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The Alabama Hispanic population has had a nearly 150 percent increase in the last decade, according to a report from Auburn University at Montgomery's Center for Demographic Research.

Using Census data from 2010, the report examined the demographic and socio-economic characteristics and health conditions of the state's Hispanics in comparison to non-Hispanics.

Although there was a sharp increase in the Hispanic population, Hispanics only account for 3.9 percent of the state's population. The report found Alabama's Hispanics originate from from more than 15 countries, though 66.2 percent are of Mexican origin.

The report does not include information on population changes that may have occurred since Alabama's immigration law, HB 56, was passed. READ MORE

The Latino Coalition, the leading Latino non-profit small business organization founded in 1995 with a commitment of building communities and partnerships for a stronger America, announced today that U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida will provide a keynote address and receive the annual Tributo Award at its Annual Economic Summit to be held at Noon on Wednesday, May 23 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce building at 1615 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20062.

The event, held during National Small Business Week (occurring May 20-26 this year), will focus on procurement, business development, and trade opportunities. Each year The Latino Coalition's Annual Economic Summit attracts a who's who of U.S. policymakers and national business leaders as well as hundreds of Latino small business owners from across the country.

"Senator Rubio has emerged in the U.S. Senate as an honest, thoughtful and steady voice for small businesspeople across the nation," said Hector V. Barreto, The Latino Coalition's Chairman and the former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (2001-2006). "His track record of work in Congress and his remarkable personal story serve as inspiration for all Americans and a reminder of the great opportunity America has provided to millions of Latinos. He knows that policies affecting small businesses are critically important to our nation's ability to strengthen the economy and create jobs." READ MORE

A former president of the University of Arizona pleaded with Mitt Romney on Friday to support some version of the Dream Act to give "a glimmer of hope" to college students who are not in the United States legally.

"They're bright. They can help carry this country forward," Manuel Pacheco told the Republican presidential candidate during a round-table discussion with Latino business leaders in Tempe. "I think it would be a shame to lose that particular talent that they bring."

Romney listened politely, nodding, as Pacheco pushed him to effectively change his strong opposition to the Dream Act, which would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented college students. Romney, who took a hard line on immigration issues in the Republican primary, has said he would veto the Dream Act if it were passed while he was president.

When Pacheco finished speaking, Romney smiled and said: "Thank you! Appreciate that! Thank you." He then turned to the next participant and did not discuss the matter further.

Eight people took part in the discussion at the Arizona Historical Society Museum. Most of the talk hinged on ways to improve the business climate, and Romney participated more enthusiastically in those discussions, asking detailed questions of most speakers.

At times he appeared to revert to his role as chief executive of Bain Capital, the Boston-based financial services firm, as when he demanded of a business owner complaining about his taxes, "Are you an LLC or a Sub-S?" (He was referring to different legal categories of companies.) READ MORE

MIAMI, May 7, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Latin Trade Group in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank will hold the first annual Trade Americas Expo: Creating an Environment for Business Opportunities in the Hemisphere, June 12-13 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Miami.

Trade Americas Expo is a premier conference for small-and-medium-sized North American executives interested in learning about the growth opportunities and risks when trading with Mexico, Central and South America and Caribbean markets.

Trade Americas is a business-focused educational conference on trade and investment in Latin America, providing presentations, networking and exhibits. This two-day event is designed to provide a close look at how to effectively expand into this market.

Latin America has emerged following years of political and financial tumult as one of the fastest growing regions in the world. It has become an increasingly desirable trading partner for countries and companies around the globe, as well as a destination for rising foreign direct investment and joint venture partnerships. With a $4.8 trillion economy, some 600 million citizens and burgeoning middle classes, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean represent significant market opportunities for those who are looking to expand their businesses into growth markets. READ MORE

As Chicago’s all-Latina theater company approaches its 12th anniversary and launches its new community arts center Luna Central in Chicago, it is expanding its national reach. Its upcoming world premiere of Los Angeles playwright Diane Rodriguez’s, Obie award winner and TCG board member, new play LIVING LARGE IN A MINI KIND OF WAY is a comedy with immigration drama and universal issues about identity and privilege. Luna brings light to this exploration of the American Dream. Rodriguez will also direct the play.

“What excites me about working with the ladies of Teatro Luna,” Rodriguez says, “is that they have been working together for eleven years and have a vocabulary, a methodology and an audience.”

Teatro Luna built its relationship with Rodriguez and other nationally-acclaimed artists with its LUNADAS reading series, providing an outlet for Latina playwrights to have their work developed. Though Teatro Luna is still seeking funding for artist travel accommodations, they find that opportunities for Latinas are so few that many are willing to cover their own transportation costs to access the rare resources Teatro Luna provides. The Luna ladies are committed to creating a national network of support for female theater artists of color, and have been honored to work with Elaine Romero, Caridad Svich, Marisela Treviño Orta, and others as a result. Three to four of the upcoming LUNADAS staged readings will feature New York based playwrights, broadening its foundation on the East Coast and setting in motion plans for a 15th Anniversary world premiere in New York in Spring 2015. READ MORE

Speaking the language of the fast growing and increasingly desirable Latino audience, Walt Disney Co.'s ABC News and Univision Communications are teaming up to launch a 24-hour English-language news network.

The yet-unnamed cable channel, announced Monday, is expected to launch during the first half of next year. The two companies plan to get a head start this summer with a website and content for social networks and mobile devices devoted to covering the U.S. presidential election — which some analysts say could be decided by Latino voters in battleground states.

The most recent census shows that more than 50 million Latinos live in the U.S., making up 16% of the country's population. Advertisers are increasingly looking for ways to reach young and upwardly mobile Latinos who have disposable income and are fluent in English. READ MORE

Yesterday marked the start of a significant tribute to Hispanic Americans who have served this county. A Hispanic American Veterans Memorial Monument is underway at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park and will be located between the Korean and Rust Bucket Monuments. A rendering is shown that depicts what the final work will look like. Being recognized as the 'first landmark of its kind for Hispanic Americans in the region', this tribute is an important milestone for soldiers who continue, to this day, to serve in the military. The first step towards seeing this monument to completion was the laying of the foundation. Fundraising efforts are in full swing in order to finish the memorial. READ MORE

Napa is on track to become the Bay Area's first majority Latino county, and a new study shows officials here may not be prepared to deal effectively with the changing demographic.

The Profile of Immigrants in Napa County, a Migration Policy Institute study on immigration's impact on the region, was commissioned by the Napa Valley Community Foundation. It's meant to engender "civil" discourse on the issues, and hopefully result in "better public policies," study author Randy Capps said.

The study found that even as the county's Latino population (and, in American Canyon, the Filipino population) grows, the native born white population is aging and shrinking.

"The extent of it surprised me," Capps said. "Native born whites are growing older and not being replaced. Napa County will continue to need to import workers. It's a national trend, based on the aging of the Baby Boom generation." READ MORE

Hispanics continue to outpace whites when it comes to the adoption of mobile technology.

Marketing firm eMarketer reported this week that Hispanics are early adopters of both smartphones and tablet computers, and are more likely than whites to use mobile devices to access the Internet.

“The high adoption rates for smartphones and tablets among Hispanics are likely due to the fact that they are on average a young group, and more likely to use mobile devices instead of landlines,” according to the firm’s 2011 research.

Smartphone penetration rates are more than 50 percent among Hispanics, which is slightly higher than the nearly 47 percent that eMarketer previously had estimated.

Meanwhile, 19 percent of Hispanics own tablets - also higher than eMarketer’s previous estimate of 12 percent.

This could mean big profits for mobile companies. READ MORE

Winner will receive a $25,000 grant toward the development of a community project

CHICAGO (April 24, 2012) – For the first time since the MillerCoors Líderes program launched in 2006, MillerCoors is asking the public to nominate Latino leaders associated with a nonprofit for the program. The program highlights outstanding Latinos who are making a difference through leadership in their communities and the nation.

MillerCoors will choose 12 individuals from the pool of nominees to participate in the 2012 MillerCoors Líderes program. The 12 Líderes will be announced during Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15- Oct.15), when the public will have the opportunity to vote for the Líder of the Year. The MillerCoors Líder of the year will receive a $25,000 MillerCoors grant to develop a community leadership project benefitting the Hispanic community.

“We are excited to open the nomination process to the public and anticipate a great response,” says Jose Ruano, multicultural relations manager for MillerCoors. “There are many Latino leaders who are working hard to improve themselves and their communities. MillerCoors is proud to shine a light on those who are making a difference and award one Líder with a grant to make an impact in his or her own local community.”

The general public can nominate a candidate on www.MillerCoorsLideres.com, until May 25, 2012. The criteria for nominations are:

• The nominee must be of Hispanic descent, between the ages of 21 and 39 years old, and associated with a nonprofit (staff or volunteer).

• A person in good standing in the community who represents the values of the community he/she serves as evidenced by recognition from a local organization, church, media outlet or other form of public community support.

• An emerging community leader who through his/her words and actions exemplifies leadership and who works toward establishing noteworthy improvement in the lives of individuals, communities and organizations.

• Nominees must actively participate in initiatives that involve education, leadership development, environmental stewardship, economic development, alcohol responsibility or mentoring within their nonprofit.

• Nonprofits and the public can nominate a leader. The nonprofit organization the nominee is affiliated with must approve/support the nomination.

• The nominee’s affiliated nonprofit must be a 501c3 organization with a commitment to ethical, business and social practices; have a project or program that benefits the Hispanic community; align with MillerCoors corporate social responsibility commitments; and agree to work with MillerCoors and its brands.
• The leader selected as the MillerCoors Líder of the Year must use the grant to fund a MillerCoors-approved community project which would benefit the Hispanic community. The project will be implemented by his/her nonprofit organization in partnership with MillerCoors. She/he will be expected to remain engaged with the MillerCoors Líderes program through MillerCoors or its brands.

Since 2006, the MillerCoors Líderes program has highlighted the achievements of national and local leaders within the Hispanic community. Last year’s MillerCoors Líderes included motivational speakers, environmentalists, community organizers, mentors and volunteers from various organizations who were nominated by national and local nonprofits. Past projects have included workshops to help college students identify their strengths and how to use them to reach their goals and a seminar to encourage parents to actively participate in their children’s education. The program also offers up-and-coming Latino professionals leadership tools and the opportunity to network through www.MillerCoorsLideres.com, www.Facebook.com/MillerCoorsLideres, and LinkedIn. Join the conversation on Twitter using #MillerCoorsLideres.

Overview of MillerCoors

Built on a foundation of great beer brands and nearly 300 years of brewing heritage, MillerCoors continues the commitment of its founders to brew the highest quality beers.  MillerCoors is the second-largest beer company in the United States, capturing nearly 30 percent of beer sales in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.  Led by two of the best-selling beers in the industry, MillerCoors has a broad portfolio of brands across every major industry segment.  The portfolio is led by the company’s premium light brands: Coors Light, Miller Lite and Miller64.  Coors Light, the World’s Most Refreshing Beer, offers consumers refreshment as cold as the Rockies.  Miller Lite established the American light beer category in 1975, offering beer drinkers a light beer that tastes like beer should.  Miller64 is 64 calories of crisp, light taste that complements a balanced lifestyle. MillerCoors brews premium beers Coors Banquet and Miller Genuine Draft, and economy brands Miller High Life and Keystone Light.  Tenth and Blake Beer Company, MillerCoors craft and import division, imports Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Pilsner Urquell and Grolsch and features craft brews from the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, Blue Moon Brewing Company and the Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Company.  MillerCoors operates eight major breweries in the U.S., as well as the Leinenkugel’s craft brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisc. and two microbreweries, the  Tenth Street Brewery in Milwaukee and the Blue Moon Brewing Company at Coors Field in Denver.  MillerCoors vision is to create the best beer company in America through great people changing the way America enjoys beer. MillerCoors builds its brands the right way through brewing quality, responsible marketing and sustainable environmental and community impact.  MillerCoors is a joint venture of SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company. Learn more at MillerCoors.com, at facebook.com/MillerCoors or on Twitter through @MillerCoors.

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Is there a need for the Hispanic Council on Federal Employment?

The next meeting of the advisory committee is scheduled for May 4, according to an announcement from the Office of Personnel Management. The purpose of the body, the Federal Register says, is to “advise the Director of the Office of Personnel Management on matters involving the recruitment, hiring, and advancement of Hispanics in the Federal workforce.”

Census data indicate that the Latino population will grow from about 16 percent today to about 28 percent by 2050.

The Federal Diary has reported, as it did last month, that Latinos — who in 2010 made up 7.9 percent of federal employees and 3.67 of those in senior pay level positions — are “underrepresented” in the workforce. READ MORE

Center for Hispanic Leadership Adds Business Consulting Service to Help Financial Industry Build Trusting Relationships with the Unbanked and Uninsured

Following a special report released earlier this month by Nielsen, in which Latino buying power is projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2015, the Center for Hispanic Leadership (CHL) has announced further expansion of its Business Consulting Services under its new Brand Development Framework to include banking, insurance and finance – industries where there is tremendous opportunity for growth with the Hispanic community.

The Nielsen report, titled The State of the Hispanic Consumer: The Hispanic Market Imperative, notes that many companies and industries are just waking up to the new opportunities represented by this burgeoning market, and to the unique language, culture, and other group dynamics that need to be addressed. For example, the study cites Latino usage of technology and consumption of media, which are quite distinct from the general marketplace.

“The information in this report confirms CHL’s own research in this area, which recently looked at the issue from another angle: the banking and finance industry,” said Glenn Llopis, Founder/CEO, Center for Hispanic Leadership. “Though more than half of Hispanics expect to improve their financial situation over the next year, we as a group tend not to look much further than that. This is a great opportunity for the financial industry to step up and help educate the community about everything from long-term financial investment and retirement planning to everyday banking and insurance needs.” READ MORE

There are big questions about Mitt Romney's ability to appeal to Latinos. Hispanic voters favor President Obama over Romney by more than two to one, according to a recent Pew poll. But not everyone is sure the president's lead will translate to votes. Host Michel Martin speaks with columnist Ruben Navarrette and Maria Teresa Kumar of Voto Latino. READ MORE

While working with Life is Precious, a suicide-prevention program directed toward young Latinas in New York City, Wagner second-year graduate student Claudia Espinosa realized that she wanted to do something more to help young Latinas not only avoid suicide but continue to succeed.

According to research from the National Women's Law Center, young Latina women have one of the highest school drop-out rates — exceeding African-American and Asian-American adolescents — as well as the highest rates of teen pregnancy.

"This all happens among young Latinas," Espinosa said. "So I decided to create a program on my own that would help the community."

In collaboration with the Latino Studies program, the Center for Multicultural Education and Programs at NYU and the Teaching and Learning program in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, her program Latinas On the Verge of Excellence works to provide support and education to young Latinas in the city. READ MORE

The terms "Latino" and "Hispanic" are often used interchangeably. In fact, we, at the Fronteras Desk, have done so in our reporting. But we recently embarked on an investigative journey to figure out what those terms really mean, and which term most accurately describes the population we often assume it does.

It all started with a story my colleague Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez did a few weeks back – about a survey by the Pew Hispanic Center that found three-quarters of Hispanics/Latinos don't identify with either term.

Listener James Rogers, who's background is Brazilian, wrote in to say Hispanic and Latino don't mean the same thing.

“The story presupposed that the categories Hispanic and Latino only include Spanish-speakers," Rogers told reporter Devin Browne at his office in Phoenix, "and there’s a lot of Brazilians who would define themselves as being Latino, as well.”

Brazilians, of course, speak Portuguese. And as Rogers pointed out, there are more Portuguese speakers on the South American continent than Spanish speakers. Plus, there are more than 1 million Brazilians living in the U.S., according to the Brazilian government (the U.S. government says the number is closer to 400,000).

Rogers doesn't consider himself Hispanic, but he does fancy himself a Latino. READ MORE

Hearst Magazines, one of the world's largest publishers of monthly magazines, today announced that the first stand-alone issue of Cosmopolitan for Latinas, a new women's lifestyle publication targeted at English-speaking Latinas, will hit newsstands nationwide on May 1. Edited by and written for modern Hispanic women, the magazine answers the call of a new generation of Latinas who celebrate both of their cultures, and are seeking content that reflects their unique lifestyles.

Michelle Herrera Mulligan, formerly the managing editor of LasFabulosas.com, is the magazine's editor-in-chief. Donna Kalajian Lagani, SVP, publishing director and chief revenue officer of Cosmopolitan, will oversee the brand's advertising and marketing efforts.

"Cosmopolitan for Latinas is the definitive voice of today's bilingual Latina who is sexy, stylish and intelligent, and wants to see herself reflected in the pages of a women's lifestyle magazine," said Herrera Mulligan. "We talk to our readers like a best Latina girlfriend, and cover everything from fashion, food, relationships and careers in a fresh and engaging way."

Cosmopolitan for Latinas will be a twice-yearly, stand-alone print edition with a cover price of $3.99. Initial distribution will be 545,000 copies, available nationwide, with a strong presence in top Hispanic markets throughout the U.S. A digital edition of the publication will be available on Apple, Zinio and Barnes & Noble e-newsstands. READ MORE

These words can hang in the air for a bit longer than anything else you planned to hear in a phone call from your boss or at an impromptu meeting for you and several other employees in a conference room. Some companies still give out pink slips in your last pay check. Sometimes it can all be said by email, but it’s basically the same message: you have joined the ranks of the unemployed.

Layoffs continue to happen despite the economic indicators pointing to better days ahead. If you’ve just recently been laid off, it can stir up a range of emotions — shock, fear, anger, and resentment.

It is normal to ride a roller coaster of emotions like these and to even experience depression. Among Latinas and Latinos, there is no such thing as seeing a layoff as just a business decision. Business is personal.

Even if you were laid off with hundreds of people, Latinas are likely to look for personal reasons behind a layoff. Don’t! READ MORE

Cinco de Mayo is around the corner, and some brands are leveraging the holiday to roll out special promotions and discounts. (For example, Tyson Foods, Tabasco brand and Jose Cuervo’s nonalcoholic margarita mix have teamed up on a “Fiesta of Flavor” retail savings promotion.)

While I love the idea of engaging consumers around special events like holidays (and this Fiesta of Flavor campaigns seems like an innovative, multi-channel winner), I also want to add a few words of caution. If you’re a brand that wants to be more relevant to Hispanics (and you should be), it’s time to start thinking beyond Cinco de Mayo alone. These days, Hispanic marketing campaigns need to be comprehensive, consistent and year-round.

Why do you need to start focusing on the Hispanic market?

A recent Nielsen report doesn’t mince words. From State of the Hispanic Consumer: The Hispanic Market Imperative:

“The U.S. Hispanic population is the largest minority segment and is growing at a dramatic rate towards ethnic plurality, which has already occurred in the most populous states and is beginning to occur among the U.S. baby population. Ethnic plurality refers to the coexistence of numerous ethnicities and races with no one segment in the majority. If the present U.S. economy substantially benefits from Hispanics, the future U.S. economy will depend on Hispanics by virtue of demographic change and the social and cultural shifts expected to accompany their continued growth.” READ MORE

Beatriz Acevedo, Founder and President of MiTu Network (www.youtube.com/mitu), the new Latino focused digital video platform exclusively dedicated to lifestyle content, announced its official formation. Currently in its preview phase, the network will officially launch April 30th, prior to their Digital Content NewFronts presentation in New York on May 2, 2012. Acevedo founded MiTu with her partner Doug Greiff from HIP Entertainment Group, along with other investors and Latin entrepreneurs. HIP Entertainment Group is one of the most influential companies specializing in the development and production of bilingual television content in the United States.

MiTu Network was created to cater to the growing Latino demand for creatively packaged how-to, help-oriented content for bilingual and bicultural audiences in the US and abroad. With the exploding number of U.S. Latinos watching video on YouTube, MiTu offers a compelling alternative to traditional Hispanic programming and media opportunities for viewers and advertisers. Programming will feature a mix of English and Spanish language content that will aim to both entertain and be a resource for Latin audiences focusing content around six key channel categories: Health, Beauty, Food, Family, Style and Design.

“As a bilingual and bicultural U.S. Latina, there are few networks that speak to us in a way that we can identify with. Until now, quality, entertaining content that reflects our way of life has been incredibly difficult to find. So we set out to create a global network where Latinos can connect with each other, feel proud, inspired, and properly represented as the cultural and economic force that we are in this country,” says Founder and President of MiTu Network, Beatriz Acevedo.

U.S. Hispanics control over a $1 Trillion in purchasing power and advertisers are scrambling to figure out how to win their favor. “MiTu’s mix of lifestyle programming, offers an ultra-targeted and highly engaged audience environment where advertisers can go beyond the 30-second spot. This is a video platform with a very significant social media component. Our content is organized around audience passion points and our viewers will be able to actively relate to and interact with our programming hosts,” said Colombian born Roy Burstin, MiTu’s CEO. “We are going to be able to give brands a whole new way of engaging Latino audiences, mixing branded entertainment, online advertising, and social media conversations.” READ MORE

Marco Rubio took the stage with Mitt Romney and delivered what the presidential candidate wanted — a jolt of energy aimed at an uninspired Republican base and a message of inclusion to Latino voters, who have drifted away from the party in droves.

Monday’s appearance by Rubio, a Florida senator and possible vice presidential pick who has become one of his party’s most prominent Latino leaders, drew cheers and applause from the crowd. But it was also a reminder of competing imperatives facing Romney after a combative primary season in which he moved far to the right on illegal immigration, a key concern for many Latino voters.

For months, Romney repeatedly sought to outflank his opponents on the issue: chiding Texas Gov. Rick Perry for favoring in-state tuition breaks for the children of illegal immigrants, vowing to veto the DREAM Act that would have allowed citizenship for certain students who joined the military or attended college, and suggesting that Arizona’s controversial approach to rooting out illegal immigrants could be "a model" for the nation.

Rubio, a conservative darling, has carved a more moderate path — most recently working on an alternative to the DREAM Act. READ MORE