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Latinas have a bright future in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Latina girls love learning how things work. They love building things. They think it would be fun to design a video game or an app. Unfortunately, they have fewer opportunities and resources to make that bright future a reality1.

The Latinas in STEM Foundation is leveraging family, culture and community to change that. Founded in 2013 by five alumnae from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the organization aims to inspire young Latinas to pursue careers and thrive in STEM fields.

“We want to spread awareness about STEM and to encourage Latinas in K-12 grades, especially within underserved communities, to strongly consider pursuing a STEM career,” says Diana Albarrán Chicas, an electrical engineer who is a co-founder and the financial director of Latinas in STEM. Fellow co-founders are Noramay Cadenas, Luz Rivas, Jazlyn Carvajal and Veronica Garcia. READ MORE AT SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN

More than 300 female Hispanic executives and high-level officials met here at Google's headquarters for a conference aiming to change the stereotype of Latinas in the United States.

The Latinas Think Big Innovation Summit came amid a raging debate about Silicon Valley's lack of diversity in both gender and race.

At Google, for example, only 30 percent of employees are women, a situation that is repeated, or is even worse, in other companies like Twitter, Apple, Facebook and Microsoft. READ MORE ON FOX NEWS LATINO

It is no surprise the sheer size of the Hispanic population and its growth over the years. However, it may be a revelation to know that there is a sub-segment of this group that is becoming quite attractive to marketers.

Think of this as dating. One should always attempt to put the best face forward while cultivating the other person’s interest level. The same applies to marketing when targeting specific ethnic groups, and in this case, a sub-segment of Hispanics. This sub-segment of Hispanics straddles worlds. They tend to speak English by day and Spanish-language by night. In effect, this makes them “bi-cultural.” They embrace both cultures, and will switch depending upon the situation they find themselves in. READ MORE AT EPOCH TIMES

Networking is an skill essential for rising entrepreneurs, and often goes hand-in-hand with developing and running a successful business. Even though most entrepreneurs have hectic schedules, it’s important to find time to build out your social network. The more connections you have, the more doors you will open for you and your business.

Want to network like a pro? Follow these 4 tips to make the most of your time and the connections you make.

1. Identify industry related organizations and events and get involved

Join organizations related to your industry and attend their events. Many of these groups host monthly networking get-togethers that provide members the opportunity to mix and mingle with other industry professionals. READ MORE AT BUSINESS2COMMUNITY

Hispanic children, the largest minority group in public schools as well as the fastest growing, are increasingly showing up in preschool programs, have made significant gains on national math tests, and are posting record high school graduation rates, according to a new study released Wednesday. But they still lagged behind their white peers in academic achievement and were more likely to live in poverty and not finish college.

Child Trends, the non-partisan, non-profit research organization, analyzed a wealth of recent Census data regarding the country’s 17.5 million Hispanic children and teens, and the group identified some surprising facts. READ MORE AT WASHINGTON POST

LATINO FASHION WEEK: “BEYOND EXCEPTIONAL” HAS ARRIVED
8th Annual Latino Fashion Week Tour

Latino Fashion Week® (LFW™) is now in its Eight Year will take place from Wednesday, October 1st – October 4th, 2014, at Block Thirty Seven, 108 N. State St., 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60602. Teen World: Expo 15 & Sweet 16, Sunday, October 5th, will take place at the Midwest Conference Center, 401 W Lake St., Northlake, IL 60164.

As the only Fashion Week and Tour in the United States dedicated to the Latino Fashion Industry locally, nationally and internationally, we are proud to say, “By Latinos for Everyone”. This year’s theme is “Beyond Exceptional”, which exemplifies those in the Fashion Industry that continuously push the boundaries of excellence.

Latino Fashion Week is excited to announce they will once again be showcasing a number of local designers from Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, as well as national and international designers. In addition, there are a number of new and interesting highlights that will take place during LFW.

BENEFACTORS
LFW will raise awareness for local non for profit organizations throughout the week.
Our national non for profit organization is Unlikely Heroes, providing safe homes and restoration for child victims of sex slavery.

FASHION EVENTS

Opening Day, Wednesday, October 1st, 2014

Latino Fashion Week kicks off with some exiting news and for the first time ever, the LFW Professional Beauty Glam Workshops, which will include an opportunity for Professional Make Up artists and Hairstylists to be a part of the LFW movement and learn specific techniques that will be taught by some of the most sought after national and local MUAH STYLISTS: Alex Lopez – Founder & Owner, Alex Lopez Salon, Benjamin Gonzalez – Founder and Owner- Glam Studio, Jill Glaser, Founder & Owner - Make Up First, Tyzza – National Beauty Professional & Cosmetologist. Upon Completion: LFW PRO MUAH Certificate

1:00 to 4:30 PM, Appetizers and Refreshments

Opening Night, Wednesday, October 1st, 2014

Join the LFW movement with a Purple Carpet Media Reception, followed by the collections of local designe

rs on the runway, and our annual local celebrity catwalk.

Thursday, October 2nd, 2014

Sophisticates Luncheon and runway show for the fashionable woman that is 35+. “It’s not about age; it’s about your mindset.”

Love your Curves Runway Show
Highlighting the latest in Fashion for the full-figured and super-curved woman.

Friday, October 3rd, 2014

“Moda Que Mueve”, an evening full of fashion provided by some of the best known national and international designers. The emphasis tonight includes menswear fashion. Benefitting the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, a City of Chicago program that helps low-income Chicagoans with disabilities by providing home modification services to make their homes more accessible.

Closing Night, Saturday, October 4th, 2014

"Beyond Exceptional”, this illuminating evening will include the finale runway shows, featuring collections of national and international designers. Benefitting the Girl Scouts, to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Closing Day, Sunday, October 5th, 2014
Teen World: Expo 15 & Sweet 16 will promote a healthy lifestyle and improved self-esteem featuring an AWSUM Panel with teen-savvy motivational speakers. Fashion runway shows will include some of the best and unique designs for Teens.

Pop-up stores and fashion vendors will provide a unique shopping experience on the 3rd floor during LFW. Open one hour prior to reception Wednesday through Saturday.

Latino Fashion Week’s Co-Founders Arabel Alva Rosales & Cesar Rolon, Jr. encourage you to be “Beyond Exceptional”, and join them, supporters and sponsors in a week full of fashion, VIP receptions, an opportunity to shop, after parties and celebrate the Latino Culture during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Featured Designers Include:

Local
Claudia Urrutia and Ronald Rodriguez
Iridium Clothing Co., by Platinum-Geli

Señor Dapper by Jimmy Guzmán
Vintage Soul Customs by Kristina Kash

National & International
Argemiro Sierra (Colombia)
Disney Royal Ball
Ivelisse Nieves Jewelry (Puerto Rico)
Lazaro Perez (Los Angeles)
Lorena Saravia (México)
Musse Diseñadores, Olga Alicea & Héctor (Puerto Rico)
Paco Mayorga (Mexico)
Rosita Hurtado (Bolivia)
Willfredo Gerardo (Los Angeles)

Note to Media: For media credential instructions visit our website prior to the event (required). www.latinofashionwk.com/media-credentials

For a full schedule and to purchase tickets, please visit: www.LatinoFashionWk.com

MEDIA CONTACT: Cesar Rolon, Email: crolon@imagenconsultants.com Cell: (773) 251-3329

When DePaul was founded in 1898, women and students of Jewish background were admitted, even though other universities would not admit those students without a quota. By admitting students of different backgrounds from the start, the university has shown how its diversity values have always aligned with its Vincentian values, according to Interim Assistant Vice President for Diversity José Perales.

DePaul’s commitment to diversity is part of what has led the university to receive its first-ever Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award.

While Perales said the award is one in which he is proud, he still does not think it means there is not room for improvement. READ MORE

While the number of African American, Latino and women consumers of Internet and broadband products and services is rising, their numbers at the major Silicon Valley companies continue to lag way behind. After years of resisting disclosure, tech giants such as Apple, Facebook, Yahoo and Google recently released their employment diversity numbers. As we’ve long suspected, they show a striking lack of inclusion.

According to published figures, at Google, 3 percent of its staff are Hispanic and 2 percent are Black. Both Yahoo and Facebook reported that Hispanics and Blacks make up 4 percent and 2 percent of their workplaces, respectively. When Apple makes an announcement, as in its recent introduction of the iPhone 6, it usually wants the world to stand up and take notice. READ MORE

If there is one lesson you’ve learned from your job search, it's that you should have done a better job keeping in touch with your past colleagues. Building a network from scratch is hard work, but you don’t have to start over. Just follow these suggestions to maintain your connections so they will be there the next time you need them:

1. Recognize the value your network offers. In order to feel motivated to stay in touch, you have to understand the "why" behind the logic. Wouldn’t it be great to hear about a job while employed? This is always the best-case scenario, and it will only happen if your contacts remember you and what your expertise is.

2. Schedule time on your calendar. There’s the old saying: “That which gets scheduled gets done.” It's easy to feel overwhelmed when you get so busy mastering your new job. Cut yourself some slack those first few months, but get right back to networking. Put time on your schedule every month to reach out to your contacts or attend a professional association meeting. READ MORE AT U.S. News & World Report

As we enter the second open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act this fall, attention will inevitably turn to driving enrollment among the so-called “young and healthy” segment of 18- to 34-year-old consumers, many of whom are Hispanics. It has been well documented that the initial rollout of the ACA in the fall of 2013 saw early challenges in enrolling “young and healthy” Hispanics. Numerous studies and news reports identified three key challenges to Latino enrollment:

• Lack of trust 
• Lack of awareness (Commonwealth Fund survey)
• Need for one-on-one education, READ MORE AT MEDIAPOST

The demand for jobs in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math is growing and those areas are projected to add as many as 1 million jobs by 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Connecting young Hispanics, one of the fastest-growing demographic groups in America, to those jobs is critical to the success of America's role as a leading innovator—and also to the success of the economy.

"It's not actually about altruism, it's completely about our economic future," said Cecilia Muñoz, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, at an Atlantic/National Journal event underwritten by Microsoft on Hispanic millennials in STEM fields on Thursday. "We can't hope to have the kind of economic growth that the president is shooting for, that we're all aiming for, if we're not adequately preparing the students who are coming up today." READ MORE AT NATIONAL JOURNAL

Hispanics are starting and growing more businesses than all other ethnic groups, according to a study released today by Geoscape, a leading provider of business intelligence technology, data and analytics, and published in partnership with the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The Hispanics in Business 2014 study details the impact of Hispanic businesses ownership, entrepreneurship and wealth. It contains data sourced from Geoscape, the U.S. Census, Nielsen Scarborough, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity. The results were formally unveiled at The USHCC National Convention, taking place this week in Salt Lake City. READ MORE ON BROADWAY WORLD

A tiny fraction of the 54 million Latinos in the U.S. are in Utah, yet U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Javier Palomarez said the state is the perfect place for the Latino business group to hold its annual convention this week.

"We are going into places we have been thought to not heretofore have existed,” said Palomarez, who said his organization has previously taken the conference to cities like Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami, which he described as hotbeds for the Hispanic community and enterprises. READ MORE ON NBC NEWS

Telemundo Chicago announced today that Anabel Monge has been named co-anchor for “Noticiero Telemundo Chicago” at 5 PM and 10 PM. Monge, who will join Telemundo Chicago in October, will team up with co-anchor Alfonso Gutierrez, meteorologist Maricela Vazquez and a dynamic team of reporters to deliver local breaking news and the latest information about issues affecting the Hispanic community in the Chicago metropolitan area.

“We are very excited to welcome Anabel to Telemundo Chicago,” said Diana Maldonado, Vice President of News. “Anabel’s vast journalistic experience, which has earned her various Emmy awards, will make her an excellent addition to our news team and help us serve our Hispanic community with the best news coverage possible.”

“This is a very exciting time in my career and I am thrilled to join Telemundo Chicago,” said Monge. “I am honored to have this opportunity and look forward to making Chicago my new home and providing the best local breaking news for our Spanish-language viewers.”

Previously, Monge worked at Univision 41 in San Antonio as a weekday and weekend news anchor and a general assignment reporter from 2008 to 2013. Prior to this, she worked at Univision 19 in Sacramento as a general assignment reporter from 2007 to 2008. Monge was a general assignment reporter for Univision 21 in Fresno, California from 2005 to 2007. She also worked as a general assignment reporter for NBC 9 in El Paso from 2004 to 2005. She began her career at NBC 9 in Midland, Texas as a general assignment reporter in 2002.

Monge is an Emmy award-winning journalist. She holds two bachelor’s degrees from New Mexico State University.

Telemundo Chicago
Telemundo Chicago / WSNS is Telemundo’s local television station serving the Spanish-speaking community throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Owned by NBCUniversal, Telemundo Chicago produces two daily award-winning newscasts every weekday, featuring local news, weather, sports and entertainment and sports updates. Additionally, the station broadcasts a weekly local entertainment show, Acceso Total, and a monthly public affairs show, Enfoque. Telemundo Chicago also delivers its viewers the most up-to-date headlines across a variety of digital platforms, including a dedicated local website, TelemundoChicago.com and mobile and social media channels.

###

Contact:
Juan Orta, Telemundo Chicago
312-836-3036
juan.orta@nbcuni.com

“I don’t feel comfortable in large groups in which I don’t know anyone.”

“I don’t care about getting on the rubber chicken circuit and listening to boring programs.”

“When I’m in a room full of accomplished people, I feel small and unimportant, because I’m unemployed.”

Perhaps one of these attitudes rings true for you. Whether you are currently working or not, there are dozens of reasons you might not want to get out of your house and make the effort to meet new people.

However, if you are serious about advancing your career, bear in mind that somewhere around 80 percent of jobs are not obtained through blind online résumé submissions or recruiters, but rather through networking. And we are now in prime networking season! READ MORE

What better way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month than to highlight the work of several Latinos dedicated to preserving key aspects of our nation's heritage, history and culture? Here's a look at their fascinating work.

Tony Hernandez

“Everyone has a story,” explained Tony Hernandez, who has interviewed celebrities, CEOs, teachers, and farmworkers, all with one thing in common - they have immigrated from different places around the world to the U.S. His Immigrant Archive Project , which he started in 2008, has collected over 1,000 interviews which have been edited into 60-second capsules and subsequently aired on television and radio. READ MORE

National Hispanic Heritage Month began this week to celebrate Latinos and their culture and history. Started as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 by President Lyndon Johnson, it was expanded to a month by President Ronald Reagan and enacted into law in 1988. Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica celebrated their independence days Monday followed by Mexico today and Chile on Thursday.

Here are 11 facts that look at Latinos in the U.S. by age, geography and origin groups.

1The U.S. Hispanic population now stands at over 54.1 million, making them the nation’s second-largest racial or ethnic group. Today Hispanics make up 17% of the U.S. population, up from 5% in 1970.

2People of Mexican origin account for two-thirds (34 million) of the nation’s Latinos. Those of Puerto Rican origin are the next largest group at 4.9 million (with another 3.5 million on the island of Puerto Rico). There are five other Hispanic origin groups with more than 1 million people each: Cubans, Salvadorans, Dominicans, Guatemalans and Colombians. READ MORE

Maria Elena Ponticiello, Lead Anchor, "Acceso Total", Entertainment Reporter, Telemundo Chicago

Maria Elena Ponticiello is the lead anchor in the weekly entertainment show, “Acceso Total” and Entertainment Reporter for 5pm and 10pm new at Telemundo Chicago.

In 1998, Maria Elena migrated to Chicago and began teaching Spanish at Northwestern University, until she restarted her on air career at Telemundo Chicago.

In 2009, Maria Elena won an Emmy for best producer and reporter for the “Telemundo Autoshow 2009”
In 2010, Maria Elena won an Emmy for best production and video for the show “Telemundo Autoshow 2010”
In 2011, Maria Elena, won an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement for Arts/Entertainment Programming - Program/ Special/Series/Feature/Segment- Acceso Total Chicago.
In 2011, Emmy for Outstanding Crafts Achievement for On-Camera Talent - Program Host/Moderator/Contributor-Acceso Total Chicago.

Maria Elena Ponticiello was born in Mexico City, Mexico and graduated with honors from the Universidad Anahuac del Norte.

Litza Mavrothalasitis, President, Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois

Spiridoula "Litza" Mavrothalasitis is an Assistant Inspector General with the Office of Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor, investigating allegations of fraud, misconduct, and waste by state employees and agencies. Previously, she practiced litigation at the law firms of Jenner & Block LLP and DLA Piper LLP. She has experience handling Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations and matters involving ERISA, employment, breach of contract, insurance, and tort claims. She also has experience consulting with case teams on e-discovery. Litza was heavily involved with pro bono work at both firms, working on various matters, including anti-immigrant ordinance challenges, a domestic dispute, a motion to reconsider sentencing, and arguing a habeus corpus appeal before the Illinois Supreme Court. Litza also served on Jenner & Block's Pro Bono Committee.

Litza has been involved with the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois ("HLAI") in various roles over the years and has served as an Officer of HLAI as Membership Secretary (2011-2013), President-Elect (2013-2014), and, now, as the current President. Litza is a member of the 2014 Magistrate Judge Merit Review Panel for the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Illinois. In addition, since 2009, she has served as an appointed member of the Supervisory Committee of the Consumers Credit Union.

Litza graduated from the University of Michigan Law School where she served as President of the Latino Law Students Association and was an Executive Articles Editor for the Michigan Journal of Race & Law. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and French Minor from Northwestern University. Prior to practicing law, she was an Associate in KPMG's Corporate Finance group working on mergers, acquisitions, and financings for middle market companies, with a focus on health care and medical devices.

Sonia Salazar, Board Chair, Mujeres de HACE

Ms. Salazar-Del Real has over eighteen years experience working directly with Hispanic families helping them make financial decisions related to banking, loan products, income tax preparation, and home ownership. She first started her career in financial services as a teller in her childhood neighborhood of South Chicago and shortly thereafter she was encouraged to obtain her IL Real Estate license and subsequently opened her own brokerage office in Northwest Indiana. Like many other real estate professionals after the mortgage crisis in 2008, Ms. Salazar-Del Real reconfigured her career path but maintains an active Illinois brokers license and occasionally helps close friends and family who pursue the American Dream.

During the mortgage crisis, Ms. Salazar-Del Real began what she likes to refer to as her ‘ministry’ of working with urban college bound students all across the city’s southwest side and shortly thereafter founded Christi Consulting, LLC. It’s mission is to empower and encourage all first generation college bound youth to matriculate and graduate from college debt free. She recently concluded her first college administration post in Latino Affairs at Chicago State University and is now working with CPS’ third largest high school (Curie Metro) to ensure student career paths and college matriculation.

She attributes much of her determination and perseverance to the tools and resources provided by Mujeres de HACE- a national women’s leadership program geared to empower high potential Latinas seeking to obtain managerial roles or above. Mujeres de HACE has chapters in Houston, TX, Washington DC, and New York City. Ms. Salazar-Del Real serves as the Advisory Board Chair for Mujeres de HACE in Chicago.

Born and raised in Chicago’s Southeast side, Ms. Sonia Salazar-Del Real is the daughter of Mexican immigrants, the oldest of three siblings, and the parent of two college age children. She is the first in her immediate family to graduate from college earning a BA in Business Leadership from DePaul University.

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People agree that one of the best ways to find and create the perfect business connections is to build relationships with the right individuals. But, what if you don’t even know who they are? One of the better ways to find and cultivate those connections is through networking.

You may be thinking that you hate the schmoozing or you are not effective at networking events or you don’t know what to say. Here are three concepts that might help.

Have lower expectations. We have all met someone at an event who has 30 business cards in hand with the intention of giving every one of them away! If the networking portion of the occasion is 30 minutes — that is one minute per person to make a positive first impression! Therefore, that minute probably will be all about me! READ MORE AT RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

Diversity doesn’t happen easily. It is slow progressive change.

The pundit who asks, “why don’t they just hire more _____,” fails to understand the fiscal constraints in which media companies operate under. Newsroom budgets continuously contract in the ever-changing new technology economy.

But even when companies do have jobs to offer, too frequently they resort to the old tried and true method of counting heads and, in the rush to fill slots with people of color, end up hiring the wrong candidate. Hiring strategies of this type often leave the truly qualified diverse candidates out in the cold.

The biggest challenge facing diversity in media is changing the corporate culture.

If the hiring managers in charge of changing the workplace environment see diversity only as a societal directive to “do the right thing” then they miss the real opportunity inherent in hiring people of color: It helps increase revenue. READ MORE AT BORDERZINE