The Lake community as well as the general public will have the opportunity to take part in the 2nd Annual Latino Issues Forum when the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists (SAAHJ) hosts “Hispanic Research for You and Your Family” on Saturday, April 12.

The free event is scheduled for 1 p.m. in the Providence West Social Room.

Top Hispanic researchers from South Texas will conduct brief presentations on research topics such as education, elections, history, medicine and the media.

The researchers attending include Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, associate director of the center for Mexican American studies at the University of Texas at Austin; Henry Flores, professor of political science at St. Mary’s University; Karl Eschbach, Texas State data center interim director and associate professor for the Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research at the University of Texas at San Antonio; Federico Subervi, director of the Latinos and Media Project and a professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University in San Marcos; and Dr. Liliana Oakes, the residency geriatric coordinator for curriculum development in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Ernie Zuniga, Fox 29’s “News in the Morning” anchor, will serve as master of ceremonies.

After the presentations, research panelists will open the floor for questions from the audience.

The event is being organized by SAAHJ member Kris Rodriguez, a public affairs specialist at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

“These are researchers that are in demand around the country,” Rodriguez said. “We are fortunate to have them here in San Antonio.”

Last year, the forum dealt with Hispanics in the media. Rodriguez said this year the SAAHJ “wanted to expand out and have topics more toward the areas of interest of the general public.”

Rodriguez said the Lake was chosen because it’s “kind of the center of Hispanic journalists.”

“OLLU goes out of its way to accommodate us, and it’s a great opportunity for students,” Rodriguez said.

The forums are signature events for the SAAHJ because they serve to increase the public’s awareness of the organization. It also helps to boost membership.

The SAAHJ has three components: journalists, public relations professionals, and students.

People interested in learning more about the SAAHJ can log onto their Web site at www.saahj.org.