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The new documentary "Underwater Dreams" follows four teenage boys living in Arizona as they build an underwater robot for a major science competition.

On its surface, the story seems unremarkable. But their parents are Mexicans who are living in the United States illegally, and their high school is plagued by gangs and poverty.

American documentary maker Mary Mazzio said she set out to show just what the children of Hispanic immigrants can accomplish, especially if the U.S. Congress passes immigration reform eliminating obstacles for them to attend college, and to work.

"You have four kids that come from nothing, and look what they did," Mazzio said in a recent telephone interview. "There are millions of kids like them. All they need is a little bit of opportunity to flourish." READ MORE

A new report released by Social Lens Research and MocoSpace, Latinos on the Road: A Mobile and Social Ride Study, found that when it comes to planning road trips, Latinos heavily rely on their mobile phones and social media networks. The online survey found that during every stage of planning for a road trip, Latinos are using mobile phones and seeking more relevant location-based deals, rewards programs and mobile accessible travel content to assist with their trip planning.

“The study indicates that among Hispanics who are leading the way on mobile adoption, the willingness to use mobile phones has outpaced what functionality and content companies offers. Companies are in catch-up mode on the type of customer experience offered. I think travel planning is just one example of the more advanced mobile functionality needed”, said Julie Diaz-Asper, founding partner, Social Lens Research. READ MORE

It is with great sadness that the NAHP Board of Directors shares news of the loss of a dear colleague and friend, NAHP President Ezequiel "Zeke" Montes. Mr. Montes passed away Tuesday, January 29, 2013, from complications due to pneumonia, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife and business partner of more than 40 years, Rosalinda; children, Patricia, Christine, Edward, and Esteban, and many grandchildren. The NAHP family offers our sincerest condolences and prayers for the family in this difficult time.

Montes was the CEO and President of Tele Guia Inc., the holding company for three successful Spanish language publications in the greater Chicago Area: Tele Guia de Chicago, El Imparcial Newspaper, and Guia Telefonica. Started in 1985, with a Spanish language TV Guide and entertainment magazine the business grew to nine magazines covering a five-county area. In 1999, he acquired his second publication, El Imparcial, a Cicero and Berwyn based Spanish language newspaper to ensure that the Hispanic community was and continues to be well-informed about their schools and government. In 2006, Montes launched Guia Telefonica, a Spanish language yellow page directory.

Mr. Montes made it a priority in his personal and professional life to help the Latino community, organizing the Latino Book and Family Festival to promote literacy and education to the approximately 25,000 annual attendees. He also served on the Board of Directors for organizations such as the Norwegian American Hospital, the Cicero Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, the National Hispanic Media Council, and the National Hispanic Leadership Council. He also previously chaired the Outreach Committee for the American Cancer Society of Illinois, served on a Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee for Morton College, and served as a District Chair for the Chippewa District of the Boy Scouts.

Mr. Montes also had a long and storied leadership role with the National Association of Hispanic Publications, serving as National Board President from 1986-1989, 1999-2003, and finally from 2011-Present, having been elected President by his peers in six different elections. Montes also served in various leadership roles for the organization in between his terms as President. He also served on the Board of Directors for the NAHP partner organization, the National Hispanic Press Foundation. Mr. Montes just helped NAHP celebrate 30 Years of Excellence in Hispanic Print, and in his words at the 2012 NAHP Annual Convention and Business Expo,: "We are a family of publishers that believe in the principles of journalism, business opportunity and giving back to the community." He will be missed greatly by his publishing family across the country.

There has been an outpouring of condolences and fond memories for Mr. Montes, particularly from NAHP members.

Clara Padilla Andrews, Immediate Past President of NAHP, said, "I am very sad to hear about the death of our NAHP President, Zeke Montes. I will miss his smile, energy and his commitment to the Hispanic media industry, may he rest in Peace. My heartfelt condolences to his wife Rose, his children Christine, Edward, and Esteban and grandchildren."

NAHP Board Secretary, Norma Condreay said, "Admiraba mucho a Zeke, por su forma de ser, alegre, caballero, y con mucho tino para recibir y sobrepasar las adversidades. Mr. Montes, fue un luchador constante de que se brinde oportunidades a nuestros jóvenes para que nuestra industria continúe y sea cada vez más fuerte. Uno de los comentarios que me hizo Zeke, fue: "Norma, este año es mi ultimo año como presidente de la NAHP y mis deseos es dejar la Asociación con un gran futuro", "es tiempo de que los mas jóvenes continúen con esta labor, pero siempre seguiré apoyando a la Asociación". Admiraba mucho a mi amigos, Zeke y Rose, porque hacían una linda pareja y siempre en los eventos que logramos compartir mi esposo y Yo los admirábamos, porque aun teniendo tantos años de casados, ambos pero sobre todo Zeke demostraba lo mucho que se querían. Recordare siempre a mi amigo Zeke como un gran líder, una persona muy alegre, caballero y luchador por el éxito de nuestra industria.
Hemos perdido un gran Líder!, un gran amigo!"

And NAHP Founder Kirk Whisler said, "While others have devoted meaningful time to the NAHP and the development of Hispanic Print - Zeke devoted his life. Over the years Zeke and I traveled together to over 50 cities around the USA and Mexico to talk about the many benefits and qualities of Hispanic Print. Zeke always provided the emotions and honesty that came from his years as a publisher. He wanted the tide to raise ALL the boats, was never happy if only a few were going to succeed. Zeke was truly a WE person, not a ME person."

When information on services or how to send condolences to the family of Zeke Montes becomes available, the NAHP office will share it. Please contact the NAHP Office at ed@nahp.org to receive the information.

As Mitt Romney heads off on his "Earning His Foreign Policy Chops" tour (Hit the Olympics opening. Check. Shake hands in Poland. Check. Look serious and concerned in Israel. Check.), the real election battle is in cyberspace. Especially the one aimed at young Latinos.

If you've been hit with loads of texts; your inbox has offers for T-shirts or dinner with Candidate X; and every time you open Facebook there, on the side is, a presidential-looking picture of a Candidate inviting you to "like" him; you must be Hispanic. And, most likely, a young one.

Candidate Barack Obama proved it back in 2008 -- if you want my vote, follow me on Twitter. His use of social media proved the power of social media and stunned the pols who still thought a glossy flyer in your mailbox and a robo-call from a Hollywood celeb was cutting edge. READ MORE

Hispanic voters are a crucial constituency in the presidential election, but reaching young Hispanics will require new tactics – and some experts say mobile-phone outreach will be key.

There are more than 21 million eligible Hispanic voters – and more than 30 percent of them are 18 to 30 years old. About 50,000 Hispanics reach the voting age of 18 each month.

But Hispanic voters under 30 have the lowest turnout of any group: Only 41 percent of them voted in 2008.

Young voters and Hispanic voters are far more likely to use their phones to go online than older generations are, so campaigns that use mobile technology are most likely to reach young Hispanics, according to Peter Levine, the director of the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.

That’s because a mobile phone and an app are personalized and engaging – a far cry from a robocall or a TV ad. Young voters are deeply skeptical of one-for-all marketing and respond best to one-on-one, Hispanic-to-Hispanic marketing, according to research by Levine’s group.

It’s “particularly effective in overcoming issues of trust and motivation that would otherwise be in the way of voting,” Levine said.

Alex Velasco, a 26-year-old first-generation Mexican-American, said Levine’s assessments were right on.

“It’s really easy to reach me on my phone because I have it with me all the time – when I’m on the train, when I’m walking,” Velasco said. “If you send me something political (on my phone), I would be way more likely to read it because it is so easy.” READ MORE

A coalition of 30 national Latino organizations is still waiting for an apology from Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser after he swore at a prominent Hispanic leader.

Kaiser allegedly cursed out Felix Sanchez, the chairman for the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts. Kaiser has since said that he regretted using ?strong language? during the tense telephone conversation.

?There is no excuse for Mr. Kaiser?s outburst and it should not and cannot be tolerated,? Janet Murguia, President and CEO of the National Council of La Raza, said in a statement sent to Fox News Latino. ?He profoundly disrespected our colleague Felix Sanchez and the Latino community, a community that merits inclusion and fairness, not insults, when it comes to one of the nation?s highest cultural honors."

Sanchez said Kaiser told him to ?go f*** yourself? after he called the foundation's president to discuss the lack of Latino artists being named Kennedy Center honorees. Kaiser then abruptly hung up. READ MORE

The Hispanic community is growing at a fast pace. They are getting embedded into mainstream culture and emerging as a powerhouse of economic influence.

Hispanics are playing an important role in U.S. business success. As of today, they are the second-largest consumer market, and it is estimated that their purchasing power will increase 50 percent by 2015 to $1.5 trillion.

Despite the misconception about this powerful group, Hispanics are the largest immigrant group that exhibits culture sustainability. They even have different product consumption patterns compared to mainstream culture. READ MORE

Snacking is about to get a bit more picante. Convenience retail giant 7-Eleven Inc. added Mini Tacos to its vast inventory of items to munch on to appeal to the growing Latino population and the grazers who snack all day.

More than 500 of the chain’s Southland stores will feature the diminutive snacks, selling four for $1, which add to the growing trend of Latin-inspired foods, said Margaret Chabris, director of corporate communications for 7-Eleven.

“We’ve been in the fresh and hot food business for several years, and we’ve learned that there is a trend towards snacking, up to six to eight times a day,” Chabris said.

Nearly half of the population snacks at least twice a day, according to a report by Food Technology magazine, published by the Institute of Food Technologists.

Ethnic street-food-inspired appetizers, such as tacos, topped the magazine’s list of trendy appetizers in 2012.

The new menu item consists of petite corn tortillas filled with a shredded beef filling, green chilies, jalapeno peppers, cilantro, spices and other flavorings heated in rapid-cook ovens at the stores. Other varieties are in the works. READ MORE

The future of the American labor movement may lie just off the Las Vegas Strip, inside a squat building huddled in the shadow of the Stratosphere casino.

That's the home of the Culinary Workers Local 226, a fast-growing union of hotel and casino employees that has thrived despite being in a right-to-work state and a region devastated by the real estate crash.
More than 90 percent of Culinary's 60,000 predominantly immigrant workers opt to be dues-paying members, even though Nevada law says they cannot be forced to pay unions for their services.

As a result, housekeepers in most Strip hotels start at $16 an hour with free health care and a pension. Culinary's track record gives a dispirited labor movement some hope even as it hemorrhages workers and reels from the approval of a right-to-work law last week in union-strong Michigan.

"National unions need to look at what some of the folks out here have done," said Billy Vassiliadis, former chair of the Nevada Democratic Party. In a right-to-work state that for years was relatively conservative, "they had to be smart. They had to be nimble."

As a result, he said, "labor here is a big pillar in the political debate." But that's less true on a national scale. American labor has been on a downward trajectory for decades: Unions represented 30 percent of the workforce when the federal government first began tracking membership in the early 1980s. Now they represent less than 12 percent. READ MORE

The president of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce said Friday that he is proud to advocate on behalf of business owners who happen to be of Hispanic decent. But he reminded a Pasco audience they must never forget that first and foremost they are American businesses.

"Every tax bill we pay, every person we employ and every product we manufacture ... goes to support this American economy," Javier Palomarez said.

Palomarez was the featured speaker at the annual Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Shining Lights Gala and Leadership Awards, held at TRAC. He also is CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber, which is the leading advocate for nearly 3 million Hispanic-owned businesses and about 200 local Hispanic chambers throughout the country.

Palomarez, who is based in Washington, D.C., said he travels around the country meeting the owners of Hispanic businesses, which are the fastest growing segment of American enterprise. Today, one in every six people living in America is of Hispanic decent, he added.

"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy," and Latinos are becoming entrepreneurs three to one to the general American market, he said. They are taking risks, starting new ventures, providing jobs and creating a strong economic tax base.

Palomarez acknowledged that the nation continues to face unprecedented economic challenges. That's why the U.S. Hispanic Chamber needs to continue engaging corporate partners and chambers to work together and provide training for the benefit of communities like the Tri-Cities.

"We have to fight to make sure that America continues to be the greatest country in the world. Part of the reason we are is we have a strong and vibrant work force, a willing work force that will not be outdone by any other nation," he said. "If you support American small business then you support Hispanic small business, and here in Washington state I believe you are."

Palomarez thanked the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for the privilege of speaking to a group he said is supporting the American way of life.

"We get to go all over the country ... and the community that I've witnessed here, the warmth and decency and just the good American values with everybody that I've met, are wonderful," he said. READ MORE

Businesses take notice; Hispanics are taking their growing $1 trillion buying power online.

According to Boostability, an online marketing company based in American Fork, Utah, there are more than 30 million Hispanics actively online, and businesses across the country are now catering to this growing online segment. The Internet has rapidly become an integral part of daily life. Hispanics are using the Internet to shop for large retail items, find local businesses and to look up entertainment information such as movies, concerts and places to eat. Today, social media sites like Facebook and YouTube are the second and fourth most popular websites among Hispanics according to Captura Group.

A powerful study by OTX, a global consumer research firm, found noteworthy facts about Hispanic Internet use. They found that 78 percent of Hispanics use the Internet as a primary source of information with 84 percent of Hispanics using search engines to find that information. They also found that 54 percent of these searches led to purchases online while 43 percent led to in-store purchases.

The data showed that the Hispanic market is more receptive to online advertising than non-Hispanics. Small businesses need to move beyond their perceived language barrier and commit to reaching this growing online market. READ MORE

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business and its Tayloe Murphy Center released the findings of a major study today that outlines specific steps for how banks and credit unions can capture billions of dollars in deposits by reaching out to Latino and other “unbanked” households across the United States.

The year-long study titled “Perdido En La Traducción: The Opportunity in Financial Services for Latinos” also demonstrates for the first time that persuading households to keep their money in banks and credit unions could lower the risk of robberies and raise property values.

Nationwide, there is more than $169 billion floating outside the formal banking system attributed to unbanked households, of which $53 billion comes from unbanked Latino households.

“This study gives the financial services industry, policy makers and market watchers information they can use and a real measurement of the scope of this hidden market. At the same time, it not only represents a significant financial opportunity, but also highlights the wide-ranging benefits for communities,” says Greg Fairchild, executive director of the Tayloe Murphy Center and Darden professor.

The study focuses on unbanked Latino households in Virginia and North Carolina. Latinos are the fastest- growing multi-ethnic group in many states, including Virginia, as well as nationwide.

Many of the findings can also be applied nationally to any household that is unbanked, regardless of ethnicity, background, geographic location or length or status of residence. READ MORE

In Hollywood's chase for America's new No. 2 demographic -- Latinos -- Carmen Marron stands front and center.

Marron is an upstart director with an improbable rags-to-film-festival-success story that begins in a Phoenix public elementary school where she was a guidance counselor to struggling Hispanic youths.

Witnessing inner-city youngsters bereft of positive models and encouragement eventually led her on a seven-year journey in which she and her husband sunk much of their life savings into a little movie with a big message:

Yes, kids, you can overcome the worst of circumstances and become the person you've always dreamed to be. Just go for it.

"We spent a lot of our savings, which was challenging because I didn't know anything about filmmaking. I never wanted to be a filmmaker. It's crazy when I talked about it," said Marron, a Chicago native who now lives in the Los Angeles area.

"San Francisco, Boston, San Antonio, Texas, Chicago, New York -- wherever we were, the people all related to the story, the inspiration: Yes, you can. Si, se puede. Kick yourself out of the rut and make a change," she said. "You're always going to have obstacles."

Her film, "Go For It!" played well on the indie circuit, garnering audience awards at Dances with Film Festival in West Hollywood, California; Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival; San Antonio Film Festival; and Cine Las Americas in Austin, Texas, Marron said. The movie was an official selection of the 2010 Chicago International Film Festival.

It was an audacious debut for a director with no filmmaking experience.

But the recognition didn't end there for her film about a young Latina who triumphs over gritty, harsh experiences as she seeks entrance into a dance school.

Marron's film arrived in Hollywood just as studios were taking a second, harder look at projects with dominant Latino themes. READ MORE