HispanicBusiness

SEPTEMBER 15 – 18
The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce convenes its 25th annual National Convention & Business Expo. The event will be co-chaired by Gary Cowger, president of GM North America, and J. Terrence ("Terry") Lanni, chairman and chief executive officer of MGM Mirage. The convention host chairman is Massey Villarreal, USHCC Region III board member and president and CEO of Precision Task Group in Houston. More than 200 exhibitors will be featured at a two-day expo, which begins September 17. Both events will be at the Austin Convention Center in Texas. For more information, call (202) 842-1212, or visit www.ushcc.com.



SEPTEMBER 16 – 19
The 22nd annual U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute Conference – featuring a college recruitment fair, forums, workshops, entertainment, and exhibits – will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago. The conference, "Shaping a New Vision for America," allows unions to meet prospective members, vendors to meet consumers, universities to recruit students, constituents to meet national policy-makers, and public- and private-sector employers to network with prospective employees. For more information, call the institute at (312) 427-8683, or visit the institute's Web site at www.ushli.com.

SEPTEMBER 18
The 14th annual Las Vegas International Mariachi Festival returns to the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada. Celebrating Mexico's independence, the festival features top mariachi bands Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez, and Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano. For more information, call (800) 637-1006, or visit www.eliasentertainmentgroup.com/lasvegas mariachi.php.

SEPTEMBER 23 – OCTOBER 9
The CineSol Latino Film Festival, which debuted in September 1993, showcases Hispanic film and video in a traveling four-week festival through South Texas. Held in the Rio Grande Valley, CineSol begins in McAllen, Texas, where filmmakers gather and interact with the audience. For more information, visit www.cinesol.com, or e-mail ask@cinesol.com.

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SEPTEMBER 25 –
OCTOBER 30
A variety of musical performances will be presented during the University of Miami School of Music's Festival Miami 2004. Now in its 21st season, the festival is an international celebration of music that includes world premieres, symphonic concerts, chamber music presentations, and jazz performances. The six-week festival showcases international and local artists. For tickets, call (305) 284-4940.

SEPTEMBER 25 – 26
JuntaHispana is a two-day celebration of the cultures, traditions, arts, music, dance, heritage, and people from all Spanish-speaking countries. JuntaHispana will take place in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, New York. For more information, call (212) 255-4025, or visit www.juntahispana.net.

OCTOBER 7
MANA, an organization of Hispanic women, will hold its Las Primeras Awards gala at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. For more information, call (202) 833-0060, or visit www.hermana.org.

OCTOBER 8
The Hispanic Heritage Council will host the Hispanic Heritage Festival Gala Ball at the Hotel InterContinental in Miami. The council will present its "Don Quixote Award" during the evening's dinner. Other events include: the Young Hispanic Leadership Awards, on September 23; a music and food festival, on October 10; the Legacy of Excellence Awards, honoring Hispanic families, on October 14; the Hispanic Heritage Golf Classic, on October 28; and a national poster contest. For information, call (305) 461-1014, or visit
www.hispanicfestival.com.



OCTOBER 9
The annual black-tie Latin Fever Ball will be at the Grand Hyatt Buckhead in Georgia this year and will feature a formal dinner, silent auction, live dance music, and dance exhibitions. The evening supports the Latin American Association. For more information, call (404) 638-1815, or visit www.latinamericanassoc.org.