Convención Hispana 2024

What is Convención Hispana?

Typically Convención Hispana attracts some 3000 people. At the convention also numerous community services are provided. A typical Convención Hispana will have a resource fair, job fair, health fair, health screenings including, among other things, on hypertension and diabetes, workshops on economic development and other issues, essay contest, business pitch, and community and business booths, among other things. The keynote address will be made by Rita Moreno, of West Side Story fame, and one of the few in history to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and tony “EGOT”. Please see Cleveland Foundation blog post: Convención Hispana 2019.

Notable agenda items which have become a reality over the years include:

• The Hispanic scholarship fund, now known as Esperanza
• The Hispanic Business Association 
• The Hispanic Contractors Association
• The Mercado project, now known as CentroVilla25
• The Hispanic Senior Center
• The Hispanic Domestic Violence Center
• Bilingual Ballot In Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties
• Significant keynote speakers over the years have included:
• Former Secretary of HUD and former presidential candidate Julian Castro
• Former Secretary of HUD Henry Cisneros
• Rita Moreno of West Side Story who he won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony winner (EGOT) and
• Grammy winner and world-renowned singer and guitarist Jose Feliciano.

Other examples of initiatives and issues on which the Hispanic Roundtable has led includes:

• School levies
• Education reform
• Economic development and inclusion
• Immigration reform
• Digital divide
• Health disparities
• Voter registration
• Nonpartisan candidates and issues nights
• Matchmaking Mentoring between Cleveland CEOs and young Latinos
• Puerto Rican migration to Cleveland post-hurricane Maria programming
• Leadership on the transition in Cuyahoga County government from county commissioners to the county executives and council form of government, among other involvement.
• Coordinated the vaccination of more than 3000 Hispanics during covid in various community venues

Click to download Convención Hispana 2024 booklet