Posted by Elena del Valle on August 31, 2006
Jeremy S. Jennings, principal attorney at Jennings Immigration Law Office
Photo: Jennings Immigration Law Office
Knoxville, Tennessee — Jennings Immigration Law Office recently launched the first Spanish-language version of its immigration oriented website. Although the English and Spanish version of the firm’s website are similar, the Spanish version includes information of particular interest to Spanish speakers from Central and South America.
“One of the challenges that the Latino community faces is easy access to reliable immigration information. By offering the JenningsImmigration.com website in Spanish, I hope to help bridge this gap,” said Jeremy S. Jennings, principal attorney, Jennings Immigration Law Office. “Immigration law is filled with difficult legal terms and concepts. It also involves many different government agencies. Our first version of the Spanish site provides links to Spanish-language websites offered by the different government agencies, where they are available, and provides a glossary of immigration terms in the Spanish language as well. Future versions of the Spanish site will offer immigration news updates and commentary as well.”
The Spanish language version of the website includes information on hiring an attorney, types of services the law firm offers, a list of resources including links to websites with content in Spanish, and how to become involved in the political process by contacting legislators.
JenningsImmigration.com and espanol.jenningsimmigration.com, the firm’s two website versions, were developed by the Nashville-based Website Strategy Company, MediaJolt. Jennings Immigration Law Office is a Knoxville-based immigration law firm.
Posted by Elena del Valle on August 30, 2006
Actress Eva Longoria
Photo: Eva Longoria
Phoenix, Arizona — The Hispanic Women’s Corporation (HWC) is hosting a two-day conference, the 21st National Hispanic Women’s Conference, October 12-13, 2006 at the Phoenix Convention Center. According to their promotional materials the conference, with expected attendance of 2,000, is the largest gathering of Latinas in the country offering leadership and professional development. A corporate luncheon honoring Latinas Eva Longoria, Julie Stav and Maria Marin is scheduled for Friday, October 13.
The program will highlight influential Latinas who are expected to share their success stories. There also will be a series of workshops on financial planning, professional development, entrepreneurship, and leadership. The event kicks-off October 12 with a youth leadership conference targeting 400 local area school students. On site registration costs $300. Early registration is available for $200 and $275 depending on the registration date.
Actress Longoria, of the television program Desperate Housewives, will make a special appearance sponsored by Qwest Communications, to receive the Latina Visionary and Community Empowerment Award.
“I am honored to be part of this important conference that educates and improves the lives of Latinas,” said Longoria.
State Farm Insurance Co., will present the conference honorary luncheon chair and international financial expert Stav, founder and owner of Retirement Benefit Systems and Julie Stav Inc. Stav is also an author and host of a daily radio show.
Marin will receive this year’s Latina Excellence Award for her successful career and contributions to the Hispanic Women’s Corporation. She is a motivational trainer in personal empowerment and The Art of Negotiation. Marin is also a national newspaper columnist, who writes on personal growth topics for women. Her column Mujer Sin Límites (Woman Without Limits) is published weekly in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
The Conference and this year’s theme, Latina Power: The Billion Dollar Markets, have attracted well known companies such as General Motors, State Farm, Wall-Mart, Sam’s Club, Qwest Communications, Ford, Univision, Wells Fargo and Dillards as sponsors.
The Hispanic Women’s Corporation, a 501 C (3) non-profit organization, was founded to promote higher education, community involvement, professional advancement and leadership development for the improvement of Latinas cultural quality of life.
Posted by Elena del Valle on August 29, 2006
Ileana Oroza, director, University of Miami Spanish-language Masters in Journalism Program
Photo: Ileana Oroza
The Pew Hispanic Center recently released the “Cuban Fact Sheet” with updates on the 1.4 million Cubans in the U.S. The information in the Fact Sheet is based on Census data, Pew, Institute for Public Opinion Research, and Cuban Research Institute of Florida International University opinion polls. Pew researchers indicate Cubans represent 4 percent of Latinos in the U.S. and are distinct from other Hispanic groups. In general, they are older, have a higher median household income, a higher educational level and a higher rate of home ownership than other Hispanic groups.
“I’m not surprised by most of the information; not even by the significant increase in the number of Cubans who favor a dialogue with the Cuban government. That is part of a healthy trend we have been watching for the past few years,” said Ileana Oroza, director, Spanish-language Masters in Journalism Program, University of Miami. “Clearly Cubans in the United States are becoming more comfortable with the notion that it’s more productive to discuss issues and try to reach consensus that it is to build walls. The higher poverty rate among older Cubans is a cause for concern.”
According to Pew’s findings Cubans are more likely to think of themselves as white than are other Latinos. They are also more likely than other Hispanics to think of the U.S. rather than their country of birth as their real homeland. More than half of Cubans (52 percent) who responded to the Pew Hispanic Center 2006 National Survey of Latinos thought of the U.S. as their real homeland. Only 33 percent of Puerto Rican respondents, who are U.S. citizens by birth, considered the U.S. their real homeland. Mexican and Central and South American respondents, at 36 percent and 35 percent respectively, showed slightly higher rates than Puerto Ricans.
“It’s interesting to note the high number of Cubans who say they consider the U.S. to be their real homeland; again, not surprising. It brings to mind the contributions that Cubans have made to U.S. culture, Pulitzer Prize winners, Obie award winners, top dramatists, novelists, scientists, business leaders. We’re not quite 1.5 million, but we’ve made a home here and put our talents to work for this country,” said Oroza.
Pew also highlights that there are almost twice as many foreign born Cubans, (912,686) as U.S. born Cubans (535,998). At the same time, U.S. policy, according to the Fact Sheet, has been more welcoming to Cubans than to any other group from Latin America. Virtually all Cuban migrants who touch American soil are allowed to remain in the country.
Florida is home to more than two thirds of Cubans (990,000) and 70 percent of Florida Cubans are U.S. born. Other states with large Cuban concentrations are New Jersey, New York, California and Texas. More information is available online at the Pew Hispanic Center.
Posted by Elena del Valle on August 28, 2006
Matias Perel, founder and president, Latin3
Photo: Latin3
A podcast featuring an interview with Matias Perel, founder and president, Latin3, is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, Matias discusses online search marketing to Hispanics with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.
Matías founded Latin3 in 2000. Since then he has led the company to a leading position among interactive marketing agencies in the U.S. and Latin America. He has a 10-year professional track record in the U.S. and Latin American advertising industries.
A native of Argentina, he has lived and worked in the U.S. for many years gaining knowledge of the Hispanic and Latino communities. Matias is invited to participate in seminars and conferences in the region and is frequently interviewed on CNN en Español.
Matias, a past board member of the Miami chapter of the International Advertising Association, serves on the Hispanic Committee of the Internet Advertising Bureau. He is also enrolled in the business graduate program at Harvard Business School.
As president of Latin3, Matias is charged with leading the company while working with clients to assist them to gain e-strategic advantage in the U.S. Hispanic and Latin American regions. Some of Latin3’s clients include Cisco Latin America, Dell Latin America, Lexicon, Microsoft Latin America, Nextel International, Pepsi Latin America & USH, Reebok, Sony Latin America, Sunbeam Latin America, TACA Airlines, Visa International, and Xerox.
To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see the “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Matias Perel” hit the play button or download it to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the August 2006 section of the podcast.
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“Search Engine Marketing to Hispanics” audio recording
Presenter Matias Perel, founder and president, Latin3
To purchase a downloadable or CD audio recording presentation and discussion with extended information on search engine marketing to Hispanics by Matias Perel visit the HispanicMPR.com Resources Section
Posted by Elena del Valle on August 25, 2006
“Tree Full of Life” by Sonia Romero (2005)
Acrylic and block printing on canvas
Photo: Sonia Romero
Los Angeles, California — Avenue 50 Studio will present Sonia Romero’s first solo show of paintings, prints and mixed media from September 9 to October 8, 2006 in Highland Park, California. The opening reception will take place Saturday, September 9, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sonia’s new technique fuses the graphic character of block printing with painting.
The series takes inspiration from the universal idea of the Tree of Life, incorporating early folk art and iconography, children’s stories and fairy tales, and the contemporary urban landscape of Los Angeles. The collection is described as “laden with intensely personal and evocative stories that invite the viewer into a world of rich and quirky imagery.”
Romero is a full time artist. She was part of a recent exhibition in Lyon, France, “Five L.A. Chicano Artists” at Galerie Par-ci, Par-la and “Latino Artists of Los Angeles – Defining Identity,” at the Millard Sheets Gallery. Recent public works include a mural commission and award at the Gene Autry Museum, and the Caltrans Metro Neighborhood Poster Award.
She received her formal education at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and her bacheor of fine arts BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, with an emphasis in printmaking. Romero is the daughter of renowned artists, Nancy and Frank Romero, and the granddaughter of Edith Wyle, founder of the Craft and Folk Art Museum. Additional information is available online at SoniaRomero.com
Posted by Elena del Valle on August 24, 2006
Scene from new Spam Spanish language ad
Photos: Hormel, San Jose Group
Chicago, Illinois — Hormel Foods Corporation will launch its first U.S. Spanish-language television commercial for SPAM®, its well known brand of canned luncheon meat. The 30-second ad, developed and produced by Hormel’s Hispanic advertising agency of record, The San Jose Group (SJG), first aired August 14, 2006. The commercial will be piloted in Los Angeles and supported with outdoor advertising and free-standing inserts.
According to promotional materials, the spot depicts two young professional men on their way home from work in a modern, downtown setting. One of them imagines SPAM® Classic for dinner. His antagonist steals the thought from above his head and runs away with it. After a gymnastic-filled chase scene, the “hero” reclaims his original thought. Upon his return home, his thought turns to reality, when his wife welcomes him with an enticing meal featuring SPAM® Classic. The slogan “Imagínalo. Saboréalo.” (Imagine it. Taste it.) plays against shots of meals that can be prepared with SPAM®.
“The mission of this execution is one of developing not only our brand, but also our category,” remarked Chris Durren, senior product manager, Hormel Foods Corporation. “This commercial will definitely get our target’s attention and help her connect with SPAM® in a culturally relevant way.”
From the Spam® commercial
Although SJG has been working with the SPAM® brand since 2004, this year marks the product’s entrance into Spanish-language television in the U.S. The brand has been in existence since 1937 and enjoys awareness among general market households. According to the company’s research, nearly 77 percent of U.S. Hispanics are non-users of the SPAM® Family of Products. Hormel and SJG hope win over Hispanic women to, especially heads-of-household, with the new commercial.
“We are positioning SPAM® to fit into our target demo’s busy lifestyle,” said George L. San Jose, president and COO, The San Jose Group. “As such, we leveraged a high-energy, urban approach to solicit a curiosity of SPAM® as an incentive to trial.”
George San Jose
Incorporated in 1981 and headquartered in Chicago, The San Jose Group is a consortium of marketing communications companies specializing in reaching the Hispanic and non-Hispanic markets in the U.S. and Latin America.
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products. For the past five years, Hormel Foods was named one of “The 400 Best Big Companies in America” by Forbes magazine.
Posted by Elena del Valle on August 23, 2006
Marla Provencio, co-senior vice president, Marketing, ABC Entertainment
Photo: Marla Provencio/American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., Arenas
ABC Entertainment has selected Arenas as Hispanic agency of record. Arenas will be responsible for Hispanic strategy, media planning and buying, as well as creative targeting of the burgeoning U.S. Hispanic market. Shows selected by ABC for Hispanic targeted marketing efforts are primetime’s “Ugly Betty” and “Desperate Housewives.”
“Bringing Arenas on board, a recognized leader in the field of Hispanic marketing, is an integral part of our strategy to reach the estimated 44.1 million Hispanics in the United States, most of which are bilingual and bicultural,” said Marla Provencio, co-senior vice president, Marketing, ABC Entertainment. “Adding Arenas to our cache strengthens our brand identity in the Hispanic community.”
Santiago Pozo, CEO, Arenas
“We commend the ABC Television Network executives, in their efforts to expand their audience base, for having the vision to aggressively target the U.S. Hispanic market. I’d like to personally thank ABC for their faith in Arenas to deliver more bilingual and monolingual English Hispanic viewers to their shows. I also feel that in winning this account it is a testament to the high caliber of professionals that make up the Arenas team,” said Santiago Pozo, CEO, Arenas.
Based in Beverly Hills, and started 18 years ago by Pozo, Arenas is one of the oldest Hispanic marketing agencies in entertainment. Their client roster has included studios Disney, Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros., DreamWorks and MGM, as well as Universal Home Entertainment, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, PBS and Universal Studios Hollywood.
Primetime Entertainment on ABC crosses various programming genres with hit series like “Desperate Housewives,” “Lost,” “Grey’s Anatomy, ” “Extreme Home Makeover: Home Edition,” “Boston Legal,” “According to Jim,” “George Lopez,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “Supernanny” and “Wife Swap.” ABC Entertainment is part of the ABC Television Network and is managed by the Disney-ABC Television Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company.
Posted by Elena del Valle on August 22, 2006
Grammy nominated gospel rapper Scoob Serious
Photos: GL Media Company
Hispanic Heritage Month doesn’t begin until September 15, but Logo Enterprises and the Zera foundation will present Faith Fighter Live 2006 at El Camino College in Hispanic populated Torrance, California on August 25. The presentation will showcase Holy Hip-Hop performers, all of them Hispanic, in an effort to appeal to the Hispanic market.
“All performers are Hispanic because we want to appeal to the majority of the people in the community of Torrance who are Hispanic,” said Charlene Turner, CEO of GL Media Company. “We want to reach out to Hispanic people and community and to inform them that the Hispanic market is not forgotten by Holy Hip hop.”
Grammy nominated T-Bone
Faith Fighter Live will also attempt to bring the gospel to today’s. Business owners and ministries will perform bible studies and special events focusing on spiritual development for young adults. The event will kick off with Big City of Mind Right Productions leading a bible study meeting. Holy Hip Hop Artist and Grammy nominated T-Bone will headline a concert.
Other artists scheduled to perform include DJ Gabriel, Christside Souljahz and five time Grammy nominated gospel rapper Scoob Serious. A “Rock The Mic” contest sponsored by Gospellinks.com and WePraise.fm will allow audience members to perform with the artists and give them the opportunity to showcase their talents. General admission tickets are $20 and VIP tickets cost $30 each. More information is available at FaithFighterLive.com . — Sergio Carmona.
Posted by Elena del Valle on August 21, 2006
Brenda Hurley, Liria Barbosa Latino Eyes Hispanic market researchers
A podcast interview with Brenda Hurley, vice president, C & R Research and Liria Barbosa, senior research anaylist, C & R Research is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, they discuss the Latino markets and Latino family dynamics with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.
Since the beginning of her career, Liria has been involved in qualitative research heading a wide range of projects from initial design, recruitment, execution, moderation and analysis to the final written report. Her experience includes studies for service and product categories such as: Household Cleaners, Food and Beverages, Packaged Goods, Automotive, Financial Services, Telecommunications, Internet, Pharmaceuticals, Liquor and Spirits and Health and Beauty Aids. Liria is a graduate of the Burke Institute Intensive Moderator Training Program and has also attended courses at RIVA.
A native of São Paulo, Liria spent several years studying and working in Mexico. She is trilingual and multicultural. Liria has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration majoring in International Business from Barry University in Miami, Florida. Her previous experience included marketing positions with Lucent Technologies, and Cedetel (a Motorola owned Wireless provider in Monterrey, Mexico).
Brenda Hurley, vice president, C&R Research. Since joining C&R in 1994, Brenda has specialized in quantitative research, providing custom research solutions for her clients utilizing both online and offline methodologies. She has extensive experience in concept evaluation, name tests, positioning research, market segmentation, attitude and usage, and tracking studies. Additionally, Brenda was very involved in the development of CRIMSON (C&R’s Multimedia Surveying Network) and has designed and executed countless studies using this system. Her clients represent a wide variety of industries including the restaurant industry, consumer packaged goods and the financial services industry.
Although Brenda regularly works on projects for all types of consumer groups, Brenda focuses much of her time leading C&R’s specialty division, LatinoEyes. Brenda has been conducting research with Latinos in the U.S. for more than ten years and since LatinoEyes’ official launch in 2002, Brenda has been committed to building that division. She continues to work on projects targeting Latinos both in America and in LATAM.
To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see the “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Brenda Hurley, Liria Barbosa” hit the play button or download it to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the August 2006 section of the podcast
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“Latino Family Dynamics” audio recording
Brenda Hurley and Liria Barbosa
To purchase a downloadable or CD audio recording with extended information on Latino Family Dynamics from Brenda Hurley and Liria Barbosa visit the HispanicMPR.com Resources Section.
Posted by Elena del Valle on August 18, 2006
Emily Rios as Magdalena in “Quinceañera”
Photos: Sony Pictures Classics
Sony Pictures Classics recently released “Quinceañera,” (Spanish for 15 year old girl), winner of the Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize for Best Dramatic Feature at the Sundance Film Festival 2006. According to the film’s promotional materials, the 90-minute “Quinceañera” is a look at what happens when teenage sexuality, age-old rituals, and real estate prices collide. It is described as a “reinvention of Kitchen Sink drama, fueled by the racial, class, and sexual tensions of a Latino neighborhood in transition.”
In the movie, Magdalena (Emily Rios) is the daughter of a Mexican-American family who run a storefront church in Echo Park, Los Angeles. With her fifteenth-birthday approaching, all she can think about is her boyfriend, her Quinceañera dress, and the Hummer Limo she hopes to arrive in on her special day.
A few months before the celebration, Magdalena falls pregnant. As the elaborate preparations for her Quinceañera proceed, her religious father finds out about the pregnancy and rejects her.
J.R. Cruz as Herman, Jesse Garcia as Carlos and Hector Quevedo as Dancing Boy
Forced out of her home, Magdalena moves in with great-great uncle Tomas (Chalo Gonzalez), a gentle man who makes his living selling champurrado (a Mexican hot drink) in the street. Already living with him is Carlos (Jesse Garcia), Magdalena’s cousin, a tough young cholo who was thrown out by his parents for being gay.
The back house rental where Tomas has lived happily for many years is on a property that was recently purchased by an affluent white gay couple (David Ross and Jason L. Wood), pioneers of gentrification in the neighborhood. Carlos quickly attracts the couple’s attention and they soon make him their plaything in an ongoing three-way.
As Magdalena’s pregnancy grows more visible, she, Carlos, and Tomas pull together as a family of outsiders. But the economics of the neighborhood are turning against them. Ultimately, this precipitates a crisis that threatens their way of life.
“Quinceañera” was written and directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland. Cast members include Emily Rios, Jesse Garcia, Chalo Gonzalez, David Ross, and Jason L. Wood.
