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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 10, 2005 Forum to focus on Hispanic issues Session will be held Sunday at Phoenix High School By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune PHOENIX — A Sunday forum here is geared to jump-start conversation about opportunities and challenges for the Rogue Valley’s fastest growing population. Coordinated by the Hispanic Community Referral and Information Center and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of the Rogue Valley, the session will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Phoenix High School, 745 N. Rose St. Coordinators hope the forum, to include Hispanic business owners, civic leaders, community members and government and corporate officials, will consider the "rights and obligations" of the Hispanic community. Forum keynote speaker Daniel P Santos, policy advisor of the office of Gov. Ted Kulongoski, said the forum will update a set of issues discussed at a similar event in recent years, centered around law enforcement and the court system, but would include a broader range of topics such as education and economics. "This time around we’ll discuss a wider range of things like business opportunities, social services, health care," Santos said. Advertisement In addition, the forum agenda calls for a review of the Hispanic presence in the Rogue Valley and issues pertaining to participation and access to social services and education. An SOU graduate, Santos has served in the administrations of four governors. He traces his professional career to the Rogue Valley, where he helped found and direct the Jackson County Migrant Education Program. Santos said Friday he looks forward to returning to Southern Oregon to connect with old friends and discuss issues affecting local Hispanic residents. In the mid-1970s, Santos recalled being asked to assist educators at Phoenix Elementary "with their one Hispanic student." "Obviously, it really has evolved since then," he noted. "When I was there, here we were barely starting this concept of a migrant education program. It wasn’t that Hispanic children weren’t in the area at that point, but were staying short periods of time for harvest season and not attending school. "The Hispanic community, just like other communities in the valley and in the state, has really taken off. That brings both opportunities and challenges, and this forum will create some great dialogue." For more information, contact the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 535-6277. Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected]. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Advertisement s