LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION paying tribute to the lifetime achievements and
contributions to the Dominican Community of this year's 22nd Annual
Somos El Futuro Conference honoree, Raquel E. Batista, Esq.

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of organizations
and individuals who devote themselves to the welfare of the community
and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 22nd Annual Somos El Futuro Conference hosted by the New York
State Assembly/Senate Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force to be held April
3-5, 2009, in Albany, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Somos El Futuro Conference, established in 1987 and
attended by some 7,000 people each year, is the largest gathering of
Puerto Rican/Hispanic civic and political leaders in New York State and
is a significant public policy vehicle for the more than three million
Hispanics living in New York State; and
WHEREAS, The Somos El Futuro Conference also provides an opportunity
to recognize the contributions of Puerto Rican and Hispanic individuals
and organizations; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body has come together to recognize individ-
uals who have significantly contributed to the development of the Domin-
ican Community in New York State; and
WHEREAS, This year's 22nd Annual Somos El Futuro Conference Dominican
Reception honoree is Raquel E. Batista, Esq.; and
WHEREAS, Born and raised in the Bronx and currently living in Washing-
ton Heights, Raquel E. Batista is an attorney, Executive Director of the
Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, and co-founder of the
Latina Political Action Committee; and
WHEREAS, As a leader in the Latino, Dominican and New York City immi-
grant communities, she has taken an active role in both the policy and
political arena on issues affecting the poor, communities of color and
immigrants; and
WHEREAS, Beginning her career in 1997, as a community organizer in the
neighborhood known as Mount Hope at the Northwest Bronx Community and
Clergy Coalition, Raquel E. Batista worked early on after graduating
from Manhattan College on issues ranging from housing, education, safe
streets and quality of life; and
WHEREAS, There she became the lead staff on the safe streets committee
which dealt with policing issues in precincts of the Northwest Bronx
promoting community policing and increased collaboration between the
neighborhood leadership and the police in order to decrease criminal
activities; and
WHEREAS, In 2000, while involved with Dominicans 2000, a Dominican
student and youth-led movement in New York City, Raquel E. Batista
decided to obtain her Juris Doctorate from CUNY School of Law where she
concentrated on International Women's Human Rights and Constitutional
Law; and
WHEREAS, Immediately before Law School, Raquel E. Batista worked as
the Regional Organizer on the Latino and Census 2000 project for the
Institute of Puerto Rican Policy at PRLDEF; through the project, she was
a part in organizing the first-ever Latino Summit in the Virgin Islands;
and
WHEREAS, During law school, Raquel E. Batista continued working at IPR
as the Latino Policy Analyst on the Latino and Redistricting project in

Suffolk county, Long Island where a 45% Latino District was created and
in the New York City Council Redistricting Process; and
WHEREAS, Currently, Raquel E. Batista is also an active member of the
Manhattan College Latino Alumni Club, the North Star Community Funding
Advisory Board, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Alumni Advisory Board; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay
tribute to the lifetime achievements and contributions to the Dominican
Community of this year's 22nd Annual Somos El Futuro Conference honoree,
Raquel E. Batista, Esq.; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Raquel E. Batista, Esq.