Posted by Elena del Valle on October 31, 2007
October/November 2007 Ser Padres cover
Photos: Meredith Corporation
Meredith Corporation will merge Healthy Kids en Español and Ser Padres, a parenting publication, to create one of the largest Spanish-language consumer magazines in the United States targeting Latino parents. The revamped free magazine, Ser Padres, will be published eight times a year with a circulation of 700,000. The February/March re-launched issue of Ser Padres, featuring a fresh look and new logo, will be available January 11, 2008.
Ruth Gaviria, executive director, Meredith Hispanic Ventures
“Ser Padres was first-to-market in the Hispanic parenting space and has been a trusted resource for more than 17 years,” said Ruth Gaviria, executive director of Meredith Hispanic Ventures. “Now, we are growing the brand and offering a superior publication to readers and advertisers. Readers will get more culturally-relevant editorial that focuses on the well-being of the Hispanic family, including finances, health, family activities and meal planning.”
The new Ser Padres promises concise articles for the multi-tasking parent, new sections on home décor, women’s health, pregnancy news and shopping guides. The magazine will also include articles on cultural heritage, values and education and signature sections like “Profile of a Hispanic Mom.”
“Emotional Branding: How to capture the heart and mind of the Hispanic consumer” audio recording
“Emotional Branding” was recorded January 2007 during the Strategic Research Institute 13th Annual Blockbuster Marketing to U.S. Hispanic and Latin America conference in Miami, Florida. Receive a free downloadable copy by completing our Visitor Survey.
Click here for your free copy of Emotional Branding
Ser Padres staff hope to encourage reader interaction with sections like “My Favorite Photo,” where parents are invited to submit family shots that may be considered for inclusion in a future issue of the magazine. Ser Padres is expected to feature a new look with more sophisticated visuals and photographs taken shot outside of the studio.
McDonald’s, Clorox, Fisher Price, Publix and the Milk Processor Education Program (PEP) plan to advertise in 2008. Meredith launched Ser Padres in the fall of 1990 as an off-shoot of Parents magazine. The magazine is distributed via pediatrician and gynecology offices.
Alberto Oliva, editor-in-chief, Ser Padres
“We’ll be able to get to know our reader better and deliver even more information to help her raise healthy and happy kids,” said Alberto Oliva, editor-in-chief, Ser Padres. “I’m excited for the next phase of Ser Padres.”
Meredith Corporation is a leading media and marketing company with businesses centering on magazine and book publishing, television broadcasting, integrated marketing and interactive media. The Meredith Publishing Group features 25 subscription magazines and publishes 180 special interest publications under 80 titles. Meredith has more than 400 books in print and owns 13 television stations.
Additionally, Meredith has an online presence that includes more than 40 websites and two broadband channels, Better.tv and Parents.tv. Meredith has a consumer database of 85 million names available for magazine and television marketing and advertising campaigns. Meredith publishes three other Spanish language magazines, Espera, with a circulation of 375,000 and 12 Meses with a circulation of 300,000, published twice a year; and Siempre Mujer, a bi-monthly magazine for Hispanic women. Siempre Mujer averages 115 pages and has a circulation of 400,000. It is available in newsstands and by subscription.
“Marketing to New Hispanic Moms – a case study” audio recording
Presenter Cynthia Nelson, COO, Todobebe
Find out about
• New Latina mom market
• Baby demographics including market size, profile
• New moms’ language preferences
• Latino baby market trends
• Factors influencing Hispanic baby market
• Location of new Hispanic moms’ market
• Issues affecting new Latino moms
• Todobebe strategies
Click for information on “Marketing to New Hispanic Moms – a case study”
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Filed Under: Media
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 30, 2007
Ana Ondina Martínez, co-chair, IBM La Familia Technology Week
Photo: IBM
During IBM’s recent seventh annual La Familia Technology Week, the company reached out to Hispanic business owners with a free toolkit for small businesses promoted to spur economic development and job growth. La Familia Technology Week is a national public awareness campaign designed to inform Hispanics of the value of science and technology to access educational, employment and entrepreneurial resources.
As part of the program, IBM planned to expand its ¡TradúceloAhora! grant program to over 200 schools and non-profit organization in North America and Latin America. The idea behind the program is to enhance communication between Spanish-only speaking families and school and other officials who speak English. IBM also planned to donate Reading Companion, an interactive web-based technology designed to improve literacy skills, to Hispanic populations.
IBM is a presenting sponsor of the program along with Career Communications Group. The company plans to feature the Small Business Toolkit, ¡TradúceloAhora! and Reading Companion at dozens of La Familia workshops, cyber cafes and technology open houses at schools, universities churches, community organizations, and science centers across the United States.
“IBM’s involvement in La Familia reflects the company’s commitment to the communities in which it does business,” said Ana Ondina Martinez, territory director, Small Medium Business, IBM and a La Familia Technology Week co-chair. “We want to make sure that Hispanic youth have the skills they need to excel as students and to hopefully, join the next generation of innovators, scientists and engineers. We want more Hispanic entrepreneurs to have tools that will help them manage and grow successful firms that will help fuel our economy. We want to make it easier for Spanish-only speaking adults and seniors to access career opportunities and vital services. For this to be a truly collaborative society, everyone must be able to contribute. La Familia is like an engraved invitation encouraging members of Hispanic communities to come, see and find their place in the Digital Age.”
IBM launched the new Small Business Toolkit in July 2007 with the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank. It is a free online portal developed to provide small business owners in the U.S. and emerging markets around the world business information, tools and training services usually reserved for Fortune 1000 Companies.
“Best in Class Hispanic Strategies” audio recording
Presenters Carlos Santiago and Derene Allen
-
Find out what makes 25 percent of the top 500 Hispanic market advertisers out perform the remaining companies
-
Discover what questions to ask, steps to take to be a Best in Class company
Click here to buy “Best in Class Hispanic Strategies” audio recording
Small Business Administration information indicates there are nearly 2 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the U.S. and there may be 3.2 million by 2010. The Small Business Toolkit is meant to help businesses grow by providing them information useful in implementing sustainable business practices in financing, accounting, international business, marketing, legal matters and human resources. It was also designed to provide an online forum with on-line conferencing, blog capability, group calendars, survey builders, and a multilingual business directory.
According to promotional materials, leveraging an enhanced version of IBM’s WebSphere technology, ¡TradúceloAhora! is designed to bridge the communications gap between Spanish and English. ¡TradúceloAhora! translates e-mails bi-directionally (English-to-Spanish and Spanish-to-English). It also translates websites automatically from English to Spanish, enabling Spanish-only speaking families to communicate with English speaking officials at their children’s schools and access information about employment opportunities and key services.
Another tool, Reading Companion, was developed by IBM researchers in partnership with teachers in IBM partner schools and not-for-profit organizations. It uses speech-recognition technology that “listens” and provides individualized feedback to the user, enabling readers to practice their pronunciation as they acquire reading skills. IBM established a $2 million grant to donate Reading Companion to more than 220 schools and nonprofit organizations around the world. There was no information available on the number expected to reach U.S. Hispanics.
“IBM’s focus is business to business versus selling to consumers, hence it does not track its clients by ethnicity. Recognizing, however, that U.S. Hispanic purchasing power is roughly $700 billion and that companies owned by Hispanics are one of the nation’s fastest growing business segments, IBM recognizes that Hispanic owned businesses are strategic clients that are key to the company’s growth,” said Ondina Martinez. “In 1997, IBM established the Market Development Group to ensure that businesses owned by Hispanics and other constituent groups recognize that IBM wants to partner with them, and that they understand how technology can help them manager and grow their businesses. La Familia Technology Week falls under the auspices of IBM global Workforce Diversity and Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs.”
According to the IBM website, in 2006 IBM’s annual revenue was $91.4 billion with a net income of $9.4 billion and total assets of $103.2 billion. There were 133,973 employees in the United States of which 5,609 were Hispanic. In 2005, the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility ranked IBM the number one Fortune 100 company for Hispanics.
Target Latinos effectively by anticipating changes in the market with
“Hispanic Projections with 2007-08 update” audio recording
Presenter Roger Selbert, Ph.D.
Find out
- About Latino buying power growth in the future
- How Latino market growth compares with other markets in the U.S.
- What drives the rise of Latino economic clout
- Who should target the Latino market
- What is the size of the Hispanic affluent market
- If the luxury Latino market is growing
Stay ahead of your competion with “Hispanic Projections”
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 29, 2007
Marisa Rivera-Albert, president, National Hispana Leadership Institute
Photo: National Hispana Leadership Institute
A podcast interview with Marisa Rivera-Albert, president, National Hispana Leadership Institute is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, Marisa discusses the National Hispana Leadership Institute with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.
Marisa dedicates her time to fulfilling the mission of the National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI), a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and leadership development of Hispanic women. NHLI’s mission is “to develop Hispanas as ethical world leaders through training, professional development, relationship building and community and world activism.
Prior to becoming president of the Institute, Marisa was vice president of Development for the organization. She has over 26 years of combined educational, leadership development, consulting, international and community development experience. Before working at NHLI, Marisa was special assistant to the president for Diversity and Community Relations at Black Hawk College in Illinois. She also worked for seven years at Western Illinois University managing the Hispanic Program for Educational Advancement and the Learning To Lead Program for Hispanic students.
Marisa is originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico. She has a B.A. in Communications from American University and a Master’s degree in Education Administration from Western Illinois University. She is also a graduate of the Harvard University JFK School of Government Executive Program, the Center for Creative Leadership Institute, the Gallup Leadership Institute, the Harvard Business Executive Program on Corporate Governance and the Mexican American Solidarity Foundation.
She is the recipient of the Cesar Chavez Community Service Award by the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute, a Huesped Ilustre Medal recipient from the city of Ayacucho, Peru, The Women Helping Women Award by the Hispanic Professional Women’s Association, the Trailblazer Award by Latina Style Magazine, the Global Impact Leadership Award from the Hispanic Women’s Corporation, the Superior Honor Award from the State Department, the Administrative Excellence In Promoting Multiculturalism Award from Western Illinois University, and the Illumination Award from the City Club of the Quad Cities. She has been featured in Hispanic Magazine, the Woman MBA Magazine, “Hispanics Today,” Lifetime Television for Women, Champions of Change, LatinaStyle magazine, and Monster.com.
To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Marisa Rivera-Albert,” click on the play button below or download the MP3 file 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 October 2007 section of the podcast archive.
“Best in Class Hispanic Strategies” audio recording
Presenters Carlos Santiago and Derene Allen
Click here for details on “Best in Class Hispanic Strategies”
Click the button to hear the podcast:
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 26, 2007
Beyond Translation cover
Photo: Moving Target Research Group
In her soon to be released book, Beyond Translation The Marketer’s Field Guide to Understanding Today’s Transcultural Consumer, Valerie Romley, chief research officer of Moving Target Research Group, promises readers insights and strategy for marketers to connect with consumers of the top three emerging majorities in the United States, Hispanic, Pacific-Asian and Asian-Indian markets.
The 242-page book, published by Moving Target Press, will be available online and in print October 29, 2007. Marketing professionals are invited to download a copy free at the company website. The general public can purchase a paperback copy for $24.95.
According to promotional materials, it is designed as a guide for marketers seeking to understand who, what, how and why consumers respond to marketing strategies. The author focuses on insights on culture and context that simultaneously drive conflicting behavior and prevent effective communication across cultures. She dedicates about half of the book to Hispanic market issues.
“Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Asian-Indian Americans are blurring the traditional symbols of ethnicity based on race, language, country-of-origin and culture,” said Romley. “They are rapidly evolving and challenging the definition of ‘ethnic’ or ‘multicultural’ marketing. The book goes beyond the language of debate, beyond ‘in-culture marketing,’ beyond the repurposed marketing clichés and gives marketers the tools necessary to understand the drivers behind behavior, so that they can develop relevant and effective connections that resonate with the core of today’s transcultural consumer.”
“Best in Class Hispanic Strategies” audio recording
Presenters Carlos Santiago and Derene Allen
-
Find out what makes 25 percent of the top 500 Hispanic market advertisers out perform the remaining companies
-
Discover what questions to ask, steps to take to be a Best in Class company
Click here to buy “Best in Class Hispanic Strategies” audio recording
In the book, she also illustrates marketers’ most common key failures and their effects on communication breakdowns. The field guide offers seven steps to help readers crack the multicultural code and connect with transcultural consumers.
Romley, founder of Moving Target Research Group, specializes in general and transcultural markets with consumer research and fieldwork. She describes Experiential Research as proprietary methodology that combines the cultural intelligence, contextual research, influencer and experiential marketing to connect brands with their target markets. Moving Target Research Group is a global brand research consultancy.
Click here to purchase Beyond Translation; The Marketer’s Field Guide to Understanding Today’s Transcultural Consumer
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Filed Under: Books
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 25, 2007
A scene from the new commercial
Photo and video: Bromley Communications
Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil recently began airing Spanish language television and radio ads in the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Panama, part of a campaign scheduled to run from October to December of this year. In the United States, the ads will be broadcast in Houston, Los Angeles and Miami during the initial launch stage. Scroll down to watch the ad video.
Produced by Bromley Communications, the focus of the 15 and 30 second television ads and 60 second radio ads is on the strength of the foil. Because the foil is stronger than other brands, the ad argues, it means the lady of the house will use less and save money. The ads feature examples of occasions where “only Reynolds Wrap will do.”
“We had faith that Bromley hit the nail on the head with this strategy,” said Charles Kinsolving, senior brand manager, Reynolds Wrap. “Over the last few years the agency has provided outstanding guidance in the Hispanic marketing area, as evidenced in this new campaign.”
“Emotional Branding: How to capture the heart and mind of the Hispanic consumer” audio recording
“Emotional Branding” was recorded January 2007 during the Strategic Research Institute 13th Annual Blockbuster Marketing to U.S. Hispanic and Latin America conference in Miami, Florida. Receive a free downloadable copy by completing our Visitor Survey.
Click here for your free copy of Emotional Branding
Luisa Donis, group account director, Bromley Communications
“The underlying insights that are captured in this work are universal for Hispanics and Latin Americans, which is why the spots work beautifully in regions that are so diverse,” said Luisa Donis, group account director at Bromley Communications. “Our creative team understood the high value that Latin households have for everything related to their kitchen, meals and food safety and that comes across in the work.”
Since 2006, Bromley Communications has been the Hispanic agency of record for Alcoa Consumer Products, makers of Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil. Ron Landreth, group creative director at Bromley, was responsible for the concept and execution of the campaign. Ignacio Guzman was the associate creative director and Magaly Chocano was producer in charge supervising Milagro Films, an independent production company.
Headquartered are in San Antonio, Texas, Bromley Communications is a full-service integrated communications agency offering advertising, public relations and promotions services targeted to the Hispanic consumer. AstraZeneca, Procter & Gamble, Burger King, The National Pork Board, Payless ShoeSource, Coors, General Mills, and Nestlé USA are Bromley Communications clients.
Alcoa Consumer Products, a business of Alcoa Inc., is a leader in the consumer packaged goods industry, supplying foil, film and paper products to the retail and foodservice sectors. No information was available on Reynolds’ Hispanic market penetration. Other Reynolds Consumer Products include Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil, Reynolds Plastic Wrap and Reynolds Cut-Rite Wax Paper.
Click on the play button to watch the Reynold’s Wrap ad Piénsalo:
“Best in Class Hispanic Strategies” audio recording
Presenters Carlos Santiago and Derene Allen
-
Find out what makes 25 percent of the top 500 Hispanic market advertisers out perform the remaining companies
-
Discover what questions to ask, steps to take to be a Best in Class company
Click here to buy “Best in Class Hispanic Strategies” audio recording
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 24, 2007
John Begert, chief marketing and branding officer, V-me and Michele Azan, vice president, sales and business development Terra Networks
Photos: V-me, Terra Networks
Terra Networks, a popular Internet portal for Spanish speaking U.S. Hispanics, and V-me, a new national Spanish network developed with public television, recently established a strategic partnership. As part of the agreement, the media entities join forces for online sponsorship sales, shared content, cross-platform promotion, and the creation of packages targeting V-me’s Hispanic demographics. In addition to handling V-me online sales efforts, Terra.com will provide operational and support services including inventory and campaign management for V-me.
As part of the agreement, the sales teams for both companies plan to offer new options for national clients looking to connect to U.S. Latinos. The national sales effort is jointly led by V-me’s Michael Ginn, senior vice president, sponsorship and sales and Terra.com’s Michele Azan, vice president of sales and business development. They expect to work closely with V-me and Terra’s programming, marketing and online teams.
“The relationship that we have established with V-me provides a unique win-win situation. The strengths and growth opportunities that both Terra.com and V-me have as separate entities become magnified when we work together,” said Azan. “This is a perfect marriage of online/offline content integration and provides increased opportunities for future TV web partnerships.”
V-me and Terra.com plan to integrate online content to reflect and enhance V-me’s lifestyle, current affairs and entertainment options, and offer community-enhancing tools and resources for U.S. Hispanics. V-me executives hope to eventually reach 30 million Spanish speaking and bilingual Hispanics.
“V-me is building a new national Hispanic media presence in partnership with world-class brands like Terra.com, who share our mission to reach consumers with quality TV and web content, educational programs, and events,” said John Begert, V-me’s chief marketing and branding officer. “Combining Terra.com’s reach and expertise with V-me’s innovative online presence and a TV universe approaching 30 million homes, takes our offer to a whole new level.”
V-me, pronounced veh-meh, offers original and exclusive programs about: kids, lifestyle, nature, science, history, current affairs, music, arts, and nightly movies. The 24-hour digital broadcast network is presented by public television stations and carried on basic digital cable and satellite. V-me is the first venture announced by newly formed media production and distribution company, V-me Media Inc. Terra Networks is a global Internet group with a presence in the U.S. and Latin America. The group operates websites in the United States, Spain and Latin America.
“Beyond the 30 Second Spot” audio recording
Listen to a 105-minute discussion
Panelists Ivan Cevallos, Hunter Heller, Kitty Kolding and Cynthia Nelson
Our panel of national experts discuss
• Challenges of measuring the impact of the 30-second ad spot
• Innovative tools are useful to reach Latinos
• Changes in marketing to Hispanics
• On which market segment are the changes most relevant
• Effects of technology and time shift on consumer behavior
• Role of multi-screens
• Getting started
• Tips for marketing professionals
Click here to find out about Beyond the 30 Second Spot
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Filed Under: Media
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 23, 2007
Marlene Urbay
Photos: Yahoo! Telemundo
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Yahoo! Telemundo created two mini-sites to honor the successes and contributions of their picks of Latinos. The sites, Mosaico Hispano and Battle of the Bands, were designed to celebrate the personal and professional achievements and musical talents, respectively, of Hispanics from across the United States. The sites will be live from September 17 through October 31, 2007.
A tribute site to 10 individuals, Mosaico Hispano features video profiles of Hispanics whose successes and triumphs Yahoo! Telemundo representatives believe have left an imprint on their communities and are a source of inspiration.
Among the stories featured are those of New York City’s Tats Cru, a group that has elevated graffiti to an art form; Concha Rodriguez, a Chicago funeral director who visits schools and community centers to talk about the dangers of gang violence; and Juan Diaz, a Mexican immigrant who is a boxer and law student. Information about Yolanda Aguilar, Carlos Mejia, Hugo Ortega, Annette Taddeo, John Trasviña and Marlene Urbay also appears on the website.
“Segmentation by Level of Acculturation” audio recording
Presenter Miguel Gomez Winebrenner
Discusses
- Assimilation versus acculturation
- Factors that affect Latino acculturation
- How to know if someone is acculturated
- Number of years necessary for acculturation
- Effects of immigration debate on acculturation
- Three main ways of segmenting Latinos
Click here for details about “Segmentation by Level of Acculturation”
Battle of the Bands showcases the artistry and musical talents of 10 up-and-coming U.S. Hispanic bands battling it out for instant online fame. The site features videos of the bands performing one song and interviews with band members and fans. Website visitors are invited to vote for a fan favorite.
We found no criteria for inclusion on the mini websites or promotional materials. A planning team of Yahoo! producers, and marketing and public relations executives worked together with Hardee Productions, a productions company, to select individuals and bands for inclusion. Several music festival producers also shared input for the battle of the bands selections. Website representatives declined to share budget numbers or impressions. “We can’t discuss budget specifics, but it was a project that was months in the planning and included filming, production in five major Hispanic markets,” said a company spokesperson.
“Each year, Yahoo! Telemundo honors our Hispanic Heritage by paying tribute to the richness and diversity of the U.S. Hispanic market,” said Jose Rivera Font, general manager, Yahoo! Hispanic Americas. “Mosaico Hispano and Battle of the Bands are, however, more than showcases of success and talent; they are also online venues that allow our users to interact and engage with the U.S. Hispanic community at large.”
Juan Diaz and Hugo Ortega
The websites are promoted online throughout the Yahoo! network of sites, via a news release, in the case of Battle of the Bands on band fan pages and promotional event materials. The sites were also promoted on the Telemundo television network.
“These sites have been designed to complement Yahoo! Telemundo’s broad offering for the U.S. Hispanic market while giving our users more of what they yearn for, the chance to discover hidden gems within their community and share in that discovery with others,” said Peter Blacker, senior vice president, Digital Media, Telemundo Network Group.
Mosaico Hispano and Battle of the Bands feature Yahoo! Telemundo Respuestas, which allows users to ask and answer questions related to any topic of interest, as well as forums, voting and polls. Yahoo! Telemundo is a commercial venture between Telemundo Communications Group, Inc., a unit GE’s NBC Universal, and Yahoo! Inc.
Hispanic Marketing and Public Relations Understanding and Targeting America’s Largest Minority book
“A must resource for practitioners/professionals expecting to reach US Hispanics; also valuable for college programs in marketing, public relations and communications. Highly recommended.”
Choice magazine
Click here for information on the Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations books
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 22, 2007
Frederick Ackourey, co-founder and chief executive officer, GroundWork Equity and Telegaleria
Photo: TeleGaleria
A podcast featuring an interview with Frederick Ackourey, co-founder and chief executive officer, GroundWork Equity is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, he discusses TeleGaleria, a new TV shopping channel for Spanish speaking Latinos with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.
Frederick is a founding partner of GroundWork Equity, an active private equity firm focused on media and technology start-ups. He also founded CAG Technologies. As chairman and chief executive officer of CAG Technologies, Frederick realized 14 straight years of profitability and co-developed products with Ascend Communications.
“Search Engine Marketing to Hispanics” audio recording
Presenter Matias Perel, founder and president, Latin3
Find out about
- The 16 million Latino online users
- Types of online access among Hispanics
- Latino online user language preferences
- What they do online
- Usage by age
- Income levels among Hispanics who visit the Internet
- Internet use by Hispanics
Click here for information on “Search Engine Marketing to Hispanics”
The products at Ascend were major building blocks that helped to establish UUnet, AOL and MSN as channeling leaders. He was also part of the executive management team of Zhone Technologies, a $500 million start-up. Zhone acquired CAG in 1999 and Frederick became vice president of Product Development.
To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see the “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Frederick Ackourey” click on the play button below 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 October 2007 section of the podcast archive.
Click the button to hear the podcast:
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 19, 2007
December 3-7, 2007
Chicago, IL
Returning to Chicago in December is Search Engine Strategies (SES) Chicago 2007, which features a lineup of sessions and new content, including a keynote address by Seth Godin. The event, set for the Chicago Hilton on December 3-7, 2007, will draw delegates from around the world looking to stay ahead of the curve in all areas of the search industry.
This year’s event will explore social media, search privacy and click fraud. Marketers will have a firsthand opportunity to learn from noted search industry experts. Seasoned practitioners and search newcomers alike will benefit from four and a half action-packed days of search. Attendees will have access to practical, real-world techniques and knowledge to tackle: how to drive free “organic” traffic and build a site that pleases search engines and visitors, and how to efficiently purchase lists guaranteed to rank your company at the top of search engine results.
SES Conference and Expo
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 19, 2007
The Sugar Babies film poster (click on image to enlarge)
Photos: Joe Serrano, Amy Serrano
A recent 99 minute documentary, directed by Miami filmmaker Amy Serrano, outlines the plight of the children who work in the sugar cane fields and their families. “The Sugar Babies: The Plight of the Children of Agricultural Workers in the Sugar Industry of the Dominican Republic,” zooms in on the “disturbing remnants of colonial slavery” carefully hidden in paradise on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. The documentary is in Spanish, Creole, French and English. Two versions are available, one with English subtitles; another with French subtitles.
According to promotional materials, the film explores the lives of the descendants of the first Africans brought to the island of Hispaniola to work in the sugar cane fields. Sugar was at one time a highly valuable commodity. The poor and disenfranchised who remain on the island, now shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the film makers argue, continue to be trafficked to work in the production of sugar under circumstances they describe as modern day slavery.
The documentary was recently featured in the Montreal International Haitian Film Festival. The next showing will be in November 8, 2007 at the Denver, Colorado National Hispana Leadership Institute annual conference.
Child on border that separates Haiti from the Dominican Republic
“The Sugar Babies” examines the moral price of sugar from the perspective of the conditions surrounding the children of sugar cane cutters of Haitian ancestry in the Dominican Republic, and the denial of their basic human rights.
The film showcases field testimonies and hidden camera footage obtained during 18 months of documentation. There are also interviews with experts and diplomats: Haiti’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Raymond Joseph; the U.S. Department of States’ Ambassador John Miller from the Office of Human Trafficking; Sidney Mintz, an anthropologist and sugar historian; Carol Pier from Human Rights Watch; and Bill Quigley and Greg Schell, public interest attorneys.
The film makers included interviews with local activists: Noemi Mendez, a Dominican human rights lawyer; Colette Lespinase of G.A.R.R. Haiti, the Organization for Refugees and the Repatriated; Batey Activist Jhonny Belizaire; Television Journalist Huchi Lora, and missionaries Pierre Ruquoy and Father Christopher Hartley.
Amy Serrano, producer and director, The Sugar Babies
Narrated by author Edwidge Danticat, the film features original music by composer Bill Cruz including the songs “Branded” and “The Devil’s Work.” There is also music of Bola de Nieve, Alberto Beltran, Kenny Rankin, Solomon Burke, the Blind Boys of Alabama and original field recordings by The Sugar Babies.
“The Sugar Babies” was produced by Miami based Siren Studios in association with The Hope, Courage and Justice Project ofNew Orleans and The Human RIghts Foundation of New York. Others involved in the production were Jason A. Ocasio, editor and art director; Salvador Longoria, production associate and legal counsel; Thor Halvorssen, associate producer; Constance Haqq, co-producer; and Claudia Chiesi, executive producer.
Serrano wrote, shot, produced and directed the film. The Sugar Babies was made possible by The Crowley Children’s Fund, Tico Pujals, Cindy Nord, and The Fund for a Just Society.
“Emotional Branding: How to capture the heart and mind of the Hispanic consumer” audio recording
“Emotional Branding” was recorded January 2007 during the Strategic Research Institute 13th Annual Blockbuster Marketing to U.S. Hispanic and Latin America conference in Miami, Florida. Receive a free downloadable copy by completing our Visitor Survey.
Click here for your free copy of Emotional Branding
