Lissette Laboy from Hempstead, Angeles Davila from Uniondale and Miriam Lopez from Rockville Center were named Honorary Chairs of the 5th National Latina Conference, hosted by the Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Inc.  The conference will be held on July 15-July 17 at the Long Island Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Uniondale.

The Honorary Chairs will be working with the Girl Scouts of Nassau County staff and volunteers to develop and execute a fun filled educational experience for more than 500 participants. Specifically, they will help organize the opening ceremony; work with local girls who will be participating in a fashion show and a special opening dance; and use their community resources to seek traditional clothing from the 21 countries that make up Latin America, and use their community connections to promote the National Latina Conference.

"These three women have been chosen as Honorary Chairs because of their desire to help girls grow strong and their previous involvement in past National Latina Conferences. Because of their leadership roles in the Hispanic/Latina community, they are the ideal women to serve as role models for our girls," said Claudia Pagan, Program Coordinator of Girl Services, Girl Scouts of Nassau County.  "They are eager to help give back what they have experienced at previous conferences."

Miriam Lopez, originally from Cuba, currently resides in Rockville Center with her husband and three wonderful children. Ms. Lopez is a Guidance Counselor at Roosevelt Junior and Senior High School. She is an active Girl Scout Leader and has accompanied girls to the 3rd and 4th National Latina Conferences, and was tapped by Girl Scouts of the USA to serve as a chaperone and interpreter for the Western Hemisphere WAGGGS Conference last year, which was held in Costa Rica. Ms. Lopez is also the owner of Jem Latin Dance Studio, also located in Rockville Center. Ms. Lopez attributes her involvement in the Girl Scouts of Nassau County for developing her vision to open the dance studio. As a member of the Hispanic/Latino Task Force, she wants to reach out to Latina girls as well as all Latinos in Long Island.

Lissette Laboy, also a member of the Hispanic/Latino Task Force, came to New York from Puerto Rico in 1989. She began her career as a Bilingual teacher in Queens. It was then that she discovered her passion for education. Ms. Laboy believes that through education she can empower students and their families. Currently, Ms. Laboy is a Bilingual/ESL Coordinator for Roosevelt UFSD and is dedicated to reaching out to the Hispanic community.

Angeles Davila was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Upon graduating from the University of Puerto Rico in 1982, Ms. Davila migrated to Washington D.C. and worked with the Adams Morgan Latino Community. Since then, she moved to New York and has been a Private Social Work Consultant and Psychotherapist since 1997.  Like Ms. Laboy and Ms. Lopez, Ms. Davila is Chair of the Hispanic/Latino Task Force for the Girl Scouts of Nassau County.  Ms. Davila attended the 4th National Latina Conference in Savannah, Georgia. She is eager to see this year¹s  National Latina Conference become a meaningful and fun experience for all the attendees.

More than 350 girls from around the country, over 150 chaperones, and dozens of members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) will participate in the 5th National Latina Conference.

This major "girls" conference will focus on challenges affecting Latina girls, ages 11 to 17, including personal safety, education, literacy and self-esteem. Participants will have a chance to explore their heritage, discover their potential, prepare for the future and meet new friends.  The Conference is open to all girls. Everyone who attends the Conference will have an opportunity to learn more about the Latina culture.
                   
Girl Scouts is a contemporary movement that helps girls discover fun, friendship and the power of girls together. With nearly 23,000 girls growing strong, Girl Scouts of Nassau County is big (serving 1 in 5 girls in Nassau County) and keeps growing every day. The organization seeks to give all girls in Nassau County the opportunity to realize their full potential and become better prepared for the future. Girl Scouts of Nassau County: Big, Contemporary, We change lives.

For more information about Girl Scouts or on how to participate in the 5th National Latina Conference please contact Donna Rivera-Downey, Director of Marketing at 516-741-2550, ext. 260 or visit www.gsnc.org.