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A trio of Portland attorneys each has a unique experience awaiting them when the Hispanic National Bar Association convention kicks off in Seattle next week.

Roman Hernandez, a Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt shareholder, will receive the Ohtli Award during the HNBA鈥檚 37^th annual convention, which runs Aug. 22-25. One of the most prestigious awards to be presented during the event, the Ohtli Award is given by the Mexican government to an attorney who has made a significant impact on the U.S. Latino community.

Hernandez is a former HNBA president and is on the board of directors for the group’s legal education fund. In June, he received DuPont鈥檚 J. Michael Brown Award for his efforts to increase and promote diversity in the legal profession.

For Kevin Diaz, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, this year鈥檚 convention marks his 10^迟丑听 time attending the event. Diaz will lead a panel discussion titled, 鈥淚mmigration and Customs Enforcement Detainers and Local Law Enforcement: Impact and Remedies for Communities of Color.鈥�

鈥淚 think this is a very important issue nationally, including here in Oregon, because of the deleterious effect ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) entanglement with police has on the relationships between immigrants and local law enforcement,鈥� Diaz said.

The convention also provides Diaz with an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and friends from around the country.

鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to learning about new opportunities to collaborate with peers and having the opportunity to meet with some of the sharpest legal minds in the United States,鈥� Diaz said.

For Marisol McAllister, an associate with Farleigh Wada Witt, this year marks her first HNBA convention.

鈥淚鈥檓 very excited because I鈥檓 one of the founders of the Oregon Hispanic Bar Association, but I鈥檝e never had a chance to go to the national convention,鈥� she said.

鈥淎ll of my colleagues who have attended the convention had great things to say about it, and I鈥檝e heard two things,鈥� McAllister added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great networking event and it鈥檚 a great place to just feel like you belong.鈥�