NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – Two major events in New Brunswick will engage Central New Jersey’s Latino community this weekend.

On Saturday, community members will gather in Buccleuch Park from 1-6pm to celebrate Mexican Independence Day.  New Brunswick has the second highest population of Mexicans in New Jersey.  (Only Passaic, NJ has a higher population.)

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, the Latino Leadership Alliance of NJ will be hosting a convention at the Labor Education Center.  US Senator Bob Menendez, who is currently seeking re-election, will be the keynote speaker.  His remarks are scheduled for 1pm.

The conference, billed as “Commanding Our Present to Build Our Future,” will include presentations and discussions on civil rights, immigration, and public education.  The Labor Education Center is located on the Douglass campus of Rutgers University just off of Ryders Lane.

The conference schedule is available on the Latino Leadership Alliance’s website.

According to the 2010 census, Hispanics make up 49.9% of New Brunswick’s population.

Correction: A previous version of this story indicated that the conference was on Sunday.  It is on Saturday, September 15.

Editor at New Brunswick Today | 732-993-9697 | editor@newbrunswicktoday.com | Website

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.