White House Initiative Latino Economic Summit in El Paso

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On Friday, July 22nd, the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics and the Aspen Institute hosted a White House Initiative Latino Economic Summit in El Paso, with the participation of U.S. Department of Defense Under Secretary Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr.; federal agencies including: the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Small Business Administration and local leaders. Virtual remarks were provided by Rep. Veronica Escobar.

White House Initiative Latino Economic Summit

Friday, July 22nd at 9:30 a.m. MDT

The University of Texas at El Paso

Undergraduate Learning Center

2151 Wiggins Way

El Paso, TX 79902

Media Advisory

This community event is the fourth in a series of in-person events across the country highlighting the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advancing equity and economic empowerment and connecting local Latino community members directly with federal leaders and resources.

At the event attendees heard from leaders like:

  • U.S. Department of Defense Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr.
  • U.S. Small Business Administration Associate Administrator for the Office of International Trade Gabriel Esparza
  • White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics Executive Director Melody Gonzales
  • U.S. Congresswoman for Texas’ 16th Congressional District in El Paso, Veronica Escobar (virtual remarks)
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary January Contreras (virtual remarks)
  • and several federal agency and local leaders.

Agenda

Note: All times are in MDT. 

8:30 a.m. Registration opens

  • Special Performance by Mariachi El Capitán, Chapin High School

9:30 a.m. Opening Session – Auditorium

  • Melody Gonzales, Executive Director, White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics
  • Domenika Lynch, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program
  • Dr. Heather Wilson, President, The University of Texas at El Paso
  • Jose Landeros, Director, Planning and Development, County of El Paso
  • César Blanco, Texas State Senator, District 29  

10:05 a.m. Charla: Big Bets for El Paso  

  • Moderator: Melody Gonzales, Executive Director, White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics 
  • Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr, U.S. Department of Defense, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness 
  • Andrea Cortinas, Vice President and Chief of Staff, The University of Texas at El Paso 

Virtual Remarks:

  • Veronica Escobar, U.S. Congresswoman, Texas 16th Congressional District

10:45 a.m. Breakout Sessions

Advancing Entrepreneurship in the Border Region: International Trade, Minority Certifications, and more (presented by U.S. Small Business Administration) – Room 220

  • Federal Presenter:
    • Gabriel Esparza, Associate Administrator for the Office of International Trade, U.S. Small Business Administration
    • Dante Acosta, District Director, El Paso District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration
  • Community Voices:
    • Mary Helen Aldeis, Program Director, Women’s Business Border Center, El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
    • Elizabeth Triggs, Director, Economic and International Development, City of El Paso
    • Patricia Villalobos, President, Barnhart/Taylor, Inc.
    • Ed Escudero, President & CEO, High Desert Capital, LLC and Vice Chairman of West Star

Advancing Opportunity through Educational Equity, Digital Equity and Workforce Development (presented U.S. Department of Education) – Room 216

  • Federal Presenter:
    • Emmanuel Caudillo, Management and Program Analyst, White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics
  • Community Voices:
    • Mayra Maldonado, Director, Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness, The University of Texas at El Paso
    • Leila Melendez, CEO, Workforce Solutions Borderplex

The Economics of a Healthy Community: Emerging Stronger from the Pandemic (presented by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) – Room 342

  • Federal Presenter:
    • Sima Ladjevardian, Region 6 Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Community Voices:
    • Ogechika Alozie, M.D., CEO, Sunset ID CARE
    • Mario D’Agostino, Deputy City Manager, City of El Paso
    • Pamela Ponce, School-Based Integrated Health Co-Chief, Project Vida
    • Kristen Daugherty, LCSW-S, LISW-S, MBA, Emergence, CEO, Emergence Health Network
    • Sarah Martin, M.D., Chief, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, CPAN/TCHATT Medical Director, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso

11:50 a.m. Advancing Economic Opportunity & Latino Social Mobility Across Sectors Panel – Auditorium

  • Moderator: Jon Barela, CEO, Borderplex Alliance
  • Gabriel Esparza, Associate Administrator for the Office of International Trade, U.S. Small Business Administration
  • Radhy Miranda, Manager/Lead U.S. Equity and Economic Opportunity Initiative, Rockefeller Foundation
  • Ed Escudero, President & CEO, High Desert Capital, LLC and Vice Chairman of West Star
  • Alejandra Chavez, President, Thyme Matters
  • Ana Espinoza, President, Access Communications Group, LLC 

Virtual Remarks

  • January Contreras, Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

12:30 p.m. Closing Remarks

President Joe Biden and Administration leaders know that America’s future prosperity and global leadership is tied to the success of Latino families and communities. Through the American Rescue Plan, Bi-partisan Infrastructure law, executive orders and administrative actions, the Biden-Harris Administration is making historic investments in the Latino community from federal contracting to workforce development. 

Read the press release announcing the White House Initiative Latino Economic Summits

Join us to learn more about how you can better leverage federal partnerships and mobilize the Latino community towards historic federal resources designed to advance equity and help our nation build back better. By coming together across race, place and sectors we can collectively build a brighter future in which all businesses, families, workers and students can thrive – including the more than 60 million Latinos in the U.S.

COVID Protocols:

The wearing of a face covering while in attendance is welcomed.

This summit requests that attendees volunteer to share their COVID-19 vaccination status. For those that choose not to share that information, the Aspen Institute will provide oversight of COVID-19 rapid tests and show a negative result to enter. Attendees may also arrive to the event early to take a COVID-19 test prior to the event. Those showing a positive test or unwillingness to comply with our health and safety protocols will be provided instructions on how to virtually access the event. Please contact us in advance if you require a reasonable accommodation related to these requirements.

To expedite your entry into the event, we also ask that you:

• Bring your vaccination card and government issued photo ID to show upon arrival. A
photo of your vaccination card that matches your ID is acceptable.
• If you don’t wish/or don’t have proof of your vaccination, a rapid COVID-19 test site will be available on-site, at no additional charge.

In addition, there will be an opportunity for attendees to take COVID vaccinations or booster shots after the summit.

Parking

Campus map of The University of Texas at El Paso

The parking garage nearest the Learning Center has been reserved and will be free of charge to attendees. UTEP also has student volunteers that will be able to help direct guests from the garage to the venue.

Previous White House Initiative Latino Economic Summits:

March 22, 2022 – White House Initiative Latino Economic Summit in San Antonio – The University of Texas at San Antonio

March 26, 2022 – White House Initiative Latino Economic Summit in Denver – Community College of Denver

June 23, 2022 – White House Initiative Latino Economic Summit in Chicago – Malcolm X College