New El Pueblo Director
El Pueblo, a fairly potent lobbying/activist organization that takes up issues on behalf of the Latino community, has a new executive director. From a news release:
On March 1, 2008, the Board of Directors named Antonio (Tony) Asion as the new Executive Director of El Pueblo, Inc. El Pueblo is a statewide, nonprofit public policy and advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening the Latino community of North Carolina.As the new Executive Director, Asion will supervise a staff of fifteen who work in programs in the areas of health, education, leadership development, advocacy, Public Safety, youth and culture.
Asion's first priority will be to work with both the Latino and non-Latino community to highlight commonalities, differences, and the benefits of working together to overcome the fear and misunderstanding each has of the other. Together with El Pueblo's accomplished Collaborative Leadership Team and El Pueblo's continued commitment to allied coalitions with other organizations statewide, Asion will lead, coordinate, and collaborate to achieve this goal.
Originally from Cuba, Asion received his Master's degree in Criminal Justice from Wilmington College in Delaware. He is a retired State Trooper from Delaware and was most recently the Deputy Director of El Pueblo. Tony also served as Public Safety Director, tackling such issues as DWI prevention, child passenger safety seat usage and gang prevention among the Latino community.