Latin Post spoke to Margaret Moran, national president of the League of United Latino American Citizens, on Monday, the day before LULAC's National Convention and Exposition starts at the Hilton Hotel, in New York.

It's a first and last moment for Moran — the first time the convention has been held in New York City, with 20,000 people expected to attend, and her fourth and last term in office at LULAC.

LULAC is the oldest Latino civil rights organization. It was founded in 1929 in Corpus Christi, Texas, when Latinos were being "denied basic civil and human rights." The founders made it their mission to advocate for those rights, "and we are still doing that," Moran said.

Today, LULAC has 135,000 volunteers and 900 local councils and continues its mission to advocate for and advance the economic condition, educational attainment and political influence of the Latino population of the U.S., as well as advocate for housing, health and civil rights.

The National Convention and Exposition is where 20,000 visitors interact with top leaders from government, business and Latino communities. There are career and college fairs and chances for businesses to promote their products and services.

Moran ran to be LULAC's president on a platform of including more youths and college students. She's watched that idea become a reality with the Emerge Latino leadership conference in Washington, D.C., in February which attracted 100 college students from around the country. The conference provided "students with public policy briefings on public health, education, and immigration; civic engagement and advocacy training; community service program coordination; and congressional visits on Capitol Hill."

Moran also wanted to grow councils in the Northeast during her tenure, and she's particularly proud that the convention is in New York, where a Latina, Melissa Mark-Viverito, now occupies the second most powerful position in city politics: City Council speaker.

"This is what we are about. We encourage our folks to run for political office, especially women, and I think we are making some inroads, but it is going to take time, Moran said. "We encourage political empowerment and civic engagement to make sure our folks get out to vote and we register voters everywhere, all over the country."

After stepping down from office, she will spend more time with her grandchildren and continue her civic participation with LULAC as a distinguished member of the board and serve on the LULAC National Education Service Board. She will also continue to serve as chair of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility's Board of Directors and as member of the board for SER-Jobs for Progress National.

LULAC advocates for the rights of children and students in general, and Moran said her three grandchildren will be attending the National Convention this week.