and educational leaders and view Dominican schools and educational institutions. The major goal of the program is to link through technology students from Providence with students in the Dominican Republic. Part of an international effort funded by the No Child Left Behind Act, the program, called CIVITAS, aims to develop an understanding of different cultures, encourage communication on a person-to-person, school-to-school basis, foster an understanding of how different cultures deal with ordinary issues, encourage classrooms to deal with problems based on democratic principles, and initiate administrative and political linkages.

“I am extremely excited to lead this delegation of Rhode Islanders to the Dominican Republic as part of the CIVITAS program,” said Senator Pichardo. “Our mission is to implement a program where students from different countries directly communicate with each other in order to better understand each other’s culture, government, and public policy issues. Once put into place, this valuable program will have an amazing impact on many students, and I really look forward to getting started.”

State revenues have been on the upswing this fiscal year, which ends June 30, for all but four states. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, state and local tax collections rose 10.2 percent last year to a record $1.1 trillion. Over the last three years, states across the country had to cut programs, increase tax rates and scramble for quick budget fixes after the national economy slumped earlier in the decade. Forty-two states will end fiscal year 2006 on June 30 with an estimated total surplus of $28.9 billion, equal to about five percent of all state general fund budgets according to Stateline.org.

California collected the most tax revenue, more than $98 billion. Vermont collected the most per person, $3,600. While the Census Bureau report did not include the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a 2005 Moody's Investors Service reports said that Puerto Rico's net tax-supported debt per capita is $6,812. As a percentage of personal income, that debt is equivalent to 56.7 per cent. The US Virgin Islands tax-supported debt per capita is $7,694, according to the USVI government report, Five Year Plan for Fiscal Recovery. (Source: US Census Bureau, CSG/ERC Weekly Bulletin)

DiversityInc magazine has named Verizon to the top spot on the magazine's 2006 list of Top 50 Companies for Diversity. Verizon Communications and Verizon Wireless share the No. 1 ranking. In addition to the list of top 50 companies, DiversityInc also selected the top companies in several categories. On those lists, Verizon and its business units, including Verizon Wireless, ranked No. 1 for recruitment and retention, No. 8 for African-Americans and No. 9 for Latinos. For the complete Top 50 list, visit: http://www.diversityinc.com/public/
21030.cfm. A detailed analysis of the companies and results will appear in the June issue of DiversityInc.

 

May 17 - 19, 2006
Engaging Latino Communities for Education – (ENLACE) Site Visit
Albuquerque, New Mexico

The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) in partnership with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) invite you to participate in an ENLACE Site Visit to Albuquerque, New Mexico, on May 17-19, 2006. This trip will enable you to learn about the ENLACE model and see first hand the impact it has had on Latino student achievement in New Mexico. The site visit has been carefully designed for policymakers to see innovative strategies that support a seamless pathway to college for Latino and other underrepresented students and to explore how similar innovations might be applied in your state.

June 11–14, 2006 • Atlanta, GA
Healthy States Pre-Conference for State Legislators Public Health Policy Roles for State Legislators and CDC’s Public Health Law Conference

Discuss the critical role state legislators play in developing policies to promote public health with peer legislators and national experts during CSG’s Pre-Conference. This pre-conference and the main conference will prepare you for your role in addressing public health issues and help you identify innovative, collaborative programs for your state. Registration for the Public’s Health and the Law in the 21st Century: 5th Annual Partnership Conference, June 11–14, 2006, is part of the Pre-Conference registration. Topics to be discussed include preventing diabetes and obesity, and creating public health partnerships with the faith community, military and schools.

June 15-18, 2006 • Charleston, SC
Promoting Healthy LifeStyles: A Focus on Cardiovascular Disease and Sickle Cell Disease

NHCSL and NBCSL will host this conference to bring attention to the impact that cardiovascular disease and sickle cell disease have on the Hispanic and African American community. The meeting is designed for legislators to dialogue with each other and national health experts on the many facets of cardiovascular disease and sickle cell disease. We will also explore the role of clinical trials, access to quality care, cultural sensitivity as well as funding for programs that are created to meet the needs of our diverse communities.

July 17–19, 2006 • San Francisco, CA
Healthy States Summit for State Legislators: Building Healthier Communities for Our Youth and Adults
This conference is designed for state legislators to exchange ideas and learn more about innovative policies to prevent chronic diseases and improve the health of children and adults in the communities where they live, work and play. Covered will be topics about children and adolescents in schools and the community, as well as adults in the workplace, in the community and healthcare settings.

August 24–26, 2006 • Boston, MA
Healthy States Forum for State Legislators: Transforming Science Into Policy for a Healthier Nation

Join other state legislators for this exciting forum discussing targeted public health policy solutions addressing health disparities in adolescents, graduated driver licensing for teens, the impact of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV in adolescents and new vaccines being licensed for children and youth. Other workshops will address healthy living with a disability, state laws to promote STD and HIV prevention, monitoring systems for environmental and public health linkages, and flu vaccines for adults.

For more information call 202-434-8070.

The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) is the preeminent organization representing the interests of 300 Hispanic state legislators from all states, commonwealths, and territories of the United States. Founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)3, NHCSL is a catalyst and advocate for joint action on issues of common concern, such as health, education, immigration, homeownership and economic development to all segments of the Hispanic community. NHCSL also works to design and implement policies and procedures that will impact the quality of life for Hispanic communities; serves as a forum for information exchange and member networking; an institute for leadership training; a liaison with sister U.S. Hispanic organizations; a promoter of public/private partnerships with business and labor; and a partner with Hispanic state and provincial legislators and their associations representing Central and South America.