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Commission on Human Rights
Second Annual Kentucky Hispanic and Immigrant Networking Summit
T he Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (KCHR) held its second annual Kentucky Hispanic and Immigrant Networking Summit on Sept. 29, at the UK Cooperative Extension Office in Shelbyville, Ky. About 145 people attended. (See photo below.)
The summit kicked off a statewide celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 — October 15).
The commission organized this unique event to increase communication and collaboration between the federal, state, and local governments with Kentucky’s immigrant communities.
Partnering government institutions had the opportunity to network with Hispanic educators and entrepreneurs, directors of Kentucky Latino centers and refugee agencies, and members of the Hispanic media from across the commonwealth.
Speakers like Ron Crouch from the Kentucky State Data Center, Edgardo Mansilla from the Americana Community Center, and Steve Bogus from the Catholic Charities emphasized the current needs and potential of the growing immigrant population.
In addition to the day’s speaker panels, representatives such as Troy Body from the Governor’s Office of Minority Empowerment, Marcia Hall-Craig from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Deborah Knight from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Brenda Walker from the Kentucky Housing Corporation were able to visit one-on-one with immigrant community contacts that have been built over half a decade through KCHR’s intensive outreach efforts. •
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