Advocacy Professionals Come Together In Search Of New Tools To Serve Better
the Latino Population And Its Working Poor
NEW YORK - December 13, 2002 - Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
(Con Edison) welcomed professionals from a myriad of New York City advocacy
groups to its conference, Advocacy Today: New Resources, New Opportunities.
The conference, held yesterday at Con Edison's Learning Center in Long Island
City, explored new tools to improve the services offered to the Latino population
and its working poor.
Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, senior vice president and chief executive for agency
services of the United Way of New York City, was the keynote speaker. She told
the attendants that, as they try to bring resources within the reach of those
who need them, the role of advocates should be to educate the people around
them and engage them in productive argument. This particular tool, she added,
can make the difference when overcoming obstacles such as the antagonistic relationship
between advocates and those who hold power, either in government or in any other
area.
"At Con Edison, we look for ways to match the diversity of our customers
with the programs that we make available to serve them better," said Marilyn
Caselli, Con Edison's vice president of Customer Operations. "It is important
to understand their cultural backgrounds, their needs, and their priorities.
With this goal in mind, bringing together people like you is a wonderful way
to reach out to our Latino customers."
Louis E. Perego Moreno, served as moderator of the event, leading team-building
exercises and a series of workshops, including, "Getting Work," "Managing
on a Low Income," "Exploring Learning and Culture," and "Discovering
Con Edison's Special Services." Perego Moreno is president of Skyline Features,
an English and Spanish-language multimedia production and educational company
focusing on cross-cultural, multicultural and youth projects.
Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. [NYSE: ED], one of the
nation's largest investor-owned energy companies, with more than $8 billion
in annual revenues and $18 billion in assets. The utility provides electric,
gas and steam service to more than 3 million customers in New York City and
Westchester County, New York. For additional financial, operations and customer
service information, visit Con Edison's Web site at www.coned.com
CONTACT:
Brenda Pérez
212-460-4111
