With a growing Latino and an increasingly diversified population in the United States, there is a demand for interpreters and translators in 2014, among other occupations that make up the Top 12 high-wage, in-demand, skilled positions this year.
A recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project appears to support the controversial claim that the "digital divide" - the disparity in internet technology and access that has traditionally been defined as between American Whites and minorities, is not actually an inequality based on race anymore, but instead an economic problem. However, that conclusion must take into account smartphone internet access as if it's equal to desktop-based broadband, which it is not.
As if the Americanization and coopting of the burrito as a cheap and easy fast food product hadn't already been fully accomplished by the likes of Taco Bell, Chipotle, and those sketchy frozen bundles of processed food you find in the freezer section of bodegas in every city, the appearance of the Burrito Box, the "world's first burrito kiosk," in a West Hollywood gas station is surely the logical conclusion of the fast-food burrito.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), universally known as Obamacare, opened enrollment for insurance on Oct. 1, 2013. This came as a relief to low income individuals –- particularly members of the Latino community, which has the highest rate for uninsured adults in the county. In some states, more than a quarter of adult women don’t have insurance. In 2010, 30.7 percent of the Hispanic population is uncovered by health insurance, compared to 11.7 percent of the non-Hispanic white population.
Ever since the recession, tech startups, and in particular Latino tech startups, have faced difficulties with finding funding, networking with venture capital, and simply getting their idea out into the market place, with less than 1 percent of venture-backed startups founded by Latinos.
While a female presence is predominant online, there is still a lot more work to do to encourage young women, including aspiring Latinas, to study in the field of computer science and later enter in the tech-related workforce.
What is your idea of a perfect vacation? If it includes, a beautiful background, amazing cuisine and vibrant people with a Latin twist to boot, then you're in store for a treat. Travel + Leisure recently released its "Best Places to Travel in 2014," and it included some noteworthy spots in the U.S., Mexico and Latin America.
Nuyorican prize-winning poet and children's book author Willie Perdomo is Spanish Harlem's El Barrio-born and a native to all things awe-inspiring. He has been published in New York Times Magazine and Bomb. The writer of Clementine!, Where a Nickel Costs a Dime, Postcards of El Barrio, The Essential Hits of Shorty Bon, and Smoking Lovely, he's won a number of literary awards and notable mentions, recognized for his incredible creative contributions to the world of poetry.
The mysteries of our human, genetic make-up continue to unravel everyday with the advances in science and technology - not to mention the tireless dedication of researchers and excavationists. There has been a recent DNA discovery in Northern Spain that add to its complex history.
American superheroes draw your super powers and step aside, a new Latin superhero is making his way to the big screen in 2014, and is reportedly teaming up with Disney to create it.
"Thanks to Shark Tank, I live the American dream," said Mexican born entrepreneur Aldo Orta, who received financial backing from ABC's Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran and Kevin Harrington in season two. On Friday, Orta returned to give the show an update on his progress.
One must-see this movie this season is the "American Hustle" that is loosely based on the "Abscam" scandal, "a sting operation by the FBI, in which various political office holders were offered bribes on behalf of a (fake) Arab sheikh, it led to multiple convictions, as well as to charges that the FBI unfairly entrapped people." This clever film leads us to ask, who are the modern-day 'hustlers' in America and abroad?
Latino buying power has become the thing to talk about, as it has increased six fold since the 1990's: the $212 billion collective purchasing ability has matured to an estimated $1.2 trillion in 2013; as the Hispanic population increased 43 percent within the last 13 years, rising from 35.3 million to 52 million+. However, Latino companies (big business and startups) are still few and far between. Despite the magnitude of Latinos' contribution to the American economy, and the number of Latinos functioning at every level of the workforce, Hispanic-owned and Hispanic-run business often don't make impressions on the American public and mainstream corporations. But, there are a few large Latino companies that have been able to access extensive returns, becoming true competitors in their respective industries. The top revenue-earning Latino companies were recently established by HispanicBusiness.com, showing that Latinos head in a varied range of industries, offering a number of services.
Latino/a Americans require community-wide development of services made available to them, and they are in need of organizations that have a desire to push them to the forefront by sponsoring services that ensure access to quality education, economic stability and healthcare. Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP), under the masterful leadership of Senior Manager for Corporate Relations Alexandra Aquino-Fike and a number of other skillful individuals, has helped to mobilize and motivate Latinos for the last 30 years, by funding and supporting more than 600 Latino organizations from coast-to-coast.
Google is getting artsy. The virtual trailblazing company recently launched Google Open Gallery, a new online tool to allow museums, galleries and individuals to create online art exhibitions. It's part of the Google Cultural Institute, which has partnered with major art organizations around the world to put content online.
Alelo, "a modest L.A. company that works primarily with the U.S. military, is quietly using interactive video games to fundamentally transform the way we learn about foreign language and cultures," LA Weekly reports.
Rio de Janiero, Brazil will be the backdrop for the upcoming film about the life of soccer legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele. Pele is a U.S. production in English, and will be a coming-of-age story that will chronicle Pele's life from his childhood in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil to his rise as a champion and victor in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden as the youngest player to play in a World Cup final match at the age of 17.
Mark Clayton Hand, Oxford SBS Seed Fund co-founder, recently concluded a three-piece series on Latino startups, tracking some hurdles and high points that startups face as they move toward success.
Latino buying power is continuing to grow, and continuing to be noticed by the marketing professionals who make their living looking for new customers for their clients.
Spanish Harlem, also known as "El Barrio" or East Harlem, is known for being the point of origin for a number of notable people: singer Marc Anthony, musician Frankie Cutlass, rapper Cam'ron, actor Al Pacino, rapper Tupac, poet Willie Perdomo, and bookstore owner Aurora Anaya-Cerda, who is the founder of La Casa Azul Bookstore.
