What: Pan American Bank and actor/community activist Edward James Olmos will stage a press conference to announce the largest gathering of Latino authors in U.S. history at the 13th Annual Latino Book & Family Festival, which will be held October 9 and 10 at California State University, Los Angeles at Greenlee Plaza. The family-friendly event will feature over 120 Latino authors and close to 50 author panels, a folklórico dance competition, children’s activities, arts & crafts, and more.

When: Thursday, September 23, 2010 – 11:00 a.m.

Where: Pan American Bank lobby, 3626 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90063 – parking in rear.

Who: Edward James Olmos, actor/community activist/founder, Latino Literacy Now

Jesse Torres, President and CEO, Pan American Bank

Invited local, state and federal elected officials

Latino authors participating in the Latino Book & Family Festival

Why: The Latino Book & Family Festival was launched in 1997 in Los Angeles to promote literacy, culture, and education, as well as to provide people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to celebrate the diversity of the multicultural communities in the United States in a festival atmosphere. The event is free and open to the public from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm on October 9 and 10, 2010. Donations benefit Latino Literacy Now, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, and are tax-deductible. More information is available at

Background: The Latino Book & Family Festival is hosted in several major Latino markets across the U.S. including Houston, Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles. Future expansion plans will take the Festival to New York City, Miami, the San Francisco Bay Area and many other major Latino markets. Edward James Olmos, actor and community activist, is the co-producer of Latino Book & Family Festival.

Established in 1964, Pan American Bank (www.PanAmericanBank.us) is California’s oldest Latino-owned bank. Headquartered in East Los Angeles, Pan American Bank serves the needs of the Latino communities in Los Angeles and Santa Ana. Founded by former U.S. Treasurer Romana Acosta Banuelos, the Bank has stayed true to its mission of transforming and empowering Latino communities through banking relationships built on trust, service, respect, communication, and guidance. Pan American Bank’s Facebook page can be found at http://bit.ly/pab-facebook. The Bank’s blog is found at http://PanAmericanBank.blogspot.com. Pan American Bank can be followed on Twitter at @PanAmericanBank.

Media Visuals: Posters and handouts documenting authors, author panels and related activities. For more information contained in this release, please contact Tony Ramirez at (323) 264-3310.

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