The Bureau of Land Management NEWS |
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The Bureau of Land Management NEWS |
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Last updated: 04/04/03
For release: September 27, 1997
The National Association of Hispanic Firefighters (NAHFF) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bureau of Land Management and the National Hispanic Coalition. The signing took place during the national conference of the NAHFF in Chicago.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is aimed at fostering cooperation and collaborative action on efforts to promote Hispanic firefighter recruitment, employment, career enhancement, retention, and fire-related procurement opportunities.
Les Rosenkrance, Director for Fire and Aviation at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, represented the BLM at today's signing ceremony. Salvador Morales, National President of the National Association of Hispanic Firefighters, signed on behalf of the NAHFF.
"As we observe National Hispanic Heritage Month, it is particularly fitting that the BLM welcome the newest member of the National Hispanic Coalition," said Rosenkrance. "Hispanic and Native American firefighters have long been a part of the BLM's outstanding fire crews, who contribute significantly to the BLM's land-management mission by saving lives and property." Morales said, "The NAHFF is looking forward to the development and maintenance of a true partnership with the BLM. The Hispanic firefighters will do all within their power to assist in outreach initiatives to increase Hispanic representation in the BLM's fire workforce."
The BLM manages more than land than any other Federal agency and is an internationally recognized leader in wildland firefighting techniques. A top priority of the agency, most of whose 9,500 employees are based in the West, is to recruit and retain a workforce that reflects America's ethnic and cultural diversity. The National Association of Hispanic Firefighters represents about 20,000 Hispanic professional and volunteer firefighters in the United States. Their goal is to promote the employment and education of Hispanic firefighters.
The BLM-NAHFF partnership complements the BLM's ongoing efforts to recruit and provide opportunities for minority and women firefighters. Hispanics comprise a major segment of the civilian labor force in the West and Southwest, where the BLM manages millions of acres of public lands.
The NAHFF is the most recent member of the National Hispanic Coalition, which consists of the National Council of LARAZA; the League of United Latin American Citizens; the American G.I. Forum; MANA, a national Latina organization; SER -- Jobs for Progress; the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; the National Association of Hispanic Publications; the Cuban American National Council; and National Image, Inc.
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