Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Announces New Partnership with Fundacion Azteca America and Grupo Salinas for International Fellowship Program in Mexico

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Announces New Partnership with Fundacion Azteca America and Grupo Salinas for International Fellowship Program in Mexico

WASHINGTON, May 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the nation's premier Hispanic educational and youth leadership development organization, yesterday announced funding by Fundacion Azteca America and Grupo Salinas for its Graduate & Young Professional Fellowship (GYP) International Affairs Program in Mexico.

"We are excited about contributing to this Fellowship program and look forward to the leaders from the program becoming key players in the international affairs arena," said Luis J. Echarte, Chairman of Fundacion Azteca America. "In the words of our Grupo Salinas Chairman Ricardo B. Salinas, 'one of our objectives is to unite societies in the world of globalized resources, including human capital.'"

"As Latinos, we must grow our presence in the global marketplace," said Rep. Joe Baca (CA-43), CHCI Chairman. "This partnership with Fundacion Azteca America and Grupo Salinas will provide opportunities for more aspiring young people to gain experience on an international level and have an impact in the global arena as they move on in their careers."

In an effort to respond to the need for more Latinos working on global issues, CHCI and Fundacion Azteca America agreed to create an International Affairs Fellowship in Mexico modeled after a pilot program CHCI hosted with Spain in 2007. The Fellowship Program allows Fellows the benefit of broadening their policymaking experience in the international arena by traveling abroad.

The International Affairs Fellowship is a 12 month, intensive leadership development experience for two graduate level professionals interested in experiencing the connection between domestic and international policy. For the first nine months of the Fellowship, program participants will be placed at an international-related agency or organization in Washington, D.C. The final three months of the Fellowship will take place in Mexico.

The goal of the Fellowship is to prepare young Latinos for future careers in international affairs. As of 2004, only five percent of the 10,276 Foreign Service officers in the Department of State were of Hispanic origin; of the 4,509 working as Foreign Service specialists, 6.1 percent were Hispanic; and of the 7,362 working in civil service in Washington D.C., four percent were identified as Hispanic.

"It is only through continued collaboration and innovation that we will create future leaders in this growing field," said Esther Aguilera. "Fundacion Azteca America and Grupo Salinas are making it possible for CHCI to expand its boundaries into new territories in Mexico and we look forward to giving these wonderful opportunities to our young people."

Candidates for the 2008-2009 program are currently undergoing the competitive selection process.

About Fundacion Azteca America

Fundacion Azteca America is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for members of the Hispanic community currently in the U.S. For more information, visit http://www.fundacionaztecaamerica.org/.

Fundacion Azteca America, Fundacion Azteca, Azteca America and TV Azteca are companies of Mexican conglomerate Grupo Salinas. For more information, visit http://www.aztecaamerica.com/corporate and http://www.gruposalinas.com/. And check out http://www.ricardosalinas.com/.

About Grupo Salinas

Grupo Salinas (http://www.gruposalinas.com/) is a group of dynamic, fast-growing and technologically advanced companies focused on creating shareholder value, contributing to building the middle class of the countries where it operates, and improving society through excellence. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas, Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies, TV Azteca (http://www.irtvazteca.com/), Azteca America (http://www.aztecaamerica.com/), Grupo Elektra (http://www.grupoelektra.com.mx/), Banco Azteca (http://www.bancoazteca.com.mx/), Afore Azteca (http://www.aforeazteca.com.mx/), Seguros Azteca (http://www.segurosazteca.com.mx/), and Grupo Iusacell (http://www.iusacell.com/). Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. However, member companies share a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance.

About Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization, provides leadership development programs and educational services to students and young emerging leaders. The CHCI Board of Directors is comprised of Hispanic Members of Congress, nonprofit leaders and corporate executives. For more information call CHCI at (202) 543-1771 or visit http://www.chci.org/.

Media Contacts:
CHCI: Scott Gunderson Rosa, (202) 548-5876
sgunderson_rosa@chci.org

Dan McCosh, Fundacion Azteca America
011 52 55 1720 0059
dmccosh@gruposalinas.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Fundacion Azteca America; CHCI; Azteca America; TV Azteca; Grupo
Salinas; Grupo Elektra; Banco Azteca; Iusacell

CONTACT: Scott Gunderson Rosa, CHCI, +1-202-548-5876,
sgunderson_rosa@chci.org; or Dan McCosh, Fundacion Azteca America,
+011-52-55-1720-0059, dmccosh@gruposalinas.com

Web site:

http://www.aztecaamerica.com/
http://www.chci.org/
http://www.fundacionaztecaamerica.org/
http://www.iusacell.com/

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