stephanie
02-12-2008, 09:50 PM
4:19 PM CST, February 12, 2008
During a private meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, about 30 Mexican immigrant leaders Tuesday pushed for more aggressive economic development in Mexico, calling on the president to double the country's "3 for 1" program that invests remittances from abroad in new schools, roads and other government projects.
"We asked him to make it a $1 billion program in the next two years," said Salvador Pedroza, chairman of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce and a local leader of Calderon's National Action Party, or PAN. "He was very receptive."
Jose Artemio Arreola, not affiliated with PAN, called the private meeting inside McCormick Place "very productive and very positive."
Controversy greets Mexico's President in Chicago Video
Besides economic development, they discussed immigration reform, calling on community leaders to work "against the perception that those who arrive take more than they give," Pedroza said.
Mayor Richard Daley also met with the Mexican president for about 45 minutes Tuesday, privately at first and then in conjunction with senior government officials from Mexico and Chicago.
The city's contingent included Rufus Williams, president of the Board of Education, city Health Commissioner Dr. Terry Mason and Juan Ochoa, head of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority.
Calderon commended the city and the mayor for their commitment to providing health services and educational opportunities for Mexican citizens living in Chicago, said Jodi Kawada, a mayoral spokeswoman.
Also discussed was a "labor competency certification" for restaurant workers.
"This new certification program will help ensure that we are providing valuable job training skills to our residents by integrating our education and workforce development systems," Daley said later in a statement.
Competency certifications exist in Mexico for a range of jobs in various industries.
Under terms of a working agreement between the Illinois Restaurant Association and the Mexican government, Mexico's education minister will be responsible for establishing a curriculum and verifying the certification program. Courses will be administered by the association in conjunction with the City Colleges of Chicago.
Calderon, who met with Daley at McCormick Place, also met with Gov. Rod Blagojevich and other leaders as part of a four-day U.S. tour meant to strengthen economic ties and muster support for immigration reform.
After Calderon's private meeting with Blagojevich, officials announced an agreement for a teachers exchange program that would send Mexican educators to Illinois to help teach math, natural sciences, Spanish and other subjects inside local classrooms.
"It's very important that we recognize the contributions Mexico has made to Illinois and the United States, by strengthening our mutual bond and improving the quality and scope of Mexican culture in Illinois," Blagojevich said in an e-mailed news release.
read the rest and comments..
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-mexican-president-visit_webfeb13,0,1245639.story
During a private meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, about 30 Mexican immigrant leaders Tuesday pushed for more aggressive economic development in Mexico, calling on the president to double the country's "3 for 1" program that invests remittances from abroad in new schools, roads and other government projects.
"We asked him to make it a $1 billion program in the next two years," said Salvador Pedroza, chairman of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce and a local leader of Calderon's National Action Party, or PAN. "He was very receptive."
Jose Artemio Arreola, not affiliated with PAN, called the private meeting inside McCormick Place "very productive and very positive."
Controversy greets Mexico's President in Chicago Video
Besides economic development, they discussed immigration reform, calling on community leaders to work "against the perception that those who arrive take more than they give," Pedroza said.
Mayor Richard Daley also met with the Mexican president for about 45 minutes Tuesday, privately at first and then in conjunction with senior government officials from Mexico and Chicago.
The city's contingent included Rufus Williams, president of the Board of Education, city Health Commissioner Dr. Terry Mason and Juan Ochoa, head of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority.
Calderon commended the city and the mayor for their commitment to providing health services and educational opportunities for Mexican citizens living in Chicago, said Jodi Kawada, a mayoral spokeswoman.
Also discussed was a "labor competency certification" for restaurant workers.
"This new certification program will help ensure that we are providing valuable job training skills to our residents by integrating our education and workforce development systems," Daley said later in a statement.
Competency certifications exist in Mexico for a range of jobs in various industries.
Under terms of a working agreement between the Illinois Restaurant Association and the Mexican government, Mexico's education minister will be responsible for establishing a curriculum and verifying the certification program. Courses will be administered by the association in conjunction with the City Colleges of Chicago.
Calderon, who met with Daley at McCormick Place, also met with Gov. Rod Blagojevich and other leaders as part of a four-day U.S. tour meant to strengthen economic ties and muster support for immigration reform.
After Calderon's private meeting with Blagojevich, officials announced an agreement for a teachers exchange program that would send Mexican educators to Illinois to help teach math, natural sciences, Spanish and other subjects inside local classrooms.
"It's very important that we recognize the contributions Mexico has made to Illinois and the United States, by strengthening our mutual bond and improving the quality and scope of Mexican culture in Illinois," Blagojevich said in an e-mailed news release.
read the rest and comments..
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-mexican-president-visit_webfeb13,0,1245639.story