LANCASTER, Pa. — Leaders from the Lehigh Valley will participate in Pennsylvania's first-ever Latina Women Convention at Millersville University.
The event will take place at the Ware Center at Millersville on Wednesday, March 27. It was organized by members of the PA Latino Convention, or PALC.
In 2023, the Latino Convention committee, held in Harrisburg, held a separate women's session to discuss topics like representation and empowerment.
That fall, Norman Bristol Colón, founder of PALC and the commonwealth's chief diversity officer, asked other PALC members, including Edith Gutierrez-Hawbaker of Bethlehem, to help plan a larger women-led event to occur during Women's History Month.
Voto Latino, civic engagement
The conference will include panel talks on business, entrepreneurship, technology, civic engagement, health and well-being, politics and government, and mentoring.
Less than eight months away from the presidential election, slated to participate in a "national lens" talk are Sindy Benavides, chief executive officer of the Latino Victory Foundation; Melissa Mark-Viverito, former speaker of the New York City Council; and Xochitl Oseguera, vice president of Mamás Con Power.
Offering a statewide take on politics are: former Philadelphia City Council member Maria Quinones Sanchez; Lancaster Councilwoman Janet Diaz; Reading Councilwoman Vanessa Campos; and Easton City Administrator Luis Campos. Campos is a board member of Lehigh Valley Public Media, which operates PBS39, 91.3 WLVR Radio and LehighValleyNews.com.
Overall, 275 people are registered for the convention, which cost $50 to attend.
Joining them will be 75 students from local middle and high schools and colleges.
