For Immediate Release: July 20, 2016, Philadelphia, PA – Reverend Luis Cortés, Jr., Founder, President and CEO of the nationally recognized Latino non-profit organization Esperanza, Inc., has been invited to speak at various occasions during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia next week:
Sunday, July 24
Stronger Together “Pursuing Love & Kindness” is an interfaith service organized by the Democratic National Convention Committee where Rev. Cortés will be making ecumenical remarks.
2:00-3:00 PM
Afro-LatinX: An Evening of Art & Music, at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, will honor Rev. Cortés and Senator Vincent Hughes for their life-long commitment to Black and Latino communities in the city of Philadelphia. Afro-LatinX celebrates Esperanza’s 30th anniversary, the African American Museum in Philadelphia’s 40th anniversary, and the Democratic National Convention (DNC), by uniting Black and Latino communities in our city.
Leaders from Hampton University will be attending this event in celebration of their collaboration with Esperanza College (an HBCU and an HSI) to teach more minority students about journalism.
VIP Reception & Recognition: 3:00-4:30 PM
Public: 4:00-7:00 PM
Monday, July 25
The Hispanic Caucus meeting will open with an invocation dedicated to the victims of the Orlando tragedy, the majority of whom were Latino. Rev. Cortés will be issuing the invocation, and a student from Esperanza’s AMLA Latin School for Performing Arts will sing a tribute.
10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Thursday, July 27
Recently naturalized clients from Esperanza Immigration Legal Services will issue the pledge of allegiance preceding the official Democratic National Convention proceedings including Hillary Clinton’s nominee acceptance speech.
3:00-5:30 PM
“For the past 30 years at Esperanza, we have strived to transform communities by providing opportunities to the economically disadvantaged in North Philly and across the country,” said Rev. Cortés, “Because of the success we have had as a Hispanic organization bringing people out of poverty and to upward mobility, we have amplified the Latino voice in America, and I am honored to speak on behalf of the Hispanic and Faith communities during the DNC this year.”
Rev. Cortés founded Esperanza with the Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity 30 years ago in 1986. Esperanza employs over 300 people, has leveraged an investment of more than $90M regionally, and advocates on behalf of the Hispanic community across the country acting as an intermediary for the Department of Justice and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Esperanza hosts the bi-annual National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. which has been keynoted by former President George W. Bush, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and most recently House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
Rev. Cortés has worked with the past three presidents and their administrations as well as multiple international leaders as an advisor and special projects leader. Most recently, he led a delegation to Central America on behalf of the White House to address the issue of unaccompanied minors arriving at America’s southern borders and was also an advisor to President Obama, meeting with him along with other Hispanic and faith leaders on his 2014 Immigration Action.
For interviews please contact Esperanza’s Marketing & Media Associate Pilar Padilla at ppadilla@esperanza.us or by calling 215-324-0746 ext. 218.