VTMBH Article: Body
In the interest of fostering a more active political and economic exchange between the Salvadoran community living in the United States and their home country, the U.S. Salvadoran Chamber of Commerce will hold the First Democratic and Teaching Forum for the Salvadoran Community on April 21 at Nassau Community College in Garden City, N.Y. On hand will be three representatives of El Salvadors principle political parties: Party of National Conciliation (PCN), Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), and Farabundo Martí Front for National Liberation (FMLN).
The agenda of this conference seeks a new relationship with political and economic events in the country of our birth, in the quest to build active participation in the development of our community in the United States and our country, said Chamber President Emilio Ruíz.
One of the most interesting aspects of this forum will be the participation of students representing the second generation of Salvadorans living in the United States. Among the discussion topics of concern to this generation is whether it is feasible to pass a bill giving the vote to Salvadorans abroad, as is permitted the citizens of other countries living in the United States. [See Colombian Congress elections held in Queens, in Voices 12.]
The concept is not just political outreach, but business outreach as well, said Ruíz. One of our objectives is to incorporate Salvadorans from all generations into entrepreneurial life as a means of interaction between both countries.
Invited to this years forum are Salvadoran Assemblymen Elizardo González Lovo, of PCN; Dr. Norman Quijano, of ARENA; and Ms. Iliana Rogel, of FMLN.
The Chamber of Commerce says the forum is of central importance for the Salvadoran community with roots in the northeastern United States, in particular for the youth of Salvadoran origin who currently attend colleges and universities in the area. Many of them have demonstrated great interest in participating.
The presence of Salvadoran politicians creates the possibility of establishing a dialogue and a closer relationship in which members of the Salvadoran community in the United States, many of whom have been the primary economic support for their country in the past two decades, can make their voices and concerns heard and begin to open the doors to the establishment of a more active and decisive participation in the future.
Members of our community send over $1.7 billion a year to our country in order to sustain the families who stayed there, said Ruíz. In contrast to what happens in the U.S., the country that we have adopted as our new home, economic power has not been transformed into political power. And its time to make it happen.
The agenda of this conference seeks a new relationship with political and economic events in the country of our birth, in the quest to build active participation in the development of our community in the United States and our country, said Chamber President Emilio Ruíz.
One of the most interesting aspects of this forum will be the participation of students representing the second generation of Salvadorans living in the United States. Among the discussion topics of concern to this generation is whether it is feasible to pass a bill giving the vote to Salvadorans abroad, as is permitted the citizens of other countries living in the United States. [See Colombian Congress elections held in Queens, in Voices 12.]
The concept is not just political outreach, but business outreach as well, said Ruíz. One of our objectives is to incorporate Salvadorans from all generations into entrepreneurial life as a means of interaction between both countries.
Invited to this years forum are Salvadoran Assemblymen Elizardo González Lovo, of PCN; Dr. Norman Quijano, of ARENA; and Ms. Iliana Rogel, of FMLN.
The Chamber of Commerce says the forum is of central importance for the Salvadoran community with roots in the northeastern United States, in particular for the youth of Salvadoran origin who currently attend colleges and universities in the area. Many of them have demonstrated great interest in participating.
The presence of Salvadoran politicians creates the possibility of establishing a dialogue and a closer relationship in which members of the Salvadoran community in the United States, many of whom have been the primary economic support for their country in the past two decades, can make their voices and concerns heard and begin to open the doors to the establishment of a more active and decisive participation in the future.
Members of our community send over $1.7 billion a year to our country in order to sustain the families who stayed there, said Ruíz. In contrast to what happens in the U.S., the country that we have adopted as our new home, economic power has not been transformed into political power. And its time to make it happen.