Power in Partnerships: CSUDH Co-Sponsors
Latino Business Reception

The Latino Business Reception ’06—Power in Partnerships event, co-sponsored by California State University, Dominguez Hills and the Torrance Chamber of Commerce, will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on June 7 at the Hilton Torrance/South Bay in Torrance. The focus of “Power in Partnerships” is diversity within businesses, cultural outreach, and celebration, as well as recognition of stellar Latino business leadership. In addition, representatives from the university will be present to promote contracting opportunities with the campus.

Raquel Beltran (Class of '03, M.B.A.), business liaison consultant, University Advancement, points out that, "Making a connection with the Latino business community serves the University in several ways. The University is among the most ethnically diverse universities in the United States, with an approximately 32.8% Latino student population. Assuming the population growth patterns of the University mirror that of the community, the region, and national trends, Latino enrollment at CSUDH could double over the next 7-10 years."

Moctesuma Esparza will be the recipient of the Latino Business Leadership award during the event. Esparza is the producer of “Walkout,” an HBO film that tells the story about a group of Chicano students who staged a walkout in 1968 at five East Los Angeles high schools. Esparza was a participant in the walkout. Esparza is a co-founder, with actor-director-producer Robert Redford, of the Sundance Institute, which sponsors the annual Sundance Film Festival. He is also a member of California State University Board of Trustees.

Deborah Gonzales Brusavich will be presented with the Latina Business Leadership award. Brusavich is the president of Clothes the Deal, a large nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting low-income individuals committed to finding new jobs through distribution of professional business attire. To date, more than 12,000 individuals have been helped.

In addition, Juanita’s Foods will be recognized with the Latino Corporation award. Juanita’s, founded in 1946, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of Mexican foods.

Entertainment will be provided by Orquesta Charangoa, an authentic Cuban music group and the Mariachi Academy of Carson.

The master of ceremonies will be Ray Durazo, chief executive officer of Durazo Communications, which includes such clients as Honda Automobiles, Verizon, and the U.S. Treasury Department.

Sponsors of the event include Port of Los Angeles, Alcoa Fastening Systems, Citibank, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Hilton Torrance/South Bay, Kinecta Federal Credit Union, LA BioMedical Research Institute, Smart Desktop, Daily Breeze, Comerica Bank, Banco Popular, AEG, BNFS Railway, Double Tree-Los Angeles, Wells Fargo Bank, I.D. Systems and Supplies, and Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. The South Bay Latino Chamber of Commerce and Latin Business Association are associate sponsors.

"The combination of increased dependence of the CSU system on community and corporate financial support for the basic operation of the campus suggests that there is good reason to pursue strategies for developing partnerships with the Latino community at large, and in particular, the Latino business community," says Beltran. "Partnerships such as the one between the Torrance Area Chamber and CSUDH, could and should serve mutually benefiting short-term and long-term interests."

The Latino Business Reception 2006 is a program of the Cultural Involvement Task Force of the Torrance Area chamber, which assists members of diverse backgrounds in their involvement and utilization of the many business opportunities and resources available through the Chamber. Cost per person is for the Latino Reception 2006 is $35. The hotel is at 21333 Hawthorne Boulevard.

For more information, please call (310) 540-5858.

-Russell Hudson