Saturday, February 23, 2008
Brent A. Wilkes is the National Executive Director for the League of United Latin American Citizens
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Profile: Brent A. Wilkes, LULAC National Executive Director
http://www.lulac.org/about/director.html
Brent A. Wilkes
National Executive Director
League of United Latin American Citizens
Brent A. Wilkes is the National Executive Director for the League of United Latin American Citizens this country's largest and oldest Hispanic organization. Wilkes manages the operations of the LULAC National organization with primary focus on national policy and legislative advocacy, membership development, program development, and resource development.
A graduate of Dartmouth College in 1988, Wilkes majored in Government and Philosophy and studied Spanish in Morelia, Mexico. He has worked in various capacities for LULAC since 1988 including Special Projects Coordinator, Resource Developer, and Director of Policy & Development. He went to work for the LULAC National Office in 1996 and assumed the newly created position of National Executive Director in April of 1997.
As the LULAC National Executive Director, Wilkes is working hard to improve the quality of life for Hispanic Americans by guiding LULAC on its way to becoming a million-member organization with extensive legislative, public policy, and service activities in Hispanic communities throughout the United States.
Wilkes is widely credited with strengthening LULAC's programs, advocacy efforts, staffing, events and revenue since opening LULAC's National Office in Washington, DC in 1996. Since that time LULAC's revenue has tripled, staffing has grown from one to over twenty and the organization has taken a leadership role on key issues affecting Latinos in Washington and throughout the country.
In 2004, Wilkes helped launch the LULAC Leadership Initiative to strengthen LULAC's programs and serves at the grass-roots level. The initiative has already resulted in the establishment of 23 community technology centers, 26 housing counseling programs and 10 middle school science programs.
Wilkes currently serves as chair of the civil rights committee of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda a nonpartisan coalition of the major Hispanic national organizations which develops a consensus policy agenda and promotes public awareness of the principal issues facing Latinos. He is also an active board member of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility which advocates for the inclusion of Hispanics in corporate America at a level commensurate with Hispanic economic contributions.
As a LULAC spokesperson, Wilkes frequently is quoted in national newspapers and publications and has appeared on radio and television shows including CNN, CSPAN and Fox News. A recipient of numerous acknowledgements and awards, he is most proud of his LULAC Youth Advocate of the Year award presented in 2003.
Brent and his wife are proud parents of two boys.
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LULAC l 2000 L Street, NW, Suite 610 l Washington, DC 20036 l (202) 833-6130 Fax: (202) 833-6135
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Mexico knocked on the door of Corpus Christi, the community not only opened its doors, but its heart as well.....
Heart to heart... Community's generosity enables Mexican boy to have life-saving heart surgery
By Delia Soto
STC Associate Editor
From May 8, 2005 Edition
2May-6-05.gif
Bishop Carmody presents Juan Jose Carrizales a cap bearing an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe after undergoing heart surgery.
When a family from Mexico knocked on the door of Corpus Christi, the community not only opened its doors, but its heart as well.
Corpus Christi is an all-American city with an all-American heart, said Bishop Edmond Carmody, who was proud of the city's endeavor in helping make this family's dream come true.
Reuben and Rebecca Carrizales arrived in Corpus Christi mid-April in hopes of receiving medical attention for their son, Juan Jose, who suffers from a life-threatening condition that causes the heart to become thick. The family is still mourning the sudden death of an older son who died a few months ago from the same condition.
After only two days in Corpus Christi, with the support and generosity of CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital-Memorial and several organizations, Juan Jose underwent surgery at no cost to the family just a few days later.
He was listed in good condition by hospital officials at a press conference held Friday, April 22, at Memorial Hospital.
It was great to see the support and involvement of doctors and the community pulling together to help this family, said Nueces County Sheriff Larry Olivares, president of the Catholic Charities Board of Directors.
Local cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Mark Morales offered his services pro bono and along with his surgical team implanted a cardioverter defibrillator. The $30,000 device, donated by Medtronics, regulates the boy's ventricular heartbeat.
At the news conference, the Carrizales family expressed their appreciation to everyone helping them fulfill their dream including Catholic Charities, Peter Banko, vice president/administrator of CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Memorial, all the nurses and staff members and those who lent a helping hand by way of prayers, shelter, food and money.
Bishop Carmody visited Juan Jose the day after his surgery to pray over him and his family. He presented the young Catholic a cap bearing an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
According to Juan Jose's parents, their 13-year-old son is a bright eighth-grade student back home in Donna, Texas, and earns good grades. The Carrizaleses are Mexican citizens, but currently reside in the Valley.
I hope to become a doctor when I grow up because I want to help people just like those who helped me here in Corpus Christi, said the grateful boy.
I am not going to forget what Corpus Christi did for me and my family, said the young boy who touched the hearts and lives of many in the Corpus Christi community.
He is our brother. We are all one and I am so proud of our city for opening their hearts to this family, said Bishop Carmody. I thank his parents for bringing him to us. He is a gift; he is God's child.
By Delia Soto
STC Associate Editor
From May 8, 2005 Edition
2May-6-05.gif
Bishop Carmody presents Juan Jose Carrizales a cap bearing an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe after undergoing heart surgery.
When a family from Mexico knocked on the door of Corpus Christi, the community not only opened its doors, but its heart as well.
Corpus Christi is an all-American city with an all-American heart, said Bishop Edmond Carmody, who was proud of the city's endeavor in helping make this family's dream come true.
Reuben and Rebecca Carrizales arrived in Corpus Christi mid-April in hopes of receiving medical attention for their son, Juan Jose, who suffers from a life-threatening condition that causes the heart to become thick. The family is still mourning the sudden death of an older son who died a few months ago from the same condition.
After only two days in Corpus Christi, with the support and generosity of CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital-Memorial and several organizations, Juan Jose underwent surgery at no cost to the family just a few days later.
He was listed in good condition by hospital officials at a press conference held Friday, April 22, at Memorial Hospital.
It was great to see the support and involvement of doctors and the community pulling together to help this family, said Nueces County Sheriff Larry Olivares, president of the Catholic Charities Board of Directors.
Local cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Mark Morales offered his services pro bono and along with his surgical team implanted a cardioverter defibrillator. The $30,000 device, donated by Medtronics, regulates the boy's ventricular heartbeat.
At the news conference, the Carrizales family expressed their appreciation to everyone helping them fulfill their dream including Catholic Charities, Peter Banko, vice president/administrator of CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Memorial, all the nurses and staff members and those who lent a helping hand by way of prayers, shelter, food and money.
Bishop Carmody visited Juan Jose the day after his surgery to pray over him and his family. He presented the young Catholic a cap bearing an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
According to Juan Jose's parents, their 13-year-old son is a bright eighth-grade student back home in Donna, Texas, and earns good grades. The Carrizaleses are Mexican citizens, but currently reside in the Valley.
I hope to become a doctor when I grow up because I want to help people just like those who helped me here in Corpus Christi, said the grateful boy.
I am not going to forget what Corpus Christi did for me and my family, said the young boy who touched the hearts and lives of many in the Corpus Christi community.
He is our brother. We are all one and I am so proud of our city for opening their hearts to this family, said Bishop Carmody. I thank his parents for bringing him to us. He is a gift; he is God's child.
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