Adelphi University will convene leading experts at a public forum to discuss "Immigration on Long Island: Our Challenge, Our Responsibility" on Thursday, May 15, 2008, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Ruth S. Harley University Center Ballroom, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY. The goals are to advance the immigration debate on Long Island and stimulate a multi-sector approach. An interactive Q&A session will follow. Community members, elected officials, service providers, business leaders, scholars, and educators are invited to join a distinguished panel to address the pressing issue. The event, supported by Adelphi's Center for Social Innovation, is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

The keynote address, "Immigration: History, Myths, and Lessons for the Present," will be delivered by Dr. Kenneth Prewitt, Carnegie Professor of Public Affairs, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University. Dr. Prewitt has held numerous leadership positions, including director of the United States Census Bureau, president of the Social Science Research Council, senior vice president of the Rockefeller Foundation, and director of the National Opinion Research Center. He is the author or co-author of a dozen books, and more than 50 contributions to professional journals and edited collections. He has served on the board of numerous professional and nonprofit organizations and on advisory boards to the World Bank, the World Health Organization, UNESCO, and the National Science Foundation, as well as to universities and private foundations.

Following Dr. Prewitt's talk, a panel of local experts will respond and offer their perspectives.

Panelists:

* Jean Lau Chin, dean, Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University

* Marianela Jordan, executive director, Nassau County CASA

* Mariano Torras, associate professor, School of Business, Adelphi University

* Reginald Tuggle, associate vice president, Nassau Community College

* Luis Valenzuela, executive director, Long Island Immigrant Alliance (LIIA)

The mission of the Center for Social Innovation at Adelphi is to engage the University's intellectual and moral assets with those of community leaders in various partnerships that seek to strengthen the capacity of individuals and organizations to dissolve boundaries and stimulate synergies that lead to viable solutions for various Long Island challenges and problems.

For more information about this and other events, please visit www.adelphi.edu. To register, call (516) 877-3700 or email cano1@adelphi.edu by May 1.