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For 26 years, HLG has been a major force representing the Hispanic community in the St.
Louis region and in helping shape policies that affect Hispanics in the region.
for the various Hispanic groups in the St. Louis region. The founders of HLG had as one of for
the various Hispanic groups in the St. Louis region. The founders of HLG had as one of
Anthony B. Ramirez was the initiator of this effort along with a few others.
their goals to unite the diverse Hispanic community and present its voice to the larger society.
Anthony B. Ramirez was the initiator of this effort along with a few others.
The assemblage named this new organization The Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St.
Louis (HLG).
They first met in the basement of St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church and then in various
locations. In 1983, the Hispanic population was relatively small but as time passed more
people attended the meetings and there more activities. In 1983, the Hispanic population in
the St. Louis region was about 23,000 (today it’s about 55,000).
For the first ten years, the group was a “loose conglomeration” of people, according to Mr.
Ramirez.
On August 12, 1993, the organization was incorporated in the State of Missouri as The
Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St. Louis. It conducts its business under the 501(c)(3) not-
for-profit status in accordance to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
The résumé of HLG is impressive. A few of the main issues can be divided into Federal, State
and City.
On a federal level, the Hispanic Leaders Group corresponded with Presidents George Bush
and Bill Clinton in regard to supporting a Hispanic jurist for a position on the U.S. Supreme
Court and members of HLG were interviewed on television regarding the same issue.
On a state level, HLG is a major contributor to the annual Hispanic Day at Jefferson City, and
many of its members contact periodically state elected officials on issues of interest to the
Hispanic community.
On a city level, the HLG worked with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St.
Louis in obtaining an Executive Order which opened city business on set-asides to include the
Hispanic community which originally had been open only to the African-American community.
For the regular membership meetings, HLG invites individuals to give a short discourse on
their field of expertise or interest. The Hispanic Leaders Group was the first Hispanic
organization to successfully have the governor of Missouri attend its town hall meeting. It was
named such when Governor Bob Holden attended the event, which was held in that format.
In 2001, HLG started presenting its yearly Civic Awareness event. (Events)
In 2002, HLG was instrumental in starting Hispanic Day at Jefferson City. HLG was the
initiative member in organizing this event with the purpose being to have Hispanics throughout
Missouri go to the state capital to visit the Governor and members of the Missouri Senate and
House of Representatives. Its intent is to make their presence known to the politicians to let
them realize that Hispanics are interested in issues that affect the state of Missouri and their
lives. The first visit was on April 16, 2002 and has continued on to be a yearly event with more
and more Hispanics attending the activities.
Members of the HLG attended the Cambio de Colores (Change of Colors) conference held at
the University of Missouri at Columbia in 2002. In 2003, some of HLG members made
presentations at the conference that was held in Kansas City and in 2004 the group helped
organize and participated in the conference that was held at the University of Missouri at St.
Louis.
In 2003, HLG created Premio Esperanza (Hope Award). The award recognizes community
leaders that excel because of their contributions to the Hispanic community. (Please go to
Events)
In 2004, HLG started its Scholarship Program, which is aimed at helping Hispanic youth
continue their studies after finishing high school, whether at a college or university or by
attending an accredited vocational or trade school. (Events)
Occasionally, members of the HLG are asked to attend activities by other organizations. In
2004, members of the Hispanic Leaders Group were invited and attended the American Jewish
Committee in Chicago. Another example is the participation of Mr. Anthony Ramirez as a
presenter at the Latino Civil Rights Summit in Kansas City sponsored by the Coalition of
Hispanic Organizations (COHO).
In 2006, the board of directors of HLG approved a comprehensive statement on immigration.
(Please see Statements)
The organization has stayed current with the times and supports the many issues that affect
the ever-growing Hispanic population in St. Louis and its surrounding area.
In 2007, the HLG initiated a website with community resource information servicing the needs
of the Hispanics in our metropolitan area. The HLG was a founding partner of the Hispanic
Scholarship Alliance of St. Louis. Our eighth year of participating in the Hispanic Day at
Jefferson City provided a pulse of our Hispanic community interest in making a difference
towards the betterment of the community at large.
In 2008, the HLG addressed Immigration and Law Enforcement issues affecting our Hispanic
community by inviting to our April general meeting, the Police Chiefs from the City of St. Louis,
St. Louis County, Missouri's Highway Patrol and the small community of St. Ann in St. Louis
County recently highlighted by the press for their police and immigration practices.
The HLG was instrumental in raising awareness of our elected officials during our Hispanic Day
at Jefferson City. In June 2008, the HLG extended an invitation to integrate all agencies
servicing our Hispanic community in "A Call to Action & Unity".
In August 2008, the HLG as a charter member of the Hispanic Scholarship Alliance of St.
Louis, contributed to the success of our youth by presenting 21 scholarships to fund post
secondary education, three scholarships provided by our HLG education fund. In this hard
economic times, the HLG addressed the financial education needs of our community during
our general membership meeting.
On October 5, 2008, the HLG celebrated 25 years of continuous service along with
recognizing Representatives: Maria Chappelle-Nadal and Tim Flook - as the co-winners of the
distinguished Esperanza Award for outstanding service to the Hispanic Community. Our
annual Civic Awareness meeting was held on October 22, 2008. HLG was recognized by the
St, Louis Rams at Edwards Jones Dome as the Hispanic Organization of the year and had a
Joint Thanksgiving celebration with a dinner party for underprivileged youth.
Efforts continue towards building coalitions optimizing diversity and community involvement by
meeting with different corporations i.e.Build -A-Bear Corporation, Brown Shoe. Other efforts
continue to sustain the work of other not-for-profits serving such Casa de Salud, Anti-
Defamation League and others. The organization has stayed current with the times and
supports the many issues that affect the ever-growing Hispanic population in St. Louis and its
surrounding area.
Louis region and in helping shape policies that affect Hispanics in the region.
for the various Hispanic groups in the St. Louis region. The founders of HLG had as one of for
the various Hispanic groups in the St. Louis region. The founders of HLG had as one of
Anthony B. Ramirez was the initiator of this effort along with a few others.
their goals to unite the diverse Hispanic community and present its voice to the larger society.
Anthony B. Ramirez was the initiator of this effort along with a few others.
The assemblage named this new organization The Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St.
Louis (HLG).
They first met in the basement of St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church and then in various
locations. In 1983, the Hispanic population was relatively small but as time passed more
people attended the meetings and there more activities. In 1983, the Hispanic population in
the St. Louis region was about 23,000 (today it’s about 55,000).
For the first ten years, the group was a “loose conglomeration” of people, according to Mr.
Ramirez.
On August 12, 1993, the organization was incorporated in the State of Missouri as The
Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St. Louis. It conducts its business under the 501(c)(3) not-
for-profit status in accordance to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
The résumé of HLG is impressive. A few of the main issues can be divided into Federal, State
and City.
On a federal level, the Hispanic Leaders Group corresponded with Presidents George Bush
and Bill Clinton in regard to supporting a Hispanic jurist for a position on the U.S. Supreme
Court and members of HLG were interviewed on television regarding the same issue.
On a state level, HLG is a major contributor to the annual Hispanic Day at Jefferson City, and
many of its members contact periodically state elected officials on issues of interest to the
Hispanic community.
On a city level, the HLG worked with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St.
Louis in obtaining an Executive Order which opened city business on set-asides to include the
Hispanic community which originally had been open only to the African-American community.
For the regular membership meetings, HLG invites individuals to give a short discourse on
their field of expertise or interest. The Hispanic Leaders Group was the first Hispanic
organization to successfully have the governor of Missouri attend its town hall meeting. It was
named such when Governor Bob Holden attended the event, which was held in that format.
In 2001, HLG started presenting its yearly Civic Awareness event. (Events)
In 2002, HLG was instrumental in starting Hispanic Day at Jefferson City. HLG was the
initiative member in organizing this event with the purpose being to have Hispanics throughout
Missouri go to the state capital to visit the Governor and members of the Missouri Senate and
House of Representatives. Its intent is to make their presence known to the politicians to let
them realize that Hispanics are interested in issues that affect the state of Missouri and their
lives. The first visit was on April 16, 2002 and has continued on to be a yearly event with more
and more Hispanics attending the activities.
Members of the HLG attended the Cambio de Colores (Change of Colors) conference held at
the University of Missouri at Columbia in 2002. In 2003, some of HLG members made
presentations at the conference that was held in Kansas City and in 2004 the group helped
organize and participated in the conference that was held at the University of Missouri at St.
Louis.
In 2003, HLG created Premio Esperanza (Hope Award). The award recognizes community
leaders that excel because of their contributions to the Hispanic community. (Please go to
Events)
In 2004, HLG started its Scholarship Program, which is aimed at helping Hispanic youth
continue their studies after finishing high school, whether at a college or university or by
attending an accredited vocational or trade school. (Events)
Occasionally, members of the HLG are asked to attend activities by other organizations. In
2004, members of the Hispanic Leaders Group were invited and attended the American Jewish
Committee in Chicago. Another example is the participation of Mr. Anthony Ramirez as a
presenter at the Latino Civil Rights Summit in Kansas City sponsored by the Coalition of
Hispanic Organizations (COHO).
In 2006, the board of directors of HLG approved a comprehensive statement on immigration.
(Please see Statements)
The organization has stayed current with the times and supports the many issues that affect
the ever-growing Hispanic population in St. Louis and its surrounding area.
In 2007, the HLG initiated a website with community resource information servicing the needs
of the Hispanics in our metropolitan area. The HLG was a founding partner of the Hispanic
Scholarship Alliance of St. Louis. Our eighth year of participating in the Hispanic Day at
Jefferson City provided a pulse of our Hispanic community interest in making a difference
towards the betterment of the community at large.
In 2008, the HLG addressed Immigration and Law Enforcement issues affecting our Hispanic
community by inviting to our April general meeting, the Police Chiefs from the City of St. Louis,
St. Louis County, Missouri's Highway Patrol and the small community of St. Ann in St. Louis
County recently highlighted by the press for their police and immigration practices.
The HLG was instrumental in raising awareness of our elected officials during our Hispanic Day
at Jefferson City. In June 2008, the HLG extended an invitation to integrate all agencies
servicing our Hispanic community in "A Call to Action & Unity".
In August 2008, the HLG as a charter member of the Hispanic Scholarship Alliance of St.
Louis, contributed to the success of our youth by presenting 21 scholarships to fund post
secondary education, three scholarships provided by our HLG education fund. In this hard
economic times, the HLG addressed the financial education needs of our community during
our general membership meeting.
On October 5, 2008, the HLG celebrated 25 years of continuous service along with
recognizing Representatives: Maria Chappelle-Nadal and Tim Flook - as the co-winners of the
distinguished Esperanza Award for outstanding service to the Hispanic Community. Our
annual Civic Awareness meeting was held on October 22, 2008. HLG was recognized by the
St, Louis Rams at Edwards Jones Dome as the Hispanic Organization of the year and had a
Joint Thanksgiving celebration with a dinner party for underprivileged youth.
Efforts continue towards building coalitions optimizing diversity and community involvement by
meeting with different corporations i.e.Build -A-Bear Corporation, Brown Shoe. Other efforts
continue to sustain the work of other not-for-profits serving such Casa de Salud, Anti-
Defamation League and others. The organization has stayed current with the times and
supports the many issues that affect the ever-growing Hispanic population in St. Louis and its
surrounding area.
History
