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Move over, China. Latin America is the new market investors are eager to break into.

In 2012, investment by private equity and venture capitalists in Latin America reached a five-year high.
New data analysis released by the Latin American Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (LAVCA) shows investment increased by 21 percent in the region, to $7.9 billion last year.

These types of investors are known for primarily taking interest in companies that present 'high risk, high reward' situations.

Not publicly traded on a stock exchange, the companies they invest in tend to be startups that just need the funds to make their idea a reality.

The surge in these types of investments in 2012 follows a two-year period in which global equity firms raised capital to invest in targeted Latin American companies showing promise in the consumer, financial and education sectors. READ MORE

Arizona lawmakers passed a law to dismantle a Mexican American studies program in Tucson schools, but the legislation has had an unintended effect: The controversy is renewing interest in the state and nationwide in ethnic studies and Chicano and Latino literature.

Some Tucson students have found new ways to study the subject while receiving college credit to boot. Others who had no interest on the topic say they are now drawn to the material.

"Underground" libraries with Chicano literature are popping up across the Southwest and are set to open soon in unexpected places such as Milwaukee and Louisville.

"I guess the irony is ... that we have banded together and created a new civil rights movement, a renaissance in Latino literature. Now there are people in Louisville, Ky., who will be enjoying Chicano literature," said Tony Diaz. READ MORE

The Center for Hispanic Leadership (CHL) has awarded a scholarship to the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University - that will provide all Hispanic/Latino MBA students with access to CHL’s online Hispanic Leadership Academy (HLA). The three-year grant is a fitting next chapter in the history between CHL and Cornell University as Frank Llopis, father to CHL Founder, Glenn Llopis, was the first Hispanic student to graduate with a Chemical Engineering degree in 1940.

Moving forward, CHL’s goal is to continue to cultivate a mutually rewarding long-term partnership that will benefit all incoming and existing Hispanic/Latino MBA students for generations to come. “We are delighted to share CHL’s Hispanic Leadership Academy with the standards of excellence that represent Cornell University and the Johnson Graduate School of Management,” says Llopis, whose 2009 book, Earning Serendipity, 4 Skills for Creating and Sustaining Good Fortune in Your Work, was inspired by the life lessons and wisdom his father taught him. READ MORE

It's a decision that will be welcomed by leading Latino political groups -- but one they will likely say it's not enough.

President Obama is set to nominate Thomas Perez, an assistant attorney general in the Justice Department, to be the next secretary of labor, the White House said.

If confirmed by the Senate, Perez, who has been head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division for 3½ years, would take over the Labor Department as Obama undertakes several worker-oriented initiatives, including an overhaul of immigration laws and an increase in the minimum wage.

Before taking his current Justice Department job, Perez, 51, was secretary of Maryland's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, which enforces state consumer rights, workplace safety and wage and hour laws. READ MORE

A historic decline in the number of U.S. whites and the fast growth of Latinos are blurring traditional black-white color lines, testing the limits of civil rights laws and reshaping political alliances as "whiteness" begins to lose its numerical dominance.

Long in coming, the demographic shift was most vividly illustrated in last November's re-election of President Barack Obama, the first black president, despite a historically low percentage of white supporters.

It's now a potent backdrop to the immigration issue being debated in Congress that could offer a path to citizenship for 11 million mostly Hispanic illegal immigrants. Also, the Supreme Court is deciding cases this term on affirmative action and voting rights that could redefine race and equality in the U.S.

The latest census data and polling from The Associated Press highlight the historic change in a nation in which non-Hispanic whites will lose their majority in the next generation, somewhere around the year 2043.

Despite being a nation of immigrants, America's tip to a white minority has never occurred in its 237-year history and will be a first among the world's major post-industrial societies. Brazil, a developing nation, has crossed the threshold to "majority-minority" status; a few cities in France and England are near, if not past that point. READ MORE

Paula Carde’s family business almost didn’t get off the ground, because no traditional bank was willing to extend an initial line of credit to the fledgling construction company. “I went to SunTrust, I went to BB&T, I went to Four Oaks,” says Carde, “and because our business was so new, they weren’t willing to give us enough.”

The only North Carolina financial institution willing to take a chance on Carde, her brother, and her father—all immigrants from Chile—was the Latino Community Credit Union, headquartered in Durham. The 26-year-old Carde had been depositing her paychecks there for years, and in retrospect she should have approached LCCU first. Taking chances on immigrants is what the credit union does.

LCCU, which has 10 branches throughout North Carolina, serves a population that most other financial institutions overlook. Many of its members live paycheck to paycheck, have never opened a deposit account, and don’t speak fluent English. Yet LCCU is one of the fastest-growing and most financially stable credit unions in the country, with a delinquency rate lower than those of its peers. READ MORE

As members of minority groups leave the academic world and try to enter a professional work environment, they face unique challenges.

Chris Farrell, economics editor of Marketplace Money, said on The Daily Circuit last month that networking is key to finding a good job. But one caller asked about the lack of professional networking opportunities for young minorities, and suggested a show on that topic.

David Thomas, author of "Breaking Through: The Making of Minority Executives in Corporate America," wrote in the Harvard Business Review about companies putting a focus on diversity but failing to follow through: READ MORE

Whether they were the first Hispanic women justice on the Supreme Court, the first woman President of a country with the sixth largest economy in the world or ambitious stars paving their road to success in Hollywood, these women have some wise words to share about the strength, difficulties, and lessons that come with being a woman--especially a Latina woman. READ MORE

Most Latinos may have never heard of him, but Raymond L. Telles blazed trails for scores of them.
Telles, who died Friday at the age of 97, was the first Mexican-American mayor of a major city, El Paso, with a leadership style that drew praise.
Telles served two terms, pushing the city to hire Latinos for its various departments. He also had several stints as El Paso County clerk.
"Among the Mexican-American leaders whose achievements in elected and civic service continue to make possible our Latino community success today, no one looms larger than Raymond Telles,” said Thomas A. Saenz, the president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). READ MORE

By Frank A. Diaz

   It’s interesting to see the state and federal unemployment rates announced each month.  The rate inches upward or downward by fractions of a percent, but that movement makes a big difference.  I wouldn’t claim that NLEI makes such a big dent in the unemployment numbers, but we are trying to help people get ready for good jobs in allied health. 

    We’ve scheduled two of our professional training programs in April and May.   If you or someone you know is exploring new career options or looking for a mid-career switch, you should consider NLEI, the National Latino Education Institute.

    NLEI (formerly Spanish Coalition for Jobs) is Chicagoland’s leader in educational, vocational and employment services for Latinos, with an emphasis on training for medical support and administration. The Institute also provides preparation for the GED test and English as a Second Language.   NLEI also has several satellite centers, including west suburban Aurora. 

   Our Phlebotomy Program opens two sessions, on April 30th during daytime and on May 7th in the evening.  Phlebotomists are responsible for drawing blood samples for laboratory testing, blood donations and analysis.  Phlebotomists work as part of a medical team at hospitals, clinics, commercial labs and blood banks.  Following an externship with hands-on practice, students are then eligible to test for the NCCT certification exam. 

   Medical Assistants are in high demand in today’s health care market, and demand is expected to continue rising. Our program begins on May 13th and includes hands-on training in lab procedures, health sciences and medical law and ethics. Graduates are eligible to earn Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certification by taking the national certification exam from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

  Veterans of the Armed Forces are strongly encouraged to enroll in NLEI’s Medical Assistant program using their Montgomery GI Bill education benefits.  Our Employment Services staff is available to help graduates (upon completion of their requirements) find job vacancies and prepare for interviews, with a placement rate above 80 percent. 

   Space in these programs is limited and registration closes soon.  Whether you’re exploring new career options or looking for a mid-career switch, consider NLEI and discover your future now! 

   For more information, call NLEI at 773-247-0707, extension 257.                             #

Two new partnerships bring a vibrant and growing Mexican tech cluster closer to the already prominent innovation economy in Massachusetts. The goal is to open doors for entrepreneurs and industry leaders on both sides of the border to broaden their potential markets and increase opportunities for collaboration and business.

The World Class Cities Partnership (WCCP) joined newly elected City of Zapopan Mayor Hector Robles for a rare and special signing ceremony during a formal session of the Zapopan City Council. The official document, which inducted Zapopan and the region of Guadalajara (the Silicon Valley of Mexico) into the WCCP network, formalized the partnership between Zapopan (signed by Mayor Robles), university Tec de Monterrey (signed by Director of Innovation & Regional Development, Alfredo Ortíz) and the WCCP (signed by Founder & Executive Director, Mike Lake). The agreement brings the Mexican city into the network that includes Boston, Vancouver, Barcelona, Dublin, Lisbon, Lyon, Hamburg and Haifa. Membership requires the commitment of each participating municipality, at least one academic institution and a Local Advisory Board of private sector leaders. The organization is focused on applied research while working to apply lessons learned abroad for local impact. READ MORE

A new analysis of three Pew Research Center surveys shows that Hispanic Americans own smartphones, go online from mobile devices and use social networking sites at similar, and sometimes even higher, rates than groups of other Americans.

The analysis, out Thursday afternoon, shows that the digital divide between Latinos and whites in this country is rapidly tightening.

“Between 2009 and 2012, the share of Latino adults who say they go online at least occasionally increased from 64 percent to 78 percent,” according to Pew. “Among whites, Internet use rates also increased, but only by half as much (80 percent in 2009 to 87 percent in 2012).”

Over that same period, the gap in cellphone ownership between Latinos and other groups either lessened or disappeared. In 2012, 86 percent of Latinos said they owned a cellphone, up from 76 percent in 2009. (Pew uses the terms Hispanic and Latino interchangeably.) READ MORE

Last month, I had the opportunity to attend the East Coast Chicano Student Forum at Harvard University, where I had the privilege of conducting a presentation to a group of college students from Ivy League Universities eager to learn how they could follow in the footsteps of Latinos who are using Social Media to implement positive change in their communities.

There is no denying that social media as a multi-faceted tool has been an enormous success. Not only has it allowed billions of people to connect on a variety of platforms -- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and so many others -- but it has also served as a valuable tool with the tremendous potential to help implement positive change among the Latino community.

When discussing the power of social media and how it can be used to impact communities in positive ways, Latinos simply cannot be ignored.

Latinos, who have been recorded as the group with the highest rate of early adopters are continuously embracing technology faster than any other demographic in the United States. READ MORE

Two Hispanics are among the top three billionaires named in Forbes' annual list of the richest people.
The number of billionaires in the world, according to Forbes, has reached an all-time high with 1,426 names, up 210 from 2012, with a combined net worth of $5.4 trillion, over last year's $4.6 trillion.

The publication's annual list of the wealthiest people on the planet was lead for the fourth year in a row by Mexico's telecomm tycoon Carlos Slim Helu, who boasted a net worth of $73 billion in 2012 --- $1 billion less than his all-time record. His portfolio saw a boost from surging stock prices with Grupo Financiero Inbursa, his financial arm, and at his industrial and retail giant, Grupo Carso.

Slim Helu also added soccer to the mix, buying into Mexico's Leon and Pachuca soccer teams and Spain's Real Oviedo club.

The list of billionaires list continues with Microsoft founder Bill Gates, with $67 billion, followed by Amancio Ortega Gaona , executive and founding chairman of the Inditex fashion group, better known for its chain of Zara clothing and accessories. His net worth is reported by Forbes as $57, up from $19.5 billion a year ago. READ MORE

Have you ever watched a small child enter a new social situation?

Perhaps it’s a playgroup or a local park. Depending on the child, she will likely take a while to play on the perimeter and observe the others, before picking someone to play beside.

Eventually, the child will interact with the strangers, finding some point of common interest -- the same yellow shovel, a cute flower on both their dresses. She doesn’t mind if they’re boys or girls, black or white. She doesn’t ask about religion or politics. She just finds something in common and makes a new friend.

It’s remarkable, really. And according to research on the science of networking, it’s something that adults should be emulating.

The sad truth is that people instinctively gravitate toward people like themselves. This is the easiest way to form associations -- we know that people like us will share the same norms. And if they broadly share our opinions about the world, we won’t have to deal with too much conflict. Sounds great, right? READ MORE

With fully 67 percent of Internet users on social networks, social media is an established mainstream activity. But while 67 percent of the online population uses Facebook, the demographic portrait of the smaller services varies greatly, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center that shows its first comparisons of usage by whites, blacks and Hispanics. Twitter is especially popular with people 18-29 and blacks, while Instagram is particularly appealing to Hispanics, blacks and women. READ MORE

Edith Ramirez will be named to chair the Federal Trade Commission, USA TODAY confirmed Thursday.

President Obama plans to appoint his former law school classmate and friend who worked on his presidential campaigns to head up the government agency. She has been an FTC commissioner since 2010.

The FTC has authority over antitrust and consumer protection matters, such as deceptive advertising claims and anti-pyramid scheme enforcement.

The past few years, Ramirez has focused on intellectual property law in the technology arena and has also worked on cases to help protect vulnerable consumer communities, such as the poor and those who don't speak English. READ MORE

While Minnesota has much to be proud of when it comes to being a great place to work and live, reports in recent years have revealed the state is one of the worst in the nation for employing and educating people of color.

Minnesota’s gap between white and black employment is one of the largest in the United States. In Minneapolis, people of color make up 40 percent of the population but hold only 17 percent of the jobs, according to the Minneapolis Foundation. The racial gap in workforce participation is nearly 40 percentage points between the highest (whites, 78 percent) and the lowest (American Indian, 39 percent). And children of color are finishing high school at a rate that is 25 percent to 50 percent below the graduation rate of white children, according to figures provided by Minneapolis Public Schools. READ MORE

Based on a recent survey, Hispanic Mobile Banking Trends Study, by Zpryme and ThinkNow Research, nearly seven out of ten (69%) Hispanic mobile bank users consult their smart/cell phones to do mobile banking, with almost half (44%) visiting their primary bank’s Facebook page. More poignantly practically one-third (30%) said they would switch primary banks to get mobile banking services.

“With seven out of ten Hispanic mobile bank users deferring to smartphones to bank mobile and almost one-third swapping banks that are ‘mobile friendly’, banks that incorporate social networking to address banking issues will lead to greater customer loyalty and extol the mobile banking features that are available,” said Jason Rodriguez, CEO and Director of Research for Zpryme. “It is not enough just to translate pixels of the mobile experience into Spanish, financial institutions such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo are shining examples of listening to the voice of Hispanics via social media; translating a tweet, a like, a comment into real-world results.” READ MORE

Por favor, preste atención: Telemundo Media, the largest producer of Spanish Language prime time content in the U.S. and audiences around the world; and Fandango, the nation's leading moviegoer destination representing more than 70% of U.S. screens online, today launched Fandango Cine, www.fandangocine.com the most comprehensive web and mobile movie site specifically geared toward Hispanic movie fans. Fandango Cine’s launch partners are Universal Pictures’ “Fast & Furious 6” and Sprint.

Fandango Cine will be integrated into www.telemundo.com, mun2.tv and www.fandango.com, and will offer movie-related content in Spanish, as well as provide Fandango’s comprehensive movie show times, unparalleled ticketing expertise and access to over 20,000 screens across the country. READ MORE