As a city that shows us what the future of Texas will look like, how can El Paso help other Texas communities plan for the future? What are the lessons learned in education, health care, business and immigration that can help navigate demographic changes and build thriving economies, strong workforces and healthy communities throughout the state?
Join us on Thursday, April 11, at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso for a daylong symposium about the significance of El Paso to Texas and its future.
This event is free and open to the public.
Lunch will be provided.
PROGRAM NOTE: The Tribune will also be hosting an event titled, "We the Texans: Art and Democracy" at 4 p.m. MT Wednesday, April 10, at the El Paso Museum of Art. Click here to learn more.Â
Long-time El Paso-based journalists discuss what they've learned from covering this border community. What are the challenges they've seen, and how do you cover the challenges alongside the successes?
This 45-minute session will be followed by a 15-minute Q&A.
Moderator: Zahira Torres, Texas editor, ProPublica-Texas Tribune Investigative Initiative
Confirmed speakers: Alfredo Corchado, executive editor and correspondent, PUENTE News Collaborative; Angela Kocherga, news director, KTEP; and Bob Moore, founder and CEO, El Paso Matters
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El Paso touts its strategic location on the border and its bilingual and bicultural workforce as key to economic growth. How is the El Paso economy unique to the state, and what are the lessons that can be applied elsewhere?
This 45-minute session will be followed by a 15-minute Q&A.
Confirmed speakers:Â Jon Barela, CEO, Borderplex Alliance; Cindy Ramos-Davidson, CEO, El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce;Â Mayra G. Maldonado, executive director, UTEP Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness
El Paso represents what our schools are going to look like throughout Texas. Can El Paso be a place that leads the way in how to educate Latino students? What would that example look like, and how could it be replicated?
This 45-minute session will be followed by a 15-minute Q&A.
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Confirmed speakers: Andrea Cortinas, vice president and chief of staff, University of Texas at El Paso; Xavier De La Torre, superintendent, Ysleta Independent School District; Angelica Haro, director, Region 19 ESC; and Eddie Rodriguez, executive director of the Council on Regional Economic Expansion and Educational Development (CREEED)Â
El Paso is a community in which people are learning more about the health conditions facing communities of color and the challenges in access to health care. What can other border communities learn from El Paso?
This 45-minute session will be followed by a 15-minute Q&A.
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Confirmed speakers:Â Ogechika Alozie, CEO, Sunset ID Care;Â Glenn Fennelly, assistant vice president for global health, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso:Â Aida Ponce, chief outreach and wellness officer, Project Vida. More speakers announced soon.Â
We'll explore border and immigration issues at the state and national levels. It's a conversation we all struggle with, as it is often politicized but far more nuanced than people want to believe. How do we combat misinformation and charged rhetoric, and how can we address the issues to lead to growth and success in El Paso — and other regions of the state?
This 45-minute session will be followed by a 15-minute Q&A.
Moderator: Angela Kocherga, news director, KTEP. Confirmed speakers: Luis Figueroa, chief of legislative affairs, Every Texan; Ruben Garcia, founder and executive director, Annunciation House. More speakers announced soon.Â
Refer to the map below for parking information at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. We hope to see you there!
Email us at events@texastribune.org
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Saucedo-Herrera is the president and CEO of greater:SATX, a regional economic partnership charged with growing and diversifying the eight-county San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA. During her seven-year tenure at the helm of San Antonio’s economic development team, greater:SATX has secured over 23,000 jobs for the region through recruitment and expansion projects that include work with Ernst & Young, Victory Capital, Navistar and Aisin.
Kamerlander is president and CEO of the Greater San Marcos Partnership. He formerly served as director of Lockhart Economic Development, where he developed the city’s first economic development strategic plan to promote Lockhart as a destination for job creation and investment. The successful program saw the development of a LEDC-owned 75 acre-acre industrial park housing Lockhart’s most recent announcement, The Ziegenfelder Company, a frozen treat manufacturer. The project included a $46 million investment and is creating 100 new jobs.
Latson is the CEO of Opportunity Austin. Previously, he founded and served as executive director for ARMA, the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association, a business group focused on strengthening the advanced manufacturing community through advocacy, workforce development and networking. Latson is also a member of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Semiconductor Taskforce.
Packer is president and CEO of the New Braunfels Chamber, a membership organization representing more than 1,600 businesses. The chamber advocates for sound public policy, serves as the destination marketing organization for New Braunfels and manages Confluence, a public-private economic development initiative.
Cisneros is chair of the infrastructure investment firm American Triple I. He is also vice chair of the board of directors and equity owner of Shank Williams Cisneros & Co. LLC and principal of Siebert Williams Shank & Co. LLC. He was mayor of San Antonio from 1981-89 and secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton from 1993-97.
