The University of Iowa School of Social Work will host the Iowa Latino Conference Oct. 12-13 in Iowa City.

Coordinated by a statewide planning committee and the UI School of Social Work in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the conference aims to explore the changing demographics and dynamics of Latino communities in Iowa, and to strengthen the responsiveness of policy makers, business leaders, and community organizations. Celebrating its 14th year, the event has become a cherished gathering of Latinos and non-Latinos as a place to emphasize strengths of Latino culture and to provide networking opportunities for Latino leaders in Iowa.

This year's events include:

• The Latino Youth Leadership Summit, Friday, Oct. 12, Iowa Memorial Union. The Youth Summit focuses on values, identity development, and community awareness with latino youth from high schools across Iowa. Jose Límon will present a keynote “Clear Lake, Iowa, and the Day the Music Died.”
• The Latino Institute for Professional Development, Friday, Oct. 12, Iowa Memorial Union. Features workshops on three tracks: community models for promoting bilingualism in children; skills for communicating respectfully with English Language Learners; and assessing bilingual proficiencies and developing marketable competencies. It will also feature a keynote by Ana Celia Zentella, a professor at the University of California-San Diego, “Battling Linguistic Intolerance in the USA."
• “Honoring Language, Culture, and Community: Strengthening the Pan-Latino Generation,” is the theme for Saturday, Oct. 13 events, at the Iowa City Public Library. There will be a bilingual story time as well as a creative writing youth workshop. Zentella will present “Cómo criar niñ@s bilingües/Raising Bicultural/Bilingual Children. There will also be a presentation, “Deferred Action,” by Sonia Sanchez, of the American Friends Service Committee. A Latino Fair will take place on the pedestrian mall outside the library.

More information can be found at www.iowalatinoconference.org. During the same dates as the Iowa Latino Conference, the Obermann Center will host its annual Humanities Symposium with the focus The Latino Midwest. Although the two conferences are separate, they are sharing some speakers and cross-promoting their events. To read about The Latino Midwest symposium, visit now.uiowa.edu/2012/09/latino-midwest.