The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce and Youth Development, Inc. Receive $75,000 NCLR/Comcast Grant to Provide Workforce Training

The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce and Youth Development, Inc. Receive $75,000 NCLR/Comcast Grant to Provide Workforce Training

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., June 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In partnership with the Comcast Foundation, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., today announced a $75,000 capacity-building grant to the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce (AHCC) and Youth Development, Inc. (YDI) for a joint workforce development initiative. Eight NCLR/Comcast grants were awarded to community-based organizations chosen from NCLR's Affiliate Network of nearly 300 organizations throughout the nation.

This workforce development project will offer participants high-quality occupational training in basic computer skills and customer service and also will enhance the overall employability of job-seekers though job readiness preparation and the acquisition of portable skills.

"At Comcast, we have a deep commitment to serving the communities where we live and work. This commitment to our communities goes well beyond bringing the best cable, video-on-demand, high-speed Internet and later this summer -- digital phone services -- into our customers' homes," said Scott Westerman, Southwest Area Vice President, Comcast. "We believe that one of the most important investments we can make as citizens is to support our community through local partnerships. The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce and Youth Development, Inc. are two outstanding Latino organizations helping advance our workforce here in Albuquerque and Comcast is thrilled to provide this capacity-building grant."

"Comcast's support of the Workforce Development Initiative Pilot Project is critical in providing opportunities for our residents and the growing West Side business community," said Martin Chavez, Albuquerque Mayor. "It is through these types of partnerships that it improves Albuquerque's economic development and makes our city a great place to live, work and do business."

The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce is one of the oldest and largest Hispanic Chambers in the United States, with a mission to promote economic development and enhance opportunities for the Hispanic/Latino communities in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. Youth Development, Inc. is a nationally recognized youth service organization that provides educational, developmental, and humanitarian assistance to children, youth, and families in central and northern New Mexico.

"We are so pleased that NCLR and Comcast have recognized the work we do together to increase employment opportunities for Latino workers and their families," noted Augustine (Chris) Baca, President & CEO, Youth Development, Inc.

"In particular, I'd like to commend Comcast for providing this type of funding that will help Latino community organizations become even better at what they do well. It's not only good for our community, it's good for Albuquerque and New Mexico," noted Alex Romero, Executive Director of AHCC.

NCLR/Comcast capacity-building grants were awarded in the categories of community development, education, health, workforce development, and advocacy. One grant also was given in the "Next Generation" category, to recognize young or newly established organizations in communities that have experienced the emergence of new Latino populations. The other awardees include: Association House of Chicago, IL; Del Norte Neighborhood Development Corporation, Denver, CO; Latino Memphis, Inc., Memphis, TN; Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Inc., Philadelphia, PA; Mujeres Latinas en Accion, Chicago, IL; Spanish American Civic Association, Lancaster, PA; and Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, Union City, CA.

"The NCLR/Comcast grant will allow these NCLR Affiliates to expand the important work they do in their communities to advance opportunities for all Latinos," said Janet Murguia, NCLR President and CEO. "We commend Comcast for working with us to offer this unique opportunity and for its continued support of organizations that strengthen and serve the Latino community."

Supporting NCLR and its Affiliate Network further exemplifies one of Comcast's key diversity initiatives to create opportunities for the Hispanic community. Comcast's commitment to diversity is focused on four key areas: attracting and retaining a multicultural workforce, developing a diverse supplier group, offering a wide selection of multicultural programming and pledging significant community investments.

For more information on the NCLR/Comcast Capacity-Building Grant Program, please contact Affiliate Member Services at (202) 785-1670 or visit http://www.nclr.org/.

About Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce

One of the oldest and largest Hispanic Chambers in the United States, the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce (AHCC) was established in 1975. The mission of the AHCC is to promote economic development and to enhance opportunities for the Hispanic community in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. One way the AHCC accomplishes this mission is through the Barelas Job Opportunity Center (BJOC) which provides a complete array of educational services and programs designed to improve the educational opportunity and experience of Hispanic students in order to create a job ready and well trained employee base for both small and large companies in the Albuquerque metropolitan area.

About Youth Development Inc.

Youth Development, Inc. (YDI), founded in 1971, is a nationally-recognized youth service organization that provides educational, developmental, and humanitarian assistance to children, youth and families in central and northern New Mexico. As a 501(c)3, non-profit charitable organization, YDI is eligible to receive tax-deductible cash and in-kind donations. YDI's programs include tutoring, after-school activities, gang intervention, drop-out prevention, family counseling services, emergency teen shelter, youth sports, internships, scholarships, parenting skills, leadership development, public housing assistance, community corrections, GED studies and testing, early childhood education via Head Start centers, substance abuse and AIDS education and many others. Through these programs, YDI serves more than 12,250 clients each year through direct services and an additional 30,000 clients through related outreach programs.

About NCLR

The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) -- the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States -- works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. Through its network of nearly 300 affiliated community-based organizations (CBOs), NCLR reaches millions of Hispanics each year in 41 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. To achieve its mission, NCLR conducts applied research, policy analysis, and advocacy, providing a Latino perspective in five key areas -- assets/investments, civil rights/immigration, education, employment and economic status, and health. In addition, it provides capacity-building assistance to its Affiliates who work at the state and local level to advance opportunities for individuals and families.

Founded in 1968, NCLR is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCLR serves all Hispanic subgroups in all regions of the country and has operations in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

About Comcast

Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA)(NASDAQ:CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com/) is the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 24.2 million cable customers, 11.5 million high-speed Internet customers, and 2.5 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, AZN Television, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One , four regional Comcast SportsNets and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet business. Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

Comcast serves more than 300,000 customers in New Mexico and Tucson and employs nearly 700 people in this region.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Comcast Corporation

CONTACT: Tiffany K. Payne of Comcast Corporation, +1-505-514-1291,
tiffany_payne@cable.comcast.com; or Tricia Hiser Scheideman of YDI Foundation,
Inc., +1-505-242-7306, ext. 36, thiser@ydinm.org; or Vivian C. La Valley of
Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, +1-505-459-6528, Vivian@ahcnm.org

Web site:

http://www.comcast.com/

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