by William Crum
One of the biggest conventions ever to come to Kansas City was the National Council of La Raza, currently at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Mo.
This is an organization that deals with equal rights and an organization that believes in equality. An estimated 18,000 to 20,000 people came to this event and an estimated 5,800 were registered.
Kansas City, Kan., native Janet Murguia is the current president and CEO of the organization. The term “La Raza” has origins in the early 20th-century Latin American literature and translates into English most likely as the people or the race, or according to some scholars the Hispanic people of the New World. NCLR is one of the most influential organizations regarding civil rights.
On hand to welcome the people on Saturday, when the conference opened, was Kansas City, Kan., Mayor Mark Holland, as well as Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Sly James.
Mayor Holland welcomed the group, and remarked that Kansas City, Kan., has a wide diversity of nationalities and was a melting pot of the Midwest.
Other organizations at the conference that were represented from Kansas City, Kan., included El Centro, Donnelly College, Kansas City Kansas Community College and others.
Next year the convention will go to Orlando Fla.
The conference continues through Tuesday with many activities planned. Three presidential candidates are scheduled to visit on Monday. To see a list of conference activities visit www.nclr.org/index.php/events/nclr_annual_conference/.
