Marketing to Latinas

'Soccer Mamis' could sway Florida race

2012-01-27T05:41:00.000-08:00

Jan 26, 2012 | by Rose Arce

JACKSONVILLE, Florida (CNN) -- When it comes to courting the Latino demographic, there's a demo within that demo that might be worth listening to.

Let's call it the Soccer mamis -- the Latina mothers who represent 55% of the overall U.S. population growth, according to 2010 Census figures. Their babies account for nearly a quarter of the children being born in the U.S.

Read full article

Mamiverse.com releases key findings on Online Latina Moms and New Media

2012-01-24T16:34:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Mamiverse.com, a lifestyle, news, and social media website for Latina moms and daughters announces top-line results of a major national study of Online Latina Moms. Conducted in partnership with MediaFix, a multinational research firm, The Mamiverse Study of Online Latina Moms and New Media surveyed over 1,000 English-dominant/bilingual Online Latina Moms between the ages of 25-59 years of age, with at least one child between the ages of 3-18. The study provides clear insights into the evolving needs and expectations of this influential group of moms and their online habits.

“Painting a more precise picture of who Latina moms really are, how they think, and what they want for themselves and their families is now more important than ever”

According to US Census figures, at 50.5 million strong, Latinos are the fastest growing consumer market in the US, with a projected purchasing power of 1.5 trillion dollars by 2015.

“As both a pivotal swing vote in the upcoming election, as well as a dynamic consumer, Latina moms are the most vital segment of the fastest growing demographic in America,” said Mamiverse Founder and CEO Rene Alegria. “Finding that Latina moms are ultra tech savvy, and prefer content with a strong Latina point of view, the data from this study signals a major cultural audience shift for the future of digital media, and the brands attempting to reach this market.”

The findings in this study provide Mamiverse precise insight into this new face of America’s mom, and aids to shape the site’s effort to better showcase stories, present information, and address issues important to Latina moms from around the nation.

“Painting a more precise picture of who Latina moms really are, how they think, and what they want for themselves and their families is now more important than ever,” says new Mamiverse contributing editor and political analyst Maria Cardona. “Latina moms are the bridge to this country’s demographic future.”

Some of the highlights of the Mamiverse Study include:

Technology, Identity, Shopping & Social Media

Online Latina Moms are tech savvy, easily adopting the use of gadgets:

75% of those surveyed own or use a laptop, with nearly 50% also owning or using a Smartphone. Almost 20% own or use a tablet. By comparison, 11% of general market owns a tablet (PEW and The Economist Group).

Online Latina Moms desire content with a strong Latina Point of View:

Over 60% of Online Latina Moms want a Latina point of view ALL OF THE TIME in the top five areas of food, education, parenting, health, and work.

Diverse and Opinionated:

Among the over 1000 Online Latina Moms sampled, the study showed six different and distinct groups of Online Latina Moms, each group sharing some strong core similarities while showing important differences as well.

Online Latina Moms prefer information via articles to social networks:

Even though Online Latina moms are avid Facebook users (90% visited Facebook within the past 30 days) and they participate in other forms of social media (37% visited Twitter in the past 30 days), when looking for useful information online, they prefer to get it in the form of articles.

Online Latina Moms are strong online shoppers:

Over 95% of the moms sampled log onto a computer to conduct comparison research, and to find information on products. They are also logging on to find bargains and deals on products and services they are thinking of purchasing. They visit these types of sites, on average, twice per week.

Online Latina Moms use the Internet to find information on family entertainment:

Over 95% have gone online looking for information on family entertainment, including recommendations and reviews for TV programs, movies and books.

The Swing Vote

Online Latina Moms consider Jobs and Education their top priority:

For the upcoming 2012 Presidential election, Jobs and Education ranked tops with 6 out of 10 Online Latina Moms. Health Care (39%) is the third most important issue, followed by Immigration (20%) and National Security (18%).

Almost One-third of the Online Latina mom’s vote is up for grabs:

27% of those sampled identified as neither Republican nor Democrat, while 22% don’t follow politics or vote, which may be an opportunity for the candidate that connects and sways these potential voters.

Culture & Parenting Traits

Online Latina Moms are focused on planning their children’s future:

Over 85% of the moms go online to search for information to give their kids a competitive advantage.

Online Latina Moms want to keep their children connected to Latino culture:

While a majority of these mothers feel integrated into America, nearly 50% are worried about their children losing touch with Latino culture. 90% go online to search for content with a Latino point of view.

About MAMIVERSE

MAMIVERSE.com was conceived by Rene Alegria, the former publisher & editorial director of Rayo/HarperCollins, a groundbreaking, award-winning imprint centered on giving voice to the Latino experience through books. The MAMIVERSE.com mission is to unite the US Latino mom population by way of an online community. Alegria believes that only by empowering Latina moms with the tools they need, and by reaching all Latina women and children in the process, will the potential of the community emerge and prosper.

With an extensive network of talent and journalists, including Texas-born MAMIVERSE.com VP & Digital Editorial Director Sylvia Martinez, the company has created a focused voice and point of view that Latina moms and daughters can call their own. Among the almost 50 contributors and growing, are NYT bestselling author Alisa Valdes, CNN political analyst Maria Cardona, crafter and bestselling novelist Kathy Cano-Murillo, author and television executive Maria Perez-Brown, and media pioneer and Adelante empowerment tour founder Nely Galán, among dozens of other Latina notables, journalists, authors, and thinkers.

About MEDIAFIX

MediaFix is a leading media strategy and research firm who has conducted over 1000 research studies for clients as diverse as Pepsi, Scholastic, Prisa, Disney, Viacom, Caracol, and CBS. They have extensive experience researching Hispanic and Latino consumers in the US in both English and Spanish. They have also researched extensively in South America, Central America and Spain.

SOURCE: Mamiverse

Kia Rio 5-door named “Subcompact car of the year” by FAMA’s Mujeres al Volante

2012-01-17T05:05:00.000-08:00

Jan 16, 2012 | by Cristian Gnaticov

According to the award giving publication, the five-door Kia Rio has been recognized for its “tremendous value”, safety features and the “fun-to-drive” performance. FAMA is a leading modern lifestyle magazine in Spanish and Mujeres Al Volante is awarding honor vehicles which are able to meet the priorities of Hispanic women in the U.S.

Read full article

UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada shows 'old-school fire'

2012-01-16T06:00:00.001-08:00

Jan 15, 2012

Cindy Estrada says she first learned about the labor movement as a 7-year-old, washing glasses emptied by GM workers at her dad's bar in Detroit.

In college, she moved to Mexico to learn Spanish, then organized tomato and strawberry pickers in California under the tutelage of iconic migrant worker organizer Cesar Chavez.

At 43, Estrada is the UAW's first Latina vice president and could one day take the reins as the union's first female president.

Read full article

Empowering nonprofit Latinitas Magazine turns 10

2012-01-12T05:13:00.000-08:00

Jan 11, 2012 | by Jess Mitchell

A local nonprofit made for young Latina women by young Latina women is celebrating a milestone in January. Latinitas Magazine is celebrating its ten-year-anniversary this month. The nonprofit works to empower Latina women through the use of technology and social media.

"The content of a Mexican magazine or a Columbian magazine is not going to reflect the U.S. culture that they're growing up in,” co-founder Laura Donnelly Gonzalez said. “They're not going to have a Justin Beieber story in Spanish, so that's where Latinitas comes in. We're covering the stories that are meaningful to a Latina girl living in the US."

Read full article

Cosmopolitan Magazine announces strategy to reach Hispanic Market

2012-01-09T19:49:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK, NY, Dec 09, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Cosmopolitan, the best-selling young women's magazine in the U.S., announced today that the title is creating a strategy to help advertisers reach the growing Hispanic market.

"Today, Cosmo reaches nearly one in four Hispanic women in the U.S. over the age of 18 and is the number one monthly magazine in English that reaches Latinas," said Donna Kalajian Lagani, SVP, publishing director and chief revenue officer of Cosmopolitan. "Advertisers are focusing sharply on the Hispanic market, but the untold story is that the new generation of Latina is consuming her media in English, and is looking for content that is just for her. We feel that Cosmo is uniquely positioned to help advertisers reach this audience."

The magazine is creating a Cosmo-branded editorial package aimed at the English-speaking Hispanic audience that will include a twice-yearly stand-alone print and digital edition called Cosmopolitan Latina to launch in May 2012, as well as bonus content in targeted copies of the monthly edition of Cosmo.

Michelle Herrera Mulligan has been tapped as editor of the stand-alone edition. Most recently the managing editor of LasFabulosas.com, Herrera Mulligan is a journalist with 10 years of experience capturing the surging Latina voice in the U.S.

"I'm thrilled to be part of this project," said Herrera Mulligan. "By speaking our bicultural language, Cosmo shows that it's in touch with the exploding Latino demographic. And who better to celebrate the indomitable Latina spirit than the Fun, Fearless, Female?"

"Launching new businesses that address the ever-changing needs of consumers is something that we do especially well," said David Carey, president of Hearst Magazines. "Cosmopolitan is taking a smart step into the future by focusing on a growing segment of the population that is eager for media that speaks to them."

To kick off the initiative, Cosmopolitan is partnering with Aegis Media's Carat to share key findings from a groundbreaking new research study, CCS Latino, with the media community. "The research clearly shows that there is a sizable segment of the female Hispanic population that feels strongly about both their Latina and American sides," said Laura Hernandez, SVP, multicultural, Carat. "She is making strong, independent brand choices, and traditional Latino channels are not meeting her media needs. As we continue seeing the evolution to 'Total Market,' this is the kind of untapped opportunity for the media community that Cosmo is taking a pioneering role in."

The study includes insights into behavior, affinity and purchasing patterns, and will be unveiled at a breakfast at the Hearst Tower today.

About Cosmopolitan

Cosmopolitan is the best-selling young women's magazine in the U.S., a bible for fun, fearless females that reaches more than 18 million readers a month. Cosmopolitan delivers the latest news on men and love, fashion and beauty, women's health and self-improvement, and entertainment. Readers can also interact with the brand on the digital front, with Cosmopolitan.com, reaching 4 million unique users a month. Cosmopolitan is also available on apps for the iPhone and iPad, and via Cosmo Radio, the only magazine-branded radio channel of its kind, available on Sirius XM Channel 109. In addition to the U.S. flagship, Cosmopolitan publishes 64 print magazine editions around the world. Cosmopolitan is published by Hearst Magazines, a unit of Hearst Corporation, one of the nation's largest diversified communications companies. With its acquisition of Lagardere SCA's 100 titles in 14 countries outside of France, Hearst Magazines now publishes more than 300 editions around the world, including 20 U.S. titles. Hearst Magazines the largest publisher of monthly magazines in the U.S. (ABC 2011) and reaches 87 million adults (Spring 2011 MRI).

About Carat USA

Carat USA, an Aegis Media Group company, is a global independent media communications network, with over 100 offices in over 80 countries. Carat provides a full range of services, including media and market research; communications planning; media planning and buying; multicultural communications; corporate trade; branded entertainment; direct and digital marketing; experiential and sponsorship services; and marketing analytics and consulting.

About the Study & Methodology

The Carat Hispanic Consumer Connection Study, referred to as CCS Latino, is a proprietary study to measure Hispanic's lifestyles, attitudes, passions, media use including digital, social and mobile as well as overall advertising receptivity. It originated with a custom survey questionnaire administered to a total of 2,019 Hispanic adults ages 18 and older, with 1,519 administered online to a random set of respondents and 500 collected via a telephone re-contact methodology. The telephone re-contact sample was randomly selected among prior respondents to the Experian Simmons NCS/NHCS survey and included Spanish dominant Hispanics and English dominant/bilingual Hispanics. Responses were then modeled against Simmons NCS/NHCS survey of nearly 7,000 consumers.

SOURCE: Cosmopolitan

Todobebe launches new family channel on YouTube for Hispanic moms

2011-12-15T15:21:00.000-08:00

Dec 15, 2011 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- Todobebe, a producer of family friendly parenting and entertainment content for the Hispanic market, announced the launch of a new family channel on YouTube, providing content moms, dads, kids and the whole family can enjoy.

According to Todobebe, the channel draws from over 1,000 original video shorts across parenting, kids, dads, humor, reality, celebrity interviews, funniest home videos, and more.

The new channel brings the best of inspiration, humor, education and entertainment, to YouTube's active audience of Hispanic moms. It also provides a new opportunity for consumer brands and marketers to collaborate in content development in order to reach this important consumer segment.

To view the channel, visit: http://www.youtube.com/todofamilia

SOURCE Todobebe

Latin women targeted by media brands

2011-12-12T19:13:00.001-08:00

NEW YORK: Publishers in the US are increasing their focus on the historically under-served audience of female Latin American readers, rolling out a variety of bespoke media products.

The New York Times reports that firms including Hearst, Time Inc, Meredith, Fox and NBC Universal are all either launching or investing in vehicles that cater to Hispanic-American women.

Read full article

Marketers, and media companies, set their sights on Latin women

2011-12-11T09:48:00.000-08:00

Dec 08, 2011

WITH the Census Bureau counting nearly 25 million Latin women in the United States, marketers and media companies have started getting excited about the potential to reach them.

Among the most recent initiatives is a new publication, Cosmopolitan Latina, that will start publishing in May and will be aimed at American-born Latin women who are bicultural and bilingual.

Read full article

The Latina beauty obsession

2011-12-04T17:38:00.000-08:00

Dec 01, 2011 | by Cristina Costantini

It's what's on the inside that counts. But for many Latinas, the outside seems pretty important too.

A new study which surveys the past decade of purchasing trends in the U.S. indicates that spending by Latino consumers on personal care products grew more than 40%-- almost three times faster than growth seen for non-Latino consumers.

Read full article

CafeMom announces founding corporate sponsors for Mamas Latinas, its new bilingual online destination for Hispanic Moms

2011-11-16T13:59:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK, NY, Nov 16, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Today, CafeMom announced the launch partners for Mamas Latinas, its web destination catering to Hispanic moms which will launch in January, 2012. Moms can now pre-register at mamaslatinas.com and view a series of "Soy Mama Latina" videos featuring Latina moms sharing their unique stories and perspectives on raising their children in the U.S.

Founding partners include Chevrolet, General Mills, Kmart, and Sears. To support the new website, CafeMom also announced several key hires for the Mamas Latinas executive team.

"We are thrilled to be launching Mamas Latinas in collaboration with these great brands that have been consistently committed to reaching and connecting with Hispanic consumers," said CafeMom CEO, Michael Sanchez. "With the support of these companies, we look forward to creating a groundbreaking destination that will add value to the lives of millions of Hispanic moms."

Founding partners will be fundamentally integrated into the site experience, adding value to moms' lives through the development of active communities, compelling content, and great deals. Word of mouth initiatives and private insights platforms add to the level of custom programs, unprecedented in Hispanic marketing.

"Both Kmart and Sears recognize how critical Hispanic moms are to the success of our businesses," said Andrew Stein, VP of Marketing Planning for Sears and Kmart. "By 2014, one in four moms online will be Hispanic - as an influential and underserved group of consumers we want to make sure we fill their specialized needs. We are delighted to partner with CafeMom and Mamas Latinas to deliver this compelling platform for this important consumer."

Leading the effort is Mamas Latinas Co-founder and EVP Lucia Ballas-Traynor, a 25-year Hispanic media veteran who has been at the helm of leading brands such as Univision's Galavision, MTV Tr3s and most recently People en Espanol, the top selling Hispanic magazine in the U.S. Three well-known industry leaders will join Ballas-Traynor on the executive team.

-- Johanna Torres -- Editor-in-Chief -- is a leading multi-media editor,

journalist and producer with deep experience in the U.S. Hispanic

media market. Torres has served as Editor-in-Chief for national

publications like Ser Padres and Lamaze, and as Founding Editor of

Meredith's Siempre Mujer magazine, one of the top three leading

Hispanic magazines in the U.S. Torres also founded Mi Blogazine, a

lifestyle blog for Latinas. She also serves as Lifestyle Expert and

Blogger for outlets such as AOL Latino, and regularly appears as a

guest on CNN en Espanol's NotiMujer, Univision, Telemundo, and

Yahoo's De Moda.

-- Stacey C. Rivera -- Managing Editor -- joins the team from Latina

Media Ventures, where she worked as Digital Content Director,

responsible for the day-to-day management of Latina.com, the website

owned by Latina magazine, the leading English-language lifestyle

magazine for Hispanic women. Rivera's work with top Latino celebrities

to create original video and social media content lead to significant

increases in traffic to Latina.com. During her career, Rivera has

served as managing editor at Hallmark Magazine, Stuff magazine, and

Hamptons Country.

-- Andrea Slodowicz -- VP, Marketing -- is a Hispanic industry leader in

consumer communication and innovation. As VP Director of Strategy and

Content Development for Starcom MediaVest Group Multicultural,

Slodowicz was responsible for the development of award-winning,

ownable ideas and custom implementation for top 500 advertisers, such

as Kraft, Post, Avon, Comcast, Heineken, and Wendy's. During her 10

year tenure with the agency, she also directed strategic media

planning across Tapestry and MV42's for an esteemed client roster.

Slodowicz has been recognized for her innovative multicultural

marketing with numerous prestigious awards including AdAgeMagazine's

"25 Twenty Somethings" and Media Magazine's "The New Media DNA".

"I am delighted to lead a team of such seasoned and talented Hispanic market veterans," says Ballas-Traynor. "They all have a deep understanding of Hispanic moms as well as what kind of conversations, content and offerings that engage and moves them. Most importantly, they are all as passionate as I am about the opportunity to create a rich destination where Hispanic moms can connect over their common culture, heritage, and life experiences."

About Mamas Latinas

Launching in January 2012, Mamas Latinas is poised to become the leading and most trusted bilingual online destination dedicated to connecting, informing, entertaining and empowering Latina moms by super-serving their culturally unique interests and needs. At the core of Mamas Latinas will be a dynamic community offering, engaging and targeted editorial content, and entertaining diversions like games.

About CafeMom

Launched in late 2006, CafeMom is the number one site on the internet for moms and the premier strategic marketing partner to brands that want to reach moms in a rapidly changing digital environment. CafeMom reaches more than 9MM unique visitors per month on CafeMom.com and 23MM+ unique visitors per month on CafeMom Plus (comScore, Sept. 2011), a boutique network of sites that reach moms and parents. CafeMom is also the leader in developing custom programs for top brands that want to connect with and understand moms online. In May 2011, CafeMom extended its offering beyond community and content and into commerce by launching Mom.com, a local daily deals site targeted to moms and their families. CafeMom lead investors are Highland Capital Partners and Draper Fisher Jurvetson. The company was founded by Andrew Shue and Michael Sanchez.

SOURCE: CafeMom

Telemundo Media launches multiplatform Latina empowerment initiative “Mujer de Hoy – Supérate!”

2011-11-16T13:43:00.000-08:00

MIAMI – November 16, 2011 – Telemundo Media announced it will launch “Mujer de Hoy – Superate!” (Women of Today- Excel!) on www.telemundo.com/mujerdehoy, a pro-social multiplatform initiative in partnership with LATINA Style designed to empower Latinas by providing them with information to help enrich their lives. Telemundo’s Emmy-nominated host of “Caso Cerrado,” Ana María Polo, will serve as the initiative’s spokesperson. “Mujer de Hoy—Superate!” will showcase Latina achievements in all areas, from business to entertainment, and offer advice from beauty to career. The six-month multiplatform campaign will focus on digital media, through the online property “Mujer de Hoy,” and incorporates grassroots and on-air elements. The initiative will launch at LATINA Style’s annual Anna Maria Arias Foundation Awards Gala in Washington, D.C.

“Mujer de Hoy” will gain exposure through promotion at consumer events launched in support of the upcoming Telemundo original primetime novela “Una Maid en Manhattan,” a story with a theme of empowerment. Additionally, “Levantate” will host “Mujer de Hoy” segments to focus on select issues, while hosts will also discuss the development of Latino women in the U.S. with guest experts. Telemundo’s “Al Rojo Vivo” will also participate in the campaign with segments focused on relevant topics. Locally, Telemundo stations will highlight local women empowerment stories on the “Mujer de Hoy” segment.

“Telemundo’s mission to inform, empower, inspire and entertain is perfectly aligned with the goals of ‘Mujer de Hoy,’” said Jacqueline Hernández, chief operating officer, Telemundo Media. “We know how important Latinas are to their families and to the U.S. Hispanic community as a whole and we are committed to enhancing women’s lives through a vibrant multimedia campaign, following in the strong tradition of Telemundo’s community-focused pro-social initiatives.”

“Latinas are the agent for change in our community. Empowering them empowers the whole family, our community and our country. We are honored to join Telemundo Media in this effort. We look forward to bringing to your attention these heroes who day to day give all they have to make our lives better. Join us in celebrating Telemundo Media’s campaign to recognize the Latinas in our community. They truly represent the best our community has to offer,” said Robert Bard, president and CEO of LATINA Style.

About Telemundo Media

Telemundo Media, a division of NBCUniversal, is a world-class media company, leading the industry in the production and distribution of high-quality Spanish-language content across its multiplatform portfolio to U.S. Hispanics and audiences around the world. Telemundo’s multiple platforms include the Telemundo Network, a Spanish-language television network featuring original productions, theatrical motion pictures, news and first-class sports events, reaching U.S. Hispanic viewers in 210 markets through its 14 owned stations and its broadcast and cable affiliates; mun2, the preeminent voice for bicultural Hispanics in the U.S. reaching TV households nationwide on digital and analog cable, and satellite; Telemundo Digital Media, which distributes Telemundo’s original content across digital and emerging platforms including mobile devices, www.telemundo.com and www.mun2.tv; an owned and operated full power station in Puerto Rico that reaches 99% of all TV households in that DMA; and Telemundo Internacional, the international distribution arm which has positioned Telemundo as the second largest provider of Spanish-language content worldwide by syndicating content to more than 100 countries in over 35 languages.

About LATINA Style

LATINA Style is the premier publication reaching the Latina professional working woman and entrepreneur in the United States. Reaching over 600,000 readers across the country, and producing some of the most successful professional development programs for Latina professionals, entrepreneurs and Latinas serving our country in the Armed forces, LATINA Style is unique in its ability to empower the young Latina student as well as the seasonal professional.

SOURCE Telemundo Media

Arbitron recognizes Beatriz R. Perez, Chief Sustainability Officer of The Coca-Cola Company, as its 2011 Multicultural Marketing Honoree

2011-11-11T08:05:00.000-08:00

COLUMBIA, Md., Nov. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Arbitron Inc. ARB +2.45% has recognized Beatriz R. Perez, Chief Sustainability Officer and former Chief Marketing Officer for the North American Division of The Coca-Cola Company, as its 2011 Arbitron Multicultural Marketing Honoree.

"Arbitron is recognizing Ms. Perez for her unwavering commitment to multicultural marketing and for her support of radio as a medium that provides unique connections with America's diverse consumers," said Sean Creamer, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Arbitron Inc. "As the former Chief Marketing Officer at The Coca-Cola Company, Ms. Perez has used radio and the power of music to go beyond the boundaries of marketing to touch people's lives and stir their emotions."

Sean Creamer presented the honor to Ms. Perez on behalf of Arbitron and radio broadcasters during a private reception at the Miami Fontainebleau Hotel on Monday November 7, 2011. The invitation-only event was also attended by radio broadcasters, advertisers and marketers.

Ms. Perez said, "I see the country as a multicultural nation that we need to connect with and radio is a great way to build connections and create shared, meaningful experiences with our consumers."

For the past two years, Arbitron has recognized individuals who have excelled in the practice of multicultural marketing and who have supported radio as an effective means of reaching America's diverse audiences. Last year's honor was presented to Mr. Bill Lamar, retired Chief Marketing Officer of McDonald's.

Ms. Beatriz R. Perez, currently Chief Sustainability Officer of The Coca-Cola Company is responsible for creating and overseeing an integrated, global sustainability strategy; setting goals and commitments; assessing and driving scaled investments; and managing and tracking key global partnerships and projects.

During her tenure as the Chief Marketing Officer for the North American Division of The Coca-Cola Company from 2010-2011, Ms. Perez was responsible for knowledge and insights, integrated marketing communication, brand programming, media, sports/entertainment, interactive marketing, Hispanic American consumer marketing, African American consumer marketing, digital marketing, marketing capability, and the university marketing recruitment program.

About Arbitron

Arbitron Inc. is an international media and marketing research firm serving the media-radio, television, cable and out-of-home; the mobile industry as well as advertising agencies and advertisers around the world. Arbitron's businesses include: measuring network and local market radio audiences across the United States; surveying the retail, media and product patterns of U.S. consumers; providing mobile audience measurement and analytics in the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia, and developing application software used for analyzing media audience and marketing information data. The Company has developed the Portable People Meter (TM) (PPM(TM)) and the PPM 360(TM), new technologies for media and marketing research.

Portable People Meter(TM), PPM(TM) and PPM 360(TM) are marks of Arbitron Inc.

PPM ratings are based on audience estimates and are the opinion of Arbitron and should not be relied on for precise accuracy or precise representativeness of a demographic or radio market.

SOURCE Arbitron Inc.

Brands use color and scent to target Latina shoppers

2011-11-01T12:14:00.000-07:00

Oct 31, 2011 | by Maggie Galehouse

You don't have to be Hispanic to enjoy a little lime in your mayonnaise.

But that's one manufacturer's attempt - Kraft, as it happens - to appeal to Hispanic consumers. And it's working.

For the first time, nearly half of Kraft Mayo's advertising is targeted toward the Hispanic community.

Read full article

New Survey Reveals Hispanic Moms are Breakfast Believers - But Face Barriers at the Table

2011-10-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Oct. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Kellogg's Breakfast in America Survey of 14,000 Americans of varying ethnicities, income levels, geographic regions and ages revealed that the vast majority of Americans feel breakfast is important. Yet, the reality of hectic mornings makes it difficult to fit the meal in every day. Today, the company released highlights of how Hispanic moms responded to questions about daily breakfast habits.

The survey found that while 9 in 10 Hispanic moms want their kids to eat breakfast every day, 40 percent report that their child doesn't eat breakfast daily. According to nutrition experts, missing this important meal is not ideal, as eating breakfast in the morning helps children focus in the classroom and provides strength to engage in physical activity.

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," said Sylvia Melendez-Klinger, registered dietician of the American Dietetic Association and a licensed dietician nutritionist. "After a night of sleep, our bodies need the nutrients from food to re-fuel our brains and bodies for the day. Without a healthy breakfast, it is very likely we will not function at our best. Even if moms are short on time, there are quick-and-flexible options children can have at home to put breakfast back on your daily menu."

The Power of Breakfast

The good news is the dynamic duo of cereal and milk offers a quick and tasty breakfast and is a leading source of 10 nutrients important to growing bodies, including calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B6 and vitamin D.(i) Further, regular cereal eaters, including children, are less likely to be overweight and tend to have more positive nutrient intake profiles than those who eat cereal less frequently.(ii) A convenient, affordable breakfast option, cereal helps families start the day with energy and valuable nutrients they might otherwise miss.

"Kellogg understands - we're parents, too - and we are committed to providing families a variety of cereals that help make mornings simple while offering nutrition, taste and value," said Doug VanDeVelde, senior vice president, morning foods marketing and innovation. "At Kellogg's, we know great breakfasts lead to great days, and we are passionate about sharing that message and helping people start each morning off right."

Other key findings of how Hispanic moms responded in Kellogg's Breakfast in America survey include:

Nearly two- in-five Hispanic moms believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and ensure that their child has breakfast on a daily basis.

Hispanic moms are 20 percent more likely than moms overall to get up early to prepare their children's breakfast.

Hispanic moms are 17 percent more likely than moms overall to say their family brings breakfast to work or school. Cereal is a great snack to keep the body nourished throughout the day.

Kellogg, which sponsored the survey, has convened the Kellogg Breakfast Council - seven third-party nutrition experts dedicated to helping people understand nutrition information and incorporate nutritious foods and habits into the diet. Melendez-Klinger is a member along with six others members in the fields of community, child and school nutrition; food security; weight management; public health; family and consumer science; and boomer health.

To learn more about the health benefits of breakfast and cereal, visit www.AmaTuCereal.com .

About Kellogg Company

For more than 100 years, consumers have counted on Kellogg for great-tasting, high-quality and nutritious foods. Kellogg Company, with 2010 sales of more than $12 billion, is the world's leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit-flavored snacks, frozen waffles and veggie foods. Kellogg Company's beloved brands, which are manufactured in 18 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries, include Kellogg's®, Keebler®, Pop-Tarts®, Eggo®, Cheez-It®, All-Bran®, Mini-Wheats®, Nutri-Grain®, Rice Krispies®, Special K®, Chips Deluxe®, Famous Amos®, Sandies®, Austin®, Club®, Murray®, Kashi®, Bear Naked®, Morningstar Farms®, Gardenburger® and Stretch Island®. For more information on the Kellogg Company, including our corporate responsibility initiatives, visit www.kelloggcompany.com .

(i) NHANES, 2003-2006.

(ii) Journal of the American Dietetic Assoc., 2003, 2009.

SOURCE Kellogg Company

Todobebe Launches the 'Feria Todobebe en Walmart' Fairs

2011-10-17T06:26:00.000-07:00

MIAMI, Oct. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Todobebe, the global family media company, today announced the launch of local community fairs at Walmart stores dedicated to moms and families expecting and raising children 0 to 5 years old. The fairs, called "Feria Todobebe en Walmart" are scheduled to be held at Walmart stores in Miami, Houston, Dallas, Garland, San Antonio, Los Angeles and Orange County starting October 15 through November 13, 2011.

According to proprietary research from Todobebe, more than 90 percent of Hispanic moms with children under the age of five want more information on health, safety, food, child behavior and products.

The fairs will provide a lively and entertaining venue for Hispanic consumers to access information in Spanish on topics like pregnancy planning, prenatal and maternal health, breastfeeding, newborn health, car seat safety, exercise, obesity in children, oral health, access to healthcare, childhood development, food safety, prevention of birth defects and nutritional advice. The weekend events will be held in brightly decorated tents located in the front of the store of participating Walmart locations.

Attendees will have the opportunity to listen to or consult leading experts, sample a variety of products, meet Todobebe TV co-hosts and surprise celebrities, and participate in entertaining activities like baby crawling contests and yoga. Dedicated areas for pregnant moms to rest and for parents to change their babies' diapers will further ensure a comfortable and rewarding experience.

The fairs will be promoted through an integrated advertising campaign via TV, radio, digital, social media and PR. "This is a fun and engaging way to reach out face-to-face to Hispanic families," said Gillian Sandler, CEO & Chairman of Todobebe. "Since 1999 we have leveraged media, entertainment and events to help bring the best information to Hispanic families expecting and raising children. These Ferias with Walmart provide product brands and health providers a unique chance to engage with moms personally with education and impact on a local level when and where purchase decisions are being made on everything from baby products to fresh and nutritious foods to pharmacy to family photos."

"At Walmart we are committed to contributing to the well-being of the communities in which we operate by supporting issues and causes that are important to our customers and associates," said Carla Dodds, senior director, multicultural marketing at Walmart. "The family is at the core of Hispanic culture. The 'Feria Todobebe en Walmart' provides our Hispanic customers with a unique opportunity to access valuable information and services in Spanish."

About Todobebe

Todobebe, Inc. is a leading global mom and family media company founded in 1999. Its core branded properties include "Todobebe" and "Viva La Familia" and provide the best in family entertainment and expert advice to millions worldwide through national broadcast TV formats, radio, digital community and content websites, promotions, mobile applications, consumer research, and licensing. Its digital portfolio includes Blogs de Mamas the website for leading Latina mom bloggers, and http://www.embarazo.com, which provides pregnancy resources.

About Walmart

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at over 9,700 retail units under 69 different banners in 28 countries. With fiscal year 2011 sales of $419 billion, Walmart employs 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://walmartstores.com and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

SOURCE Todobebe, Inc.

10 rules for brilliant Women

2011-10-14T06:45:00.000-07:00

by Tara Sophia Mohr

It’s time to step up, brilliant women. Here are ten principles for owning your brilliance and bringing it to the world:

1. Make a pact.

2. Imagine it.

3. Gasp.

4. Get a thick skin.

7. Don’t wait for your Oscar.

8. Filter advice.

9. Recover and restore.

10. Let other women know they are brilliant.

Read full article

MIF to empower women entrepreneurs in LAC

2011-10-08T15:32:00.000-07:00

Microfinance Focus, October 8, 2011: The Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) is introducing new approaches to boost women’s economic presence among small business owners in Latin America and the Caribbean. The four approaches are new credit and saving tools for women, various training and mentoring programs and affordable childcare options.

First, new credit tools are needed to increase access to credit for SMEs particularly suited to women entrepreneurs who are often rejected for credit due to insufficient credit histories and collateral. The MIF has partnered with Harvard’s Entrepreneurial Finance Lab to develop new models of financial risk assessment for financial institutions in the region that could improve access to credit for small and medium-sized companies run by women. It is supporting the adoption of psychometric testing, an automated screening tool that takes into account entrepreneurs’ honesty, intelligence, personality, among other personal qualities, to gauge their ability and willingness to pay back loans, a model that goes beyond the traditional methods that just focus on collateral and future cash flows to assess financial risk.

Read full article

Clorox Partners With the Hispanic Scholarship Fund to Recognize Moms' Influence on Their Children's Education

2011-10-07T07:50:00.001-07:00

OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- In recognition of mothers and their role in their children's academic success, the makers of Clorox® bleach, in partnership with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), have launched the Gracias Mama scholarship. Beginning Oct. 8, 2011 through Jan. 17, 2012, high school seniors planning to attend an accredited U.S. university in the 2012-2013 school year are encouraged to apply for one of five $12,000 scholarships. The program will also feature special "Take a Load Off" events with Spanish singer Shaila Durcal.

The scholarship program, which is funded by the Clorox® bleach team, aims to honor moms and their tireless efforts to offer their children the most important gift of all, an education. In partnership with HSF, the Gracias Mama scholarship uniquely requires applicants write a 500-word essay detailing the role their mother or mother-figure has played in their education. Five winning students will each receive one $12,000 scholarship, as well as a $500 spa day certificate for their mother or mother figure.

"We're proud to launch the Gracias Mama scholarship with HSF," said Colleen Schweichler, Marketing Manager - Clorox Laundry Division. "It's important for Clorox to honor the legacy that moms create with their children and celebrate that behind every child's achievement, be it academic or otherwise, there is a mother who encouraged them along the way."

More About the Gracias Mama Scholarship

Interested high school students who are currently enrolled as seniors for the 2011-12 school year can submit an application and essay detailing the role of their mom or mother figure in their academic aspirations at www.hsf.net . After the registration phase, 15 finalists will be chosen based on the Hispanic Scholarship Fund selection criteria and the quality of the essay. Finalists will receive a camera to create a 90-second video that illustrates how their mother or mother-figure has encouraged them to pursue a higher education. The videos will be posted on Clorox Latino's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cloroxlatino and throughout the month of April, Facebook members can support their favorite finalists by liking and sharing the videos with family and friends. The five winners will be announced on www.hsf.net around Mother's Day.

"Take a Load Off" Events

To celebrate the launch of the Gracias Mama program, the Clorox team will also host two "Take a Load Off" events in October at local laundry mats in Miami and Los Angeles. Families are invited to take the day off from their laundry routines and enjoy music, entertainment and food. As a special gift for the attendees, Spanish singer, Shaila Durcal, daughter of world-famous Spanish singer, Rocio Durcal, will perform a live concert, while the Clorox team will wash and dry people's clothes for free.

"I am very happy to be part of this program because it recognizes all those moms who encourage their children to make education a priority in order to help them succeed in life," Shaila Durcal said. "Since I was a child, I dreamed of being an artist, and my mother always encouraged me to follow my dreams, but also taught me the importance of going to school and getting an education."

For more information on the Gracias Mama scholarship program and the "Take a Load Off" events, visit www.facebook.com/cloroxlatino .

The Clorox Company

The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products with 8,100 employees and fiscal year 2011 revenues of $5.2 billion. Clorox markets some of consumers' most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products, Green Works® naturally derived home care products, Pine-Sol® cleaners, Poett® home care products, Fresh Step® cat litter, Kingsford® charcoal, Hidden Valley® and K C Masterpiece® dressings and sauces, Brita® water-filtration products, Glad® bags, wraps and containers, and Burt's Bees® natural personal care products. Nearly 90 percent of Clorox Company brands hold the No. 1 or No. 2 market share positions in their categories. The company's products are manufactured in more than two dozen countries and sold in more than 100 countries. Clorox is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where its employees work and live. Founded in 1980, The Clorox Company Foundation has awarded cash grants totaling more than $84 million to nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges. In fiscal year 2011 alone, the foundation awarded $4 million in cash grants, and Clorox made product donations valued at $13 million. For more information about Clorox, visit www.TheCloroxCompany.com .

About the Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Founded in 1975, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund believes that the country prospers when all Americans have access to the opportunities a college education can afford. As the nation's leading Hispanic higher education fund, HSF works to address the barriers that keep many Latinos from earning a college degree. HSF has awarded over $330 million in scholarships over the past 36 years and has supported a broad range of outreach and education programs to help students and their families navigate collegiate life, from gaining admission and securing financial aid to finding employment after graduation. HSF envisions a future where every Latino household will have at least one college graduate, creating an enduring impact on the college outlook of Latino families nationwide, and strengthening the American economy for generations to come. For more information about the Hispanic Scholarship Fund please visit: www.HSF.net

SOURCE The Clorox Company

Escuchame compiles list of over 350 scholarships for Latino students

2011-09-29T05:32:00.000-07:00

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Escuchame, Inc., a virtual, global, bilingual Community of Smart Latinas, has answered the call for Hispanic and Latino students around the country with their compiled listing of over 350 scholarships. The list includes each scholarship's name, award amount, description, requirements, application deadline, and contact information. The list is available in both English and Spanish, for free, at http://escuchame.org/resources . (Access to the scholarship page requires registration to the Community, which is also free.)

Escuchame Co-founder and Chief Executive Producer Deborah Aguiar-Velez chose to gather the information after speaking to many Latino students and their parents. "Everyone kept asking the same questions," she said. "'How can I afford to go to college? How can I compete for scholarships when I don't even know what scholarships are out there?' We knew we had to step up and fill this need."

Adds Co-founder and Chief Technical Officer Raquel Velez: "People are spending hours online, looking for scholarships, when really they should be focusing on studying and applying to schools. Having a centralized list that's freely available makes the whole process of finding money for college easier on everyone."

Escuchame's Scholarship Listing is updated regularly, as new scholarships are found and old ones are removed. "We want to have the most up-to-date list possible," notes Aguiar-Velez. To add a scholarship to the list, please contact the Escuchame Team at escuchame@escuchame.org.

About Escuchame

Escuchame (Spanish for "Listen Up!") is a virtual, global and bilingual Community of Smart Latinas and Latina Supporters. Their mission is to change the way the world views Hispanics by breaking stereotypes, one Latina at a time. They focus on promoting their Escuchame Experts, professional women of Hispanic or Latino origin, as experts, entrepreneurs, speakers, artists, activists and writers.

For more information about the Escuchame Community, its Experts, or the Scholarship Listing, visit http://escuchame.org or contact Raquel Velez at 704-350-5271 or raquel@escuchame.org.

SOURCE Escuchame, Inc.

Siempre Mujer Magazine announces 6th Annual List of Inspinring Hispanic Women in October/November Issue

2011-09-22T11:44:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK, NY (September 22, 2011) – For the 6th year in a row, Siempre Mujer magazine honors “Always Inspiring” Hispanic women in its signatureSiempre Inspiran October/November feature, which hits newsstands today. The 2011 honorees –Selena Gomez, Pamela Silva Conde, Ana Maria Irazabal, Barbara Palacios, Angelina Ramirez, and Virginia Isaias – were chosen for their hands-on commitment to important causes in the Hispanic community.

This year’s honorees include:

• Cover Star, Selena Gomez – In 2009, this Disney starlet started channeling her energy into giving back by becoming a UNICEF Ambassador, the youngest in the United States. Since then, Selena has taken an active role in advocating for the world’s most vulnerable children by participating in multiple campaigns, events and projects for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. With Selena’s support, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF has already raised $4 million and attracted extensive attention due to her involvement.

• Executive, Ana Maria Irazabal – As the marketing director of Pepsi, Ana Maria and her team sparked a national grassroots volunteerism movement, Pepsi Refresh Project in 2010. Through the Pepsi Refresh Project, Ana Maria’s team mobilized individuals to develop community projects that would make a difference in their hometowns. Thanks to Ana Maria’s leadership, Pepsi has sponsored over 1,000 ideas and provided up to 1.3 million grants per month to date.

• Former Miss Universe, Barbara Palacios – Building off her 1986 Miss Universe title, Barbara has since used her celebrity for the greater good. Last year she wrote a self- help book called La belleza de saber vivir and founded BP Inspiración, a company dedicated to help people find their path to self improvement and a better quality of life. Barbara is also an advocate for holistic lifestyle.

• Non Profit Executive, Angelina Ramirez – As the executive director of the Washington Heights Business Improvement District, Angelina is responsible for promoting the small businesses and rebuilding the economic development of this New York City neighborhood. Angelina’s goal is to reinvent Washington Heights into one of New York’s best touristic attractions. As the result of her work, the organization has been able to help over 250 small-business owners flourish within their community.

• Human Survivor, Virginia Isaias – Virginia was able to overcome her devastating past as a victim of human trafficking, and help others through founding the Fundación de Sobrevivientes de Tráfico Humano. Her tragic past almost cost her and her six month-old baby’s lives. Today, she is a source of inspiration to the 2.5 million victims of human trafficking in the world.

• TV Anchor, Pamela Silva Conde – As an investigative journalist, the new co-host of Univision’s Primer Impacto, and six-time Emmy Award winner, has been able to raise awareness on the issue of child sex trafficking. Pamela is also an active volunteer at St. Jude Children’s Hospital and Amigos for Kids.

“Each year, it is a pleasure for us to celebrate renowned Latina women who are beautiful inside and out and are channeling their energy into causes that are making real differences within the Hispanic community,” says Editor in Chief ofSiempre Mujer María Cristina Marrero. “I am thrilled to be able to celebrate these women who lead by example and are exceptional role models for young Latina women.”

This year, Siempre Mujer is also teaming up with COVERGIRL and Pantene to host a special “Women Who Inspire” Facebook event. The Facebook page will feature a selection of women chosen by Siempre Mujer editors who are making a difference in Hispanic communities across the country. Visitors will have the chance to vote on their favorite honoree’s cause. The honoree with the most votes will receive $10,000 for the charity of their choice. The contest runs from September 22, 2011 to November 21, 2011. Visitors can vote at Siempre Mujer Facebook page.

In addition to the Facebook contest, the editors of Siempre Mujer are expanding the Siempre Inspiran feature beyond the pages of the magazines through robust online-only content, available today.SiempreMujer.com will feature a brand-new sub-channel featuring behind-the-scenes video content and interviews with the honorees. For more information, check out the October/November issue ofSiempre Mujer on newsstands today.

About Siempre Mujer

Launched in September 2005, Siempre Mujer is the first-ever Spanish-language lifestyle publication for Hispanic women living in the United States. Published by Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP), Siempre Mujer reflects the lifestyles, aspirations and dreams of Hispanic women who keep their traditions alive and embrace new American values. Siempre Mujer helps the Hispanic woman navigate this new culture by covering the worlds of: Home décor; fashion and beauty; food and entertaining; family and parenting; culture and entertainment; relationships and self-development; health and fitness; and finance. The bi-monthly national magazine has a rate base of 500,000.

SOURCE Siempre Mujer

Discovery Familia unveils landmark Hispanic mom study showcasing how her World revolves and evolves

2011-09-20T18:39:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Discovery Familia released the results of its informative Mom Study at the "Esa Soy Yo - Soy Latina" awards ceremony held Thursday, September 15 on Capitol Hill. This extensive study was conducted in partnership with C+R Research and Latino Eyes in order to develop clearer insights into the evolving needs and expectations of the Hispanic Mom from healthcare, purchasing habits to education.

Latinas in the United States comprise over 48% of the Hispanic population and 19% of the projected 124.7 million women in the nation. This study surveyed over 1,000 moms, who self-identified as Hispanic, between 18 to 49 years of age with children age two to 18. Data collected from the research will allow Discovery Familia to continue to shape a network devoted to her and touch on important issues that are priorities to Hispanic women and their children.

Through its rich and varied programming, Discovery Familia serves as a resource for Hispanic mothers and their preschool children. The network's goal is to support Hispanic women in educating their children, caring for their household and taking time out for themselves. The network also aims to educate others about Hispanic women, their attitudes, behaviors and insights.

Some of the Study Highlights:

On Empowerment: Seeing her own personal achievement is not exclusive from being a great mother for the Hispanic mom. 82% say that one of their greatest goals is to be a successful career person. 76% want to graduate from college and 79% look to be an inspiration for her children. When she speaks about herself, the Hispanic mom says: "I am confident. I have a positive self-image. I have control of my life."

On Health: Hispanic women have misconceptions about health and diet according to the study. Obesity prevalence among pre-school aged children ranks high among Hispanic children at 18.5%. Almost half of Hispanic moms perceive their children to be at a healthy weight, while in fact when calculating their Body Mass Index they are actually overweight. While these moms are familiar with the food pyramid, less than 1 in 2 believes she has enough information on health and nutrition to help her make good choices about food and diet.

On Media: Hispanic women believe that Spanish TV has not been evolving with her. There are too many novelas. The Hispanic mom would like to see more shows related to: Parenting (50%), Health and Nutrition (46%), Fitness (43%) and Do It Yourself (40%).

On America: 75% feel the U.S. has the best opportunities for her children and family. However, 44.6% feel that there is more racial tension now than five years ago and 54.6% are concerned about their husband or themselves losing their jobs.

On Culture: In addition to her desire for her children to get the best possible education, she is also planting cultural roots within her children with Spanish language books, radio and TV. 79% want their kids to be proud of being Hispanic and 74% feel it is important to be fluent in Spanish and maintain the Spanish language as a part of their culture.

About Discovery Familia

Part of Discovery Communications, Discovery Familia is the only Spanish language network completely dedicated to the Hispanic mom and what's important to her: her kids, her home and her well-being. With insightful programming targeted to children aged 2-6, the network's daily Discovery Kids block provides a safe, entertaining and curriculum-based co-viewing experience that helps preschoolers get ready for the real world. Each night, Discovery Familia is programmed for mom, spanning relevant topics from cooking and home improvement, to parenting and relationships, to beauty and health. With trusted content, entertaining programs and unmatched quality, Discovery Familia is a place that Hispanic moms and their children can call "home".

SOURCE Discovery Familia

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, a National launch celebrates Latina moms

2011-09-19T22:17:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- MAMIVERSE.com, a lifestyle, news, and social media web site for Latina moms and daughters, is proud to announce a new campaign, in partnership with Target Corporation, Latina Moms Changing America. MAMIVERSE.com will honor 10 Latina moms who are not only making a difference in their homes but also a positive impact within their communities, with a $5,000 Target GiftCard as the grand prize. The national search kicks off on September 19, coinciding with the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, and will continue throughout the fall, with honorees selected on December 20.

"We are thrilled about this opportunity to honor Latina moms in America by celebrating the many contributions of Hispanic women who reach above and beyond what is expected of them." says Rene Alegria, founder and CEO of Mamiverse Media.

Latina Moms Changing America is the first of many efforts to come from MAMIVERSE.com that will recognize and pay tribute to inspiring, remarkable Latina women. "Family is at the core of Hispanic American life. MAMIVERSE.com was created to put a broad face and voice to Latina moms and family. As a mom, I am extremely proud to be able to celebrate us in such a significant way," says Carmen Wong Ulrich, a MAMIVERSE.com contributor, nationally recognized television journalist, and personal finance expert.

Readers will be able to nominate themselves, their mothers, daughters, sisters, neighbors, co-workers and friends (if they are moms) via www.mamiverse.com starting September 19. The submissions process will close on November 15. The top 25 moms will be selected as follows: 50% based on public online voting and 50% based on the votes of a panel selected by MAMIVERSE.com and will appear on the site as finalists. Through a collaborative voting process, MAMIVERSE.com readers will be able to vote for their favorite honorees, narrowing the top 25 finalists down to the top 10 honorees over a four week time period.

The grand prize honoree will receive a Target GiftCard valued at $5,000. The silver honoree will receive a Target GiftCard valued at $2,500 and the bronze honoree will receive a Target GiftCard valued at $1,000. Seven honorees in the top 10 will receive a $500 Target GiftCard. Target, one of the nation's largest retailers, is the exclusive retail advertising partner for MAMIVERSE.com.

A special compilation of the selected winners' stories will be available in e-book as of December 20, and may be purchased by visiting www.mamiverse.com.

Launched in July 2011, MAMIVERSE.com is the first comprehensive site of its kind aimed at English-dominant Latina moms and has rapidly created an engaged, empowered online community by connecting a new generation of Latinas with one another. Also on the site is Club Mami, an integrated social media platform that allows Latina moms and daughters to create their own profiles and share information with one another on a variety of topics.

SOURCE MAMIVERSE.com

Procter & Gamble launches online site for Latin women, offers advice and product info

2011-09-17T13:18:00.001-07:00

Sept 16, 2011 | CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble Co. has launched an online site aimed at Latin women that offers beauty and household tips, inspirational stories, and information about some of its consumer products.

Read full article

Adriana Cisneros De Griffin, Vice Chairman of the Cisneros Group of Companies, has been selected one of Latin America's Top 50 Business Women of 2011

2011-09-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

MIAMI, Sep 06, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Adriana Cisneros de Griffin, Vice Chairman & Vice President of Strategy of the Cisneros Group of Companies, was selected one of Latin America's Top 50 Business Women by the editorial staff of the Latin Business Chronicle, part of the Latin Trade Group, which honored her father, Gustavo Cisneros, Chairman of the Cisneros Group, with a LT BRAVO Business Award as 'International CEO of the Year' in 1998. The Cisneros Group is one of the largest privately held media, entertainment, telecommunications and consumer products organizations in the world, wholly owning or controlling companies ranging from broadcast television and television production to consumer products and real estate.

The second annual list of Latin America's top business women includes natives of Latin America as well as foreign executives who have a significant impact on the region, supervising companies that are among the top tax payers and employers in several countries in the region, according to the Latin Business Chronicle, the online media outlet that provides daily reports, unique indexes and yearly rankings of Latin America's business world.

Adriana Cisneros de Griffin is the granddaughter of the Cisneros Group of Companies' founder, Diego Cisneros, and daughter of the Chairman, Gustavo Cisneros. Adriana works closely with her father in managing operations and in developing strategy for the Group as a whole. As a third-generation leader of the Cisneros Group, she is overseeing its transformation from a pan-regional Latin American enterprise to one increasingly focused on opportunities in the U.S. Hispanic and global markets. Ms. Cisneros is currently the CEO of Tropicalia, a Cisneros Group real estate project in the Dominican Republic. Tropicalia is a luxury eco-resort, intended to be one of the Caribbean's most exclusive destinations.

Adriana Cisneros de Griffin is also President of the Fundacion Cisneros, founded by parents Gustavo Cisneros and Patricia Phelps de Cisneros. The non-profit foundation is committed to enriching education in Latin America and to increasing awareness of Latin America's contributions to world culture. Adriana is focused on improving educational infrastructure and directs three programs: Actualizacion de Maestros en Educacion (AME), a teacher-training program; Piensa en Arte; and Cl@se, an educational Spanish language pan-regional TV channel.

SOURCE: Cisneros Group of Companies

Prudential lands on LATINA Style Top 50

2011-09-04T08:32:00.001-07:00

NEWARK, N.J., Sep 01, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Prudential Financial, Inc. earned the No. 3 spot on LATINA Style Magazine's annual list of best companies for Latinas in the United States, the LATINA Style 50 Report. The report highlights each company's leadership programs, employee benefits and Latina representation in senior positions.

The magazine surveyed 800 of the Fortune 1000 companies, searching for companies that dedicate effort to promotion initiatives, diverse recruitment and veteran recruitment programs. Prudential was chosen for its career advancement opportunities for Hispanic women employees.

"We value an inclusive workforce, where people with varying perspectives are integral to the company's success," said Emilio Egea, chief diversity officer. "We strive to make Prudential a place where talented people from different backgrounds can succeed."

The creation of LATINA Style's list starts with a survey, made with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and national Hispanic organizations, which is sent to Fortune 1000 companies.

Companies are evaluated on six categories including recruitment and procurement, employee benefits, and programs and policies. Once the survey data is evaluated, qualifying candidates are identified and the final list is compiled. Prudential has been ranked on LATINA Style's 50 Report consistently for 14 years.

Prudential Financial, Inc., a financial services leader with approximately $883 billion of assets under management as of June 30, 2011, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds, investment management, and real estate services. In the U.S., Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit http://www.news.prudential.com/

SOURCE: Prudential Financial, Inc.

Car insurance company Progressive ranks in top 50 best places to work for Latinas two years in a row

2011-08-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio, Aug 30, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Progressive(R) Insurance has been named to the LATINA Style 50, LATINA Style magazine's annual list of the best companies for Latinas in the U.S. This is the second year in a row the publication has recognized the car insurance company as a great employer for Hispanic women. The LATINA Style 50 is the most respected evaluation of corporate America's employment policies and practices as they pertain to Hispanic women.

LATINA Style editors reviewed more than 800 applications from Fortune 1,000 companies before naming this year's honorees. Winners were selected based on their leadership programs, employee benefits and Latina representation in senior positions. Progressive earned a spot on the list in part because of its Hispanic and Latino recruiting efforts. Progressive recruiters advertise for jobs at Progressive on and in Hispanic/Latino job boards and publications. Progressive also has a Hispanic employee resource group which promotes an inclusive and diverse workplace.

"At Progressive, diversity is an essential part of creating a dynamic workforce and an outstanding environment for our employees, and it is crucial in providing exceptional service to our customers," said Tiffany Collins, who spearheads Progressive's diversity and inclusion employee resource group efforts." It's an honor to again receive this recognition from LATINA Style magazine."

To find out more about jobs at Progressive or to apply, visit http://jobs.progressive.com

About Progressive

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies makes it easy to understand, buy, and use auto insurance. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach us whenever, wherever, and however it's most convenient for them--online at progressive.com, by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, or in-person with a local agent.

Progressive offers insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes. It's the fourth largest auto insurer in the country, the largest seller of motorcycle insurance, and a leader in commercial auto insurance. Progressive also offers car insurance online in Australia at http://www.progressiveonline.com.au .

Founded in 1937, Progressive continues its long history of offering shopping tools and services that save customers time and money, like Name Your Price(R), the Snapshot Discount(R), and a concierge level of claims service.

The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, trade publicly at NYSE:PGR.

SOURCE: Progressive Group of Insurance Companies

Kraft Foods recognized as top employer for Latinas

2011-08-29T11:58:00.000-07:00

NORTHFIELD, Ill., Aug. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- LATINA Style magazine announced today that Kraft Foods is one of the 50 Best Companies for Latinas. For more than a decade, Kraft Foods has been named to this prestigious list. In 2011, the company was ranked No. 5, up from No. 25 just two years ago. The LATINA Style 50 Report (LS50 Report) analyzes the efforts of major U.S. companies to promote diversity and provide career advancement opportunities for Hispanic women.

"To be recognized for our efforts to hire and promote Latinas, provide them role models and mentors as they develop and grow in the organization, strengthens the company's long-standing support to the Latino community," said Ivette Bassa, Vice President, Research, Development and Quality for Latin America. "As a Latina, I'm proud that Kraft Foods has been selected as one of LATINA Style's 50 Best Companies."

LATINA Style has been benchmarking the benefits and development opportunities offered to Latina employees since 1998. The magazine evaluated more than 800 companies on criteria such as the number of Latina employees and Latinas in senior management, as well as the availability of Hispanic employee resource groups, flextime, health insurance coverage, women's task forces, mentoring programs and fast-track programs.

Creating a valuable work environment for employees

Being open and inclusive is vital to creating a delicious work experience for Kraft Foods' employees. The company requires diversity and inclusion training for every employee at key career stages to sustain a culture that welcomes and values individual differences. Ten employee resource groups, made up of diverse employees from around the world, help the company promote and drive diversity and inclusion – including the Kraft Foods Latino Council. Kraft Foods also links diversity and inclusion to executive incentive compensation to increase leaders' accountability.

In addition, Kraft Foods offers the culture, practices and programs to support all employees in reaching their full potential while achieving work-life harmony. Following are examples of the many benefits that Kraft Foods offers to enable employees to focus on exceeding both the company's objectives and their own aspirations:

Mentoring and coaching programs for high-potential women and people of color, including career planning and networking opportunities to develop the next generation of leaders

Educational assistance programs provide tuition reimbursement for approved educational studies at accredited colleges and universities

Telecommuting, flextime, job-sharing, and part-time options designed to promote employee mobility and a versatile work environment

New-mother phase-in programs to ease the return to work after the birth of a baby, adoption of a child or placement of a child for foster care

About Kraft Foods

Northfield, Ill.-based Kraft Foods Inc. is a global snacks powerhouse with an unrivaled portfolio of brands people love. Proudly marketing delicious biscuits, confectionery, beverages, cheese, grocery products and convenient meals in approximately 170 countries, Kraft Foods had 2010 revenue of $49.2 billion, more than half of which was earned outside North America. Twelve of the company's iconic brands -- including Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oreo, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident and Tang -- generate revenue of more than $1 billion annually, and 40 have been loved for more than a century. A leader in innovation, marketing, health & wellness and sustainability, Kraft Foods is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Ethibel Sustainability Index. For more information, visit www.kraftfoodscompany.com and www.facebook.com/kraftfoodscorporate.

SOURCE Kraft Foods

lia sophia® empowers Hispanic women nationwide to be their own CEO and reach their dreams

2011-08-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- lia sophia, the world's leading direct sales fashion jewelry company, is bringing its direct sales business to Hispanic women across the country as part of a national campaign to empower Latinas to be their own "CEO" and jumpstart a rewarding self-run business. With an already expansive network of 30,000 plus sales Advisors, lia sophia is committed to providing the same unparalleled career opportunity and tools to success to the Hispanic community through an integrated approach that recognizes the history, culture, needs and values of Latina women everywhere.

lia sophia appreciates that the Hispanic community is filled with women who are motivated, ambitious, and embody the entrepreneurial spirit and wants to help connect Hispanic women to their dreams, from obtaining beautiful jewelry to empowering their financial futures. From stay-at-home mothers to career women looking for extra earnings, the lia sophia Advisor team is made up of a diverse collection of strong, confident and independent women. Additionally, the company's new Social Fashion™ campaign, announced at their 2011 US Advisor Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a platform centered around the connection of fashion and friendship through socializing.

In an effort to foster its tie to the Hispanic community, lia sophia will be seen at opportunity events throughout the country in emerging Hispanic markets and cities, providing an accessible business opportunity where women can reach great levels of success independent of their previous work experience or educational background. lia sophia offers full company support and a sincere long-term commitment backed by appropriate investment from day one, including:

Having staff fluent in Spanish and engrained in Hispanic culture.

Creating a market-specific Starter Kit with the appropriate products and business tools.

Tailoring communication and customizing tools to suit this diverse group.

Representation of the diversity of this market in company collateral.

Offering in-culture training and support materials to present the opportunity, train new Advisors and develop leaders.

A schedule of lia sophia Hispanic opportunity events can be located through the company's Web site, www.liasophia.com.

About lia sophia

Founded 39 years ago, lia sophia is a family-owned, fashion jewelry company whose products are sold directly to Customers through an international network of independent sales women. lia sophia empowers women to become their own CEO and start their own business. Based outside Chicago and named after the daughters of owners Tory and Elena Kiam, the company offers more than 600 styles of affordable, high-quality, fashion-forward jewelry (as well as a high-end Red Carpet Collection) and an unparalleled opportunity for women to own their own businesses.

SOURCE lia sophia

Latinas have what it takes to keep America going... Latinas have "Umph"!

2011-08-22T17:05:00.000-07:00

August 21, 2011 | by Arminda Figueroa

Umph!? (...keep reading).

I recently attended the Hispanic Women of Distinction luncheon in South Florida, recognizing 12 distinguished Latinas that have made a big, no, I take that back.... a HUGE difference in our society!

The ladies that were honored come from distinct backgrounds, some from humble beginnings and others from more privileged environments. They are professionals, career women, business owners, mothers, sisters, friends, and community activists among many other roles they play. They are unique and they are beautiful, not only on the outside, but also so much on the inside. They have played the cards dealt them in life, and despite the ups and downs, they are resilient, they are not bitter, and they are not quitters either. They are hopeful, they are positive and they want to express themselves positively in all they do. These Latina women are claiming their right to be who they want to be. They have Umph! Or, as my dear friend YY would say, Latinas have chutzpah!

What is Umph!? It's a "sound" I make when I feel something has what it takes to make a difference or when you take it to the next level. Now, apply "Umph!" to Latina women and you have a double Umph! It's the unspoken code between two Latinas that meet for the first time...we share a history, a culture...we only need to look at each other and we know...we just know....we are our mother's daughter, we are our father's little girl, we are our sister's best friend, we are our grandparents golden treasure, we are our friend's best friend... you get the idea!

So what does it take to have Umph!? As one of the honorees, Dr. Aida Levitan put it, "we are the best multi-taskers you can ever find, we work harder, we are business owners -opening at record levels! We are innovative, we are resourceful, and we have great personal skill sets, thus making us great leaders. We are consensus driven, so we can work in teams!"

Read full article

Rise of the blogueras: Latina bloggers are in the game

2011-08-18T14:47:00.000-07:00

August 18, 2011 | by Tania Luviano | Fox News Latino

Instead of a suit, Silvia Martínez puts on a robe or pantsuit and walks only a few steps – to her kitchen, to be specific – where she sits down and starts typing on her computer.

After everyone goes to sleep, Martínez, a blogger, also goes to bed, only instead of relaxing and watching a movie she starts typing again to finish her article, “Diaper Diaries: Farewell Until We Meet Again” for her blog, MamaLatinaTips.com.

The mother of two boys, who took part in the BlogHer conference in San Diego, California, is part of the fairly new trend of Latina bloggers, one that is rapidly growing and taking everyone by surprise.

Latina bloggers have been around for a long time, but in the past they didn’t identify themselves as Latinas.

“And others wouldn’t write articles that would categorize them as Latinas,” says Elianne Ramos, vice-chair of Latinos in Social Media (LATISM), the largest organization of Hispanics engaged in social media, who last year conducted “The Latism Bloguera Survey.”

The findings of the survey, which had about 1,000 participants, are eye-opening to organizations, brands and companies who still don’t know what to do with the explosion of this influential group online.

Who are the “Blogueras”?

The year of the Latina bloggers' explosion was 2009, when 62 percent of the blogs that participated in the Latism survey started.

“One of the reasons is, a lot of these bloggers started using Twitter and Facebook, so other Latinas saw an opportunity and launched their own blog,” Ramos said.

In 2009, the website, Blogs By Latinas, had only 156 registered blogs. Today, there are more than 1,600.

Read full article

The myth of the Latina Mami

2011-08-17T13:44:00.000-07:00

Agust 16, 2011 | Galina Espinoza

Hardly a day goes by where I don't get an email in my inbox announcing some new program aimed at Latina mamis. There are marketing events and ad campaigns, social networks and blog networks, websites and newsletters, all seeming to have made the same assumption: if you are Latina, you must also be a mother.

It's easy to understand why that would be the prevailing wisdom about U.S. Hispanic women, given the findings of the 2010 U.S. Census, which showed that the Latino population explosion over the past decade has been driven primarily by births--which, in turn, means that there are a lot of Latinas out there having kids. Upon closer look, however, it turns out that following the simple formula of "Hispanic+woman=mother" is not quite accurate. Not only has the growth rate for Latino children actually slowed from 43% in the 1990s to 39% during the last decade, but from 1994 to 2008, the rate of childlessness among Latinas grew by more than 30%, according to the Pew Research Center. In fact, today, nearly 20% of Latinas do not have children.

Those aren't the only ways in which the mainstream image of the Latino family goes against reality. Think most of us are single moms? (Uh, yeah, you know you do.) Turns out that 65% of Latino kids live with both their parents. Think Latinas stay married forever? Turns out blended families are more common among Latinos than non-Hispanic whites--and among U.S. professionals earning more than $100,000 a year, we're the most likely to divorce of any ethnic group.

Why is it so important to debunk the myths surrounding the Latino family? After all, Latinos pride themselves on being so strongly identified with a family image, and in survey after survey cite family as the most important thing in their lives. Well, for starters, at a time when we Latinos are trying to leverage our growing population numbers into growing cultural influence and political impact, the last thing we want to see happening is the trading of one stereotype for another. In other words, just like we are not all maids or gardeners, full-bodied bombshells or hot-blooded lovers, we are also not all getting married and having children in traditional ways.

Read full article

The Hispanic Gender Gap: Can Latinas Save the American Family?

2011-08-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

August 11, 2011 | by Guy Garcia

In traditional Latin cultures it's often assumed that macho males rule. But in the USA today, the opposite is true. Latin women are increasingly the main breadwinner, the head of the household, the key decision maker and the principle parent. According to U. S. Census Bureau projections, all of the growth in U.S. families with children will come from multicultural families by 2020, most of them Hispanic. In other words, as goes the Hispanic family, so goes the American family. What's more, the ripple effects of the Latino male malaise are severe and far reaching, with long-term implications for the nation's economic prosperity and social well being.

Latino men, as a group, are lagging behind women in education, entrepreneurship, and employment--yet they lead the way in job loss, high school drop out rates and incarceration. In 2004, 28.4% of Latino males between the ages of 16 to 24 years old had failed to complete high school, compared with 18.5% of Latino females, 7.1% of White males, and 13.5% of African American males. The proportion of Latino males enrolling in college has declined even as admission rates for Latinas has risen. Latinas in their 20s and 30s already earn more than Latino men of the same age in the nation's largest metropolitan areas. And while the Great Recession has disproportionately affected Hispanics of both genders, it's Latino men who are the most likely to give up, tune out and flip off their future.

Read full article

Lourdes Diaz Appointed General Sales Manager for America TeVe (WJAN) and CV48 (WFUN)

2011-08-05T09:51:00.000-07:00

MIAMI, Aug. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Effective immediately Lourdes Diaz will act as General Sales Manager for America TeVe (WJAN) and CV48 (WFUN), the Miami stations owned and operated by America CV Network. The announcement was made today by Herb Espino, recently promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales for America CV Network. Diaz will report to Espino and will be responsible for sales of both stations.

"We are delighted to bring Lourdes into our team," said Espino. "She has comprehensive experience in Sales and Marketing and her contributions will be key to further develop our sales strategy and achieve the goals we have set for WJAN and WFUN", added Espino. Diaz has a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida International University where she served as an adjunct professor for the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. She is currently enrolled in their Global Strategic Communications Master Program. Additionally, Diaz attended Barry University for undergraduate and graduate studies in Clinical Psychology.

With nearly 30 years of integrated marketing communications and advertising expertise, Diaz has done extensive research, marketing, sales and counseling for major television and radio stations. Among the media she worked at NBC/Telemundo Station Group, Caracol Colombia's WGEN-TV8, WTVJ-TV4 NBC affiliate (today CBS), WSVN-TV7 FOX affiliate, WQBA-AM & FM, WMXJ-FM, COMCAST, and Time Warner/AOL.

"America TeVe is one of the industry leaders in the Miami area, I'm enthused with the opportunity and I look forward to bring the stations to their full potential by developing integrated sales and marketing campaigns for existing and new clientele," added Diaz.

"We are extremely proud to add to our Sales team a professional with the virtues of Lourdes Diaz," said Omar Romay President and CEO of America TeVe. "She will certainly maximize sales opportunities for the stations," added Romay.

WJAN – America TeVe - Canal 41 in Miami can be seen on Channel 15 on Comcast in Broward, Pompano, Davie, Ft. Lauderdale, Hallandale, Miramar, Pembroke Pines. On Comcast Channel 12 in Hialeah, Key Biscayne, Miami Metro, Opa Locka, Miami Classic, South Broward, Miramar, South Dade, Aventura, West Miami, Coral Gables. For Comcast Channel 2 in Century Village, Pembroke Pines, Grand Palms. On Comcast Channel 18 in Redland. By Channel 17 on Atlantic Beach Broadband in South Miami and Miami Beach. For Digital Channel 48.1 in North of Miami-Dade and Broward. For Digital Channel 41.1, in south of Miami-Dade, Homestead and Florida City. On satellite systems Dish Network and Direct TV Channel 41 (Broward and Miami-Dade), and the Dish Network Channel 860 in Puerto Rico.

Live streaming and more information regarding America TeVe WJAN's original programming is available at www.americateve.com

America CV Networks encompasses four TV stations in three key Hispanic markets: WJAN 41 Miami / WJPX CV24 Puerto Rico / WPXO CV34 New York / WFUN CV48 Miami.

SOURCE America TeVe

BlogHer and LATISM Announce Partnership to Publish, Sponsor Leading Latino Social Media Network

2011-08-03T17:20:00.001-07:00

Belmont, CA, (PRWEB) August 03, 2011

BlogHer, Inc., the premium cross-platform media network and publisher for women, is partnering with Latinos In Social Media (LATISM), the largest organization of Hispanics engaged in social media. The companies will work together to develop the LATISM - BlogHer Publishing Network for quality blogs and social sites, as well as sponsor LATISM's annual conference, a one-of-a-kind bilingual event.

LATISM's blogging community will work with BlogHer, the largest publisher of women bloggers on the web, to raise the profile of Latinas and Latinos who write in English and Spanish about everything from parenting to politics, from food to business and entrepreneurship. This partnership will create marketing and revenue opportunities for bloggers who join the LATISM-BlogHer Network and add a publishing unit to their blogs that includes branding, advertising and marketing elements designed to feature marketing partners and community news. Bloggers are paid via a revenue share; the network is scheduled to launch this fall.

In addition to selling research, targeted advertising, product sampling and word of mouth on the joint publishing network, BlogHer's revenue team will help sell sponsorships to LATISM '11 and LATISM '12, the world's largest and fully bilingual conference for Latinos in social media. LATISM '11 will be held Nov. 9-11 in Chicago.

"BlogHer and LATISM are united in our belief that some of the most exciting voices, highest quality content and most meaningful discussions about Latino life are occurring in social media," said Lisa Stone, Co-founder and CEO, BlogHer. "BlogHer is excited to leverage our expertise in social media marketing so that Latina and Latino social media influencers can participate in the terrific relationships BlogHer has developed with Fortune 500 sponsors who want to reach and engage with consumers in constructive dialogue. " Added Stone, "We have worked with Ana Roca Castro and the LATISM team for years, and are proud to partner with the LATISM community, undoubtedly one of the most influential online movements in the multicultural Web."

"As organizations, both BlogHer and LATISM aim to provide our respective blogger and social media networks with the best opportunities to amplify their voices and showcase their expertise, and this partnership will definitely maximize this synergy," said Elianne Ramos, Vice-Chair of Communications for LATISM. "As the largest publisher of women bloggers, BlogHer is well-positioned to provide members of our community unparalleled visibility and revenue opportunities through cross-platform promotion. At the same time, we'll be offering the combined strength of two of the largest blogging and social media communities to advertisers interested in the potential ROI that bilingual Hispanic social media advertising can deliver. We are extremely excited and proud to partner with BlogHer."

About BlogHer

Reaching more than 25 million women each month (Nielsen Site Census, January 2011), BlogHer is the leading cross-platform media network created by, for and with women social media leaders. BlogHer created and leads the marketplace with the most robust economic and networking opportunities for women in social media and brands seeking to influence them. Founded in February 2005 by Elisa Camahort Page, Jory Des Jardins and Lisa Stone, BlogHer publishes and syndicates news, information, advice, recommendations to and from 2,500 premium blogs, paying writers via a revenue share, delivers uniquely insightful research on women in social media in any interest area, hosts the world's largest conferences for women in social media and curates a daily news services, BlogHer.com. BlogHer's investors are Venrock, GE/NBC Universal's Peacock Equity Fund, and Azure Capital Partners.

About LATISM

Latinos in Social Media (LATISM) is a 501(c) 4 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing the social, civic and economic status of the Latino community. With a network of over 140,000 members, LATISM is the largest organization for Latinos engaged in social media, including bloggers and professionals from every arena. LATISM also helps to raise awareness among corporate brands, NGOs and government entities about using social media to reach Latinos through research, event sponsorships, and leadership training. A pioneering social media organization, LATISM has been hailed as the most influential online movement in the new multicultural Web. Visit http://LATISM.org/beta

AOL Latino's "Tu Voz En Tu Vida" Web Channel to Showcase Top Latina Bloggers on the Web

2011-08-03T09:42:00.000-07:00

New York, NY (PRWEB) August 03, 2011

AOL Latino today announced the launch of the Bloguera Spotlight initiative in partnership with Ford Motor Company. It will be featured on Tu Voz en Tu Vida, an online lifestyle destination created by Latinas for Latinas. Enlisting members of its community in the search, AOL Latino will identify top Latina bloggers who are active social media influencers and provide them a broader reach. Tu Voz en Tu Vida will widen the platform for Latinas who shape opinion on topics including finance, career, education, health and autos.

“We want to expose the great work of Latina bloggers to as wide an audience as possible while shedding a powerful spotlight light on issues of concern to them,” said Miguel Ferrer, Managing Editor at AOL Latino. "The Bloguera Spotlight initiative is focused on amplifying the voices of socially active bloggers in order to start conversations that are important to the community – one we are not only seeking to engage but empower.”

AOL Latino users will be invited to nominate their favorite blogueras on Tu Voz en Tu Vida and other web channels. Selected bloggers will be highlighted with a specially designed badge and will also get exposure on other AOL Latino Web channels.

The initiative was inspired in part by studies that showed that while Latinas were especially active on social networks, they are frustrated by the lack of content on social networks that speaks to their interests. An Adweek study in 2010 found that Latinas as a whole (US and Latin America) represent 85 percent of social network users. A 2010 study by research firm Sophia Mind reported that 38 percent of US Hispanic women feel social networks lack original content addressing their unique interests.

About AOL Latino

AOL Latino captures the authentic voices and views of the contemporary US Hispanic community. A leading online destination for U.S. Hispanics, the site provides comprehensive bilingual content including U.S. and Latin American news, the latest in music, entertainment, personal finance, sports, fashion and beauty, as well as access to all the existing content available across the AOL network of sites.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 164,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit http://www.ford.com.

New Latina Launches "Mentoring Hermanas: Ask a Professional" Program

2011-07-25T02:03:00.000-07:00

New York, NY (PRWEB) July 22, 2011

New Latina. a bicultural online lifestyle magazine centered on personal growth for today’s ambitious Latina, announced the launch of Mentoring Hermanas: Ask a Professional. The Q&A mentoring platform on Facebook was created to serve career-bound and talented Latina women seeking formal mentorship and guidance in the areas of business and entrepreneurship, healthy eating and fitness, life, relationships, family and parenting.

Publisher and CEO of New Latina, Angélica Pérez-Litwin, PhD, sought to address the observation of a lack of formal mentorship for Latinas by establishing the anonymous Q&A Facebook platform.

“The availability of formal mentorship for Latina women is often limited (if any) to high tier positions in corporate sectors or in higher education environments,” said Pérez-Litwin. “Rarely are Latinas mentored by other Latinas, therefore leaving a large portion of career-bound and talented Latina women without the opportunity to benefit from a mentoring relationship, especially with Latina mentors.”

The Mentoring Hermanas: Ask a Professional program features eight leading Latinas recognized in their areas of expertise and include the following:

Michele Ruiz – Entrepreneur; Business & Entrepreneurship

Yesenia Morillo-Gual, M.B.A. – Work, Career & Corporate World

Carmen Ordoñez – Fashion Expert and Television Personality; Beauty & Fashion

Angélica Pérez-Litwin, PhD – Psychologist ; Life & Personal Well-Being

Lisa Velazquez, M.A. – Romance & Relationships

Anna Elizabeth Reynoso – Personal Finance Coach; Money & Personal Finances

Melissa Martinez-Machado – Certified Holistic Health Counselor; Health & Wellness

Marisol Godinez-Brainin – Food, Coach, Personal Trainer, Chef; Fitness & Nutrition

Located in the New Latina Facebook fan page, Mentoring Hermanas welcomes today’s new generation Latina to submit questions via a form on the fan page and select a professional of their choice to answer their question. Responses are emailed directly and shared anonymously on the site to benefit all in the social community.

The Mentoring Hermanas initiative is true to New Latina’s philosophy of personal growth and empowerment through education and information. Other programs modeled after the core value offering include College Applications E-Mentoring; promoting the advancement of Latinas in college via a community of students, parents, high school guidance counselors, entrepreneurs and professional individuals who come together to mentor one another by sharing resources; and the Latina Online Business Directory; an online resource of Latina-owned businesses ranging from “solopreneurs” and online companies, to large start ups and non-profits.

About New Latina

New Latina is a personal growth and lifestyle online platform for today’s ambitious Latina who wants more out of life. The New Latina woman is talented, creative, driven, ambitious and family-oriented. She fully embraces her modern life and American culture, but is firmly grounded on her familia and what her cultura has taught her. Established in 2010, New Latina was created to provide a unique platform with relevant and smart content for the New Latina woman who’s doing it all: work, career and family. As a genuine expression of today’s Latina life experience, New Latina is a progressive online community and organic platform that evolves at the rhythm of its community readers highlighting user-generated content and features. Visit us at http://www.newlatina.net.

Why Facebook Should Worry About Latina Moms

2011-07-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

July 5, 2011 | ClickZ | By Gustavo Razzetti

This has been a very intense week for social media marketing. First, Google announces its second attempt in social media by launching Google+ in a direct effort to take on Facebook. Then, MySpace is sold and will be relaunched with Justin Timberlake as creative consultant. It's clear that everyone wants a piece of the pie of this fast-growing social networking market.

With a Little Help From My Friends

In their attempts to compete versus Facebook, both Google+ and MySpace could also use some help. And Latina moms can be very helpful.

Consider the following facts

Hispanic moms are one of the fastest growing demographics online.

Eighty-two percent of mid- and high-acculturated Latino moms are online.

Virtually 100 percent of Hispanic moms online are engaged in social networking.

Eighty-four percent of Hispanic moms are on Facebook.

Their presence in MySpace is 40 percent higher than white moms (29 percent reach).

These moms rely on family and peer advice, and social networks let them extend their circle of trust. Sixty-eight percent trust word-of-mouth conversations related to brands and marketing activities.

And that's exactly one of the key components that Google can leverage to benefit from this specific segment. Google+ offers Circles, which helps compartmentalize all the people in your life. Google argues that putting everyone under the "friends" label can hurt the ability to share (it can be sloppy and insensitive, according to the search giant).

Latinas On-the-Go

It's not surprising, given the success of Android, that Google+ includes a strong mobile component. From adding location to every post to Instant Upload to add camera phone snaps to a private album in the cloud.

Busy Latina moms are taking advantage of mobile connectivity. And they are also heavy users of social media on-the-go (40 percent more than total women in the U.S.).

Sixty percent of them access Internet from their phones and for one out of four, their smartphone is their primary online connectivity device. Back to Google, in recently acquired smartphones among Latinos, Android is far surpassing other platforms.

Read full article

MAMIVERSE, an Online Destination for Latina Moms, Daughters, and Their Families Launches Today

2011-07-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK, July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MAMIVERSE.com, a lifestyle, news, and social media website for Latina moms and daughters launches today. The English-language website provides the household decision-makers of the fastest growing demographic in America with smart, savvy, useful and culturally specific content relevant to their lives and experience.

More than an information provider, MAMIVERSE.com connects a powerful, passionate group of like-minded Latina moms and daughters, creating a pioneering social networking hub where thought-provoking commentary and opinions intermingle with commerce and Latino culture.

"Our goal is to provide informative, empowering content to the Latin family member who needs it most: Mom," says Rene Alegria, founder and CEO. "By providing Latina moms with the tools they need to raise healthy families, we hope to broadly cultivate the next generation of Latino leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs."

As the first comprehensive site of its kind, MAMIVERSE.com is aimed at English-dominant, acculturated Latina moms (those born and raised in the U.S.) and will create a community by connecting a new generation of Latinas with one another.

Target Corporation, one of the nation's largest retailers, is the exclusive retail advertising partner for the launch of MAMIVERSE.com. Target actively engages with the Hispanic market and its partnership with MAMIVERSE.com is an extension of the retailer's ongoing commitment.

"Target believes that MAMIVERSE.com is a smart, innovative way to connect with Latina moms," said Shawn Gensch, Vice President, Marketing at Target. "We are committed to engaging with the Hispanic community through a variety of different formats, such as this site, which delivers relevant news and content, as well as a social network where Hispanic moms can share, learn and grow."

The Numbers:

The fastest growing demographic online, 82 percent of acculturated Latina moms are English-language dominant and web savvy, far over-indexing their general market counterparts in every form of social media (e.g., 84 percent of Latina moms are active Facebook users).

According to the 2010 census, Latinos account for 18 percent of the U.S. population and 55 percent of total U.S. growth in the last decade. Latinos are the largest minority in America, currently numbering 50.5 million. As opposed to immigration, whose numbers have actually declined in recent years, the Latino population boom between 2000 and 2010 was driven by native births. This shift from foreign-born to U.S. born Latinos represents a huge watershed moment for the Latino community.

Content Highlights:

The MAMIVERSE.com launch features a combination of high profile contributors, original video segments, as well as staff writers devoted to topics on Health/Fitness, Money/Investment Planning, Education/Schools, and Style/Shopping.

Launch highlights include:

New York Times bestselling author Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez on a single mom's struggles raising a son to be a man.

CNN award-winning producer Rose Arce on being mistaken as her daughter's nanny.

Interview with GO THE F**K TO SLEEP illustrator Ricardo Cortes on 21st century parenting.

Daisy Fuentes on tips for mami entrepreneurs.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Beatriz Terrazas on the emotional complexity that comes with having a mother suffering from Alzheimer's Dementia.

Award-winning author Sandra Barron Rodriguez on the regret of having only one child.

Interview/feature with the brains behind ZUMBA; a Colombian trio who tapped into their own culture to launch the largest dance-fitness craze on the planet.

Q&A with bestselling author Esmeralda Santiago on her new novel and its maternal themes.

Crafting Diva and bestselling author Kathy Cano-Murillo on nurturing your child's inner Picasso.

Videos segments include:

WPIX journalist Lolita Lopez on green living in a segment titled 'IT'S SO EASY BEING GREEN', as well as a practical money saving tips in a segment titled, 'YOUR TIME OR YOUR MONEY'.

National television correspondent Duarte Geraldino and bestselling author Maria Perez Brown in a web series titled 'COOKING WITH MAMI' that features Latina mother/daughter cooking demonstrations of 'traditional' and 'nouveau' techniques for cooking traditional Latino fare; viewers witness the acculturation process through food.

Also launching on the site is Club Mami, an integrated social media platform that allows Latina moms and daughters to create their own profiles, share photos, give advice, organize local networking gatherings, as well as recommend products and services to one another.

The Backstory:

MAMIVERSE.com was conceived by Rene Alegria, the former publisher & editorial director of Rayo/HarperCollins, a groundbreaking, award-winning imprint centered on giving voice to the Latino experience through books. The MAMIVERSE.com mission is to unite the U.S. Latino population by way of an online community. Alegria believes that only by empowering Latina moms with the tools they need, and by reaching all Latina women and children in the process, will the potential of the community emerge and prosper.

SOURCE MAMIVERSE

Marketing to Hispanic Consumers Needs Changing

2011-05-20T14:09:00.000-07:00

by NACS Online.

NEW YORK – As most everyone knows, Hispanics are now the fastest-growing population segment of the United States, and by 2050, this country will have more residents speaking Spanish than any other country. A new study has found that the traditional methods marketers have used to approach this group are becoming less effective, Marketing Daily reports.

The Futures Company’s “Hispanics in 2025” found the changes stem from the weakening Latino culture and the “strengthening pull of the market forces of mainstream society.” The study claims that economic status, family, immigration and religious affiliation are losing their importance to Hispanics.

Read full article

AOL Latino and Ford Announce Relaunch of Tu Voz

2011-05-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

The enhanced online community sponsored by Ford Motor Company, elevates and empowers the voice of U.S. Hispanic women with interactive content and resources to drive increased user engagement

NEW YORK, MAY 4, 2011 – For a third consecutive year, AOL Latino and Ford Motor Company have joined forces to empower U.S. Hispanic women via Tu Voz (http://www.tuvozentuvida.com/), AOL's leading online lifestyle destination created by Latinas for Latinas. The site, which now has a refreshed design and enhanced content platform, seeks to continue empowering U.S. Hispanic women with resources and actionable advice to help them better manage and live in a bicultural world.

The revitalized direction and editorial tone for the Ford-sponsored web channel, Tu Voz, establishes the site as the reflection and voice of contemporary U.S. Hispanic women.. With editorial and resources strongly driven and inspired by user-generated content, Tu Voz is centered on the real life challenges, goals, obstacles and opportunities experienced by today’s digitally savvy Latina. Visitors to the site will be encouraged to share their stories of inspiration, perseverance, and hardship to empower other users to shape the online conversation to reflect their day-to-day lives.
“Latinas are strong, expressive women that have a deep, cultural need to connect with their peers. It’s a way for them to assess where they are and what they need in life to move ahead,” said Marcela Sarmiento, assistant programming manager for AOL Latino and editorial director for Tu Voz. “We want to lift and celebrate their aspirations and accomplishments by letting them drive the conversation to inspire others. Tu Voz is the destination where they can do that.”

One of the focal points of the site will be the Mujeres Como Yo section, which will feature blogs of real women excelling in one of the five key content areas of Tu Voz: finance, career and education, health, lifestyle and automotive. Also featured in Mujeres Como Yo will be real life celebrity stories of triumph and courage and a series of video ‘makeover’ stories where the Tu Voz coaches advise readers via personal interactions on how to take actionable next steps to overcome the day-to-day challenges or struggles they are facing in achieving their goals. Mujeres Como Yo uses the collective experiences of the site’s users as shared sources of empowerment.

Tu Voz site enhancements now feature more prominent presence of its lifestyle consejeras (coaches) with twice weekly blogs from each on specific areas of expertise. Leading favorites in the lineup will continue to include: Dr. Aliza Lifshitz, doctor, author, health reporter and editor-in-chief of VidaySalud.com directing Tu Voz’ Bienestar content (health and well being); Mariela Dabbah, author and accomplished speaker, coaching on Exito (success); and Maria Ines Ferre, radio and television personality coaching on Dinero (money and finance).

The Tu Voz team of coaches welcomes two new additions to the lineup. Serving as the new Vive Más (lifestyle) coach is Barbara Palacios, former Miss Universe, motivational coach and author of La Belleza de Saber Vivir. Palacios provides lifestyle coaching tips and tools on living life to the fullest. And in the area of automotive, Tu Voz is also pleased to welcome blogger Johanna Torres, creator of www.miblogazine.com, and former editor-in-chief of Siempre Mujer Magazine as the leading voice of Al Volante (Behind the Steering Wheel).

"There's a gap in the marketplace in reaching Latinas in a meaningful way, and we're happy to be filling that gap," said David Rodriguez, Multicultural Marketing, Ford Motor Company. "Tu Voz provides an empowering platform for Latinas in the U.S. and it also allows us to tell our brand story in a relatable way. And this year, with the addition of Johanna Torres, we're glad to be putting a face to the Al Volante section. Johanna will help bring a real perspective on how autos fit into the lives of Latinas."

To complement the insights of the lifestyles coaches, Tu Voz will extend its network of Latina blogger communities to create a featured presence of bloguera spotlights and themed Twitter parties to impart tips, trends and motivational support to women. Facebook efforts will be integrated into the Tu Voz’ Instant Win Contest which invites users to submit their tips to be featured in real-time on http://www.tuvozentuvida.com/ for an opportunity to win a variety of prizes.

These changes will ensure Tu Voz will stay true to the mission of reflecting the authentic voice of the U.S. Hispanic woman.

About AOL Latino
AOL Latino captures the authentic voices and views of the contemporary US Hispanic community. A leading online destination for U.S. Hispanics, the site provides comprehensive bilingual content including U.S. and Latin American news, the latest in music, entertainment, personal finance, sports, fashion and beauty, as well as access to all the existing content available across the AOL network of sites.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 164,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit http://www.ford.com/.

DIRECTV Más™ Features Latina Megastar Lucero in Dynamic New Ad Campaign

2011-04-26T13:46:00.000-07:00

The ‘Vamos Por Más’ Advertising Campaign will Run Throughout 2011

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DIRECTV Más is launching a new ad campaign featuring Lucero, the popular Latina musician and actress. The campaign, Vamos Por Más, features Lucero in a series of television, print and web ads that will be presented throughout the year.

The Vamos Por Más campaign highlights the superior programming and entertainment experience that sets DIRECTV Más apart from the competition. The campaign showcases some of the benefits that DIRECTV Más offers Hispanics in the U.S., such as news and shows directly from our customers’ home countries and the very best in technology.

“DIRECTV is thrilled to partner with Lucero on this new ad campaign,” said Jon Gieselman, senior vice president of Advertising and Public Relations for DIRECTV. “Lucero is an icon in the Hispanic community, and we felt her personality was the perfect fit for our brand and for this campaign.”

“I’m proud to be a part of the Vamos Por Más campaign, which talks about what it takes to succeed and that in order to get ahead, you always have to give your best,” said Lucero. “That’s why I love the message of this new campaign. We, as Hispanics, are fighters and always think of ways to give more than expected. That’s what DIRECTV Más offers as the best in its category. It clearly shows the commitment DIRECTV has with the U.S. Hispanic community.”

Lucero is an award-winning actress and singer from Mexico, who began her career as “Lucerito” when she was a young girl. In 2006, Lucero was the first Hispanic to win an Emmy Award®. Now, she has spent more than 30 years entertaining audiences around the world through her albums and concerts, as well as her performances in popular telenovelas and films. Lucero recently launched the hit new single, Esta Vez La Primera Soy Yo, from her newest album, Indispensable. To connect with Lucero, fans can visit her website at http://www.lucero.com.mx/.

DIRECTV Más provides access to more than 60 Spanish-language channels* including top programming from countries including México, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Perú, Chile, Venezuela, Spain, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panamá, Nicaragua and more, along with access to more than 235 English-language channels of DIRECTV® programming. DIRECTV Más also offers more soccer than any other cable or satellite provider. To request more information, please visit http://www.directvmas.com/ or call 1-888-288-1145.

*Includes English-Language broadcast channels with alternate Spanish audio.

About DIRECTV:
DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV) is the world’s largest pay TV provider delivering the premiere video experience through state-of-the-art technology, unmatched programming and industry leading customer service to more than 28 million customers in the U.S. and Latin America. In the U.S., DIRECTV offers its 19.2 million customers access to more than 160 HD channels and Dolby-Digital® 5.1 theater-quality sound (when available), access to exclusive sports programming such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET™, award winning technology like its DIRECTV® DVR Scheduler and higher customer satisfaction than the leading cable companies for ten years running. DIRECTV Latin America, through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and other Latin American countries, leads the pay-TV category in technology, programming and service, delivering an unrivaled digital television experience to 9 million customers. DIRECTV sports and entertainment properties include three Regional Sports Networks (Northwest, Rocky Mountain and Pittsburgh) as well as a 65 percent interest in Game Show Network. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please call 1-800-DIRECTV or visit directv.com.

Businesses and celebrities unite for St. Jude’s Gala por la Vida in New York, April 28th - Few tickets left!

2011-04-22T12:50:00.001-07:00

NEW YORK, NY (April 22nd, 2011) – The leadership and influence of recognized Latino business professionals, celebrities and executives in New York has set the tone for the launch of the second annual “Gala por la Vida” (Gala for Life) event, a night of hope for children who are suffering from cancer and other catastrophic diseases at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, the nation’s top children’s cancer hospital. The gala will take place on April 28, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at the exclusive Angel Orensanz Foundation Center for the Arts in New York. This year, the gala will honor prominent minority-owned business and non-profit leader George A. Zeppenfeldt-Cestero, President and CEO of the National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on Health, for his commitment and dedication to improving the lives of minority groups in the healthcare community. Well-known local news personality, Sandra O’Neill, from Univision 41 will host the evening’s event.

“The members of the committee are putting forth their best resources and contacts to provide hope to the thousands of children who need treatment at St. Jude,” said Liliana Gil, chair of the Gala por la Vida committee and XL Alliance Managing Partner. The committee counts on the generous support of dedicated volunteers such as Chris Valletta, ex NFL player and former cast member of the NBC’s “The Apprentice”; Cesar Camacho, the event's creative director and producer; fashion consultant Valentina Henao, Karen Hoyos, Mark Antonacci, Carlos Vasallo, David A. Chitel, Karla Micalizzi, Diane Rankin, Gabriela Nevez, Michael A. Fernandez, Kelly Ramirez, Martha Llamoza, Mary C. Miqueli, Monica Dias, Warren Peña, Gabriela Poler, Jesús Maldonado and Windy Lopez.

The gala will include an exclusive fashion show by renowned Colombo-Venezuelan designer Raul Peñaranda. Peñaranda, who has worked with world-renowned fashion houses, including Oscar de la Renta, Kellwood and Tommy Hilfiger, will be showing his Fall 2011 collection at the Gala por la Vida. The exclusive fashion show will be sponsored by Vanidades magazine and styled by Camilo Vergara.

“We want to help St. Jude in their continuous quest in helping children fight cancer and our participation in this year’s Gala allows us to be a part of their worthy cause especially as it relates to the Hispanic community,” said Madelin Bosakewich, US and International Sales Director of Televisa Publishing + Digital.

The gala’s 300 guests will enjoy an unforgettable evening accompanied by top Latin music and television stars, and New York’s philanthropic community as they walk the red carpet. The evening’s events will include silent and live auctions featuring items like a personal donation from Gala por la Vida’s supporter, John Leguizamo, who has donated a personal backstage experience to his new Broadway show, Ghetto Klown.

Live performances will feature recording artist Fragancia, former member of the group DLG, new bachata sensation Yunel Cruz and as well as entertainment by DJ Kazzanova, from Univision Radio’s x96.3. Guests will also taste a menu exclusively designed for the gala by Salvadorian celebrity chef and Food Network star Ricardo Cardona. Some of the participating sponsors include Shoprite, Vanidades, Univision, Johnnie Walker, Wines of Argentina, MISSION Athlete Care, Starlite Media, The Kimball Family Foundation, Toma Vodka, Hispanolia Rum, d’expósito & Partners, XL Alliance, among others.

Thanks to events like Gala por la Vida, St. Jude is able to continue providing lifesaving medical treatments to children fighting cancers like leukemia, regardless of a family’s inability to pay. For more information on purchasing tickets to the gala, sponsorships or donating silent auction items, please contact (212) 239-3239 or visit www.stjude.org/galaporlavida. This year, we also ask the community to take part in a text messaging campaign benefiting St. Jude by texting the word “VIDA” to 90999 to donate $10 for the children of St. Jude.

Celebrate Cinco With Aaron Sanchez in Your Home

2011-04-18T12:22:00.000-07:00

Cacique® & Chef Sanchez Offer Authentic Recipes and a Chance for the Food Network Star to Cook in the Kitchen of One Lucky Winner

INDUSTRY, CA--(Marketwire - April 14, 2011) - Tacos, burritos, enchiladas -- thanks to the burgeoning Hispanic population and the popularity of Mexican fast-food joints -- they've blanketed the United States. As many Mexican cuisine aficionados lament, however, ubiquity does not always translate to auténtico. Fear not another Cinco de Mayo celebration with substandard chips and taquitos. This time around, America's favorite Mexican Chef, Aarón Sánchez, owner of New York's Centrico and Tacombi restaurants and of Chefs vs. City, Chopped and Next Iron Chef fame has partnered with Cacique®, the country's largest Hispanic cheese, cream and chorizo maker, to bring exquisite auténtico Mexican recipes that will delight and impress the most discerning Mexican cuisine connoisseur.

"Some of the foods I see served on Cinco de Mayo aren't even authentic Mexican dishes," says Sánchez, the son of celebrated Mexican cooking authority Zarela Martínez. "That's why I'm partnering with Cacique®. With my recipes and the fresh, authentic ingredients Cacique® offers, we can bring auténtico back. From empanadas to sopes, you'll be proud to entertain in your home, the way it was meant to be!"

Exclusively prepared for Cacique®, Sánchez' Cinco de Mayo menu features the versatility of the queso fresco as the central ingredient in every course from botanas (appetizers) to dessert. Queso fresco, which means "fresh cheese," is a staple on kitchen tables across Mexico. Its fresh milk flavor and crumbly texture uniquely balances hearty, sometimes spicy Mexican dishes. The brand's variety of queso frescos, which include Queso Fresco and Queso Panela, brings out the auténtico flavor and texture to Sánchez' culinary creations.

Available on http://www.caciqueusa.com/ and www.facebook.com/caciquebrand, Sánchez' Cinco de Mayo menu includes a "Cinco for Cinco" botanas menu, a refreshing Queso Panela salad, a savory tortilla soup, a classic enchilada entrée and a capirotada or bread pudding dessert. The botanas alone can satisfy everyone in your party: choose from empanadas de queso, chipotle pulled pork tacos, shrimp aguachile tostaditas, stuffed sweet chiles and fresh corn and chorizo sopes. At the center of each dish is the queso fresco.

"Queso fresco is the most popular cheese in Mexico and is a favorite ingredient of mine," says Sánchez. "I use it in my restaurants and it is the key ingredient to make your Cinco de Mayo celebration auténtico."

Getting these auténtico gourmet recipes is not the only reason for visiting and liking Cacique® USA's Facebook page. From Apr. 13 to Aug. 31, 2011, the company is conducting a sweepstakes that will allow one lucky Facebook friend to have Sánchez "crash and cook" at the winner's very own kitchen! All that visitors have to do is visit www.facebook.com/caciquebrand and like the Cacique® Brand page. If the page reaches 5,000 "likes" by Cinco de Mayo, the company will send Sánchez to the grand prize winner's home.

For more information on Sánchez' Cinco de Mayo recipes and to "like" the Cacique® Brand Facebook page, visit http://www.caciqueusa.com/ or www.facebook.com/caciquebrand.

About Cacique®
For nearly four decades, authenticity, integrity, family pride and tradition have made Cacique® the largest Hispanic cheese brand in the U.S. Cacique® has combined old-world traditions with new world technologies proudly creating the Cacique® family of products, which includes fresh and aged traditional cheeses, creams, chorizos and beverages to provide customers with high quality, authentic products made with traditional ingredients they have come to know and enjoy.

For more information about the Cacique® authentic line of natural Hispanic products, please visit http://www.caciqueusa.com/ or call (800) 521-6987 or (626) 937-3505.

About Chef Aarón Sánchez
Aarón Sánchez is the co-star of Food Network's exciting new series, Chefs vs. City, and is the owner and executive chef of restaurants Centrico and Tacombi, both located in New York City. The son of celebrated Mexican cooking authority Zarela Martinez, Aarón's passion, commitment and skills have placed him among the country's leading contemporary Latin Chefs.

L'Oreal Paris Announces the Sixth Annual Women of Worth Awards - Call For Nominations Begins April 11th

2011-04-14T17:46:00.000-07:00

Honoring Extraordinary Women Dedicated to Volunteerism and Community

Nominate a Woman of Worth: April 11 - June 30 at http://www.womenofworth.com/

NEW YORK, April 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- L'Oreal Paris is thrilled to announce the opening of the 2011 Women of Worth nomination period. Now in its sixth year, the Women of Worth program is searching for inspiring women, selfless givers and outstanding achievers to be recognized for their hard work and dedication to charitable programs and volunteerism in their communities.

WOMEN OF WORTH PROGRAM

The Women of Worth initiative is inspired by L'Oreal Paris' iconic brand philosophy, "Because You're Worth It." Each honoree should embody the spirit of the L'Oreal Paris brand through their commitment to their cause, their drive to create a change in the world and their beautiful spirit.

"L'Oreal Paris is excited to celebrate its Women of Worth program for the sixth consecutive year. We look forward to discovering and honoring extraordinary and inspiring women who are making a difference in their communities through volunteerism," said L'Oreal Paris President Karen Fondu.

NOMINATIONS

Nominations for the Women of Worth program are open from today (April 11th) through June 30th at womenofworth.com. Nominate yourself, a friend, a family member or anyone you know who's making a difference by volunteering.

PAST HONOREES

Past honorees have dedicated themselves to providing relief and raising awareness among a broad range of causes, including hunger, homelessness, lack of healthcare and education, to name a few.

RECOGNITION

Ten incredible honorees will be chosen for their significant contributions. Each honoree receives $10,000 for her charitable cause. One National Honoree will be chosen via a public online vote and will receive an additional $25,000 for her charity. All ten honorees will be recognized and the National Honoree will be announced at an awards ceremony and dinner hosted by Hearst Magazines and L'Oreal Paris in New York City.

For more information about the Women of Worth Program, nomination applications and previous honoree bios, please visit womenofworth.com.

ABOUT L'OREAL PARIS

The L'Oreal Paris division of L'Oreal USA, Inc. is a total beauty care company that combines the latest technology with the highest in quality for the ultimate in luxury beauty at mass. The L'Oreal Paris brand encompasses the four major beauty categories -- haircolor, haircare, skincare and cosmetics -- and includes such well-known brands as Preference, Excellence, Feria and Healthy Look haircolor; Elnett Satin Hairspray, EverPure, EverStrong, EverSleek, VIVE Pro, Studio Line and L'Oreal Kids haircare; Youth Code, Revitalift, Age Perfect, Ideal Skin Genesis, Collagen, Sublime Bronze and Men's Expert skincare; and the Colour Riche, True Match, Infallible, Bare Naturale and Studio Secrets Professional cosmetics collections, along with a portfolio of mascara including Voluminous, Double Extend and Telescopic among many others.

For more information on L'Oreal Paris and its brands, and to get comprehensive, personalized beauty information from the experts, visit www.lorealparis.com for access to unique content and dynamic interactive features, including the exclusive "Can I Help You" diagnostic tool.

SOURCE L'Oreal Paris

Liliana Gil, one of two Colombians selected by the World Economic Forum as 2011 Young Global Leader

2011-04-12T08:03:00.001-07:00

April 11th, 2011
The World Economic Forum, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and its exclusive community of Young Global Leaders have announced the class of 2011 Young Global Leaders.

Each year, the World Economic Forum identifies 200-300 extraordinary individuals worldwide. Together, they form a powerful international community that can dramatically impact the global future. Nominated under 40, these young leaders are proposed through a qualified nomination process and assessed according to rigorous selection criteria that creates a diverse and truly representative body, while accepting only the very best leaders who have already demonstrated their commitment to serving society at large.

After tracking and monitoring over 5,000 candidates worldwide, Liliana Gil was selected by a committee chaired by Queen Rania of Jordan and prominent business leaders, politicians and media leaders who appointed a select group of 190 Young Global Leaders.

Liliana is one of two Colombians, next to Juan Carlos Pinzón Bueno, chief of staff to the President of Colombia, and one of 17 from Latin-American, who was hand selected to join this elite group of business and community leaders. She joins a select group of honorees that represent the future of leadership, coming from all regions of the world and representing business, government, civil society, arts & culture, academia and media, as well as social entrepreneurs.

Watch David Aikman, head of the Forum of Young Global Leaders, talk about this year's selection.

The YGL class of 2011 is composed of 190 Young Global Leaders from 65 countries and all stakeholders of society (business, civil society, social entrepreneurs, politics and government, arts and culture, and opinion and media). The new class represents all regions: East Asia (50), South Asia (18), Europe (42), Middle East and North Africa (13), sub-Saharan Africa (14), North America (36) and Latin America (17). This year's selection has more gender parity than ever, with 44% women.

"I am honored and humbled to be part of this select group of young leaders. More than ever, I now feel responsible, yet empowered, to amplify both social and business priorities that impact my home country Colombia and the Latino community in the U.S." says Gil. "To this day I am not sure how the nomination process came about.but, it is great to see that all the hard-work and passion I've been sharing all these years, has caught the attention of global leaders at the World Economic Forum."

After a prominent career that made her one of the youngest executives at Johnson & Johnson, Liliana is now an entrepreneur, media contributor and co-founder of XL Alliance, a unique Cultural Marketing & Consulting firm that focuses on advising corporate leaders and businesses to better reach the fast growing multicultural market, particularly Latinos, in America.

About the World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Incorporated as a not-for-profit foundation in 1971, and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Forum is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. http://www.weforum.org/

LULAC National Women's Commission Honors NHCSL President Senator Iris Y. Martinez for Community Leadership

2011-04-08T08:50:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, April 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- NHCSL President, Senator Iris Y. Martinez (IL.) will receive the LULAC Community Leadership Award at the LULAC Women's Conference April 9th, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. Selected by the conference host committee and LULAC women's commission, the award recognizes exemplars of community leadership and dedication to the empowerment of Latinas and the broader community. The Senator is being honored for her leadership in the area of government.

"Senator Martinez is an outstanding Latina legislator who fights for the Latino community – and her wealth of accomplishments in her state and at the national level, leading the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators and so many other activities, makes her well-deserving of this award," said LULAC National Executive Director, Brent Wilkes.

"We honor the Senator's commitment to women, her passionate commitment to her community, and her inspiration to Latinas everywhere," said Rose Mary Bombella, LULAC Illinois State Director.

"I am honored and humbled to be recognized by LULAC's Latina leaders – especially a group of leaders that works so hard to realize equality for our sisters and brothers everywhere," said Senator Iris Y. Martinez, NHCSL President.

The award will be conferred during the conference, at the Breakfast and Recognition of Community Leaders. This year, LULAC is celebrating their 82nd year of serving the Latino community in the areas of education, civil rights, and employment. The LULAC Women's Council has been in existence since February 22, 1934, and began in El Paso, Texas.

About NHCSL
The NHCSL is the premier national association of Hispanic state legislators working to design and implement policies and procedures that will improve the quality of life for Hispanics throughout the country. NHCSL was founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) with the mission to be the most effective voice for the more than 300 Hispanic legislators. http://www.nhcsl.org/.

ABOUT LULAC
LULAC is the largest and oldest Hispanic Organization in the United States. LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 880 LULAC councils nationwide. The organization involves and serves all Hispanic nationality groups. http://www.lulac.org/.

SOURCE NHCSL-National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators

Bloomberg Sports, ESPN Deportes, Soccer United Marketing, NFL, and NBA executives to be among speakers at LatinVision’s “Marketing to Latinos Sports” conference, April 7 in New York

2011-04-05T08:35:00.001-07:00

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)—LatinVision Media Inc., a New York based organizer of conferences and networking events focused on marketing to U.S. Hispanics and Latin American executives, today announced its second annual “Sports” conference.

The event will be held at The Harvard Club in New York City on April 7, 2011. The speakers will address sports marketing issues relevant to the Hispanic community and will discuss best practices to reach Hispanic consumers using sports multimedia platforms.

"Sports is one of the most attractive and effective industries to reach Latinos consumers. No marketer can ignore the fact, the U.S. Hispanic consumer is one of the fastest growing markets in the nation with more than $1 trillion in purchasing power,“ said Carlos Vassallo, CEO of Latin Media Inc.

“In an ever-changing Latin market place marketers must stay on top of current topics and trends as well as success stories and best practices of current players who successfully are leveraging and taking advantage of this Latino passion.”

The one-day conference will feature a morning-evening format, with the morning session bearing the panels and presentations from 8:00 AM until 12.45PM, an afternoon session, and after work from 6PM to 8:30PM, designated for networking and one-on-one exchanges.

The panel presentations will be streamed live to Latin America, Spain and Portugal by LatinVision’s partner NetStairs and promoted in English, Spanish and Portuguese by partners Business Wire and Business Wire’s LatinoWire.

The panelist Lineup includes:

Chris Russo, CEO, Big Lead Sports
Bill Squadron, Sports Chief, Bloomberg Sports
Anthony Eros, Founder, Eros Company
Michelle Bella, VP Marketing, ESPN Deportes
Marcus Jimenez, Partner / Principal, Huemanitas
Hugo Hernandez, Director Sports Initiatives, Impremedia
Seneca Mudd, Director, Interactive Advertising Bureau
Carlos Vassallo, CEO, LatinVision Media
Jean Jimenez, Business Development & Sales, Mobile Messaging Solutions
Saskia Sorrosa, Senior Director of US Hispanic Marketing, NBA
Manuel Garcia, Director Latino Affairs, New York Yankees
Alvaro Saralegui, SVP, NFL
Oscar Allain, Account Director, Multicultural Marketing, Octagon
Javier Farfan, Director of Cultural Branding at PepsiCo, Pepsico
Juan Delgado, Managing Director North America, Perform Group
Chris Lencheski, Founder & CEO, Phoenicia Sport & Entertainment
Joseph Schramm, Managing Partner, Schramm Marketing Group
Russell Findlay, Chief Marketing Officer, Soccer United Marketing
Vicente Navarro, Director of Hispanic Marketing, Sports Endeavors, Inc.
Liz Sarachek Blacker, Chief Revenue Officer, Terra Networks
Daniel Traver, Director of Business Development, Traver Hispanic Marketing Group

For more information about the conference, to register and sponsor: www.latinvision.com/conference/sports and http://www.latinvision.com/conference/sports/sponsors.pdf

To learn more about LatinVision Media 2011 Conferences Series: www.latinvision.com/marketing

About LatinVision Media
LatinVision Media, Inc. is a New York-based company that operates business portals targeting U.S. Hispanic and Latin American entrepreneurs, business owners, executives and professionals in small and medium-sized companies. LatinVision portals include: http://www.latinvision.com/; www.latinvision.com/finance; www.latinvision.com/jobs; www.latinvision.com/digital among others. For more information: http://tinyurl.com/LatinVision

About Business Wire
Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2011 as the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure. Public relations and investor relations professionals rely on Business Wire for both broad-based and targeted market reach. A recognized disclosure service in the United States, Canada and a dozen European countries, Business Wire handles XBRL tagging, document formatting and regulatory filing into EDGAR, SEDAR and other systems. Business Wire provides online newsroom hosting and integration services as well as search engine optimization, mobile distribution and detailed measurement on every press release. Its patented NX delivery platform provides simultaneous full-text posting of Business Wire content to news systems and websites in virtually any country or language. With 32 bureaus worldwide, Business Wire offers local service and global reach.

Learn more at BusinessWire.com and the BusinessWired blog; follow updates on Twitter: @businesswire or on Facebook.

About NetStairs.com
NetStairs® celebrates its 10th anniversary. Since 2000, the company has pioneered and built open standard media infrastructures and platforms for ad agencies, global brands, publishers, TV stations, broadcasters, event promoters, content aggregators, and enterprises with CMS Web 2.0 / Web 3.0 sought solutions. As an intelligent media delivery enabler, NetStairs platforms are founded on industry standards with focus on interactive, live, on demand, and streaming protocols. For more information, visit: http://www.netstairs.com/.

Latina Leaders Launch National Initiative to Shatter Stereotypes About Hispanics

2011-03-22T13:18:00.000-07:00

Venture Provides Venue for Showcasing Smart Latinas

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To commemorate and amplify the countless contributions of Hispanic women, two Charlotte, North Carolina residents, Deborah Aguiar-Velez andRaquel Velez, launched Escuchame.org. The nationally recognized Latina engineers and mother and daughter team created Escuchame (Spanish for "Listen up!") as an effort to organize, showcase, and promote Latinas as experts at the national and international levels. The site is fully bilingual in English and Spanish.

With approximately 8 million Hispanic women in the labor force impacting all sectors of the U.S. economy, Latinas are playing historical roles and breaking significant barriers. They are starting businesses at a record pace, rising to key leadership positions, and helping communities flourish across the nation. In addition, Latinas are key consumer decision makers and wage earners in the Hispanic community, which has a projected buying power of approximately $1.3 trillion by 2015.

"This venture comes at a pivotal time when more Latinas are discovering and embracing their voice and influence. Our mission is to change the negative stereotypes about Hispanics, and there is no better way to do that than by showcasing successful, knowledgeable women who are positively contributing to this nation," said Co-founder and Chief Executive Producer Deborah Aguiar-Velez. "We are in the midst of a Latina Renaissance. We are proud to launch Escuchame.org with Smart Latinas who represent professional diversity and a lot of talent," added Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Raquel Velez.

Escuchame.org is debuting with top Latinas from across the country, including Cristina Cassidy, Producer and Documentary Filmmaker from North Carolina, and Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, Rutgers UniversityDistinguished Professor and LEAP Academy University Charter School Founder from New Jersey.

The inspiration for Escuchame.org came in 2009 during Aguiar-Velez's first training week at the National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI) Executive Leadership Program. As part of the award-winning and highly competitive leadership training course, each fellow designs a leadership project to impact their communities. Escuchame.org is Aguiar-Velez's leadership project.

Interested participants can easily join the Escuchame community as Community Members for free, or apply to be a Featured Expert for a nominal fee through the site. Community Members receive unlimited access to videos, articles, and Featured Experts. The Escuchame.org community helps Latinas build their brand, share their knowledge, and profit from their expertise.

Deborah Aguiar-Velez has a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico. She has been president and CEO of Sistemas Corporation, an engineering firm, since 1983. In addition to serving on a corporate board in the financial industry, Aguiar-Velez is the 2011 Girl Scouts, Hornets' Nest Council's Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Woman of Distinction. She travels across the country to speak on a variety of topics including entrepreneurship and financial independence. She has spoken at a variety of institutions, including Harvard University, Princeton University, Smith College, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Raquel Velez graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 2007, where she was the recipient of the prestigious Mabel Beckman Prize. She is a technology expert, with 8 years of experience as a robotics engineer in the United States, Germany, and Italy. Velez speaks five languages and has worked at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the MIT Lincoln Laboratory.

For more information about the Escuchame community, visit http://www.escuchame.org/ or contact Raquel Velez at 704-350-5271 or raquel@escuchame.org.

This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com/.

SOURCE Escuchame.org

A Breakdown of Birth in the USA, Infographic by Pop Jolly.

2011-03-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

With an ever rising population, the USA spends approximately $50 million per year on childbirth services, which is the most money spent on this out of any country in the world. 1% of these births are to mothers aged 10-19. Yes, 10 year olds are having children. Our friends at Ultrasound Technician have crunched the numbers and put the visual data together in this nice infographic aptly titled “A Breakdown of Birth in the USA.”

Via: Ultrasound Technician

With an ever rising population, the USA spends approximately $50 million per year on childbirth services, which is the most money spent on this out of any country in the world. 1% of these births are to mothers aged 10-19. Yes, 10 year olds are having children. Our friends at Ultrasound Technician have crunched the numbers and put the visual data together in this nice infographic aptly titled “A Breakdown of Birth in the USA.”, Infographic by Pop Jolly

2011-03-18T13:21:00.001-07:00

Antonio Corral-Calero, Moroccanoil Artistic Director, Designs Runway Hair Looks for Miami Beach International Fashion Week

2011-03-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., March 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A focal point of Miami Beach International Fashion Week, March 3-6, 2011, held at the Miami Convention Center this year, were the masterful runway hair looks created by Antonio Corral-Calero, Moroccanoil Artistic Director. Fashion designers from the US and throughout Latin America were represented. Moroccanoil was presenting sponsor of the event.

Corral-Calero designed a virtuoso collection of beautiful runway hair looks for collections including evening, pret-a-porter, swimwear and lingerie as well as looks for the Miami Designer and Latin Fashion Council showcases. Highlights included elegant updos, innovative chignons and glamorous longer styles. All reflected the growing runway and editorial trend towards smoother, shinier and well-conditioned hair textures.

Antonio Corral-Calero, who came to Miami after New York Fashion Week, where Moroccanoil® products were used by top runway stylists to create runway looks for leading Fall/Winter 2011 collections, noted, "We're seeing a movement toward smoother, shinier hair, regardless of the styles worn. In Miami, the humidity and intense sun can leave hair dry, frizzy and difficult to style. For these shows, to make sure the hair looked its best quickly, we first used Moroccanoil® Treatment on the models' hair to hydrate, restore condition and strength, remove frizz, as well as to protect it from the stress of the blowdryer, curling iron, brushing and backcombing. Our other essentials were Moroccanoil® Hydrating Styling Cream, Moroccanoil® Luminous Hairspray, and Moroccanoil® Glimmer Shine Spray to finish."

One of the most dramatic hair looks on the runway was a series of innovative chignons inspired by portraits by famed Spanish artist Julio Romero de Torres, as remembered by Antonio Corral-Calero during his childhood in Barcelona. The gleaming, side-parted looks featured hair that was swept over and covered the ear in a subtle wave pattern on one side, and then pulled back and styled in smooth, rolled layers of hair that formed unique, very modern designs in the shape of a sea shell.

Beautiful, full-bodied waved looks also energized the runway. "My inspiration was the freedom of the 70s and the sensuality of 60's French film siren Bridget Bardot. I wanted the hair to look very LA and Miami, and very sexy," said Antonio.

To make the look even more editorial, Antonio separated and styled the ends of the hair so they appeared almost ragged. Of course, in reality, we used Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream to make sure they looked richly hydrated and healthy," noted Antonio.

For swimsuit and lingerie, Antonio created long, waved, side-swept looks, smoothed on one side, with hair rope-rolled from the side of head and under the nape of the neck and flowing loose waves falling down the back of hair as well as forward. "I had the glamorous allure of mermaids in mind when we created these looks: very sensual and elegant."

All the looks were beautifully held with Moroccanoil® Luminous Hairspray, for hold that was movable, soft to the touch and natural looking. "This product gives beautiful natural-looking shine and a healthy texture, which also helped finish the look. I finished all the looks with a light misting of Moroccanoil® Glimmer Shine Spray before the girls went out on the runway.

The ponytails seen were sleek and sophisticated. The sides of the hair were sleeked back and smoothed with Moroccanoil® Treatment and Moroccanoil® Hydrating Styling Cream. They were tied above the nape of the neck and wrapped with a section of the hair around the base. The top of the head was sprayed with Moroccanoil® Luminous Hairspray, to give the hair a wet appearance. The tail was then smoothed straight with a flat iron, and sprayed with Moroccanoil® Glimmer Shine Spray for dramatic, mirror-line shine that reflected in the runway lights.

Moroccanoil® products are sold exclusively in salons. http://www.moroccanoil.com/

SOURCE Moroccanoil

Digital Motherhood: Top 5 Things Latina Moms Use Technology For

2011-03-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

by My Latino Voice

What do moms do with all this technology? We recently read about a mom who twitted throughout her entire delivery. Yes, her family around the country suffered every contraction, push and, finally, experienced the moment of joy with her. Motherhood today: it's a digital family affair.

Rather than stress over all the competing technologies, moms today, and especially the working moms we talked to, integrate their daily mom/family and work needs into a seamless digital life. "It's easier that way," we heard over and over again.

But how "digital" is it? We decided to ask a number of moms to give us their top 5 list of tech/digital activities related to "motherhood."

Read full article

Cristina Saralegui Joins Twitter

2011-03-11T06:42:00.001-08:00

You can follow her tweets @CristinaOpina (www.twitter.com/CristinaOpina)

MIAMI, March 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- After more than three decades as a journalist--first in print and then on television, Cristina Saralegui joins the growing number of celebrities to embrace the Twitter phenomenon. "I consider myself to be a communicator and this is the newest platform to get your message out," commented Cristina. "Now, let's see if I can learn to do it with 140 characters or less!"

Saralegui is not new to the social media world having joined Facebook last year. In fact, new followers can learn how to win one of her Casa Cristina bedding collections available exclusively at Sears and Kmart stores nationwide as well as Puerto Rico by going to www.facebook.com/cristinasaralegui and registering at the "enter to win" tab.

About Cristina Saralegui
Twelve–time Emmy® award winning Cristina is one of the most recognizable and trusted names in the Hispanic community. Time magazine selected her as one of the "25 Most Influential Hispanics in America" and Home Furnishings News (HFN) Magazine named her one of the "50 Most Influential People in Design and Home Furnishings." For 21 years Cristina was the host and executive producer of "The Cristina Show" one of the highest rated programs on Spanish-language television. In 2004, Cristina created the Casa Cristina® Collection, the first complete collection of home furnishings inspired by her personal style. To date, the Casa Cristina® Collection is comprised of home decor, accent furniture, dinnerware, lighting, bedding, bath and mattresses. The Casa Cristina bed and bath collection are available exclusively at Sears and Kmart stores across the country. For more information: www.facebook.com/cristinasaralegui, www.twitter.com/CristinaOpina (@CristinaOpina), http://www.cristinaonline.com/.

SOURCE CSE

Walmart Commits More Than $2.5 Million to Empower Women in Latin America

2011-03-10T07:14:00.000-08:00

BENTONVILLE, Ark., March 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- The Walmart Foundation is committing more than $2.5 million in grants to projects aimed at improving the lives of women in Latin America. Through the Latin America Women's Initiative, projects funded in six countries will help empower more than 9,000 women, building their capacity to rise out of poverty, support their families and improve their communities.

"We believe that when women achieve economic empowerment, their voices are also empowered," said Eduardo Solorzano, President and CEO of Walmart Latinoamerica. "So not only will they be able to create more stable futures for their families, they will play transformational roles in bettering the lives of women and children across Latin America."

This initiative is part of Walmart's broader efforts to improve economic opportunities for women around the world. The organizations and programs receiving funding from the Walmart Foundation are:

Pro Mujer: $300,000 will allow Pro Mujer to expand its footprint into two new regions within Argentina, reaching more than 3,900 women with its integrated package of services, including microfinance; business and empowerment training; preventative health education and high-quality, low-cost primary healthcare.
TechnoServe: More than $485,000 will allow TechnoServe to provide 750 Nicaraguan women the financial skills, support and networks needed to reach their full potential as business leaders.
CHF International: Nearly $500,000 will help CHF increase the incomes of 200 vulnerable women in four Honduran municipalities by improving their business and legal skills and increasing their engagement in sustainable production value chains.
Save the Children: More than $400,000 will allow Save the Children to work with 3,000 women in San Pedro Masahuat, El Salvador, a municipality heavily-damaged by Hurricane Ida in 2009, to improve production value chains related to poultry and local sweets.
Aid to Artisans: Nearly $490,000 will allow Aid to Artisans to help more than 800 Wayuu women in northern Colombia increase their incomes from handicraft sales by providing business training, product design support, new market development and buyer linkages.
Heifer International: More than $340,000 will help Heifer International provide 700 women in the Peruvian highlands with training in agricultural production, animal health management, soil management and market analysis, helping the women be better positioned to sell their final products.

About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. The Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From Feb. 1, 2009 through Jan. 31, 2010, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation gave more than $512 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally, $467 million of which was donated in the U.S. To learn more, visit http://www.walmartfoundation.org/

SOURCE Walmart Foundation

Latina columnist notes absence of US Latinas on list of notable women

2011-03-10T07:02:00.000-08:00

LatinaLista -- Tuesday, March 8 was International Women's Day. In celebration of the significance of the day, many publications published their lists of outstanding women. One such publication was The Daily Beast that published an interactive slide show entitled "150 Women Who Shake the World."

It was great seeing women represented from all different countries and from all walks of U.S. life. Yet, it becomes apparent, especially when you're looking for it, that there has been a grievous omission -- U.S. Latinas.

Though there are Latinas from South and Central America represented, that is not the same as a Latina who is a U.S. citizen.

Read full article

Kraft Philadelphia® Cooking Creme for the Modern Latina Kitchen

2011-03-03T06:29:00.000-08:00

GLENVIEW, Ill., March 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Today 63.7 percent of all Latina mothers work outside the home. Recognizing how important it is for them to cook flavorful, interesting and easy dishes for their families, Kraft Foods provides the perfect recipe helper with its new Philadelphia Cooking Creme, an easy-to-blend creme that can be effortlessly added to existing recipes.

Philadelphia Cooking Creme helps create fast and simple, yet interesting recipes with rich textures and distinctive flavors. It is excellent for re-energizing leftovers, which helps to ease grocery shopping and save both time and money for the family.

"Our market research shows that Hispanic mothers place a lot of importance on preparing tasty, warm and home-cooked meals for their families," says Howard Friedman, senior vice president of marketing, Cheese and Dairy at Kraft Foods. "Philadelphia Cooking Creme makes this easy, especially during the weekday rush when mom wants to get out of the kitchen quickly to help her children with homework or pursue other interests."

Available in four flavors including Savory Garlic, Original and Santa Fe Blend, Philadelphia Cooking Creme comes pre-seasoned, so no additional spices need to be added. It is so simple and quick to use that even inexperienced chefs can prepare appetizing dishes, from chicken and rice skillets to zesty enchiladas.

Philadelphia Cooking Creme is packaged in easy-to-open 10-ounce tubs and can be found in the cream cheese section at leading grocery stores nationwide in early 2011. For more information, visit http://www.cookphilly.com/.

ABOUT KRAFT FOODS
Northfield, Ill.-based Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT) is a global snacks powerhouse with an unrivaled portfolio of brands people love. Proudly marketing delicious biscuits, confectionery, beverages, cheese, grocery products and convenient meals in approximately 170 countries, Kraft Foods had 2010 revenue of $49.2 billion, more than half of which was earned outside North America. Eleven of the company's iconic brands -- including Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oreo, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia and Trident -- generate revenue of more than $1 billion annually, and 40 have been loved for more than a century. A leader in innovation, marketing, health & wellness and sustainability, Kraft Foods is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Ethibel Sustainability Index. For more information, visit www.kraftfoodscompany.com and www.facebook.com/kraftfoodscorporate.

SOURCE Kraft Foods

Latina Shoppers Examined at M2W® - The Marketing to Women Conference

2011-03-01T07:24:00.000-08:00

Chicago, IL – Feb.1, 2011– “Latina women are the decision makers and influencers of over 80% of all purchases made in U.S. Hispanic households,” according to Jackie Bird, CEO, Redbean Society, LLC, previewing her presentation, “Latina Shoppers Unveiled! The Segmentation of Shopping Behavior Among Latinas” for the 7th annual M2W® - The Marketing to Women Conference, April 13 & 14, 2011 at the Chicago Cultural Center.

“Latina women are a very powerful group as they control the $1.4 Trillion buying power of Hispanic households,” Bird explained. She’ll draw on the findings of the first ever Latina Shopper Study conducted in the US in collaboration between the Redbean Society and New American Dimensions and with the support and sponsorship of top marketers including Pepsico, Sara Lee and VISA.

“The study and my session will help marketers see Latinas in a new light and learn how to strategize and increase their share of Latina purchases. They’ll learn and understand the dynamics of shopping behavior among four distinct Latina shopper archetypes: Exploradoras, Digitalistas, Pragmáticas and Fre$itas. The bottom line is to help marketers improve their targeting criteria and influence more purchases across Hispanic households.”

“M2W® is annually attended by Fortune 1000 senior brand marketing executives who target women. Registration has included companies as diverse as Harley-Davidson, Bayer, Aetna, ESPN, Kraft Foods, Ford, GM, Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg, Diageo, Walgreens, Wells Fargo, NBA, Burton, Ampersand AD, L’Oreal, Kodak, ConAgra and Whirlpool. They attend,” according to Nan McCann, M2W® producer, “because they recognize the importance of reaching women – who control 85 % of all consumer purchasing in virtually every product category.”

Bird will be joined by over 30 other speakers, notably Marti Barletta, President of the TrendSight Group and author of Marketing to Women, Kelley Skoloda, Partner/Director, Global Brand Marketing Practice, Ketchum, and author of Too Busy To Shop: Marketing To Multi- Minding Women, and Wall Street Journal Columnist Jeffery Zaslow, author of The Girls From Ames.

M2W® is presented by Associate Sponsors: Ketchum, PMP, New American Dimensions, Vibrant Nation, General Growth Properties, WE tv, Wedding Central, Passchal and SheSpeaks; Workshop Sponsors: Marketing Drive, Luth Research, Euro RSCG Chicago and Hoffman York; Showcase Sponsors: Carolina Pad, Smudge, Inc., Redbean Society, and Trek Women. Video Journalism Resource: SNiPPiES.

For complete conference schedule and information visit: http://www.m2w.biz/ or call 860.724.2649 x11. M2W® is produced by PME Enterprises LLC, 216 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06106.

Join LATINA Style to Celebrate 13 Years of Empowering Latina Entrepreneurs in Chicago, IL

2011-02-28T11:18:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- LATINA Style Magazine, the premier magazine addressing the needs of the Latina professional and business owner, is proud to kick off the LATINA Style Business Series Tour in Chicago, IL. The event will take place on Thursday, April 14, 2011 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Macy's on State Street located at 111 N. State St. Chicago, IL 60602.

The Business Series, unique to LATINA Style Magazine, is a well known business development program empowering Latina entrepreneurs across the country. Over 28,000 Latina entrepreneurs and professionals have benefited from participating in this exciting and informative one-day business program since its conception in 1998.

The Business Series will showcase expert presenters to speak and interact with the audience. Participants will benefit from workshops and panel discussions about "Business structure including accountability, compliance and financing," "Marketing using traditional and new technology methods of engaging customers," and "Networking." Participants will also learn to look successful with a limited budget from a fashion presentation by Macy's, Inc.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Hispanic community in Illinois now exceeds 1.5 million in population, including nearly, 1 million Hispanics residing in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. As of 2006, over 17,000 Hispanic owned businesses help the state of Illinois generate nearly $3 million in revenue.

Our event co-chairs are dynamic Latina Leaders from Illinois: Diana Palomar Scott, Vice President of Community Affairs for ABC 7 Chicago (WLS-TV), and Gloria Castillo, President of Chicago United, a racially diverse corporate membership organization, which develops programs and advocates policies that build leadership relationships across racial groups to foster conditions of equal access to opportunities in executive level management, corporate governance and supplier diversity. Diana is responsible for guiding the station's public service efforts and on-air PSA campaigns. She works with the non-profit community to help them enhance their media/marketing efforts, resource development and advocacy. As president of Chicago United, Gloria is an advocate for diversity and multicultural unity.

Our 2011 title sponsor, Macy's, has engaged their local cosmetics partner, to showcase an all-day makeover lounge for attendees! Come and pamper yourself, at the Macy's Make-up Lounge and receive tips from local makeup artists on achieving a professional look in the season's best colors. Join Macy's experts, as they share tips and tricks for creating a professional image in the workplace. This must-see seminar focuses on key pieces to enhance your career wardrobe and is sure to put you on the fast track to success.

Take advantage of the discounted registration fee of $45 ($100 at the door). To secure your admission, register online, by Friday, April 8, 2011. Please visit http://bs.latinastyle.com/register.php Fee includes: breakfast, awards luncheon, a gift bag, two-year subscription to LATINA Style Magazine, and the chance to win raffle prizes donated by our sponsors! For more information or to register for the Chicago Business Series, please visit our web at http://www.bs.latinastyle.com/.

LATINA Style Magazine, a lifestyle magazine for the professional Hispanic woman, hosts the LATINA Style Business Series, bringing resources to entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs in the local area.

SOURCE LATINA Style Magazine

The National Hispana Leadership Institute is Accepting Online Applications for New Program Taking Latina College Students to Israel

2011-02-25T11:58:00.000-08:00

Program Designed to Develop Lasting Relationships between Latino and Jewish Communities; Online Applications Now Available

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following a decade of training and developing the next generation of Latina leaders through its unique Washington DC-based program for college-age women, Latinas Learning to Lead (LLL), the National Hispana Leadership Institute, the nation's premier leadership development organization for Latinas, is taking them overseas in a new continuation of the program.

In collaboration with the American Jewish Committee (AJC), a global Jewish advocacy organization, and its educational institute Project Interchange, and The David Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and inspiring strong voices for Israel on campus, NHLI is launching the Building Latino-Jewish Bridges on Campus (BLJBC) program. This pioneering initiative, generously supported by the Bay Area-based MZ Foundation, aims to establish enduring relations between Hispanic and Jewish students.

"This is the first time national organizations are joining to convene Latino and Jewish student leaders to create a coalition on campus in support of mutual interests," said Dina Siegel Vann, Director of AJC's Latino and Latin American Institute.

For its inaugural year, the program will include 24 Latina and Jewish students from Boston University; University of California, Irvine; and University of Texas, Austin. Twelve Latina students will be selected by NHLI and will participate in the five-day Latinas Learning to Lead program along with Latinas from other colleges, directly prior to joining their Jewish classmates for the Building Latino-Jewish Bridges on Campus program. Twelve Jewish students will be selected by The David Project.

All BLJBC students will connect in Washington, DC in June for an intensive weekend to learn together about their communities' histories and priorities. "The orientation program is an excellent venue for students to foster mutual understanding and become aware of the strong case for Latino-Jewish cooperation," said NHLI President Cristina Lopez. Students will also meet with Jewish and Hispanic members of Congress as well as other prominent leaders from both communities.

Immediately following the Washington weekend, the students will travel to Israel for a weeklong seminar organized by AJC's Project Interchange (PI), an educational institute that regularly brings opinion leaders and policy makers to Israel for first-hand exposure to various issues facing Israeli society. The PI program will include themes that strongly resonate in the US Latino experience, such as immigration and integration.

"The Latino and Jewish communities in the United States share the experience of immigration from many nations, strong family ties, and a drive to help the next generation succeed no matter the cost," said PI Executive Director Sam Witkin. "This program will help build a sense of understanding and commonality between these two important communities."

For the Fall semester, the students will develop collaborative programs on their campuses to deepen relations between the two communities. "We hope students will come up with creative activities to mobilize their Jewish and Latino campus peers to further the building of a common Latino-Jewish agenda," said David Bernstein, Executive Director of The David Project.

2011 PROGRAM TIMELINE:

•Thursday, March 31, 2011- Application Deadline
•Early May- Application Notifications
•June 12-17, 2011- Latinas Learning to Lead- Leadership Training, Washington, DC
•June 17-19, 2011- Building Latino-Jewish Bridges on Campus, Part 1, Washington, DC
•June 19-26, 2011-Building Latino-Jewish Bridges on Campus, Part 2, Israel
•June 2011-Fall 2011 Semester/Quarter- Leadership Projects Implemented in Communities
•June 2011 and beyond- Participate in Mentorship Programs

The Latinas Learning to Lead Program promotes and fosters the development of Latina leaders between the ages of 18-24 through training, mentoring opportunities, access to national networks and tools to create greater community impact. The five-day Washington DC leadership training consists of session topics on effective communication and presentation skills, public policy issues affecting the Latino community, and professional and leadership development topics including a Clifton StrengthsFinder session at Gallup University. The twenty-two fellows selected annually are also matched up with a mentor from NHLI's other leadership programs. The LLL fellows in turn mentor at least two younger Latinas and implement a leadership project in their communities. Unlike BLJBC, LLL is open to Latinas from any college or university.

NHLI also offers an annual Executive Leadership Training Conference and Mujer Awards, held this year in Los Angeles, CA (November 2-4); the Executive Leadership Program for mid-career professionals, commencing Feb. 27 in San Juan Bautista, CA; Advancing Latina Leaders in Nonprofits (ALL IN) for emerging professionals in the nonprofit sector and online training seminars.

The National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI) is a national leadership development organization focused on Latina leaders. For more than 20 years, NHLI has developed hundreds of Latina leaders who have gone on to become elected officials, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, executives at non-profits and powerful decision makers. Founded in 1987 to address the disparity of representation of Latinas in leadership, NHLI's mission is to develop Hispanas as ethical leaders through training, professional development, relationship building, and community activism. www.nhli.org.

SOURCE National Hispana Leadership Institute

The New Latina Guide E-Book: Download Your Free Copy!!

2011-02-25T07:08:00.000-08:00

The New Latina Guide to a Fabulous 2011 Year! is now available for download! For free! It is our gift to you, our readers.

Inside, you’ll find 126 pages full of insightful short articles and advice written by a group of 17 talented Latina women (and 1 Latino). Read the wise and inspiring words of a make-up artist, a cook book authors, entrepreneurs, award-winning journalists, fashion experts, a psychologist, a sociologist, a finance blogger, portrait artists and so many more!

Read full article

Nearly Half of Restaurants Women-Owned

2011-02-24T07:44:00.000-08:00

Feb. 23, 2011 - WASHINGTON -- Nearly 50% of restaurants are now owned by women. Also, restaurants employ more minority managers than any other industry, and that Hispanic restaurant ownership has increased 42% in the past five years.

"The numbers are impressive -- more women and individuals of diverse backgrounds are becoming restaurant entrepreneurs, or are pursuing lifelong, successful careers in the industry," said Scott DeFife, executive vice president for policy and government affairs at the National Restaurant Association, which published the research.

Recently, the association launched its "America Works Here" campaign, a year-long advertising campaign that will highlight some of the industry's most impactful statistics and tell "chapters" in the restaurant industry's story. The first ad, launched in January, highlights the 13 million jobs created by restaurants, and the more than $1.7 trillion the industry added to the economy.

Read full article

The City As Metaphor: Marketing To The American Multi-Culture

2011-02-24T07:12:00.000-08:00

By Alain Groenendaal, MediaPost

For as long as there have been cities, they have been maligned as soulless vortexes that pollute and overwhelm, irresistibly dragging innocents towards them, sucking up their aspirations and hopes when they get there. The cities of the Old Testament -- Babylon, Gomorrah -- were places you desperately wanted to avoid rather than go visit. Dante even located his Inferno below the city of Jerusalem: one funnel-like, ever more degrading series of rings from which people never escaped, condemned to repeat their sins without hope of breaking the cycle. In the 20th century, the city became the place where runaways were lost, old people abandoned, and everybody in between stressed beyond endurance.

Yet now comes along a Harvard professor of economics, of all things, to radically upend this traditional view. In his new book, Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier and Happier, Edward Glaeser posits that cities are the true motors of human innovation. Far from oppressing creativity, cities increase it exponentially. They attract and bring together people of very different ethnicities, cultural backgrounds and talents, make it easier for them to interact, push them to compete and become even better, thus encouraging entrepreneurship and social and economic mobility. Unlike suburbs, which separate and alienate us from each other, cities raise us up rather than bring us down.

Read full article

Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas Premieres Sixth Season of the Award-Winning Series 'Quiero Mis Quinces'

2011-02-21T12:12:00.000-08:00

New season a result of more than 6 million viewers tuning in last season

QMQ holds court on Monday nights; new season premieres on February 21 at 6pm ET

MIAMI, Feb. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas (formerly MVT Tr3s) is proud to announce the premiere of the sixth season of the immensely popular "Quiero Mis Quinces," the show that takes you on the intense, behind-the-scenes ride of planning the perfect quinceanera party as well as every extravagant and extraordinary moment that comes along with celebrating this milestone. More than six million viewers tuned into the last season of "Quiero Mis Quinces", which also garnered an Imagen award for "Best Reality" series and posted as the number two Hispanic cable program among Hispanic females ages 12-34 during its fifth season premiere nights in its time period. The sixth season will continue to deliver endless surprises and series "firsts" with a premiere every Monday night at 6pm (ET) starting February 21st on Tr3s.

A quinceanera is the ultimate coming out party, and "Quiero Mis Quinces" captures the good, the bad and the crazy that go into making a teenager's dreams a reality. The show goes beyond the stereotypical highs and lows of planning a quinceanera and goes deeper to profile the life of each fifteen year old, what this landmark birthday signifies and how family is at the heart of this tradition.

The new season of "Quiero Mis Quinces" returns with unprecedented and captivating storylines that have never been told on the show including a male quinceanero, a teen mom, a bicultural family, a promise ring ceremony, and a mother battling Leukemia.

"Quiero Mis Quinces has become a staple franchise for the brand and the Latino audience because it encompasses the experiences beyond the quinceanera to reflect the strong influences of family, culture and tradition as well," said Charlie Singer, SVP of Content and Creative for Tr3s. "This new season is chock-full of colorful personalities, emotional roller coasters, parental challenges and even more opinions from abuela, which is always my favorite character."

*Source: Nielsen Media Research, Live + Same Day/NTI-H 12/28/09 – 7/11/10/NHIH 7/12/10 – 10/31/10 / Nielsen Media Research NHIH, Live + Same Day, Mon 7PM 11PM, Season 5, July 19 to Sept 13, 2010

About Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas
Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas, owned and operated by MTV Networks Latin America, reaches 6.3 million Hispanic TV households (49% of US Hispanic Total TV HH) and 35 million total TV households. The network's programming embraces the trilogy of cultures that represents Latino life – Latin American plus American equals US Latino – through original productions, key acquisitions, and content from MTV Networks' portfolio of entertainment brands. Tr3s embraces the key lifestyle aspects of Latino identity -- milestones, making it and music -- as well as social responsibility through its initiative "Agentes de Cambio," which tackles issues that affect Latinos today. The network also taps into the growing number of Latinos that are digitally connected through http://www.tr3s.com/.

SOURCE Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas

LatinVision Media Announces “Marketing to Latinos” Conference Series

2011-02-18T09:06:00.001-08:00

Marketing to Latinos Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Conference

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LatinVision Media, an operator of business portals serving the U.S. Hispanic and Latin American entrepreneurs, business owners and executives in small to medium-sized companies, today announced its 2011 Marketing to Latinos Conference Series aimed at helping marketers reach and engage US Hispanic consumers and businesses.

In partnership with Business Wire, Business Wire LatinoWire and NetStairs, LatinVision Media will host four industry-specific sessions, beginning with “Marketing to Latinos Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Conference” on February 24, 2011 in New York City. Other sessions include Sports, Latinas, and Banking/Finance.

“The Census of 2010 results will confirm the U.S. Hispanic Market is the most attractive one for advertisers and marketers with a purchasing power above one trillion dollars,“ said Carlos Vassallo, CEO of LatinVision Media. “The exponential growth of the Hispanic Market as a segment is changing the rules forcing marketers to change their approach, strategy and tactics if they want to maintain their share in the business. The approach used 10 years ago is no longer relevant neither effective. This is our second series edition, this year the main focus will be on these changes and how companies and individuals can use these changes to engage this audience in a proactive, interactive and unique way.’’

The conference series will feature panels and presentations in the morning and after work sessions in the evening for networking and one-on-one exchanges. As with all LatinVision events, there is a dedicated website for each event where attendees can find detailed information, including conference schedule, registration, program and other details. Each conference will be will be live streamed and profiled in social networks and a Business networking event will follow after in the afternoon.

To learn more about the conference, to register and sponsor: www.latinvision.com/conference/travel and www.latinvision.com/conference/travel/mediakit.pdf

To learn more about 2011 Conferences Series: www.latinvision.com/marketing

About LatinVision Media
LatinVision Media, Inc., a New York based company, is a premier organizer of conferences and business networking events, gathering U.S. Hispanic and Latin American executives, professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners.

About Business Wire
Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2011 as the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure. Public relations and investor relations professionals rely on Business Wire for both broad-based and targeted market reach. A recognized disclosure service in the United States, Canada and a dozen European countries, Business Wire handles XBRL tagging, document formatting and regulatory filing into EDGAR, SEDAR and other systems. Business Wire provides online newsroom hosting and integration services as well as search engine optimization, mobile distribution and detailed measurement on every press release. Its patented NX delivery platform provides simultaneous full-text posting of Business Wire content to news systems and websites in virtually any country or language.

With 32 bureaus worldwide, Business Wire’s service hallmark is defined by local service coupled with global reach, a combination unique in its industry. Learn more at BusinessWire.com and the BusinessWired blog; follow updates on Twitter: @businesswire or on Facebook. Photos/Multimedia Gallery available here

About NetStairs.com
NetStairs® celebrates its 10th anniversary. Since 2000, the company has pioneered and built open standard media infrastructures and platforms for ad agencies, global brands, publishers, TV stations, broadcasters, event promoters, content aggregators, and enterprises with CMS Web 2.0 / Web 3.0 sought solutions. As an intelligent media delivery enabler, NetStairs platforms are founded on industry standards with focus on interactive, live, on demand, and streaming protocols. For more information, visit: http://www.netstairs.com/.

BabyCenter® Releases Acculturation Study About Latina Moms

2011-02-14T12:09:00.000-08:00

Culture Must Drive the Conversation Between Marketers and Latina Moms

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BabyCenter®, the #1 pregnancy and parenting online destination worldwide, has released the results of a comprehensive study about Latina moms. The Hispanic Moms Acculturation study, part of the 21st Century Mom™ Insight Series, offers key insights into the influence of acculturation on moms' behaviors and preferences related to shopping, mealtime, media consumption, and more.

The acculturation study interviewed 2,479 Hispanic and 1,472 non-Hispanic moms across BabyCenter® en Espanol (www.babycenter.com/espanol) and BabyCenter® (http://www.babycenter.com/). The Hispanic moms ranged from recent immigrants to native-born English-speakers.

With one in four babies born in this country being Hispanic, and Hispanics representing 55% of the population growth in the United States, this study sheds new light on the behaviors of Latina moms as they go through the acculturation process and integrate elements of American culture with those of their own heritage. Additionally, the study aims to provide marketers with insights about how best to reach this diverse and fast-growing audience.

Isidra Mencos, editorial director of BabyCenter for the Americas and Spain, says, "While Hispanic moms are linguistically diverse, culture acts as a powerful force for uniting them. Marketers that integrate authentic cultural elements into their media can craft a message that resonates with Latina moms' deepest values and aspirations."

Shopping: Hispanic Moms Are Brand Loyal and Love to Shop With Their Families

Across all levels of acculturation, Latina moms are much more likely to purchase brand-name CPGs. Additionally, Latina moms are much more likely than the general population to purchase global heritage brands that resonate emotionally. This presents a great opportunity for CPGs facing competition from less expensive generic brands, especially in these difficult economic times.

Hispanic moms are avid consumers, with 57% saying they love to shop vs. 30% for the general population. This behavior diminishes, however, as they become busier and acculturate. Shopping is also regarded as a family affair. Hispanic moms are three times less likely to shop alone. Despite stereotypes about machismo, 54% of Latinas share their purchase decisions with spouses or partners vs. 44% of non-Hispanics.

Mealtime: An Important Way of Connecting to Culture at Every Acculturation Level

Regardless of acculturation, dinnertime is one of the best ways for Hispanic moms to connect their family to their culture. 36% of Hispanic moms vs. 15% of non-Hispanic moms say dinner is the best time of the day, 41% maintain Hispanic food as part of their daily diet, and 57% cook from scratch vs. 11% for the non-Hispanic moms. As they acculturate, however, Hispanic moms are more likely to look for shortcuts to ease meal preparation, buying some packaged products to incorporate into a traditional meal. 68% of Hispanic moms are likely to share one meal a week with extended family.

Celebrations such as kids' birthdays are also a point of connection among Hispanic moms across all acculturation levels. Hispanics include extended family in these celebrations regardless of age. They spend more money than the general population and their parties last longer.

Media Consumption: Culture Drives the Conversation Between Brands and Latina Moms

Although highly acculturated Hispanic moms (either native-born or bilingual) don't consume much media in Spanish, they respond better to advertising in Spanish. In fact, advertising in Spanish that features authentic cultural imagery has more impact than advertising in English for all Hispanic moms, whether they're less, moderately, or highly acculturated. Spanish or Spanglish in advertising seems to create a cultural connection that Hispanic moms embrace, perceiving it as an acknowledgment of their heritage. Almost 50% of Hispanic moms would consider Spanish language ads on English websites engaging or appealing, 35% would find them helpful, and only 4% would find them inappropriate. And 56% of highly acculturated moms would prefer to see an ad in Spanish or Spanglish vs. 43% for the English-only version.

When it comes to visual representations of Hispanic moms today, they prefer images of family and togetherness vs. individual pursuits. As for aspirations, family continues to be #1, but professional success is seen as inspiring. Pampering or "me" time is not engaging for Hispanic moms.

Methodology

As an insights engine, BabyCenter® uses primary research, community listening, ethnographies, experts, site analytics, and editors. The Hispanic Acculturation Study was conducted in two waves. The 1st wave (completed in September 2010) focused on shopping; 1,101 Hispanic moms and 660 non-Hispanic moms participated. The 2nd wave (completed in November 2010) focused on mealtime and media consumption; 1,378 Hispanic moms and 812 non-Hispanic moms participated.

About BabyCenter® LLC
BabyCenter® is the voice of the 21st Century Mom® and modern motherhood. It's the #1 pregnancy and parenting destination worldwide, reaching more than 8 million moms monthly in the U.S. and more than 22 million moms monthly in 22 markets from Australia to India to China. In the United States, 7 in 10 babies born last year were BabyCenter babies. BabyCenter is the world's partner in parenting, providing moms everywhere with trusted advice from hundreds of experts around the globe, friendship with other moms like them, and support that's remarkably right at every stage of their child's development. BabyCenter also works with some of the world's most prominent brands and institutions to produce life-stage marketing solutions and a direct line to highly engaged moms. BabyCenter is a member of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies.

About BabyCenter® en Espanol

BabyCenter® en Espanol (www.babycenter.com/espanol) offers comprehensive parenting content in Spanish for U.S. Hispanic moms. It focuses on preconception, pregnancy, and children up to age 5, featuring core articles and expert answers translated and adapted for the Hispanic audience from the English-language BabyCenter® site, as well as original articles written specifically for U.S. Hispanic moms. As a culturally relevant complement to BabyCenter en Espanol, BabyCenter® (http://www.babycenter.com/hispanic-families) has launched a Hispanic Families section for Hispanic moms with content in English on topics ranging from Hispanic baby names to raising bilingual kids.

SOURCE BabyCenter

Siempre Mujer Unveils Sixth-Annual 50 Best of Beauty List

2011-02-11T11:45:00.000-08:00

Magazine Announces the List of Best Beauty Products in the February/March Issue

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Siempre Mujer, the Spanish-language lifestyle and service magazine for women published by Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP), today unveiled the sixth-annual Best of Beauty List in the February/March 2011 issue. The issue, on stands this week, also features cover girl Colombian soap opera actress Danna Garcia.
The editors of Siempre Mujer tapped beauty experts, dermatologists, celebrities, beauty best sellers, all time favorites, and readers' picks to compile the 50 Best Beauty Products list. The list features the best make up, skin and hair products of all times and the best new products of 2011.

"Our readers deserve the best, and it's our goal to bring it to them," says Ursula Carranza, Executive Editor for Siempre Mujer. "With all time favorites and 2011 stand-outs, we can confidently give our seal of approval to all of the products on our list."

The full list of Siempre Mujer's 50 Best Beauty Products follows:

MAKEUP
• DiorShow Backstage Mascara, $24, Dior
• *NEW* Timewise Luminous-Wear Liquid Foundation, $20, Mary Kay
• Brow Zings, $30, Benefit
• Waterproof Eyeliner Pen, $1, ELF
• Joues Contraste Powder Blush, $42, Chanel
• *NEW* Fit Me! Concealer, $6, Maybelline
• Lip Gloss, $24, Nars
• Face and Body Foundation, $32, MAC
• Airbrush Makeup System, $225, and AIR Pod Foundation, $55, Temptu
• Eye Shadow, $16, Smashbox
• *NEW* CustomEyes Shadow & Liner, $9, Revlon
• *NEW* Lip Perfection Lip Liner, $7.50, CoverGirl
• *READER'S FAVORITE* Smooth Minerals Pressed Powder, $11, Avon
• Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencil, $19, Estee Lauder
• Rouge d'Armani, $30, Giorgio Armani
• Rouge Pur Couture, $30, Yves Saint Laurent
• Le Rouge Ecrin, $46, Guerlain
• Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20, $42, Laura Mercier

SKINCARE
• Anti-Aging Buffing Beads, $36, Peter Thomas Roth
• Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector, $44.50, Clinique
• Tolerance Extreme Cream, $36, Avene
• *NEW* The Radiant Serum, $250, La Mer
• Lip Repair, $4, Aquaphor
• On-The-Spot Acne Treatment, $7, Neutrogena
• *NEW* Olay Total Effects Line & Dark Circle Minimizing Brush, $19, Olay
• *READER'S FAVORITE* Active Naturals Positively Nourishing Hydrating Body Wash, $7, Aveeno
• Active-C Eyes, $37, La Roche-Posay
• Skin Invigorating Apricot Scrub, $4, St. Ives
• Moisture Rescue Fresh Cleansing Foam, $6, Garnier Nutritioniste
• Touch of Happiness Moisturizing Body Wash, $6, Nivea
• Concentre Total Global Facial Treatment Cream, $89, L'Bel
• Brighter By Nature Skin Tone Correcting Serum, $49.50, Origins
• Intervene Stress Recovery Night Cream, $49.50, Elizabeth Arden
• Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover, $26, Lancome
• Baby Oil, $4, Johnson's
• Daily Moisture Lotion, $8, Lubriderm

HAIRCARE
• Moisture Recovery Shampoo, $12, Joico
• Biolage Styling Volumizing Whipped Mousse, $15, Matrix
• Sleek Mystique Blow Out Balm, $20, Tigi
• Re-Shaper Brushable Humidity Resistance Strong-Hold Hairspray, $19, Sebastian Professional
• Ciment Thermique Leave-In Heat-Activated Reconstructing Milk for Weakened Hair, $36, Kerastase
• Smooth Infusion Style-Prep Smoother, $24, Aveda
• Essential Shea Tame & Style Pot de Creme, $32, Fekkai Advanced
• *NEW* Nice 'n Easy Color Blend Foam, $9, Clairol
• *READER'S FAVORITE* Medium-Thick Hair Solutions, $4, Pantene
• Superbly Smoothing Argan Hair Pak, $25, Kiehl's
• Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk, $18, Klorane
• Anti-Frizz Secret Smoothing Creme, $4, TRESemme
• *NEW* Curl Control Cream, $31, Moroccanoil
• Elnett Satin Hairspray, $15, L'Oreal Paris
• Super Skinny Serum, $17, Paul Mitchell
• *NEW* Captivating Curls Whipped Cream Mousse, $3, Suave Professionals

For more information on Siempre Mujer's Best Beauty Products, pick up the February/March issue on newsstands February 1st.

About Siempre Mujer
Launched in September 2005, Siempre Mujer is the first-ever Spanish-language lifestyle and service publication for Hispanic women living in the United States. Published by Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP), Siempre Mujer reflects the lifestyles, aspirations and dreams of Hispanic women who keep their traditions alive and embrace new American values. Siempre Mujer helps the Hispanic woman navigate this new culture by covering the worlds of: Home decor; fashion and beauty; food and entertaining; family and parenting; culture and entertainment; relationships and self-development; health and fitness; and finance. The bi-monthly national magazine has a rate base of 500,000.

SOURCE Siempre Mujer Magazine

Google US Hispanic Marketing Forum Event

2011-02-08T07:17:00.001-08:00

Connecting with US Hispanic Moms Online by GOOGLE.

2011-02-07T12:11:00.000-08:00

Visionary Leaders Gather to Discuss Latina Economic and Political Power in California

2011-01-28T12:49:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 100 leaders from throughout Southern California will gather today at the Millenium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles for a forum on building a Latina power base as part of the 2nd Annual Visionary Leaders Luncheon hosted by Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) and Farmers Insurance. HOPE will also unveil a new online program titled "PowerMapp" which the organization feels will change how its members utilize new technologies to advance in their chosen fields.

"Latinas across the nation, including here in California, have become significant players in the public and private sectors," said Luisa Acosta-Franco, vice president of multicultural marketing for Farmers Insurance and the company's highest ranking Latina. "All of us will need to continue to utilize the latest technologies available in order to remain significant partners in developing a robust strategic policy for Latinas moving forward."

As part of the luncheon, HOPE has brought together a formidable list of key Latina professionals from a variety of industries to shed light on the topic of The Latina Power Base in California and how to further build and effectively channel the political and economic power of Latinas.

Leading the discussion will be: Luisa Acosta Franco, Vice President of Multicultural Marketing, Farmers Insurance; Monica Gil, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, The Nielsen Company; Rosalind Gold, Senior Director of Policy, Research & Advocacy, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO); and Helen Iris Torres, CEO and Executive Director of HOPE.

"We are excited about introducing our new 'PowerMapp' program to our members which will help them expand their effective use of technology," said HOPE CEO Torres.

This special-invite event will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Millenium Biltmore, located at 506 South Grand Avenue.

About HOPE

Founded in 1989, HOPE serves over 3,000 Latinas annually. Programs include the HOPE Leadership Institute, established to train Latina leaders in advocacy skills enabling them to foster healthy communities statewide; the Youth Leadership Through Literacy Program, established to provide Latina teens with the skills necessary for self-empowerment; Financial Success and Financial Success College Edition, an innovative financial literacy program designed for the emerging Latina professional to build her foundation, the established Latina professional to add to and safeguard her financial investments, and the Latina college student; Latina History Day established to celebrate historical accomplishments of Latinas and to present forums on issues such as health, education, and economic empowerment; Latina Action Day – Sacramento established to mobilize professional, civic, and community Latina leaders from across California to voice concerns at the state level on issues that most impact Latinas and their communities.

About Farmers

Farmers Insurance Group of Companies is the country's 3rd largest insurer of both personal lines passenger automobile and homeowners insurance, and also provides a wide range of other insurance and financial services products. Farmers Insurance is proud to serve more than 10 million households with more than 20 million individual policies across all 50 states through the efforts of over 50,000 exclusive and independent agents and nearly 24,000 employees.

Farmers is a trade name and may refer to Farmers Group, Inc. or the Farmers Exchanges, as the case may be. Farmers Group, Inc., a management and holding company, along with its subsidiaries, is wholly owned by the Zurich Financial Services Group. The Farmers Exchanges are three reciprocal insurers (Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange and Truck Insurance Exchange), including their subsidiaries and affiliates, owned by their policyholders, and managed by Farmers Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information about Farmers, visit its Web site at http://www.farmers.com/ or at www.Facebook.com/FarmersInsurance.

CATALINA Magazine Names Groundbreaking Latina of the Year Award Winners

2011-01-28T08:51:00.000-08:00

Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Fellow Latina Leaders are Honored

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CATALINA magazine and the National Association of Latina Leaders (NALL) today announce the 9th Annual CATALINA "Groundbreaking Latina" Award recipients.

Throughout the year, CATALINA receives hundreds of nominations from readers and website visitors for the "Groundbreaking Latina of the Year" awards through online entry forms on CatalinaMagazine.com. CATALINA's editorial staff and the NALL Latina advisory board chose the final winners, in four categories, based on their unique groundbreaking work in their field, industry, company, and/or community.

"These annual Groundbreaking Latina awards are a way for us to celebrate Hispanic women who are demonstrating groundbreaking leadership in our community and beyond," CATALINA publisher Cathy Areu said. "It's always such an honor for me to be able to recognize these amazing Latinas which make such a difference and pave the way for their fellow Latinas and for countless others."

Each winner will receive an HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition laptop (value: $579.99); a designer Gevril watch (value: $1,495); and a beautiful, customized award recognizing the groundbreaker's accomplishment. All prizes are provided by CATALINA, in partnership with HP and Ultimate Crystal Awards (ultimatecrystalawards.com). Note: Some winners plan to donate their gifts to non-profits which serve the Latino community.

And the winners are:

Justice Sonia Sotomayor – Groundbreaking Latina of Year:

Most of the nominations for the category of Groundbreaking Latina of the Year, recognizing the most successful Latina in 2010, in the opinion of CATALINA readers and web site visitors, went to Justice Sonia Sotomayor. In fact, according to CATALINA's editorial team, the Justice garnered more votes than Latina actresses, singers, and congresswomen combined.

A true groundbreaker throughout her life, Justice Sotomayor joined the Supreme Court in 2009 as its 111th Justice, its first Hispanic justice and its third female justice. In 2010, she continued to show her dedication to the U.S. Hispanic community by attending events, including those in her hometown New York borough the Bronx, which give back to those in need.

Xiomara Sosa - Groundbreaking Latina Leader of the Year:

In 2010, Xiomara Sosa, the former president of the National Society for Hispanic Professionals (NSHP), founded The Get-Right! Organization, Inc. a nonprofit organization that empowers families, children and young adults to cultivate healthy lifestyles that promote positive mental health and physical health, teaching children how to effectively cope with mental health and physical health challenges and supporting mental health and physical health education initiatives and projects in all communities across America.

Prior to NSHP and Get-Right!, Sosa served on the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy's National Youth Media Campaign's Partnership Development Expert Panel, the Senate Republican Conference Task Force on Hispanic Affairs Advisory Committee, was a participant in the Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse Treatment Month Planning Group, among other important Latino boards and associations.

For the third year in a row, Deloitte LLP - a leading professional services organizations, providing audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services through 45,000 people in more than 90 U.S. cities - sponsored the prestigious "Deloitte Groundbreaking Latina Leader of the Year" award – honoring and celebrating the exceptional work and leadership skills of a Latina community leader.

"Deloitte is proud to continue to sponsor this important award because it recognizes the achievements of a Latina who is making a difference in our communities," says Barbara Adachi, National Managing Principal for the Deloitte Women's Initiative.

Yamile Jackson, PhD – Groundbreaking Latina Entrepreneur of the Year award:

Yamile Jackson, PhD, of Houston, TX, is the owner of Zakeez, Inc. (www.Zakeez.com) – the maker of the Kangaroo Zak that provides Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) to preemies and other babies by providing safety and a hands-free and comfortable skin-to-skin holding of any newborn.

The engineer turned inventor turned entrepreneur founded Zakeez in 2001 by "using her own personal experience of having a premature baby that survived the deluge of Tropical Storm Allison which shut down all the life-support equipment of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Houston, Texas," her nomination form states.

"Dr. Jackson took a very scary, painful, and personal plight and evolved it into a groundbreaking device which saves and enhances baby's lives across the world," the nomination adds. Today, Jackson continues to give back to her community and beyond by donating over $20,000 in products to children's hospitals worldwide to help their sickest patients.

Groundbreaking Latina Blogger of the Year: Marisa Trevino

Marisa Trevino describes herself as a "dedicated Chicana, playwright, and citizen." The syndicated journalist and local public radio commentator's blog stays up to date with the latest information on news, entertainment, arts, family matters, education trends, and other social justice issues affecting the Hispanic community.

According to Maritza Puello, executive editor, NY1 Noticias and a member of CATALINA's Latina advisory board, "Although the competition was truly impressive, LatinaLista, Marisa's blog, has the most comprehensive information and interesting design of any of the blog nominations CATALINA received. It reads like someone has put a lot of thought and effort into this. This blog has a lot of Latina heart."

About CATALINA magazine:

In 2010, CATALINA is celebrating its 10th year anniversary! In 2001, CATALINA was created "for the mind, body, and soul of today's Latina," and has connected with millions of Latinas online, in print, and through national events ever since. The Groundbreaking Latina of the Year awards, created by CATALINA's founding publisher Cathy Areu, started in 2002. For more information, including yearlong giveaways celebrating the magazine's 10-year anniversary, visit http://www.catalinamagazine.com/.

SOURCE CATALINA magazine

Google US Hispanic Marketing Forum: Four Truths about US Hispanics Online

2011-01-28T07:04:00.000-08:00

www.latinvision.com

Hispanic Women From Across the Nation to Partake in National Hispana Leadership Institute's Award-Winning Program, 2011 Fellows Represent Diverse Group of Leaders From Public and Private Sectors

2011-01-26T12:06:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI), the nation's premier organization for Latinas, selected 22 leaders from the public and private sectors to participate in its award-winning Executive Leadership Program (ELP).

To close the opportunity gap among Latinas and address their underrepresentation in top leadership roles, NHLI's programs are designed to develop Hispanic women as ethical leaders for positions of national, international influence, and public policy impact and as contributors to the advancement of the Latino community.

Going on its 24th year, the Executive Leadership Program is held in conjunction with the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the Center for Creative Leadership. The program is set to begin February 27 in San Juan Bautista, CA and consists of a four-week training curriculum that spans nine months. The intensive and transforming learning experience addresses skills development and cultural application through a female and a Hispanic cultural lens. ELP includes training in cross-cultural communication, strategic management, public policy, and leadership skills building. In addition, with mentoring and the implementation of a leadership project as key components, the impact of the program transcends well beyond the training. Upon graduation, each participant mentors two young Latinas and completes a project in her community that impacts at least 25 Hispanics.

Every year, a national recruitment effort solicits applications from mid-career Latina leaders to the competitive program. Participants are selected based on their community service record, professional and personal accomplishments, and dedication to serving their community.

The 2011 ELP Class is a diverse and talented group of women, coming together from 14 different states. More than 80% of the women hold at least one graduate degree in fields such as business, social work, public administration and law. Nine of the 22 fellows lead nonprofit organizations, five are corporate executives, five come from the government sector and the remainders are entrepreneurs who have launched their own businesses.

"The fellows represent Latina leadership at the core. They are high achievers, passionate about the issues they work on, and committed to improving opportunities for all Latinos," said Cristina Lopez, NHLI's President. "The Executive Leadership Program will build on the strengths of each leader and promote social responsibility and stronger attention to the needs of the broader Hispanic community," added Lopez.

Read full article

Hollywood goes bananas for stereotypes

2011-01-13T08:38:00.000-08:00

By Dolores Prida, NYDailyNews.com

Every contemporary Latina writer in the U.S.A. has been wrestling with the ghost of Carmen Miranda since the day we composed our first sentence.

We despised the Hollywood conception of Latin womanhood that since the 1940s haunted, maraca in hand, the days of our lives. We fought against the turbans decorated with tropical fruit and the platform shoes and the clownish smile and the extra thick accent and the swaying hips and the rapid-fire, unintelligible speech.

We believed it was our sacred mission to present a new Latina image where sexy-sultry-exotic singing and dancing spitfires, hot tamales and firecrackers were never ever seen nor heard. We tried and on many occasions succeeded on the stage or on the pages of a book to bring to life real, fascinating Latinas. But on the movie screens, with very few exceptions - actually only one comes to mind immediately, so let's hear it for HBO and Josefina López's "Real Women Have Curves" - the ghost keeps winning.

Since I wrote my first play, "Beautiful Señoritas," more than 30 years ago, I've been approached by movie and TV people on several occasions and even received money for rights, but nothing ever came of it because I was unwilling to change characters and plot to fit a pre-determined idea of what Latinas are supposed to be.

Read full article

Pampers Eyes Latina Moms With 'Little Miracle' Push

2011-01-03T11:03:00.000-08:00

Procter & Gamble brand Pampers is reaching out to Hispanic consumers in a new campaign called "Every Little Miracle."

The goal is to provide resources and support to Latina moms, the company said in a press release on Tuesday (Dec. 7). One element is the Madrinas network, a group that will assist new moms and offer information through a mobile messaging platform. Moms can join the network via Facebook.com/PampersLatino.

Read full article