Newark, NJ— New York State Assembly Member Guillermo Linares confirmed his attendance to the 16th Annual NJ Dominican Affairs Conference (CODA) slated to take place on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at Rutgers’ Roberson Campus Center in Newark, New Jersey.
“It is meaningful that Assembly Member Linares has accepted our invitation to actively participate in the 2016 NJ Conference on Dominican Affairs,” said Dr. Maria Teresa Montilla, President of the Institute for Latino Studies, Research and Development. “Linares is one of the founders of the NJ Conference on Dominican Affairs. Join us in welcoming him home!”
Linares will be one of the panelists in the forum entitled “Latinos and the Presidential Race 2016.” Panelists include Fernando Alonso, Chairman Bergen County Republican Hispanic Association,Juan Cartagena, Esq., President and General Counsel of LatinoJustice PRLDEF, Julio Marenco, Finance and Revenue Commissioner of North Bergen, and Milly Silva, Executive Vice President 1199 SEIU. The forum will be moderated by Nestor Montilla, Sr., Director of Government Relations of Lehman College.
During the Lunch Plenary, Linares will talk about his life story and how he was able to succeed in the United States despite his humble beginnings. He will join other presenters who will address dozens of young students who will attend the 16th Annual Conference on Dominican Affairs dedicated this year to Mentoring the Next Generation of Leaders.
The 2016 Annual Conference on Dominican Affairs is made possible thanks to the generous support of UNIVISION. The list of sponsors also includes PSE&G, and Global Psychiatric Services (GPS) PC. CEO Dr. Miguel R Hernandez MD PC: “Your guide in mental health/Tu Guia en Salud Mental”. Conference’s collaborators include The Dominican American National Roundtable, The Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jew Jersey, and the National Dominican American Council. CODA is a signature project of the Institute for Latino Studies Research and Development (ILS).
Due to limited space, CODA conference coordinators kindly advise those interested in attending to RSVP before February 27th. To register, click here or visit: www.instituteforlatinostudies.org
Free admission for high school and college students (RSVP required via sending an e-mail to [email protected]). Admission includes breakfast, refreshments and lunch.
About Guillermo Linares
Linares moved from his native Dominican Republic to the Bronx, NY in 1966.
From very humble beginnings, and after making a living as a taxi driver, Linares propelled himself to graduate from college and get elected to public office: in 1991 he was elected to the New York City Council, where he served until 2001.
In 1995, Linares was appointed member of the White House Initiative for Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. In 1999, President William Clinton appointed him as Chair of this Initiative.
Dr. Linares served for six years as a board member of the National Council of La Raza.
From 2004 to 2009, he served as Commissioner of the NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Office for Immigrant Affairs.
He then was elected to the New York State Assembly, where he served from 2011 to 2012 representing the 72nd District, which encompasses Washington Heights, Inwood and Marble Hill in Northern Manhattan.
In 2014, he was elected again to the New York State Assembly in the 72nd District.
With other activists and leaders, Linares helped establish the Community Association of Progressive Dominicans, the Puerto Rican/Latino Education Round Table and the Parents Coalition for Education in New York City.
Linares was also instrumental in the founding of the CUNY’s Dominican Studies Institute at City College, the Audubon Partnership for Economic Development and the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies at the CUNY Graduate Center.
Linares received a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degree from City College and a Professional Diploma in Administration and Supervision from Fordham University. Subsequently, he earned his Doctorate in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Dr. Linares is married to a public school principal, has two children, a granddaughter (Ava), and two grandsons, (Dylan and Greyson).