Rixner to attend Mexico City conference
By Lynn Zerschling Journal staff writer | Posted: Saturday, July 29, 2006
Sioux City Councilman Jim Rixner will be one of 35 public officials from the United States invited to attend a conference in Mexico City to foster improvements for Mexican nationals living in this country.
Rixner leaves Monday for the four-day conference sponsored by the Institute for Mexicans Living Abroad (IME), an agency affiliated with the Mexican government. Rixner will be the only public official from the Hawkeye state attending.
"I am excited about going," Rixner said Friday. "All expenses will be paid for by the association."
The IME and the Mexican Consular Network in the United States are hosting the meetings as a way to establish closer relationships with U.S. city and county elected leaders and state legislators.
"It is aimed at fostering understanding and goodwill between governments. I am hoping to learn a great deal," Rixner said. "It is an opportunity for us as a city to further understand the people living here from Mexico. Our Latino population continues to expand. I think in the school district approximately 25 percent of their enrollment are Hispanic."
He noted that many Latinos have family members still living in their home countries.
The IME's conference objectives include:
-- Establishing and reinforcing a closer relationship with U.S. public officials and legislators.
-- Disseminating information concerning Mexican public policies and how they pertain to Mexicans living in the United States.
-- Investing opportunities that can improve the living standards of the hometowns of Mexicans living in this country.
When he was elected to the City Council last November, Rixner said one of his priorities was and remains to encourage neighborhood growth.
"Many Hispanics live in those neighborhoods," he noted.
Rixner, who does not speak Spanish, said the meetings will be conducted in English. In reviewing the conference attendee list, he noted that most of the Americans have Hispanic surnames. This is his first trip to Mexico City, a cosmopolitan area of more than 18 million people.
Mayor Craig Berenstein said Norma DeLaO, director of the New Iowan Center in Sioux City, contacted him to find out if he was interested in participating in the conference.
"Norma said the association wanted someone from either Sioux City or Marshalltown to attend," Berenstein said. "I couldn't go and Councilman Rixner said he would like to participate on our behalf."
In preparation for the conference, Rixner said he hopes to meet today with the Mexican consular officer from Omaha who will be at Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City.
He emphasized that he will pick up any expenses that are not covered by the IME.
Lynn Zerschling may be reached at (712) 293-4202 or lynnzerschling@siouxcityjournal.com
Rixner leaves Monday for the four-day conference sponsored by the Institute for Mexicans Living Abroad (IME), an agency affiliated with the Mexican government. Rixner will be the only public official from the Hawkeye state attending.
"I am excited about going," Rixner said Friday. "All expenses will be paid for by the association."
The IME and the Mexican Consular Network in the United States are hosting the meetings as a way to establish closer relationships with U.S. city and county elected leaders and state legislators.
"It is aimed at fostering understanding and goodwill between governments. I am hoping to learn a great deal," Rixner said. "It is an opportunity for us as a city to further understand the people living here from Mexico. Our Latino population continues to expand. I think in the school district approximately 25 percent of their enrollment are Hispanic."
He noted that many Latinos have family members still living in their home countries.
The IME's conference objectives include:
-- Establishing and reinforcing a closer relationship with U.S. public officials and legislators.
-- Disseminating information concerning Mexican public policies and how they pertain to Mexicans living in the United States.
-- Investing opportunities that can improve the living standards of the hometowns of Mexicans living in this country.
When he was elected to the City Council last November, Rixner said one of his priorities was and remains to encourage neighborhood growth.
"Many Hispanics live in those neighborhoods," he noted.
Rixner, who does not speak Spanish, said the meetings will be conducted in English. In reviewing the conference attendee list, he noted that most of the Americans have Hispanic surnames. This is his first trip to Mexico City, a cosmopolitan area of more than 18 million people.
Mayor Craig Berenstein said Norma DeLaO, director of the New Iowan Center in Sioux City, contacted him to find out if he was interested in participating in the conference.
"Norma said the association wanted someone from either Sioux City or Marshalltown to attend," Berenstein said. "I couldn't go and Councilman Rixner said he would like to participate on our behalf."
In preparation for the conference, Rixner said he hopes to meet today with the Mexican consular officer from Omaha who will be at Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City.
He emphasized that he will pick up any expenses that are not covered by the IME.
Lynn Zerschling may be reached at (712) 293-4202 or lynnzerschling@siouxcityjournal.com
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CONTESSA wrote on Jul 31, 2006 6:33 PM:
Derek wrote on Jul 29, 2006 5:31 PM: