By Olivia Madera
Every year California’s League of United Latin American Citizens, or best referred to as LULAC, holds a state convention focused workshops, speakers, and their annual State LULAC elections. This year the convention will take place at Zachari Dunes Resort in Oxnard, from April 26-28.
California LULAC, State Director and National LULAC Board Member Jacob Sandoval said each LULAC council can propose to have the LULAC State Convention in their area every year as long as California LULAC membership votes on it.
He said the reason for the convention to be held in Oxnard this year is that Oxnard LULAC Council #3147 made the proposal in 2023 for the convention to be held in Oxnard and thus it was approved.
“It has previously been held in many cities across California including Sacramento, Los Angeles. Riverside, Anaheim, Monterey, and others,” Sandoval said to VIDA Newspaper.
Sandoval said Oxnard has had an impact in shaping LULAC and that two former California LULAC State Directors were from Oxnard. California LULAC’s current Deputy State Director Alyssa Mireles is also from Oxnard who Sandoval said had a pivotal role in organizing this year’s convention.
The Convention, Sandoval said will highlight community leaders and businesses from the Oxnard and Ventura communities such as Ventura County District 5 Supervisor Vianey Lopez, Policy Advisor and Community Activist Michaela Perez, and Director of Teacher Recruitment for the California Department of Education Karen Sher. Other speakers include California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Vice President of Far West for LULAC, Jose Barrera, Executive Secretary-Treasurer for California Labor Federation AFL-CIO Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, National Education Association Executive Committee Member Gladys F. Marquez, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
The convention will start on Friday, April 26 with a Military and Veterans Luncheon accompanied by Office of the Navy Chief of Staff Christopher Diaz, Military & Veterans Committee Chair Roman Palomares for LULAC National. Friday evening’s reception will have California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, as a speaker. There will also be a Powerful Women, Women in Power Luncheon, a Youth and Young Adult Empowerment breakfast, and a Gala Awards Dinner to end the convention.
Some of the workshops include Taking your organization to the next level, Running for Office as a Young Adult, and Latinos in STEM: Professional Development.
“It is important since it’s an opportunity for our members from across California to come together to not only network and learn from other LULAC members and attend empowering speakers and workshops,” Sandoval said to VIDA Newspaper. “It also is an opportunity for the local community to attend and interact with LULAC members with the goal of leaving the Convention and taking back what they learned back to their community and make positive changes.”
Anyone is welcome to attend the convention by registering online at https://calulac.org/convention-2024. Sandoval said though there is a cost to attend they have been able to raise funds through sponsors of the convention to reduce the price. This also includes a reduced registration fee for students of $50 if they fill out the form on the website.
In addition, Sandoval said that many of California LULAC’s sponsors have donated registrations which will soon be provided to a limited number of free registrations to local community members.
“We have a goal of having 100 students attend with 50 of those students attend from the local high schools, community colleges and Universities with the goal of empowering them to be future leaders who make a positive contribution in the local community,” Sandoval said to VIDA Newspaper.
Council President for the San Buena Ventura Council #3308 Danny Carrillo is a part of the Veterans Planning Committee for the Military and Veterans Luncheon and was recently appointed to be the Military and Veterans Affair Representative for California LULAC.
California LULAC is very important, and Carrillo said he is excited to still be a part of LULAC and make sure there is fairness and fair treatment for all in local communities. He also said you do not have to be a Latino to be a LULAC member.
For the convention, Carrillo said they expect good participation and has already received generous sponsors helping them out in various ways.
“We’re like 35-45% Latinos in the county of Ventura so we’re growing, and we need to make sure we have a seat at the table, if you will.” Carrillo said to VIDA Newspaper.
Carrillo said it has been about 20 years since he has assisted and participated in an annual California LULAC convention.
“You know we’re advocating in the educational fields, we’re advocating in the environmental fields, we’re advocating for veterans, for women,” Carrillo said. He said California LULAC’s mission is to make sure there is an equal say and equal representation for everyone.
“To have this opportunity to share what we do and share the community here, again not just in Oxnard but in the 805,” Carrillo said to VIDA Newspaper. “It’s great and it doesn’t happen very often, we’re really excited we can let people know about California LULAC and the different councils here in Ventura County.”