CHICAGO’S NON-PROFIT EL VALOR PRESIDENT & CEO REY B. GONZALEZ TO SPEAK IN BARCELONA’S FACILITATING INCLUSIVE DISABILITIES EDUCATIONAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE OCTOBER 4

CHICAGO – September 24, 2014 – With more than 40 years of dedication to social justice and the advancement of Latinos and minorities, El Valor’s President & CEO Rey B. Gonzalez, to serve as a special guest speaker at the annual conference “Facilitating Inclusive Education and Supporting the Transition Agenda (FIESTA)” in Barcelona, Spain scheduled for October 4.

After 30 years of serving as El Valor’s chair of its board of directors, Rey B. Gonzalez was appointed as the president & CEO of El Valor in 2014. During his tenure as president & CEO, with his leadership and support, El Valor has revamped the programming that has delivered more than 40 years of evidence-based programs to benefit more than 4,000 families and children throughout the Chicagoland.

El Valor is among the largest Hispanic non-profit organizations across the country, including the largest in the state of Illinois working with individuals with disabilities. About 23 percent of children and adults at El Valor have special needs and disabilities, which accounts for 2,000 individuals at El Valor.

At the FIESTA Conference, Gonzalez will present best practices and El Valor’s inclusive model where families are strengthened as well as the individual. El Valor’s assesses strengths and connects individuals with opportunities that fit their abilities. Gonzalez will share successful outcomes he and his staff have been fortunate to experience with their best partners, El Valor families, at the conference.

“Our staff works tirelessly to provide the highest quality of service for the families and children with disabilities in Illinois,” said Rey B. Gonzalez president & CEO of El Valor. “Latinos are the largest minority population in the state of Illinois. It is our responsibility at El Valor to continue to bridge the needs of our community with much needed resources.”

Rey B. Gonzalez has been ranked among the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in America by Hispanic Business Magazine and is also founder and chair for the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute.

For more information on El Valor, please visit https://www.elvalor.org/

About El Valor

El Valor is an internationally recognized non-profit organization that has delivered 40 years of research-based programs that have benefitted thousands of individuals in Illinois and around the country. El Valor serves more than 4,000 families throughout the Chicagoland area who have received high quality early childhood education; more than 2,000 people with disabilities learn how to live more independently; more than 350 school-age youth receive individualized academic support; and more than 650 working professionals primarily from the Latino community have obtained their advanced degrees in partnership with area universities. For more information on services provided, please visit https://www.elvalor.org/