77th Annual Meeting and William J. Clothier II Memorial Award Luncheon

The Pan-American Association of Philadelphia is excited to announce that it will hold its 77th Annual Meeting and William J. Clothier II Memorial Award Luncheon at the Union League of Philadelphia.

The lunch will feature an overview of the economic and cultural landscape by Edwin Meléndez, Professor of Urban Affairs at Hunter College and Director of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at CUNY. Professor Meléndez is the author or editor of 13 books, including the State of Puerto Ricans and Latinos in a Changing Society. He has an extensive record of community and public service, including the National Council of la Raza Board of Directors, and of the National Advisory Board of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University. He has received numerous honors, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in Education from the New York League of Puerto Rican Women and the Educational Leadership Honoree award from the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, New York, and The 2017 Illustrious Awards from the Institute For Latino Studies, Research & Development.

We are especially pleased to announce that our Clothier Award honoree this year is the Honorable Mari Carmen Aponte, former Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere and U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador during the Obama Administration. Ambassador Aponte practices law in Washington, DC and Puerto Rico, and previously served as Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration National Office in Washington, DC. She earned her B.A. in Political Science from Rosemont College, an M.A. in Theater from Villanova University and a J.D. from Temple University.

Since its founding in 1940, the Association has been dedicated to promoting cultural, educational and economic activities to increase understanding and cooperation among the peoples of the Americas. The Association is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to advancing Pan-Americanism in the Greater Philadelphia region. Today, the region is home to more than 500,000 residents who trace their roots to Latin America, and the need for greater cultural understanding expressed by our founders has become even more relevant.

We expect an audience of more than 200 policymakers and leaders from business, cultural and academic institutions in the Greater Philadelphia region with an interest in Pan-Americanism. The event will begin at 11:45 AM with a networking reception followed by lunch at 12:15 PM.

Recipient of the William J. Clothier II Award

Honorable Mari Carmen Aponte
Former Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere

Mari Carmen Aponte was appointed Acting Assistant Secretary in the Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs on May 5, 2016.

Previously, Aponte was the Ambassador of the United States to El Salvador from 2012 until February 2016. Her priorities in El Salvador included expanding crime prevention, growing the economy and moving the country towards democracy, sustainable development and human rights.

She is the first Puerto Rican woman to hold the title of ambassador. Born in Puerto Rico, Aponte moved to the United States to pursue a better education. After earning a BA in political science from Rosemont College, she taught in Camden, New Jersey and became aware of underrepresented educational needs of minority students. Aponte enrolled in Temple University Beasley School of Law and earned a JD in 1975. She was one of few Puerto Rican women enrolled in a U.S. accredited law program at that time and, subsequently, the first Latina lawyer in Pennsylvania. Aponte moved to Washington, D.C. in 1979 when President Jimmy Carter appointed her as a White House Fellow.

She continued practicing law in D.C and cofounded one of the first minority-owned law firms. In 1984, Aponte was elected the first woman president of the Hispanic National Bar Association. She continued to hold leadership positions for the next 25 years, advocating for women and the Latino community. From 2001-2004, she was Executive Director of the Puerto Rican Federal Affairs Administration. She was also on the board of directors for the National Council of La Raza and the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund and later provided strategic counsel for the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network, a Spanish-speaking national non-commercial television network. Aponte received the 2015 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award from the American Bar Association in recognition of her community service.

Keynote Speaker

Professor Edwin Meléndez
Professor of Urban Affairs at Hunter College and Director of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies a CUNY

Edwin Meléndez is a Professor of Urban Affairs and Planning at Hunter College and the Director of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies. He has conducted considerable research in the areas of Latino studies, economic development, labor markets, and poverty. In addition to numerous scientific papers and other publications, he is the author or editor of ten books including Latinos in a Changing Society (Praeger, 2007) and Communities and Workforce Development (Upjohn Institute: 2004). In addition, he has served as invited Editor for “Pathways to Economic Opportunity,” Centro XXIII (2), 2011, and other Special Issues on Radical America (1989), Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences (1992), Latino Studies Journal (1993), and the New England Journal of Public Policy (1997).

Professor Melendez has an extensive record of community and public service, including numerous appointments to government and community boards. He is presently on the National Advisory Board of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey and participates in the Workforce Development Advisory Board of the Hispanic Federation of New York. As an active member of the policy community in New York City, he has served on a number of commissions and boards that address labor and employment opportunities.

Sponsors

Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

Media Sponsor

Sponsorship

Gold Sponsor
$6,000
Reserved luncheon table (10 seats) and prominent mention in all advertising of the event, including the Luncheon Program. Poster with logo to be displayed at the podium. Logo to be included in the invitation to the event if received before deadline. Logo to be posted on Pan American website advertising the event. Opportunity to make remarks and to distribute appropriate materials.

Silver Sponsor
$3,500
Reserved luncheon table (10 seats) and mention in all advertising of the event including the Luncheon Program. Logo to be included in the invitation to the event if received before the deadline. Logo to be posted on Pan American website advertising the event.

Bronze Sponsor
$1,750
Reserved luncheon table (10 seats) and mention in all advertising of the event including the Luncheon Program. Logo to be posted on Pan American website advertising the event.

Table Sponsor
$ 800
Reserved luncheon table for ten - Sponsors are requested to consider seating a student honoree and a faculty mentor at their tables.

Sponsors will be mentioned in all advertising of the event including the Luncheon Program.

For more sponsorship opportunities please contact contact Denise Kuczweski at denise.kuczewski@exeloncorp.com or 215-841-6844