A BRIEF HISTORY

Established in 1987, the New York State Assembly Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force annual Legislative Conference (also known as the Somos El Futuro conference) is the largest gathering of Puerto Rican/Hispanic civic and political leaders in the State. With more than 3 million Hispanics in New York, the conference has become the most significant public policy vehicle that allow for important policy and legislative issues to be discussed and addressed at the State level. The Task Force members are state legislators who have Assembly districts in which 20 percent of their constituents are Hispanic. The Assembly Task Force is chaired by Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo. The New York State Senate Minority has also established a Task Force. It is chaired by Senator Martín Malavé Dilan.

The Somos El Futuro Legislative Conference brings together nearly 7,000 New Yorkers who represent a cross section of the the state's Hispanic community, including federal, state, and local elected officials as well as community, labor and business leaders. With its mission to provide a forum for the development of legislative and budgetary initiatives of concern to Hispanic communities throughout the state, the conference also serves as a stage to acknowledge the significant contribution of Hispanics living in New York State. This is achieved through workshops, seminars and policy institutes.

The outcome, of these meetings and networking opportunities, is a legislative agenda focused on meeting the needs of Hispanic communities across the Empire State.