Esperanza Achieved Great Success with the 2009 National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference

Esperanza organized another successful National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference. More than 600 faith and community leaders traveled to Washington, D.C. to unite in civic engagement and purposeful prayer. The Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, addressed our participants at the Prayer Breakfast and reaffirmed his commitment to passing comprehensive immigration reform. He also spoke of faith as a “guiding force in our lives,” one in which “prayer helps us find the vision and strength to see the world that we want to build.” (To read the President’s complete address, please CLICK HERE.) Mr. Frank Sharry, Founder and Executive Director of America’s Voice—an organization aimed at winning common sense immigration reform—spoke to our event participants before they met with their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. In light of Esperanza’s focus on comprehensive immigration reform and our participation in Congressman Luis Gutierrez’s (D-IL) “Familias Unidas” tour, we awarded Congressman Gutierrez the Esperanza Advocate Award for his persistent advocacy on behalf of the immigrant community.


Rev. Luis Cortes, Jr and President Obama 
Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-IL);  
Mr. Frank Sharry of America ’s Voice during the Capitol Hill Briefing

The Reverend Luis Cortés, Jr., President and founder of Esperanza, reflected proudly on the success of the event saying, “Once again, we have come together as one Latino voice to pray, celebrate, and advocate for comprehensive immigration reform in the hopes that it will answer the prayers of so many immigrants who desperately want to become United States citizens, not to mention the families of those immigrants who are equally committed to and affected by our legislation.”


Crowd in prayer
Crowd singing
Women praying

“Wonderful!”; “A great blessing;” and, “The best year ever!” were just a few of the accolades touted by our participants. Their encouragement validated the purpose of the event and reaffirmed the power of the Latino community when we join our voices in solidarity for a common good.

 

The 2009 National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference Hosted Three Days of Events


Ms. Jenny Sevilla Korn during the Advocacy Training
Secretary Shaun Donovan during the Housing Dinner 
Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) during the Housing Dinner


June 17, 2009

  • Advocacy Training- Ms. Jennifer Sevilla Korn, former White House Director of Hispanic Affairs, facilitated the training, which focused on the value and necessity of community engagement and prepared participants for their Congressional Hill visits.
  • Mujeres de Esperanza Prayer Challenge- Mujeres de Esperanza led a time of intercessory prayer where participants focused on lifting up our nation, the Hispanic community, our families, and our elected officials.
  • The State of Hispanic Housing Dinner- Our audience was treated to dynamic speeches by The Honorable Shaun Donovan, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (To read his speech CLICK HERE); Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL); and, Mr. Kenneth Wade, the Chief Executive Officer of NeighborWorks America. In addition, Dr. Ira Goldstein of The Reinvestment Fund discussed the findings of a study entitled, “Impacts of Changes in the Home Mortgage Market on Hispanic Homeowners in Pennsylvania and Delaware.” (CLICK HERE to view the study.) Renowned Gospel artists, Ingrid Rosario and Julissa, closed out the dinner with rousing musical performances.
  • Church Leadership Plenary- Marcos Witt, four-time Grammy Award winner, was the keynote speaker during this session where he shared his knowledge and experience as a pastor and how it applies to leadership, particularly when addressing a community in crisis.


Mr. Jack Weaver facilitating small group discussion during Capitol Hill briefing 
Adolfo Carrion, Jr., White House Director of Urban Affairs, Adolfo Carrion, Sr., & Rev. Luis Cortes, Jr., During Partners and Awards Dinner 
Mr. & Mrs. Fernando Arau, Julissa, Rev. Luis Cortes, Jr., and Congressman Gutierrez

June 18, 2009

  • Advocacy Breakfast- Participants socialized and networked with other church and community leaders during this spirited kick-off to the busy day ahead.
  • Capitol Hill Briefing- The Rev. Luis Cortés, Jr., along with Mr. Frank Sharry, founder and Executive Director of America’s Voice, gave impassioned speeches that provided focus and inspiration for the crowd before heading to Capitol Hill.
  • Congressional Hill Visits- Faith and community leaders, representing 10 states, attended their scheduled visits—resulting in a total of 69 congressional visits—with Representatives and Senators to discuss the issues that are central to the Hispanic community.
  • Census 2010 Press Conference- Esperanza and the U.S. Census Bureau hosted a press conference at the National Press Club where Reverend Luis Cortes, Jr. announced Esperanza’s staunch support of Hispanic participation in the 2010 Census.
  • Mujeres de Esperanza Prayer Challenge- Day two of the prayer challenge was as moving and uplifting as day one and provided spiritual reinforcement for the entire event.
  • Esperanza Partners and Awards Dinner- This “Noche de Celebración” (“Night of Celebration”) recognized some of Esperanza’s partners and honored four deserving individuals with Esperanza Awards. The Esperanza Advocate Award, was given to Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL). The Esperanza Partner Award was awarded to Aetna, represented by the president of Aetna’s Mid-Atlantic Region Small and Middle Market Business, Mr. Patrick R. Young. The Rev. Adolfo Carrión, Sr. received the Esperanza Spirit Award for exemplary ministerial service after a moving speech by his son, The Honorable Adolfo Carrión, Jr., White House Director of Urban Affairs. The last award of the night went to TV personality Fernando Arau, who was honored with the Esperanza Image Award for being an exemplary role model for Latinos. Esperanza also announced the continuation of our Climate Initiative work through a partnership with Wal-Mart. Throughout the evening the audience was inspired by stirring performances from Hispanic Gospel artists Alex Campos, Ordained Praise, Danny Grijalva, Ingrid Rosario, and Julissa.


President Barack Obama at the Prayer Breakfast 
Secretary Janet Napolitano at the Prayer Breakfast 
Rendell Award 

June 19, 2009

  • The 2009 National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast- The culminating event of the conference began early Friday morning with a rousing worship celebration by Ordained Praise. Four-time Grammy Award winner, Marcos Witt, was the Master of Ceremonies. Speakers that morning included The Honorable Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; The Honorable Eric Cantor, House Republican Minority Whip (R-VA) (To read Congressman Cantor’s remarks CLICK HERE); and The Honorable Billy Tauzin (formerly Deputy Majority Whip, R-LA), Chief Executive Officer of PhRMA. Inspirational musical selections were performed by Gospel artists Julissa, Jessica, Ingrid Rosario, Alex Campos, Ordained Praise, and Christian trumpet artist, David O’Neil. Two additional awards were presented during the Prayer Breakfast. The Esperanza Leadership Award was given to the Honorable Edward G. Rendell, Governor of Pennsylvania, for his exemplary leadership. We deeply appreciate the stance Governor Rendell took in asking for federal involvement in the sentencing of the young men who killed Luis Ramirez, a Mexican immigrant, in Shenandoah, PA. The final award given was The Mujeres de Esperanza “A Certain Woman” Award, presented to Mrs. María Ruiz for her humanitarian work with the children and youth of Ciudad Juárez, México. Throughout the event intercessory prayers were lifted on behalf of our nation, the Hispanic community, our political leaders, and for world peace. The audience eagerly awaited President Barack Obama’s keynote address, in which he referred to “the world that we want to build” as an America that “will let you go as far as your dreams and your hard work will carry you,” and one that has a longstanding tradition of being built by immigrants.


Governor Ed Rendell (D-PA) with Rev. Luis Cortes, Jr. During Prayer Breakfast
Children Guests
Children Guests
All Singers On Stage- Ingrid Rosario, Ordained Praise, Julissa, Danny Grijalva, and Alex Campos


Marcos Witt during the Church Leadership Plenary 
Crowd in prayer lead by Maria Ruiz 
All Singers on Stage
Jessica

 
Rep. Cantor
Jessica

Esperanza founded the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference in 2002, and has organized the event for seven subsequent years. Esperanza’s commitment to political involvement draws notable political figures—from both the Democratic and Republican parties—whose desire it is to address the Hispanic faith community, to the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference. Esperanza’s dedication to faith attracts renowned Christian artists who proudly participate in our event. Over the past eight years, Esperanza’s National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference has gathered an average of 750 faith and community leaders and has served as a platform for celebration, civic engagement, and prayer.