Los Angeles, CA–(HISPANIC PR WIRE)–May 6, 2003–The California Latino Legislative Caucus Institute for Public Policy (CLLCIPP) announced today the launch of the Senator Richard G. Polanco Fellows Program. The Fellows program is named after Senator Richard G. Polanco (RET.) who served sixteen years in the California Legislature including ten years as Chair of the CA Latino Legislative Caucus. Under his leadership the Latino Caucus grew from four members to an unprecedented 24 members upon his retirement in 2002. During his tenure, Senator Polanco authored landmark legislation affecting every major public policy area in California including healthcare, K-12 education, gun control, immigration, farm workers rights, prison reform, international trade, higher education and the expansion of the community college system.

Designed as a public policy leadership-training program, the Polanco Fellows Program will be based in Sacramento and will be associated with the California State University Sacramento (CSUS). CLLCIPP Program advisor, Max Benavidez, and CSUC Center for California Studies Program Director, Sandra Perez, will help guide the program through its first year.

Five CLLCIPP Polanco Fellows will be selected from across California to participate in the inaugural 2003 class. Two of the Fellows will specialize in the areas of financial services and corporate public interest. The CLLCIPP Polanco Fellows will be selected to serve as full-time staff in the Legislature or other branches of government in Sacramento. The term of the Fellowship will be 11 months beginning October 2003 and each Fellow will receive a monthly stipend of $1,882. The application deadline is May 31, 2003. Anyone interested in receiving an application can contact Lisa Baca-Sigala at (323) 660-7234, FAX (323) 664-7222 or email requests to bacasigala@earthlink.net

“The Latino community has grown tremendously over the last decade. Ensuring the next generation of effective and ethical leadership for California is a primary goal of the Institute”, stated Senator Richard G. Polanco, CLLCIPP Chairman. He continued, “We are honored to have the experience of Max Benavidez and Sandra Perez in guiding this program though its first year. With the continued support of corporate sponsors like Chevron/Texaco, AT&T, Johnson & Johnson, MBNA America, Sempra Energy and TELACU, we will be able to grow the program each year. Our goal is to have a class of twenty Polanco Fellows by 2006”.

The California Latino Legislative Caucus Institute for Public Policy founded in 2002 is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization created as a non-partisan effort by the California Latino Legislative Caucus to serve as a broad based public policy, educational and leadership development organization. The Institute will serve as an agent of change to ensure that California’s Latino community has an increasingly positive and dynamic influence on the state’s diverse economic, social and political resources. The Institute Board of Directors includes: Senator Richard Polanco (RET.), Chairman, David Lizarraga, President, Carmen O. Perez, Secretary, and RC Schrader, Treasurer. The Institute has also established a corporate advisory council whose founding members include: AT & T, Johnson & Johnson, MBNA America, Sempra Energy and TELACU.

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CONTACT:

RC Schrader (714) 328-7683

or

Lisa Baca-Sigala (323) 660-7234