Arizona Latino conference shows ‘Phoenix is back,’ says Stanton
Jun 2, 2017, 5:04 AM
(YouTube screenshot via NCLR)
The 2017 NCLR Annual Conference and National Latino Family Expo promises three days of entertainment, health services, interactive children’s games and even a job fair.
“This is a mega conference,” said Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton. “We’re going to have four thousand people from out of town here in Phoenix, over 20 thousand people here locally.”
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) was founded in Phoenix nearly 50 years ago.
“This leading civil rights organization representing the Latino community has chosen Arizona and Phoenix for the conference,” Stanton said. “After all we’ve been through with SB-1070.”
It shows that we have come back in a big way, he said.
“The fact that this conference has chosen Phoenix is an affirmation that we’ve turned the corner and we’re heading in the right direction,” Stanton said.
Event speakers will include Suns head coach Earl Watson, journalist Sandra Guzman and Sheriff Paul Penzone.
“Phoenix is back when it comes to doing the major conventions,” Stanton said. “The sporting events are nice and we had a lot of fun hosting the mega-events like the Super Bowl and College Football Championships and the Final Four.”
But the bread and butter of the convention business are events like the NCLR and Phoenix is really punching above our weight.
“The Convention Center is doing very well, hotels are doing well,” he said. “There’s a reason why there are so many new hotels open up in downtown Phoenix including the Marriott that just a couple weeks ago in downtown Phoenix.”
There will be several attractions at the NCLR National Latino Family Expo, including free dental screening, prescription glasses and backpacks. Plus, games for the kids as well as the chance to meet Daniel Tiger, Dora the Explorer, the Suns Gorilla, Sparky and more.
The event is free and being held at the Phoenix Convention Center from July 8-10.