Symposia
The Symposia are “working” policy events to conduct critical discussions on issues, strategies, and progress in increasing Latino influence on policy making.
The Symposia brings together statewide voices who have a fundamental interest in assuring that public policies have a positive social and economic mobility impact on our community. Latinos engaged in policy research, organizing and building electoral power, education, health and human services, economic development, and other sectors are invited to participate.
Read the genesis policy Blueprint from 2017 — the Texas Latino Family Economic Blueprint is the foundational document produced from the first Symposium proceedings.
Texas Latino Policy Symposium III
The current political environment, which includes nativism and racialized ideologies, plus negative impacts from Covid-19 intensifies the challenges for Latino advocates and allies to gain policy changes. Education, jobs/wages, paid leave, health care, housing, economic development, immigration, voter suppression, gerrymandering, and taxation exemplify key state and local policy areas affecting social and economic mobility.
Current co-sponsors include St. Mary's Institute for Public Administration, Politics and Public Policy and the Department of Economics; and UT San Antonio College for Health, Community and Policy/Policy Studies Center.
Preliminary Agenda: 87th Legislative Session – local and state community action priorities. Roundtable policy brief recommendations and action sessions.
2018 – Texas Latino Policy Symposium II
Political power, policy research data, and effective messaging communications are key supports to influence public policy. The Symposia II focus was the current status, strengthening, and coordination of these policy influence capacities among the Latino community.
Agenda and Presentations
- Latino Family Bienestar Economic Regions
- Texas Path to Organizing Electoral Power
- Women Pay in SA: Research and Advocacy
- Tax Unfairness, Revenues and Human Capital Investments
- 2020 Census: It Matters to Latinos
- Latino Donor Collaborative Economic Strategy
2017 – Texas Latino Policy Symposium I
The “Texas Latino Family Economic Blueprint” is the genesis plan produced from the Symposia I proceedings. It incorporates input from the presentations, round-table discussions, and policy priorities identified in previous reports from Latino organizations and allies.
Agenda and Presentations
- Latino Demographic and Socio-Economic Status
- State Budgeting, Policy Implications, and Latino Concerns
- Latino Issues and Political Power Realities
- Labor/Employment Issues and Policy Priorities
- Key Issues in Latino Family Bienestar
- Latino Home Ownership
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at a Texas Latino Policy Symposium event?
Each Symposium is a working policy event that brings together researchers, advocates, and civic leaders for structured discussions on Latino policy priorities. The events feature keynote presentations, roundtable policy brief sessions, and collaborative action planning workshops.
Participants review data on Latino demographics and socio-economic indicators, discuss legislative priorities, and develop coordinated strategies for policy advocacy. Past symposia have produced policy blueprints and legislative recommendations that have been presented to state lawmakers.
How many symposia have been held so far?
Three Texas Latino Policy Symposia have been organized. The first was held in May 2017 at the University of Texas at San Antonio Downtown Campus, which produced the foundational Texas Latino Family Economic Blueprint. The second followed in October 2018 at the same venue.
The third symposium was planned for October 2020 at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, coinciding with the 87th Legislative Session priority setting. Co-sponsors have included academic institutions like the UTSA College of Public Policy and St. Mary's Institute for Public Administration.
What is the Texas Latino Family Economic Blueprint?
The Blueprint is the foundational policy document produced from the first Symposium in 2017. It incorporates input from presentations, roundtable discussions, and policy priorities identified by Latino organizations and allies throughout Texas.
The document outlines strategic recommendations across key areas including labor and employment, education, health and human services, civic engagement, and economic development. It has served as a reference framework for subsequent symposia and advocacy efforts.
Who sponsors and organizes the symposia?
The symposia are organized through partnerships between community policy organizations and academic institutions. Key co-sponsors have included the UTSA College of Public Policy and Policy Studies Center, St. Mary's University Institute for Public Administration, Politics and Public Policy, and the Department of Economics.
These institutional partnerships provide research infrastructure, venue support, and academic credibility that strengthen the policy recommendations emerging from each event.
What topics are covered in symposium presentations?
Symposium presentations span a wide range of policy areas including Latino demographic profiles, economic region analysis, organizing for electoral power, women's pay equity, tax policy fairness, census participation, health workforce development, and immigration policy impacts.
Each symposium adapts its agenda to reflect current legislative priorities and emerging community needs. Presentations are typically developed by academic researchers and policy analysts with deep expertise in their respective fields.