Tuesday, September 16, 2008
NCLR Launches We Can Stop the Hate Website
“Given that dozens of anti-immigrant talk show hosts and organizations have descended on Capitol Hill this week, it is especially important that information on what these entities are really all about is readily available to those interested in combating intolerance,” noted Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. “Regardless of how one feels about immigration policy, we can all agree that a hate-filled debate is not acceptable.”
The website, originally launched in January of this year, has been redesigned to make it easier for visitors and users to find information, obtain the latest updates, and learn how to get involved. Its features include an extensive library of videos on the links between anti-immigrant and extremist organizations throughout the country; fact sheets on, among other topics, the code words of hate used in the debate and the most prominent media spokespeople from these anti-immigrant and extremist groups; and frequently updated posts, called “The Latest,” on incidents of hate in the media, from policymakers and others.
The new website can be found at www.WeCanStopTheHate.org
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Post-Labor Day Post
The full report is downloadable from NCLR's site: Labor Day: A Snapshot of the Latino Workforce
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Aids among Latinos on the rise
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Well, there you have it
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Pew Hispanic Center | 1615 L Street, NW, Suite 700 | Washington | DC | 20036 |
Friday, June 27, 2008
The NSHMBA lists key questions Latinos want to know about potential employers
See: Job Search Questions Latinos Can Ask About Potential Employers
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Immigrant Latino Workers Hit Hard by Economic Slowdown, Pew Hispanic Center Report Finds
| The Pew Hispanic Center today released Latino Labor Report, 2008: Construction Reverses Job Growth for Latinos. Using data through the first quarter of 2008, the report finds the economic downturn having a disproportionate impact on Hispanic workers. From an historic low in late 2006, the unemployment rate for Latinos rose sharply in 2007 and currently stands well above the rate for non-Latinos. Immigrant Hispanics, especially Mexican immigrants and recent arrivals, have been hurt the most by the slump in the construction industry. Weekly earnings for most groups of Hispanic workers, particularly construction workers, also slipped backward in the past year. There are no signs Latino immigrants are leaving the U.S. labor market but they now play a smaller role in the growth of the Hispanic workforce than in recent years. The report is available at the Pew Hispanic Center's website, www.pewhispanic.org. The Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center, is a non-partisan, non-advocacy research organization based in Washington, D.C. and funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts. |
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Pew Hispanic Center Releases a Fact Sheet on the Puerto Rican Electorate
| The Pew Hispanic Center today released a fact sheet on the demographics of eligible voters in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The fact sheet contains information on elections in Puerto Rico and data on the size and social and economic characteristics of the Puerto Rican eligible voter population. This fact sheet is based on the Center's tabulations of the Census Bureau's 2006 Puerto Rico Community Survey. All Hispanics in the 2008 Election fact sheets are available on the Center's website at www.pewhispanic.org. The Pew Hispanic Center, an initiative of the Pew Research Center, is a non-partisan, non-advocacy research organization based in Washington, D.C. and is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts. |
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Sunday, May 04, 2008
Check out the "Super Amigos"
Mixing animation with on-site--what a sight!--footage of Mexico City, and lots of satire and pathos, it's brilliant!
You can check out "Super Amigos" on LinkTV, another super outlet for on-the-mark independent news, culture, commentary, and lots of music and a special Latino channel, Latin Pulse. En español. Lately, they've done cogent episodes on the elections from a Latino perspective, Fidel's swan song, immigration, more.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Some salsa with your Cinco de Mayo
- CB08-FF.07
- March 5, 2008
Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo celebrates the legendary Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, in which a Mexican force of 4,500 men faced 6,000 well-trained French soldiers. The battle lasted four hours and ended in a victory for the Mexican army under Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza. Along with Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16, Cinco de Mayo has become a time to celebrate Mexican heritage and culture.
28.3 million
Number of U.S. residents of Mexican origin in 2006. These residents constituted 9 percent of the nation’s total population and 64 percent of the Hispanic population.
17.86 million
Number of people of Mexican origin who lived either in California (10.84 million) or Texas (7.02 million). People of Mexican origin made up more than one-quarter of the residents of these two states. (The unrounded total for California and Texas combined is 17,866,191.)
25.7
Median age of people in the United States of Mexican descent. This compares with 36.4 years for the population as a whole.
630,000
Number of Mexican-Americans who are U.S. military veterans.
1.2 million
Number of people of Mexican descent 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher. This includes about 350,000 who have a graduate degree.
37%
Among households where a householder was of Mexican origin, the percentage of married-couple families with own children younger than 18. For all households, the corresponding percentage was 22 percent.
4.1
Average size for families with a householder of Mexican origin. This compares to 3.2 people in all families.
14%
Percentage of employed civilians 16 and older of Mexican heritage who worked in managerial, professional or related occupations. In addition, 23 percent worked in service occupations; 20 percent in sales and office occupations; 19 percent in construction, extraction, maintenance and repair occupations; and 20 percent in production, transportation and material moving occupations.
$37,661
Median household income in 2006 for households with a householder of Mexican origin.
23%
Poverty rate in 2006 for people of Mexican heritage.
69%
Percentage of civilians 16 and older of Mexican origin in the labor force. The percentage was 65 percent for the population as a whole. There were 13 million people of Mexican heritage in the labor force, comprising 9 percent of the total.
51%
Percentage of householders of Mexican origin who owned the home in which they lived.
Source for the preceding statements: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
Trade With Mexico
$347.3 billion
The value of goods traded between the United States and Mexico in 2007. Mexico was our nation’s third-leading trading partner, after Canada and China.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>
Businesses
701,078
Number of firms owned by people of Mexican origin in 2002. They comprised almost 45 percent of all Hispanic-owned firms. Among these Mexican-owned firms, 275,896 were in California and 235,735 in Texas. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, Calif., combined statistical area had 174,292.
$96.7 billion
Sales and receipts for firms owned by people of Mexican origin in 2002.
Source for statements in this section: Hispanic-Owned Firms: 2002 <http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/sb0200cshisp.pdf>
Mexican Food
$100.4 million
Product shipment value of tamales and other Mexican food specialties (not frozen or canned) produced in the United States in 2002.
Source: 2002 Economic Census <http://www.census.gov/econ/census02/guide/INDRPT31.HTM>
337
Number of U.S. tortilla manufacturing establishments in 2005. The establishments that produce this unleavened flat bread employed nearly 14,000 people. Tortillas, the principal food of the Aztecs, are known as the “bread of Mexico.” About one in three of these establishments was in Texas.
Source: County Business Patterns: 2005 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/county_business_patterns/010192.html>
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Hip, hip, Latinas!
http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?idx=94479
Friday, April 11, 2008
(Brief, but not) Close Encounters with Junot Diaz
I was pleasantly surprised to find Junot Diaz’ name on the roster of presenters, who’ve numbered, over the years, major leaguers like Sonia Sanchez and Derek Wolcott. I’d been clocking his rising star through his edgy, sometimes irritating, but always engaging short stories published in the New Yorker with enough regularity to pay the rent. They referenced dominicanos trying to get it on, get over, get smart and get out. While I wasn’t always captivated by his surrogates’ predicaments—but maybe that was his ploy: to get me to struggle with my sympathies—his characters were always fully-formed and deeply penetrated; the dialog was snap your fingers true and oftentimes hysterical.
I can’t remember what Junot read (nor did I know that he was then, as he would be for 10 long years, in agony over a hiccoughing first novel that needed to expire several times before being birthed). But, I remember he wore a fly Panama hat that made him look, at the same time, muy caribeño and positively Princess Line, and that he made us all crack up.
Back in New York less than a week later, near my home, I spied Diaz on the street, unmistakable this time in his wire frames and face and pate powdered in fuzz.
I approached, uncharacteristically bold, probably in unconscious acceptance of a generally inviting vibe. “Hey, I know you. I saw you read at the Calabash Festival last week.” We talked easily, not so much about our craft as about Jamaica. I was impressed at how, after just that one brief other-focused visit –by then, I’d probably notched in 20—he’d been able to digest and articulate so clearly Jamaica for all its dysfunctionality and misplaced humanity, assimilating what would seem the most inconsequential clues into an unassailable identikat.
I put Junot Diaz into my teeny evening purse of perfect intellectuals—those who use their gut instincts and superior power of observation and poetry to navigate the world and then apply left brain formatting to legitimize their findings in order to communicate and, hopefully, make a defining contribution to society.
When the story of Oscar Wao’s brief encounter with life came out, I rushed to buy the book, but put off reading it. I was afraid I’d be disappointed and, with it, the Junot Diaz bubble would burst.
But the searching interviews of the author, officially conferring his brainiac status, while confirming his earnest humility, moved me to get to it. The undertaking was epic.
Diaz’ apportioned history of the DR is doctoral yet reads like a Classic Comic, his Oscar Wao (from Wilde, you see, but the homies can’t put the ‘l’ and the ‘d’ together) is redemptively not cloyingly pathetic, and the narrator, Yunior, the homie hustler is the perfect foil, and alter ego, to outsized Oscar. In the end, because they both ring so true, I think our professor of English at M.I.T. has crafted the two characters from the dead-set middle that is himself.
And here’s Diaz, with his home-honed humility bigging up the big heads (as they say in Jamaica) at M.I.T. for allowing their brilliance to nurture “Oscar Wao’s” womb.* But, au contraire, Junot. It’s your brain, that perfect ping pong left brain, right brain, 2-stepped merengue that’s feeding them mouthfuls indeed!
* "I'm just so proud and overjoyed and happy to have finished this book at MIT, surrounded by so many brilliant colleagues and students." MIT News (online—9th April, 2008)
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Major private funding comes for services to immigrants
Expanding this commitment, Knight’s board of trustees recently approved three-year grants to three national groups working to support community efforts smoothing the transition of newcomers into American society. Funding was awarded to the National Council of La Raza, the National League of Cities and the National Council of the YMCAs of the USA, among others.
“National immigration policy continues to be the subject of hot debate,” said Alberto Ibargüen, president of Knight Foundation. “Meanwhile, local communities need help now to deal with the challenges and opportunities of their increased immigrant populations.
“We want to turn down the volume and provide practical solutions. That’s why we are focusing on encouraging civic participation and naturalization of eligible immigrants in Knight communities. When they become citizens and vote, immigrants gain a greater voice in the political decisions that affect their lives,” he said....
The nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization, La Raza is helping to lead a nationwide civic participation campaign, “Ya es hora” (“Now is the time”), which aims to naturalize one million eligible legal permanent residents during the next two years. Ibargüen announced Knight support of the campaign at a “Ya es hora” benefit concert Tuesday [March 11] at Miami’s Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.
The Washington-based National League of Cities is receiving a grant of $880,000 for technical assistance, training and other resources that will enable municipal leaders to support immigrants in their communities.
Knight also awarded $750,000 to the National Council of YMCAs of the USA, based in Chicago, for development of local programs for immigrant youth and families in Knight communities. The Y’s programs will focus on naturalization, education, financial literacy and other citizenship skills.
In addition, $150,000 was granted to the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, of Washington, D.C., supporting efforts to bring together state governors to discuss immigration policy.
“Knight Foundation has worked for years in partnership with national and grassroots groups to promote civic engagement and provide services to immigrants,” said Damian Thorman, Knight national program director. “Immigrant families now settle not only in the historic gateways, such as California and Florida, but also in new nontraditional gateways.... It makes sense to help eligible immigrants become citizens and take greater leadership responsibility in their communities,” he said.
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation promotes journalism excellence worldwide and invests in the vitality of U.S. communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. To learn more, visit, www.knightfoundation.org.
Contact: Marc Fest, Vice President of Communications, 305-908-2677
Read the Knight Foundation Reporter Analysis on the American Dream Fund program at:
http://www.knightfoundation.org/permalink/316633/137252
Related Links:
National Council of La Raza
Ya es hora
National League of Cities
YMCA of the USA
National Governors Association
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Nominees for annual Women's History Month - Latina Wall of Fame
We will be posting biographies of the editors' and readers' picks for new honorees this year, and encourage you to stop back later this week to see the updated feature.
Meanwhile, as always, we are inviting your nominations for influential Latinas you would like to see recognized on the Wall of Fame, and encourage you to leave us a comment on this blog post telling us:
We're using the blog this year because we want to give contributors the chance to not only send us a name, but to also include a brief description -- in your own words, using links, if you like -- of why you feel this woman should be nominated and what accomplishments you particularly admire.
We also want to thanks those who sent in their suggestions after last year's feature, and hope you'll check back here or on the Village to see the new honorees later this week.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Good show, Amy, Juan
Gus Cedillo and Federico Peña are barnstorming for Barack ...
...and DemocracyNow! does an informative wrap-up of last night's debate between the two candidates 5 days before Super Tuesday. Will Voto Latino bring 'em out for Clinton or Obama? Here's the blurb and the show, and while you're at it, join our own voto latino and let us know how you represent.
Democratic Presidential Nomination Could Hinge on Divided Latino Vote
With Super Tuesday just four days away, Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are actively courting support from Latino voters across the country. We speak to Dolores Huerta, a longtime labor activist and co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America who is supporting Clinton; Federico Pena, a former Clinton cabinet member and Denver mayor now co-chairing Obama’s campaign; and California State Senator Gilbert Cedillo, who is also backing Obama.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Arrogance of (Media) Power
Lovato also asks, if Latinos are skittish on Obama because of his race, then why did they deliver 36% of their vote to Jessie Jackson's presidential bid in California in 1988 and a solid 50% in Latino-loaded counties in New Mexico?
Read Everyone's Expert on the Latino Vote, Except Latinos. It's anti-dotal.
As well as Lovato's musings on John McCain's chances of shoring up Latino votes for the GOP.
Finally, vote in our poll: Will Latinos cast the deciding vote come Super Tuesday in any of the 22 contests?
Monday, January 21, 2008
Joining the issues--Joining the struggle?
I also recommend our Focus on the race-gender based hostility between the Clinton and Obama camps.
We’d like to get a dialog going on whether Latinas can identify with and feel a sense of belonging to either the white feminists’ struggle or black women’s plight and fight, or whether the Latina experience confronts separate issues and expectations. So read and comment--give the HAV some content for a Latina follow-up.
And while you’re figuring it all out, don’t forget to vote in our poll on sister solidarity.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Institute for Justice and Journalism Seeks Ethnic Media
Deadline: January 28, 2008
USC Annenberg's Institute for Justice and Journalism invites ethnic media journalists to apply for its 2008 fellowships, focused on "Immigration: Reporting the Full Story."
IJJ will award ten fellowships to ethnic media journalists in early 2008 to enable them to report on the complexities of immigration issues with depth and context. Selected fellows will participate in a March conference in Tucson, Arizona, that will include field reporting experiences along the U.S.-Mexico border.
A follow-up session will be held in June at John Jay College in New York City.
Experienced print, television, radio, and online journalists employed by ethnic media news organizations are eligible to apply for the fellowships. All travel-related and professional development expenses will be covered by IJJ.
Application guidelines and forms are available at the IJJ Web site.
RFP Link:
http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/10010533/justicejournalism
For additional RFPs in Journalism/Media, visit:
http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_journalism.jhtml
Sunday, December 16, 2007
New Pew Report Clocks Latinos on Immigration
Other tidbits that should whet your appetite to read the summary, even the whole report, are:
* 54% of Latinos fear deportation of themselves, family members or friends. (There has been an 84% increase in deportations in the past 5 years, with a tenfold increase in workplace deportations.)
* 41% of respondents said they have been discriminated against this year. 31% had an equal complaint 5 years ago.
* Hispanics and non-Hispanics disagree widely on current measures taken against the undocumented, the most notable: workplace raids, the cooperation of local authorities with federal immigration agencies, checking the documents before issuing immigrants a driver's license.
* Responses to nearly all the questions placed native born Latinos between the foreign born and the general population, though their views tended to side more closely with those of the foreign born, i.e, their own folk.
* 8 of 10 Latinos believe their children will be more affluent than the current generation.
For more stats on recent trends in immigration, try Stateline.org.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Pew Hispanic Center’s new, useful report on English acquisition among Latinos
Here are some salient points:
•“Language is a vehicle for assimilation,” said D’Vera Cohn, one of the report’s writers. The fact that, by the third generation and fourth generation-- i.e. the grandchildren of immigrants—94% of the descendants of immigrants spoke English “very well,” means that this cohort is well-assimilated into the values and culture of mainstream America.
•Puerto Ricans assessed their mastery of English the highest of any other “immigrant” group, with Cubans second and Mexicans last. Only 16% of Mexican immigrants said their English was “very good.” This, explained Ms. Cohn, is probably due to the fact that Mexicans enter the country with the lowest educational levels of all Latinos.
•The younger you are when you arrive, the greater the likelihood of your mastery of English. And the higher your level of education in your home country.
•Data on reading proficiency followed closely those on speaking skills.
For the full report, see:
ENGLISH USAGE AMONG HISPANICS IN THE UNITED STATES
Monday, November 12, 2007
Inglés, español o Spanglish?
Well, the LA Times feels your pain. Here's a revealing article on the troubles of navigating between idiomas and how some get or don't get around them.
Suerte!