Posted by Elena del Valle on November 16, 2011
Le Wang, assistant professor, economics, University of New Hampshire
Photo: University of New Hampshire
Marketers targeting Hispanic immigrant men take note. A change in immigration policies after September 11 at federal and state levels and heightened immigration enforcement efforts may have changed the living conditions of Hispanic immigrants and increased their incentives to marry natives. A recent study indicates Hispanic immigrants, men specifically, have become more likely to marry natives post 9/11 than before that date.
According to the study, marriages between Hispanic immigrants and natives increased by more than 2 percent in the decade following the attacks of September 11. In the first two years after 9/11 there was a small increase in marriages to natives while in the years after that the increase became yet more noticeable.
These marriages helped offset the deterioration in job prospects for Hispanic immigrants that resulted from discrimination following the attacks, according to new research from the University of New Hampshire.
“Being married to a native increases employment rates by 1.2 percent and earnings by 21.8 percent,” according to researchers at the University of New Hampshire and the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. “The offsetting effect may not be particularly large, given the estimated effect of Sept. 11 on intermarriage being about 2 percent. Nevertheless, this result highlights the possible importance of the labor market incentives that are associated with the increased rates of intermarriage among Hispanics.”
The researchers believe their results reflect the actions of undocumented immigrants, Hispanic immigrants marrying Hispanic natives, immigrants who were married before arrival, or new immigrants; and call for further research to better understand the intermarriage behaviors of Hispanics.
An article about the research titled The effects of 9/11 on intermarriage between natives and immigrants to the U.S. was published September 2011 in the Review of Economics of the Household and was the work of Le Wang, assistant professor, economics, University of New Hampshire, and Chunbei Wang, assistant professor, economics, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. The researchers analyzed the March Current Population Survey 1995-2010 and relied on a difference-in-differences approach to estimate the impact of 9/11 on intermarriage among Hispanic immigrants.
Posted by Elena del Valle on November 14, 2011
World No Tobacco campaign ad
Photos: vi.sualize.us, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Some 400,000 people die each year from their own cigarette smoking and another 50,000 adult nonsmokers die each year from exposure to secondhand smoke; there are six million children under 18 alive today who may eventually die from smoking; and 8.6 million people in the United States currently suffer from smoking-caused illness, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a Washington, D.C. based nonprofit advocacy organization that strives to save lives by advocating for public policies that prevent kids from smoking.”
Many young Americans, whites and Hispanics may be opposed to smoking. More than half of respondents to a national telephone survey of 1,110 registered voters conducted October 23, 2011 disapproved of people who smoke; 52 percent of respondents asked whether they frown on people who smoke said yes, 31 percent said they did not and 17 percent had no opinion. Young survey participants, in the 18-29 year old age group, were the most likely, at 63 percent, to say they frown on smokers.
Although 54 percent of white respondents and 48 percent of Hispanic respondents said they disliked smokers, 51 percent of African-Americans said they do not frown on people who smoke. Among women respondents 53.2 percent said they frowned on smokers compared to 50.5 percent of men who said they frowned on smokers.
Two-thirds of voters polled supported increasing the state tobacco tax – click to enlarge
Curiously political orientation had little influence on opinions about smokers among respondents of that survey. The difference between Republicans, 54 percent, and Democrats, 53 percent, not happy with smokers was only 1 percent while fewer Independents, 48 percent, said they frowned on smokers. The survey was conducted and paid for by Poll Position, a non-partisan news, polling, and social media company.
A January 2010 national telephone survey of 847 registered voters conducted through an International Communications Research Excel study indicated that two-thirds of voters polled supported increasing the state tobacco tax by $1.00 per pack.
An older national survey, from 2006, of 1,000 likely general election voters with an oversampling of black and Hispanics voters found Hispanics to be the most supportive of smoke-free laws. In the Mellman Group survey 69 percent of respondents said they favored smoke-free laws; 69 percent of whites, 65 percent of blacks and 78 percent of Hispanics favored such laws. More women, 74 percent, than men, 64 percent, more Democrats, 73 percent, than Republicans, 67 percent, favored the smoke-free laws.
Posted by Elena del Valle on November 11, 2011
Aim High book cover
Photos: Laura Contreras-Rowe
After finding financial and career success in real estate and happiness in her personal life Laura Contreras-Rowe, a realtor and business owner from Virginia, looked around and asked herself what she might do to bring attention to successful women like her across the country. She dedicated her energy, enthusiasm, entrepreneurial spirit and $50,000 to a book project.
Ten months later, in 2009, she held the result of her efforts, 3,500 copies of Aim High Extraordinary Stories of Hispanic and Latina Women ($27.95), a 153-page hard cover self published book in which she profiles 33 Latina women of her choosing. As of this writing 3,000 copies are gone and a new printing of the book is due January 2012.
Featuring Bible quotes the book profiles women in varied walks of like. Each profile includes a biography and color photos taken by Contreras-Rowe during meetings with the women.
The profiles are of women in a number of professions such as orientation and mobility specialist, network business how host, basketball coach, former treasurer of the United States, executive at a technology company, executive director of a non profit for boys and girls, artist, chef and catering company owner, executive director of a non profit children’s home, life coach and speaker, actor, school psychologist, drag racer, program manager at a girl’s non profit, and writer educator and performance artist; as well as deputy manager at a government space program, photographer, graduate student, registered nurse, author, retired school principal and business owner, dentist, dean at a university, publisher, police sergeant, dance teacher and business owner, strategist at a government intelligence agency, business founder and owner, non profit president and chief executive officer, Indy race car driver, lieutenant commander in the armed forces, and attorney.
Laura Contreras-Rowe, author, Aim High
The book was recognized with the Independent Publishers Book Awards 2010 Gold First Place in Best Non-Fiction Multicultural Juvenile Youth Young Adult Book; International Latino Book Awards 2010 First Place in Best Gift Book, Second Place in Best Cover Design and Honorable Mention Third Place Mariposa Award for Best First Book; and Latino Literacy Now-2010 Book into Movie Awards and Second Place Documentary Category.
Click to buy Aim High
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Filed Under: Books
Posted by Elena del Valle on November 9, 2011
Juan Motta, head, Nestlé’s Emerging Markets
Photo: Nestlé USA
Executives at Swiss owned Nestlé want to reach Spanish dominant Hispanics in the United States with Construye el Mejor Nido (Spanish for Create the Best Nest), a new communication platform that offers Nestlé’s nutrition, health and wellness resources to Spanish speakers. The program was announced at the end of September 2011 in time to mark the year’s Hispanic Heritage Month.
According to promotional materials, elements of the program, which marks several firsts for the company, include efforts on Spanish language television, Facebook, a bilingual website, in store marketing, and product sampling packs. It is the first time the company launches an integrated multi-brand platform for consumers and shoppers in the United States; the first time Nestlé USA plans a corporate branded TV campaign; the first time Nestlé iconography of the nest concept is leveraged as a concept domestically; and the first time Nestlé USA plans to leverage its equity and drive associations between the Nestlé brand and individual brands.
The company released three television ads designed to demonstrate how Nestlé products “fit into Hispanic consumers’ everyday life and help them to nurture their family’s lives.” The ads are also designed to leverage and reinforce Nestlé’s iconography of the nest in the Nestlé corporate logo which executives hope conveys family, trust and well-being to Hispanics.
“Hispanic Heritage Month is the perfect time for Nestlé USA to reaffirm its strong history of awareness, trust and expertise among Hispanic consumers,” said Juan Motta, head, Nestlé’s Emerging Markets. “This awareness and trust stems from a strong emotional connection with authentic Nestlé brands in consumers’ home countries such as Nescafé, Abuelita, Nido and La Lechera. Construye el Mejor Nido provides consumers with information on familiar brands, as well as with other Nestlé brands available in the U.S. such as Juicy Juice and Stouffer’s.”
Believing that Facebook reaches 98 percent of Hispanic women 35 to 49 who go online Nestlé USA established Facebook.com/ElMejorNido. The page, which features contributions from Hispanic bloggers, is meant to provide a brand and cultural connection, and a place where visitors can share recipes and tips. To further its online reach the company established ElMejorNido.com, a bilingual website that promises blogger contributions, tips, articles, food videos and information on wellness, culture and parenting. The site also offers Nestlé the means to build a marketing list by providing visitors the option to receive information from the company.
Construye El Mejor Nido, an in-store effort, was designed to reach Hispanic shoppers in independent and mainstream stores through in-store circulars, bilingual door hangers, and recipe booklets. Nestlé plans to introduce new products and connect with Latino consumers by providing Fiesta Packs with new products, recipes, and party supplies to select Hispanic families. The company’s promotional materials indicate the Construye El Mejor Nido program has been well received by consumers, with traffic to the website and Facebook page exceeding expectations.
Posted by Elena del Valle on November 7, 2011
David Wachs, president, Cellit
Photos: Autotrader.com, Cellit
A podcast interview with Jose Puente, director, Mobile Strategy, AutoTrader.com, and David Wachs, president, Cellit, is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, they discuss mobile marketing with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.
Jose joined Autotrader.com in 2008 as general manager to develop and launch the company’s strategy for the Hispanic market. Within two years, AutoTrader Latino was ranked by comScore among the top 25 Spanish language websites in the United States. Core to driving the brand’s success Jose developed a comprehensive mobile product platform that includes a mobile website, iPhone and Android apps with voice search and augmented reality features, and an SMS platform to connect buyers and sellers.
The mobile products represent over 40 percent of all user activity, driving significant return on investment to thousands of local dealership advertisers and national brands such as Toyota, Nissan and GM. He is responsible for developing the mobile strategy for AutoTrader.com to include dealer specific products as well as consumer products.
Prior to joining AutoTrader.com, Jose was chief executive officer of Avenida America, Inc. a multimedia Spanish language communications company with products including yellow pages, auto guides, apartment guides in print, online and mobile. In 2008, he was recognized by Catalyst magazine as one of the top 10 entrepreneurs in Atlanta. He is a native of Mexico and resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his family.
Jose Puente, director, Mobile Strategy, AutoTrader.com
David is the founder of Cellit. With an engineering background, David created the Cellit platform as a solution for real estate agents to market their properties; he quickly realized that retailers and other industries could benefit from connecting to their clients through their mobile devices.
David is a dual cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology. He holds a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School and a B.S.E. in Computer Science Engineering from the School of Engineering.
To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Jose Puente, David Wachs” 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 it to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the November 2011 section of the podcast archive.
Posted by Elena del Valle on November 4, 2011
Cultures of the City book cover
Photo: University of Pittsburgh Press
Fifteen academics, eight women and seven men, address Latino identities in urban environments in Latin America and the United States in Cultures of the City Mediating Identities in Urban Latin/o American (University of Pittsburg Press, $25.95). The book was edited by Richard Young, professor emeritus of Spanish and Latin American studies, University of Alberta, and Amanda Holmes, department chair of Hispanic studies, McGill University.
The 262-page softcover book with 15 illustrations was published in 2010. It is divided into three main sections, Imagining Urban Identities, Urban Identities and Cultures on the Periphery, and Performance and the Ritualization of Urban Identities.
While most of the book addresses Latin American cities including Asuncion, Bogota, Buenos Aires, Havana, Lima, Mexico City, Recife, and Salvador two chapters discuss cities in the United States. Rodolfo D. Torres and Juan R. Buriel address Feasting on Latina/o Labor in Multicultural Los Angeles and Catherine L. Benamou addresses Mediating the Public Sphere in Latina/o Detroit: Heart and Margin of an Embattled Metropolis.
Benamou is associate professor of Film and Media Studies and Chicano/Latino Studies, University of California-Irvine. Buriel is assistant professor of English, College of the Canyons in Valencia, California. Torres is professor of Urban Planning and Political Science, University of California-Irvine.
Click to buy Cultures of the City
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Filed Under: Books
Posted by Elena del Valle on November 2, 2011
Bob Nocera, director of new video services, Cox Communications
Photo: Cox Communications
Cox Communications is reaching out to Latinos with On Demand content and public service announcements as part of its partnership with The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and a new marketing campaign.
In its programming Cox has on offer, especially during the recent Hispanic Heritage Month, selections that focus on Hispanic American history, documentaries on education and housing issues as well as cooking shows and entertaining programs. Some of the On Demand offerings include Quinceanera (A Sony Pictures Classic Release), Camino a la Corona 2011 (Telemundo), Mira Quien Baila! (Look Who’s Dancing!, Univision), The Motorcycle Diaries (Universal), Latino List (HBO) and Tropico de Sangre (HBO Latino). Some programs are free and others range in price starting at $1.
“Cox is deeply committed to offering a rich diversity of educational and entertaining programming, such as the influential and award-winning selections that celebrate Hispanic heritage,” said Bob Nocera, director of new video services, Cox Communications. “It gives our customers an opportunity to revisit favorite titles, or explore a new genre of programming, with the convenience of On Demand.”
For the new marketing campaign Cox relied on Yarel Ramos. The campaign, in Arizona, California, Las Vegas, Oklahoma and New England markets, includes 30 and 60 second Spanish and English-language television and radio ads, direct mail, print, online banners and a social media presence on Facebook and Twitter. The campaign was designed to drive traffic to Cox retail locations, calls into the call centers in Spanish or English and Cox’s websites.
Tony Maldonado, vice president of marketing acquisition and sciences, Cox Communications
“Cox has been a part of the Hispanic community for years, and we’re excited to introduce a fresh campaign to this audience,” said Tony Maldonado, vice president of marketing acquisition and sciences, Cox Communications. “Yarel is passionate about working with the community and widely admired for her work with Mun2 and not-for-profit organizations, and we’re excited to work with her on this campaign.”
Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing digital video, internet, telephone and wireless services over its own nationwide network. Described in promotional materials as the third largest cable TV company in the country, Cox serves more than six million residences and businesses.
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 31, 2011
Joaquin Nuño-Whelan, vehicle chief engineer for small cars, Chevrolet
Photo: General Motors
A podcast interview with Joaquin Nuño-Whelan, vehicle chief engineer for small cars, Chevrolet is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, he discusses his job and the Sonic with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.
Joaquin serves as the vehicle line director for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, described as the only sub-compact car made in America. He and his team strive to create a faster, safer and more connected vehicle compared to others of its size with an improved powertrain and increased horsepower for consumers who crave power behind their small fuel efficient rides.
In 1997, Joaquin joined GM and later embarked upon a two-year assignment in Mexico City. During that time, Joaquin led a chassis engineering team in Toluca and developed the alternative energy strategy for GM de Mexico as a special vehicle program manager. While there, he also launched the country’s first Robotics team, which later won the Rookie All-Star achievement, the highest recognition for a first-year team. Upon returning to the States, Joaquin founded Green Place Detroit, a non profit dedicated to providing middle school and high school students the opportunity to make a lasting impact on their community through its urban garden and eco-house projects in Southwest Detroit.
A 2000 graduate of University of Detroit Mercy, Joaquin majored in mechanical engineering. He lives in Royal Oak, Michigan with his wife, Tanya, and their two kids, Isabella and Lander.
To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Joaquin Nuño-Whelan” 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 it to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the October 2011 section of the podcast archive.
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 28, 2011
Singer Ricky Martin
Photos: Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Thanksgiving weekend, singer Ricky Martin will rock for a select crowd staying at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach in South Florida as part of the famous hotel’s newly launched BleauLive performance series. According to promotional materials, Martin’s Fontainebleau performance will be his last before he heads to New York City to star as Che in the Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita.
Only guests of the hotel that weekend will be able to attend the performance. Radio stations Y100 and Mega 94.9 will be the hotel’s exclusive partners for the show and accommodations package provided by BleauLive, the resort’s new entertainment unit that offers inclusive performances and accommodations at the Fontainebleau.
The hotel promises, in addition to the performance and depending on the package purchased, personal guest interaction with the artist and a weekend getaway at the Fontainebleau hotel. BleauLive launched this past Labor Day weekend with a performance and meet and greet with Pitbull, a hip hop artist.
Singer Ricky Martin
“Since opening in 1954, Fontainebleau Miami Beach has been a go-to destination for iconic performers of their generation to appear. From Elvis and Sinatra in the early days to more recent appearances from Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, legendary musicians have always wanted to perform at our resort,” said Jeffrey Soffer, executive chairman, Fontainebleau Miami Beach. “Our new BleauLive performance series is an organic extension of this rich history and we are thrilled to announce Ricky Martin as the next artist to appear for his final performance before his return to Broadway.”
Packages are priced between $329 and $799 at the Miami Beach hotel. The Fontainebleau, a well known Miami Beach property for more 50 years, sits on 22 oceanfront acres. It houses 1,504 rooms, 12 restaurants and lounges, two nightlife venues, and a 40,000-square-foot spa.
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 26, 2011
P. David Lopez, general counsel, EEOC
Photos: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Bass Pro Outdoor World, LLC (Bass Pro), a retailer of sporting goods and apparel, in the United States and Canada, allegedly engaged in a pattern or practice of failing to hire African-American and Hispanic applicants for positions in its retail stores nationwide, and retaliated against employees who opposed the discriminatory practices, according to a lawsuit files recently by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The retailer retaliated against employees who opposed discrimination, and destroyed records, the agency said in a press release.
According to the EEOC’s suit filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (Civil Action No. 4:11-CV-3425), Bass Pro has been discriminating in its hiring since at least November 2005. The EEOC’s suit alleges that qualified African-Americans and Hispanics were routinely denied retail positions such as cashier, sales associate, team leader, supervisor, manager and other positions at many Bass Pro stores nationwide.
The lawsuit alleges that managers at Bass Pro stores in the Houston area, in Louisiana, and elsewhere made overtly racially derogatory remarks acknowledging the discriminatory practices, including that hiring black candidates did not fit the corporate profile.
Jacqueline A. Berrien, chair, EEOC
“Excluding qualified individuals from employment because of their race or ethnicity or in retaliation for exercising protected rights are fundamental violations of the laws we enforce,” said Jacqueline A. Berrien, chair, EEOC. “The EEOC will diligently protect the rights of job applicants to ensure that hiring decisions are based on abilities, not on race or ethnicity.”
The lawsuit also claims that Bass Pro unlawfully destroyed or failed to keep records and documents related to employment applications and internal discrimination complaints. Agency representatives believe also, that Bass Pro punished employees who opposed the company’s unlawful practices, in some instances firing them or forcing them to resign.
This alleged behavior violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race and national origin, and prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who complain about employment discrimination and requires them to keep certain employment records. In 2010, the EEOC was aware of 1,822 cases of discrimination based on country of origin, color or race and 511 cases of retaliation.
“As a law enforcement agency, the EEOC is uniquely positioned to challenge systemic hiring discrimination,” said P. David Lopez, general counsel, EEOC. “It is unlawful for employers to deny jobs to applicants based on their race or national origin and the EEOC will vigorously pursue such cases and require companies to reform their hiring practices and make victims of the discrimination whole.”
The EEOC’s administrative investigation culminated in findings of class-wide hiring discrimination based on statistical and anecdotal evidence, and retaliation. The EEOC attempted to reach a voluntary settlement with Bass Pro before filing suit. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction prohibiting Bass Pro from engaging in race discrimination, national origin discrimination, retaliation, and improper record destruction. It also seeks back pay on behalf of victims of hiring discrimination and/or retaliation, compensatory and punitive damages and other relief, including implementing fair recruitment and hiring procedures, and reinstatement or rightful-place hiring of mistreated job applicants and former employees.
“We will hold employers accountable for depriving qualified minority workers of good jobs simply because of their race or national origin,” said Jim Sacher, Houston regional attorney, EEOC. “Such behavior is always out of season.”
The agency is seeking the assistance of individuals who believe they may have been denied a position at Bass Pro because of their race (African-American or black) or ethnicity (Hispanic or Latino) or who have any information that would be helpful to the EEOC’s suit against Bass Pro through the EEOC toll free number at (855) 857-8747 or by e-mail at Basspro.lawsuit@eeoc.gov.
