In April, 2012, President Obama expressed the United States’ commitment to a treaty that “ensures that copyright is not a barrier to equal access to information, culture, and education for visually impaired persons and persons with print disabilities.” This week in Morocco, we made good on that commitment, joining with over 150 states in approving a landmark treaty that holds the potential to open up a world of knowledge to a population that is too often shut off from it.

According to the World Blind Union, of the million or so books published in the world each year, less than 5 percent are made available in formats accessible to the visually-impaired. We call this “book famine.” No one has said it better than Stevie Wonder, the world-famous singer-songwriter and prominent advocate for the treaty: we must “end the information deprivation that continues to keep the visually impaired in the dark” — and today, we are proud to mark a major achievement in that effort.

The treaty adopted today can help do just that by facilitating the development and distribution of accessible-format print works within the framework of the international copyright system. That is why organizations as diverse as the Motion Picture Association of America and the National Federation of the Blind have already come together in praise of this achievement. In adopting this Treaty, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Members, including the United States, demonstrated the continued contributions a modern and dynamic copyright system plays in promoting creativity and enabling access to knowledge worldwide.

In Stevie’s words, this treaty can “open the doors to the world’s written treasures, moving toward a future where there are no barriers to the expansion of knowledge and the enjoyment of culture — even for the visually impaired.” The approval of its text is the first step towards formally approving it at home and bringing it into force worldwide. We are proud to have played a leading role in its negotiation, and thank our experts throughout the Administration, and advocates from across the United States, whose tireless efforts helped us reach this milestone.

You can read more of our government’s statements about the treaty here: from PTO, State, and IMLS.

At the end of the two day conference, several Latino leaders who participated asked us to come to their communities and hold similar gatherings in their cities and states to have the important conversation about how the Administration’s agenda impacts the Hispanic community across the country.

Over the course of the next few months, the White House Office of Public Engagement and the White House Initiative for Educational Excellence for Hispanics will partner to take this same format and conversation to several communities across the country.  We will be holding over two dozen 1 ½ – 2 day “White House Hispanic Community Action Summits” in cities ranging from Phoenix, Arizona to Miami, Florida, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The goals for the local summits will be the same as the convening in Washington with robust agency participation. 

1. Relationship Building—Connecting Latino leaders to key Administration decision makers.
2. Obama Administration 101—Ensuring people gain a deeper understanding of the multifaceted ways this Administration’s agenda affects the Hispanic community.
3. Working Together—Allowing participants to connect with each other and Administration officials to address how we improve access and outcomes for the Hispanic community.

The first half of each convening will focus on Obama Administration 101 and engaging around Administration initiatives, while the second piece will model the same “open space process” that will focus on shared partnership to develop community solutions.  As we did in Washington, we will make sure we cover core issues that are critical to the Latino community like education, immigration, jobs and the economy, and health care.  And we will also ensure we cover additional issues that are important to the Latino community – issues like the work the Administration is carrying out in Puerto Rico, transportation, support for our small businesses, and civil rights, among others. 

We are excited to launch the next phase of this important project and hope we can see you soon in your communities. 

Stephanie Valencia is Deputy Director for the Office of Public Engagement

This past Friday, White House and senior administration officials – including representatives from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of Education, and HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement -  met with African community leaders to discuss immigration issues specific to the African immigrant and refugee population. The convening brought together leaders and advocates representing communities from the countries of Mauritania, Somalia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Guinea Bissau.

Cecilia Munoz, Director of White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, opened the forum and highlighted the challenges in fixing the legal immigration system and reassured the community leaders in the room of the President’s continued commitment to a legislative solution to fixing the broken immigration system.  Bakary Tandia, Coordinator of African Services Committee and long time advocate for African immigrant communities shared a touching story of a wheelchair bound activist who came to Washington, DC two years ago for a major immigration reform mobilization even though he couldn’t walk he wanted to lend his voice to the debate.  He asked “What can we do concretely as community leaders to contribute and galvanize support?” In response, Stephanie Valencia, Deputy Director of the Office of Public Engagement, encouraged everyone in the room to help broaden the dialogue and elevate the debate by hosting immigration action roundtables in their own communities check out the roundtable toolkit to sponsor your own immigration roundtable. 

As the Q&A sessions continued, Felicia Escobar from the White House Domestic Policy Council outlined improvements launched by Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security to improve the legal immigration system while we work toward broader legislative reform. There are new initiatives battling immigration fraud and advancements in the tracking system of immigrant application status that include receiving feedback through email or text messaging.  In addition, Rebecca Carson, Chief of Staff of USCIS provided an overview of the fee waiver policy for immigrant benefits, which many in the room were very supportive of. 

Friday’s convening is part of a larger commitment from this Administration to help broaden the immigration debate so it is relevant to all Americans.  We need voices from every community to be a part of this conversation to help move the legislative debate forward and create a sense of urgency to ensure that the Congress acts.  The people that were a part of the conversation on Friday are a critical piece to that and we look forward to hearing more from them as they take the conversation back to their own communities. 

To learn more about President Obama’s vision for an immigration system that serves out 21st Century economic and security needs, visit obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/immigration

At last week’s White House Hispanic Policy Conference, we had several fascinating conversations with Latino leaders about what the CFPB means for Latino families in particular.

For the first time, all Americans will have an agency with the primary mission to look out for consumers in the financial marketplace.  The CFPB, created by last year’s Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, will be a cop on the beat to enforce the laws on credit cards, mortgages, student loans, payday loans, and other kinds of financial products and services.

The CFPB envisions a consumer financial marketplace where markets work for consumers, responsible providers, and the economy as a whole.  In this vision, no one will be able to build a business model around unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices.  With increased transparency, consumers will be able to answer two basic questions about any financial product or service:  Can I afford it, and is this the best deal I can get?

Latino families will be empowered to take better control of their finances with a consumer protection agency in place.  Beginning in 2007, when the United States faced the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression, Latinos were especially hard hit. 

The CFPB will work to ensure that all American consumers, including Latinos, are protected.  Following are just a few of the ways the CFPB will benefit Latinos in its mission to protect all American consumers:

Encouraging Fair Lending:  Through the Office of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity, the CFPB will conduct oversight of both bank and nonbank lenders to enforce laws that protect Latinos from discriminatory lending practices. 

Simplifying Mortgage Disclosures:  The CFPB will also help families understand the costs and risks of products so that they can choose the ones that best meet their needs.  The CFPB’s “Know Before You Owe” project will result in a simplified two-page disclosure form about the cost of a mortgage, which will be available in both English and Spanish.  The process to develop the disclosure form is as groundbreaking as the eventual product will be:  a public design effort that includes online public input, consumer testing in six cities, and “co-development” of the Spanish-language form to ensure that concepts in the form are familiar to Spanish speakers.

Supervising Alternative Financial Services Providers:  Many Latinos depend on financial services outside of the traditional banking system.  The CFPB will be the first federal agency to supervise alternative financial services companies, such as nonbank mortgage companies, private student lenders, and payday lenders.  The CFPB is currently inviting public input on which other nonbank markets to include under its nonbank supervision program, and how to define the “larger participants” in these markets that will be subject to CFPB supervision.  Markets for possible coverage that have significant reach into Latino communities include check cashing, prepaid cards, money transmitting, debt collection, debt relief services, consumer reporting, and consumer credit and related activities.

Remittance Transfers:  For many Latinos, electronic international money transfers, or remittance transfers, can be a vital link to family members abroad.  The CFPB has just released a report that recommends principles for disclosing exchange rate information to consumers using remittance transfer services.  The report also examines the potential for using remittance history in credit scores. 

Monitoring Private Student Loans:  Many Latinos depend on loans to pursue higher education opportunities.  The CFPB will supervise private student lenders, enforce the laws against unfair student lending practices, and require lenders to follow the rules of the road and give students the information they need to make smart choices about student loans.

Enhancing Financial Education:  The CFPB will enable consumers to achieve better outcomes through effective financial education.  Through the Division of Consumer Education and Engagement, the CFPB will offer the information necessary to make smart financial choices.  Many of these educational materials will be offered in Spanish.

Protecting Servicemembers:  Latinos who serve in our armed forces should never be preyed upon by unscrupulous lenders, especially while they are deployed.  Under the leadership of Holly Petraeus, Assistant Director for Servicemember Affairs, the CFPB recently announced an agreement with the military’s Judge Advocate Generals (JAGs) to provide strong consumer financial protections for servicemembers and their families.

Responding to Consumer Complaints:  The CFPB has set up a system to receive consumer complaints about financial products and services, beginning with credit cards.  The toll-free number will offer assistance in English, Spanish, and additional languages.

These are just a few of the ways the CFPB will benefit Latino families, and all American consumers, as the CFPB opens for business.  For more information, please visit www.consumerfinance.gov.

Stephanie Valencia is Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and handles Latino Outreach

President Barack Obama delivers remarks at a welcome event at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, June 14, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

Yesterday morning, the President landed at Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport and when he stepped off Air Force One he was greeted by Governor of Puerto Rico Luis Fortuño, Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, Maj. General Antonio J. Vicens, Adjutant General of Puerto Rico, Jose Aponte Dalmau, Mayor of Carolina, Puerto Rico, Jorge Santini, Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico and renowned singer Marc Anthony.   He walked from the plane to an hanger where he was greeted by over 1,000 ecstatic Puerto Ricans waving Puerto Rican and American flags.  There, the President addressed specific ways the Administration is working to ensure we address the most pressing challenges for Puerto Rico, saying:

First of all, we’ve addressed the question of political status.  In March, a report from our presidential task force on Puerto Rican status provided a meaningful way forward on this question so that the residents of the island can determine their own future.  And when the people of Puerto Rico make a clear decision, my administration will stand by you.  I also know that there are plenty of other issues that the island is facing.  When President Kennedy was here, he addressed the relationship between Washington and San Juan, and he also spoke about tackling what he called, “the difficult problems of education and housing and employment.” In that same spirit, we’ve been trying to make sure that every family on the island can find work and make a living and provide for their children.  That’s why our economic plan and our health care reform included help for Puerto Rico.  That’s why we’re increasing access to broadband and investing in education.  That's why we’re helping to grow local tourism and health care and clean-energy industries.  We’re giving Puerto Ricans the tools they need to build their own economic futures.

In addition, President Obama addressed the contributions of Boricuas to American society – noting the contributions of people like Marc Anthony and JJ Barera, but also highlighting the Puerto Rican men and women who serve in our country’s uniform – specifically highlighting the stories of Juan Castillo and Chief Master Sergeant Ramon Colon-Lopez recently returned from Afghanistan.

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge all the Puerto Rican men and women who serve in our country’s uniform. One of those veterans is Juan Castillo.  Juan fought in World War II, and he fought in the Korean War.  Today, he’s two months away from his 101st birthday. Juan’s legacy is carried on by Puerto Ricans in Iraq and Afghanistan; men and women like Chief Master Sergeant Ramon Colon-Lopez, of the United States Air Force.  In 2004, Ramon’steam was going after a high-value target in Afghanistan.  His helicopter was seriously damaged by hostile fire.  In the thick of battle, he didn’t know how large the force that he was up against.  But he pressed on anyway, and his team killed or captured 12 enemy fighters.  Because of his bravery, he was the first Hispanic American to be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal.  (Applause.) And I tell this story because for decades, Puerto Ricans like Juan and Ramon have put themselves in harm’s way for a simple reason:  They want to protect the country that they love.  Their willingness to serve, their willingness to sacrifice, is as American as apple pie –- or as Arroz con Gandules.  The aspirations and the struggles on this island mirror those across America.

From there President Obama motorcaded thru the streets of San Juan where thousands of spectators lined the streets en route to La Fortaleza for a private tour and meeting with Governor Fortuño, First Lady Luce Vela and Resident Commissioner Pierluisi.  La Fortaleza, a UNESCO heritage site, was built in 1533 and it is the oldest executive mansion in the western hemisphere.

President Barack Obama meets with Governor Luis Fortuno and Rep. Pedro Pierluisi in the Library at La Fortaleza, the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, June 14, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Midway through the tour, a children’s orchestra  - 100 X 35 Youth Orchestra and Choir started by First Lady Luce Vela – performed “Old San Juan” for the President, Governor and Resident Commissioner.  Later on the tour, the President presented a gift to the Governor and First Lady – a  picture of President Kennedy with the First Lady together with Governor Luis Munoz Marin and his wife, and a facsimile copy of President Kennedy welcoming remarks from his visit in 1961.

President Barack Obama, with Governor Luis Fortuno, First Lady Luce Vela de Fortuno and Rep. Pedro Pierluisi, listen to traditional, instrumental song played by children, on the Interior Patio at La Fortaleza, the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, June 14, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Following the tour the motorcade then navigated the narrow cobblestone streets of Old San Juan to the Ocean Park neighborhood of San Juan to La Kasalta Bakery. President Obama asked local Senator Alejandro Garcia Padilla to take him to a local spot where he could meet with the people of Puerto Rico and a get some local flavor.  After shocking local patrons during their lunch, Senator Garcia Padilla and the President ordered a Medianoche, a traditional sandwich made of roast ham, pork, mustard, swiss cheese, pickles served on sweet bread.

President Barack Obama talks with Puerto Rican Senator Alejandro Garcia Padilla during a lunch stop at Kasalta, a local restaurant in the Ocean Park neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico, June 14, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

So in all, while the President’s visit yesterday is one for the history books, it is really a signal of how this Administration sees Puerto Rico as a critical piece of where our country needs to go in order to win the future.  Today, members of the President’s Administration stayed behind to lead an economic summit with Puerto Rican leaders to continue the dialogue about how the federal government can bolster the economic recovery of the island.  Our work continues. 

Earlier in the day, as part of the Obama Administration’s initiative to elevate the debate around immigration reform, Director Mayorkas joined Chicago area business leaders to discuss the need and advocate for comprehensive immigration reform.  The roundtable discussion drew leaders from all sectors of the community, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois Restaurant Association, and representatives from financial services, building development, non-profits, and the clergy.  The roundtable’s participants shared with Director Mayorkas the need for comprehensive immigration reform, ideas for further engagement and mobilization, and the Chicago community’s plans to promote the needed reforms.

On May 10th, President Obama issued a call to action to fix our broken immigration system so that it works for our 21st economic and national security needs.  And over the past three weeks, just like the roundtable Director Mayorkas had in Chicago, we’ve had hundreds of Americans in all parts of the country and all walks of life participate in conversations about realistic solutions to fixing our broken immigration system. Click here to read a blog post sampling of how everyday Americans are elevating the debate around fixing our broken immigration system and add your voice to the conversation by hosting a roundtable in your community by visiting obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/immigrationaction. 

In a suburb of San Diego, Gary and Kathleen Acosta graciously opened their home to me and about a dozen colleagues and friends from the real estate industry, the arts, and academia so I could share with them the President’s agenda for the Hispanic community.  Gary is an officer of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, and through his leadership, that organization has embraced improving the educational level of the Latino community as one of its goals.  The group was keenly interested in what the Department of Education is doing to improve teacher effectiveness.  Experiences with the occasional teacher who is a poor performer but is allowed to continue to shortchange students was a particular concern of several of Gary’s guests who have school-age children.

In Miami, White House Initiative Director Juan Sepulveda, Deputy Director Jose Rico, and Miami-Dade College president Eduardo Padrón (mi tocayo, as he always says) put together an all-star cast of the leading Latino figures in business and government.  Miami is a vibrant community that has been transformed by the Cuban-American community into the U.S. gateway to Latin America, and the individuals assembled at Miami-Dade are the movers and shakers that are making it happen.  Again, I was struck by the enthusiasm, optimism, entrepreneurialism, and dedication of these admirable men and women.  A particular concern of this group was the improvement of the link between postsecondary education and the business community, so that career-oriented programs can be nimbly developed in response to the emerging jobs of the 21^st century economy.

Finally, in Chicago I met with nearly twenty community leaders that were convened by Juan Salgado, the head of the Instituto del Progreso Latino.  This community-based organization provides a wide range of services to the low-income Latino community in the South Side of Chicago, centered around their charter school.  They take a holistic approach, assisting not only the students, but their parents, with career services, financial advice, as well as education for the whole family.  This comprehensive approach dramatically improves persistence, retention, and graduation.  Once again, their approach is optimistic and entrepreneurial: concerned with education as the critical link to the future prosperity of those served, I spoke with the staff and the clients served at Instituto with a sense of pride about what this Administration is doing to promote that very aim. 

 Throughout all of these interactions, I sensed an energy, harmony, and resounding sense of community as I spoke with Latino leaders from all three of these cities, and it fills me with optimism about the future of the Latino community in the United States.  To rebuild our economy and put a down payment on the future of all Americans, we need a more educated workforce, which will require the efforts of every community, especially Latinos. Graduating from college is part of the path to a better job, a higher income and a more secure future for Latinos and all Americans in today’s global society and 21^st century economy. It is clear, through my travels and through meeting so many dedicated Latino leaders, that in our community the American Dream is alive and well and that the Latino community is at the forefront of helping our country Win the Future. 

Here is just a sampling of some of the great roundtables that have happened over the last few weeks:

• On May 24th Mayor Paul Bridges of Uvalda, GA held a roundtable with a dozen leaders in his town of 600 – saying “All I can say is IT WAS AWESOME!  THANK YOU ALL for the idea of a Roundtable.  People are talking and people want Immigration Reform.” (see photo below)

Uvalda, GA Mayor Paul Bridges convenes an immigration reform roundtable. Photo Credit: Montgomery Monitor May 24, 2011. (by Montgomery Monitor)

• On May 11th in Dallas, Texas Assistant Secretary of State Jose Fernandez held a roundtable with business leaders talking about the imperative for business owners and leaders to be involved in the immigration reform debate.  Bert Kaufman from Business Forward who attended the roundtable writes "The need to fix the broken immigration system is on top of mind for business leaders across the country.  It is important to get outside of DC to listen to these folks because you learn just how seriously employers take the situation.  This issue has come up, without fail, in every roundtable that I've participated in across the 20 cities I've visited over the past 5 months."

• Also on May 11th, Catholic Charities of Dallas convened a roundtable with key community leaders to discuss how they can lend their voice to the conversation saying, “We support the President’s initiative for this national conversation and will do what we can to promote more Roundtable discussions.”

• On May 12th, Aneesh Chopra, Chief Technology Officer for the Obama Administration convened a roundtable with diverse stakeholders in Omaha, Nebraska (Yes, Omaha, Nebraska).  In a blog post summarizing the event, Aneesh wrote, “the message I heard was clear -- if we are to effectively compete in the global economy, we need access to the very best talent our communities can attract, especially in regions that lack the kind of talent concentration one finds in areas like Silicon Valley or Austin, TX.”

• On May 20th, Cecilia Munoz, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs did a roundtable with key business leaders in Orlando, Florida discussing what immigration reform means to business owners. Cecilia said that, “Leaders of the Orlando business community illustrated very powerfully that immigration reform is an economic imperative.   CEOs and entrepreneurs in businesses both large and small reflected on both the human costs and the economic costs which add up every day that Congress fails to act on immigration reform.   I am so encouraged by the level of engagement in the business community. “

• On May 24th, Aneesh Chopra held another roundtable with business leaders in the Silicon Valley and the importance reforming our immigration system is to our economy.   In a blog post he wrote: “Aneesh participated in a roundtable yesterday hosted by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group where nearly half of the executives in the room were immigrants. They were unanimous in their call for action in the high skilled area -- a top priority for the group, along with a new service campaign to connect the  best and brightest in the Valley with  kids in need.  But they were also frustrated with our inability as a country to tackle these issues as it has been several years since they began such conversations.”

• On May 25th a group of students from the University of Michigan convening a conversation to talk about what the broken immigration system means to them.

These are just a sampling of how everyday Americans are elevating the debate around fixing our broken immigration system.  Our goal is to host at least one conversation in every single state.   Join the conversation and host one today by visiting obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/immigrationaction.