Vme TV CEO Eligio Cedeno Named 2014 “Businessman of the Year” by USHCC
Vme TV CEO Eligio Cedeno Named 2014 “Businessman of the Year” by USHCC
Majority owner and CEO of V-me Media Inc. to be honored at the USHCC National Convention on September 23, 2014 in Salt Lake City, Utah
MIAMI, Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Vme TV, the only national Spanish-language television network affiliated with public television stations, is proud to announce that Vme TV CEO, Eligio Cedeno will be honored as the “2014 Businessman of the Year” by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC). Cedeno will be recognized during the USHCC National Convention on September 23, 2014 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Being named the USHCC ‘Businessman of the Year’ is a great honor as it signifies that the work we do at Vme TV is touching lives nationwide,” said Cedeno. “We at Vme TV will continue to drive the narrative that Hispanic Americans play a pivotal role in the success of this country and should have access to media content that reflects who we truly are as a community.”
Each year, the USHCC recognizes an executive whose outstanding leadership, pioneering spirit, and social and economic contributions exemplify the best of America’s Hispanic business leadership. As the CEO of the country’s largest minority owned network, Cedeno has demonstrated a unique vision and commitment to providing the Hispanic American community with educational, entertaining, inspiring and enriching media content that is geared toward empowering Hispanic Americans and promoting upward mobility in the Latino community.
“During his tenure at Vme TV, Eligio has devoted his time, resources, and passion toward educating and inspiring young children and families with quality television programming. Driven by his personal journey, Eligio recognizes the cultural challenges faced by many, and has leveraged the power of media to help break down barriers for America’s Spanish speaking viewers,” said USHCC President & CEO Javier Palomarez. “We commend Eligio for offering his talents in service to the Hispanic community and our nation as a whole, and are proud to recognize him as the 2014 Businessman of the Year.”
Cedeno, who moved to the United States from Venezuela four years ago, has witnessed first hand how the lack of access to credible and trustworthy media sources can negatively impact communities at large. This experience led him to seek the opportunity to spearhead Vme TV in 2013. Under his leadership, the channel has successfully positioned itself among industry leaders and consumers as the go-to source for quality, family friendly, Spanish-language content in the United States.
ABOUT VME TELEVISION
Vme TV (pronounced veh-meh), is the first national Spanish-language television network in association with public television stations. Reaching more than 70 million households in the United States, Vme TV is broadcast in 43 markets by PBS stations and is available on DIRECTV, DISH Network, AT&T U-verse, as well as major cable companies including Comcast. The 24-hour digital broadcast service is dedicated to entertain, educate and inspire families in Spanish with a contemporary mix of original productions, exclusive premieres, acquisitions, and popular public television programs specially adapted for Hispanics. To find your local channel or to learn more about Vme TV, visit www.vmetv.com (http://www.vmetv.com/mediakit) or follow us on social media via www.facebook.com/vmetv or www.twitter.com/vmetv.
Vallarta Supermarkets Children’s Miracle Network Fundraiser Check Presentation at Top-Raising Location
Vallarta Supermarkets Children’s Miracle Network Fundraiser Check Presentation at Top-Raising Location
Media are invited Thursday, September 18, 2014, between 10:30am and 1:30pm
MEDIA MUST RSVP
SYLMAR, Calif., Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ —
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140103/LA39827LOGO
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WHAT: |
Vallarta Supermarkets hosts its chain-wide Children’s Miracle Network Fundraiser each year in August. Between all 44 locations, more than $200 thousand dollars were raised for local Children’s Hospital’s (including Children’s Hospital Central California). Vallarta Supermarkets on Butler Avenue in Fresno, California was out of all locations, the Top-Raising store funding over $19 thousand dollars in only 4 weeks. Vallarta Supermarkets will be hosting a check presentation at this location to honor the community’s support and recognize the store team’s success. |
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WHEN: |
Thursday, September 18, 11am – 1pm
*Media are invited Thursday, September 18, 2014, between 10:30am and 1:30pm |
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WHERE: |
Vallarta Supermarkets |
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4831 Butler Ave |
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Fresno, California 93727 |
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WHY: |
Vallarta Supermarkets is firmly committed to assisting the local communities they serve, this is now the 4th year Vallarta participates with the Children’s Miracle Network. All funds raised at each location are sent directly to each store’s corresponding Children’s Hospital. Hospitals included in this fundraiser are: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, Children’s Hospital Central California, Cottage Health System, Children’s Hospital Orange County, and Rady Children’s Hospital. Last year Vallarta Supermarkets (with 42 locations) raised over $165 thousand dollars. In August 2014, the total raised (between 44 locations) surpassed a historic $200 thousand dollars. |
ABOUT VALLARTA SUPERMARKETS:
Founded in 1985 by Enrique Gonzalez, Sr; Vallarta Supermarkets is a full-service grocery independent chain with 44 locations throughout the state of California. Vallarta Supermarkets is known for having fresh produce, top-quality meats, exquisite pastries, and specialty items from Latin America and other parts of the world. Visit www.vallartasupermarkets.com for additional information.
ABOUT CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK:
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care.
CONTACT:
Vallarta Supermarkets
Ruby Martinez, (818) 898-0088 ext 1224
[email protected]
Tony Hernandez (818) 898-0088
[email protected]
Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2013
Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2013
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that in 2013, the poverty rate declined from the previous year for the first time since 2006, while there was no statistically significant change in either the number of people living in poverty or real median household income. In addition, the poverty rate for children under 18 declined from the previous year for the first time since 2000. The following results for the nation were compiled from information collected in the 2014 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
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The nation’s official poverty rate in 2013 was 14.5 percent, down from 15.0 percent in 2012. The 45.3 million people living at or below the poverty line in 2013, for the third consecutive year, did not represent a statistically significant change from the previous year’s estimate.
Median household income in the United States in 2013 was $51,939; the change in real terms from the 2012 median of $51,759 was not statistically significant. This is the second consecutive year that the annual change was not statistically significant, following two consecutive annual declines.
The percentage of people without health insurance coverage for the entire 2013 calendar year was 13.4 percent; this amounted to 42.0 million people.
These findings are contained in two reports: Income and Poverty in the United States: 2013 and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2013. The Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement was conducted between February and April 2014 and collected information about income and health insurance coverage during the 2013 calendar year. The Current Population Survey, sponsored jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is conducted every month and is the primary source of labor force statistics for the U.S. population; it is used to calculate the monthly unemployment rate estimates. Supplements are added in most months; the Annual Social and Economic Supplement questionnaire is designed to give annual, calendar-year, national estimates of income, poverty and health insurance numbers and rates.
Traditionally, the Census Bureau releases detailed comparisons of year-to-year changes in health insurance from this survey. However, because of the redesign of the Current Population Survey’s health insurance section of the questionnaire, its estimates of health insurance coverage are not directly comparable to estimates from prior years. Research suggested the Current Population Survey estimates needed improvement, as the estimates were not in line with other sources. The redesigned survey is based on over a decade of research, including two national field tests as well as cognitive testing. The survey improvements this year will better measure health insurance coverage for the prior calendar year, thus providing a strong 2013 baseline to measure future changes in health insurance coverage caused by the Affordable Care Act.
The health insurance report contains Current Population Survey statistics only for 2013. However, limited statistics on year-to-year changes based on the American Community Survey are available in the report. The report also includes state-level American Community Survey health insurance coverage statistics. According to the American Community Survey, the percent of people without health insurance coverage declined 0.2 percent between 2012 and 2013.
The American Community Survey has collected data on health insurance coverage since 2008. Additional sources of health insurance coverage data not included in this report are the Small Area Health Insurance Estimates and National Health Interview Survey.
The Current Population Survey-based income and poverty report includes comparisons with one year earlier. State and local income and poverty results, as well as state and local health insurance coverage results, will be available Thursday, Sept. 18, from the American Community Survey.
Income
- Real median incomes in 2013 for family households ($65,587) and nonfamily households ($31,178) did not experience a statistically significant change from the levels in 2012.
- A comparison of real median household income over the past six years shows that income is 8.0 percent lower than in 2007, the year before the nation entered an economic recession.
Race and Hispanic Origin
(Race data refer to people reporting a single race only; Hispanics can be of any race)
- The real median income of Hispanic households increased by 3.5 percent between 2012 and 2013. Changes were not statistically significant for any of the race groups, however. (See Table A.)
Regions
- Changes in real median household income were not statistically significant for any of the four regions between 2012 and 2013. (See Table A.)
Earnings
- The changes in the real median earnings of men and women who worked full time, year- round between 2012 and 2013 were not statistically significant. In 2013, the median earnings of women who worked full time, year-round ($39,157) was 78 percent of that for men working full time, year-round ($50,033) ─ not statistically different from the 2012 ratio. The female-to-male earnings ratio has not experienced a statistically significant annual increase since 2007.
- The number of men and women working full time, year-round with earnings increased by 1.8 million and 1.0 million, respectively, between 2012 and 2013. (The difference between the two increases was not statistically significant.) Since 2010, the year following the most recent recession, the total number of year-round, full-time workers has increased by 6.4 million.
Income Inequality
- The Gini index was 0.476 in 2013; the change from 2012 was not statistically significant. Since 1993, the earliest year available for comparable measures of income inequality, the Gini index has increased 4.9 percent. (Developed more than a century ago, the Gini index is the most common measure of household income inequality used by economists, with zero representing total income equality and one equivalent to total inequality.)
- Changes in income inequality between 2012 and 2013 were not statistically significant as measured by the shares of aggregate household income by quintiles.
Poverty
- The poverty rate for families fell from 11.8 percent in 2012 to 11.2 percent in 2013. The number of families in poverty declined from 9.5 million to 9.1 million over the same period.
- In 2013, 5.8 percent of married-couple families, 30.6 percent of families with a female householder and 15.9 percent of families with a male householder lived in poverty. For married-couple families, both the poverty rate and the number in poverty decreased. Neither the poverty rates nor the estimates of the number of families in poverty showed any statistically significant change between 2012 and 2013 for other types of families.
Thresholds
- As defined by the Office of Management and Budget and updated for inflation using the consumer price index, the weighted average poverty threshold for a family of four in 2013 was $23,834.
(See http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/threshld/index.html for the complete set of dollar value thresholds that vary by family size and composition.)
Sex
- Between 2012 and 2013, poverty rates fell for both males and females. In 2013, 13.1 percent of males and 15.8 percent of females were in poverty, down from 13.6 percent and 16.3 percent in 2012.
Race and Hispanic Origin
(Race data refer to people reporting a single race only; Hispanics can be of any race)
- Hispanics were the only group among the major race and ethnic groups to experience a statistically significant change in their poverty rate and the number of people in poverty (both the rate and number declined). Table B details 2013 poverty rates and numbers in poverty, as well as changes since 2012 in these measures, for race groups and Hispanics.
Age
- In 2013, 13.6 percent of people 18 to 64 (26.4 million) were in poverty compared with 9.5 percent of people 65 and older (4.2 million). Neither of these poverty rates experienced a statistically significant change from their 2012 estimates.
- The poverty rate for children under 18 declined from 21.8 percent in 2012 to 19.9 percent in 2013. The number of children in poverty also declined over the period, from 16.1 million to 14.7 million. This was the first time since 2000 that the child poverty rate declined.
Regions
- None of the four regions experienced a significant change in the poverty rate or the number in poverty between 2012 and 2013. (See Table B.)
Shared Households
Shared households are defined as households that include at least one “additional” adult: a person 18 or older who is not enrolled in school and is not the householder, spouse or cohabiting partner of the householder. The information on shared households covers adults living in the household at the time of the survey.
- In spring 2007, prior to the recession, there were 19.7 million shared households, representing 17.0 percent of all households. By spring 2014, the number had increased to 23.5 million and represented 19.1 percent of all households. Between 2013 and 2014, the change in the number and percentage of shared households was not statistically significant.
- In spring 2014, 6.1 million young adults age 25 to 34 (14.4 percent) lived with their parents. Neither the number nor percentage experienced a statistically significant change from 2013.
- It is difficult to precisely assess the impact of household sharing on overall poverty rates. In 2014, young adults age 25 to 34, living with their parents, had an official poverty rate of 9.3 percent, but if their poverty status were determined using only their own income, 43.7 percent had an income below the poverty threshold for a single person under age 65.
Health Insurance Coverage
- The Current Population Survey shows that the percentage of people with health insurance for all or part of 2013 was 86.6 percent, and 13.4 percent did not have health insurance for the entire year.
- Full-time, year-round workers were more likely to be covered by health insurance (86.1 percent) than those who worked less than full-time, year round (76.0 percent) or non-workers (77.6 percent).
- Among adults age 18 to 64 with a disability, 39.3 percent had private health insurance, compared with 70.7 percent of their counterparts with no disability in 2013. More than half (56.6 percent) of people with a disability had government-provided health insurance. The percentage of working-age adults with a disability who had any type of health insurance coverage was higher than the comparable population with no disability (86.2 percent, compared with 81.1 percent.)
- In 2013, the majority of individuals (64.2 percent) were covered by private health insurance. The largest single type of health insurance in 2013 was employment-based health insurance, which covered 53.9 percent of the population.
- In 2013, 34.3 percent of the population was covered by government health insurance. The percentage of people covered by Medicaid in 2013 was 17.3 percent and the percentage covered by Medicare was 15.6 percent.
- The percentage of uninsured children younger than 19 was 7.6 percent in 2013.
- In 2013, the uninsured rate for children younger than 19 in poverty (9.8 percent) was higher than the uninsured rate for children not in poverty (7.0 percent).
- In 2013, 9.8 percent of non-Hispanic whites were uninsured, compared with 15.9 percent of blacks and 24.3 percent of Hispanics.
Supplemental Poverty Measure
The poverty statistics released today compare the official poverty thresholds to money income before taxes, not including the value of non-cash benefits. The Census Bureau’s statistical experts, with assistance from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and in consultation with other federal agencies and researchers from both within and outside of academia, have developed a supplemental poverty measure to serve as an additional indicator of economic well-being by incorporating additional items such as tax payments and work expenses in its family resource estimates. It does not replace the official poverty measure and will not be used to determine eligibility for government programs. See Income and Poverty in the United States: 2013 for more information. The Census Bureau published preliminary poverty estimates using this supplemental measure in November 2011, 2012 and 2013. Supplemental poverty estimates for 2013 will be published in October 2014.
State and Local Estimates from the American Community Survey
On Thursday, Sept. 18, the Census Bureau will release single-year estimates of median household income, poverty and health insurance for all states, counties, places and other geographic units with populations of 65,000 or more from the 2013 American Community Survey. These statistics will include numerous social, economic and housing characteristics, such as language, education, commuting, employment, mortgage status and rent. Later today, subscribers will be able to access these estimates on an embargoed basis. Reports on income, poverty and health insurance using American Community Survey data will also be released Thursday.
The American Community Survey provides a wide range of important statistics about people and housing for every community (i.e., census tracts, or neighborhoods) across the nation. The results are used by everyone from town and city planners to retailers and homebuilders. The survey is the only source of local estimates for most of the 40 topics it covers for even the smallest communities.
Redesigned Questions
The 2014 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement included redesigned questions for income and health insurance coverage. All of the approximately 98,000 addresses included in the survey were eligible to receive the redesigned health insurance coverage questions. The redesigned income questions were implemented to a subsample of those 98,000 addresses using a probability split panel design. Approximately 68,000 addresses were eligible to receive income questions similar to those used in the 2013 survey and the remaining 30,000 addresses were eligible to receive the redesigned income questions. The source of data in both reports, Income and Poverty in the United States: 2013 and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2013, is the portion of the Current Population Survey Social and Economic Supplement sample (68,000 addresses) that received the set of income questions consistent with those in the 2013 survey. A probability split panel design means the Census Bureau assigned each address in the sample to either the traditional questionnaire or the alternate redesigned questionnaire based on a random number.
The Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement is subject to sampling and nonsampling errors. All comparisons made in the report have been tested and found to be statistically significant at the 90 percent confidence level, unless otherwise noted.
For additional information on the source of the data and accuracy of the estimates, visit ftp://ftp2.census.gov/library/publications/2014/demo/p60-249sa.pdf.
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Income and Poverty Report
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New Ad Council Campaign Gives Hispanic Parents Resources & Support to Help Their Children Prepare, Plan, and Pay for College
New Ad Council Campaign Gives Hispanic Parents Resources & Support to Help Their Children Prepare, Plan, and Pay for College
Actors Adam Rodriguez and Edward James Olmos Join Univision Anchors Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas in New Hispanic Scholarship Fund and Ad Council PSAs
NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), in partnership with the Ad Council, is launching a new, national public service advertising (PSA) campaign to give Hispanic parents access to the resources they need to help their children prepare, plan, and pay for college.
To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click – http://www.multivu.com/players/Spanish/7317152-advertising-council-y-hispanic-scholarship-fund-psa
Today, Hispanics account for 19% of all college students, ages 18 to 24, up from 12% in 2008. What’s more, 69% of Hispanic graduates are now going directly to college after graduating high school, a rate that is higher than that of the general population. This unprecedented surge in Hispanic college-bound students underscores the need to provide more information about college and more financial resources than ever before.
“I am so honored to be a part of this campaign,” said Adam Rodriguez, actor, screenwriter, director, star of television series CSI: Miami and Reckless, and member of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund’s Board of Directors. “Higher education is an integral stepping stone towards a successful future in this country, and I hope that these PSAs will equip parents to be the support system that their kids need to get to and through college.”
“With Latinos representing one in four people in America under age 18, it is more important than ever for HSF to provide scholarships and services to students, as well as provide resources for their parents,” said Fidel A. Vargas, President & CEO, Hispanic Scholarship Fund. “Their success in college is more important than ever, and this is our opportunity to help Latino students not only reach college, but make the most of their college experience. We hope this campaign will equip even more Hispanic parents and students with the tools they need to plan, prepare, and pay for college.”
The new PSAs, featuring actors Adam Rodriguez and Edward James Olmos, and Univision co-anchors Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas, specifically target Hispanic parents. The PSA campaign empowers parents to help their children navigate the college application process and access the resources and support needed to excel in their studies and graduate. According to a 2009 Pew Hispanic Center survey, 88% of Latinos ages 16 and older agreed that a college degree is necessary to get ahead in life today, as compared to only 74% of all Americans ages 16 and older. This new Ad Council campaign is designed to provide Hispanic parents with the information and resources they need to ensure their children attain a college degree.
“We are thrilled with these new PSAs and the campaign as a whole,” said Ad Council President and CEO, Peggy Conlon. “Hispanic parents have a wonderful opportunity to shape the future of their children and to give them the chance to pursue a higher education and the opportunities that go with it. These PSAs encourage and inspire action. We believe they will make a huge impact.”
The new TV, print, radio, outdoor, and digital PSAs were created pro bono by ad agency, The Vidal Partnership. They drive the audiences to HSF.net, where parents can find resources and tips to help their children.
About The Ad Council
The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshalling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has affected, and continues to affect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action and saving lives. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit www.adcouncil.org, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or view our PSAs on YouTube.
About the Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Founded in 1975, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to Latino students, as well as related support services. HSF seeks to give students all the tools they need to apply to college, do well in their course work, graduate, enter a profession, excel, help lead our nation going forward, and mentor the generations to come. As the nation’s largest not-for-profit organization supporting Hispanic American higher education, the Fund has awarded over $470 million in scholarships and provides a range of ancillary programs for students, HSF Scholars, and their families. HSF further strives to make college education a top priority for every Latino family across the nation, mobilizing our community to proactively advance that goal – each individual, over a lifetime, in every way he/she can. For more information about the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, please visit: HSF.net.
About The Vidal Partnership
Founded in 1999, The Vidal Partnership is a leader in multicultural marketing communications located in New York City. Fiercely independent and certified 100% minority-owned and managed, TVP helps brands thrive in multicultural culture by creating compelling and innovative solutions that build the business of top-tier clients including Aaron’s, Cablevision – Optimum, HomeSmart, Lincoln Financial Group, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Powerful Yogurt, Remy Martin USA, TD Bank and the NFL. TVP is a three-time Agency of the Year, four-time Advertising Age A-List Agency and a three-time AHAA Creative Awards Best in Show winner. For more information, visit vidalpartnership.com.
Discovery en Espanol Adds A Touch Of Magic To Tuesday Nights With The Premiere Of EL MAGO POP
Discovery en Espanol Adds A Touch Of Magic To Tuesday Nights With The Premiere Of EL MAGO POP
In the series, Antonio Diaz, illusionism’s rising star, uses magic to meet celebrities by way of the six degrees of separation
MIAMI, Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Discovery en Espanol adds to Tuesday night ”Enigma” programming with EL MAGO POP. The series is led by the Spanish illusionist Antonio Diaz who, with his fresh and irreverent style, takes his magic to the streets with the aim to personally meet his idols through the six degrees of separation theory. The series EL MAGO POP will air Tuesdays at 9PM ET/PT, starting September 30th.
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At the age of 28, after having won the National Prize of Magic in Spain, Antonio sets himself up to conquer U.S. Hispanic audiences with his unique magic and humor. His personal style combines illusion with visual narrative, minus the tuxedo and hair gel; his look fits his personality, not his trade. In EL MAGO POP, Antonio spans the streets of Europe putting the theory of six degrees of separation to the test with the aim of meeting and impressing well-known personalities with his magic, including English physicist Stephen Hawking, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason or Brazilian soccer player Neymar by way of only six go-betweens.
With EL MAGO POP, Discovery en Espanol expands its “Noche de Enigma” (Enigma Night) during which it travels to a new dimension to show stories that relate to inexplicable phenomena, introduce controversial personalities and analyze seemingly unsolvable cases.
To learn more about EL MAGO POP (#ElMagoPop) visit discoveryenespanol.com, or follow us at facebook.com/discoveryenespanol, or on Twitter @DiscoveryenESP.
About Discovery en Espanol
Discovery en Espanol is the premier network dedicated to offering the finest in quality programming in the areas of science, technology, world cultures, history, nature and real-life drama. The channel provides a unique and enriching experience by combining the best Discovery Networks programming with its own original productions. Created by the world’s most trusted media brand, Discovery en Espanol translates not just the words, but also the excitement of Discovery, educating and informing its audience and offering a fascinating glimpse into the incredible world in which we live. For more information, please visit discoveryenespanol.com, or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/discoveryenespanol and at Twitter @DiscoveryenESP.
Noted Lecture Highlights Accomplishments of Hispanics and Continuing Challenges
Noted Lecture Highlights Accomplishments of Hispanics and Continuing Challenges
ETS and AAHHE Publish 2014 Tomás Rivera Lecture
PRINCETON, N.J., Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — “Economic and political power among Hispanics must be matched with education power,” Yvette Donado, Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Educational Testing Service (ETS) told attendees as she delivered the 2014 Tomás Rivera lecture during the ninth annual American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) conference. Her remarks reflected the conference theme, “America’s Prosperity: The Academic Success of Hispanics.” That lecture has now been published and is available free-of-charge.
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The annual lecture is named in honor of the late Dr. Tomás Rivera, a professor, scholar, poet, author and former president of the University of California, Riverside. Rivera also served on the board of trustees of ETS. Although this was the 30th lecture, this is the fifth year that ETS and AAHHE have published and distributed the annual lecture.
Donado drew upon ETS and national reports as well as her own experiences to illustrate the positive benefits of educational attainment and the remaining challenges. She told attendees that that by 2015, if Latinos age 18–24 attended and graduated from college at the same rates as non-Hispanic Whites, the following benefits would incur:
- 430,000 more Hispanics would be in college and 110,000 would graduate.
- Increased Hispanic presence would benefit all students.
- Other benefits would accrue as they enter the workforce, contributing to diversity of thought and action.
- They would add more than $130 billion per year to the economy.
- That new wealth would add $45.5 billion to public revenues, helping all Americans.
- The proportion of Hispanic families with less than adequate incomes would decline from 40 percent to under 21 percent.
“There is no need to draw a picture,” Donado said. “Those who neglect the potential contribution of Hispanics to our nation, those who do not support equitable access to educational opportunity for Hispanics, and those who oppose documenting the undocumented do so at their own peril. We often point to our growing numbers and assume that with that growth comes economic and political power. But such power must be won. It will not be handed to us. We must fight for it. Economic and political power must be matched by education power!”
Donado noted that despite many gains, Hispanics continue to lag in key areas including:
- Hispanics are less than 3 percent of full-time university faculty and administrators.
- High school dropout rates, although down slightly, are still unacceptably high.
- UCLA’s Patricia Gándara says Hispanics have the worst record of college completion (9 to 11 percent for the last three decades; while African-American students’ numbers rose from 11 percent in 1975 to 18 percent in 2006).
- More than 40 percent of Latina mothers have less than a high school education (compared to 12 percent of African-American mothers).
- Latinas are twice as likely as other women to live in poverty (20 percent vs. 11 percent).
- When Hispanic families lack resources and their children attend impoverished schools, negative outcomes are inevitable.
- Community colleges are the point of entry for most Hispanics going into higher education, but a large percentage are not college ready and require remedial courses.
- Too many Hispanics lack English-language skills and education to compete for better paying jobs.
“Research and experience have consistently shown correlations between educational attainment and success,” she said. “Education can improve personal and public health and overall quality of life; strengthen communities and societies; increase wealth; heighten interest in environmental quality; and promote harmony and collaboration among people of different backgrounds and cultures.”
Donado noted that progress takes hard work, creativity, initiative and persistence. That progress, she said, must include:
- A strong start for Hispanic preschoolers, that is, more early education
- Improved teacher quality across the board
- Lower dropout rates
- Easier access to higher education
- Higher high school and post-secondary graduation rates
- Increased numbers of Hispanic college presidents, administrators and faculty
“Donado not only presents educational issues pertinent to the Hispanic population, she clearly paints a picture of how we can begin to address these issues, says Loui Olivas, Professor Emeritus at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. “Given that the future workforce of America will soon become predominantly minority, led by Hispanics, all sectors or our country must have a collective and vested interest in preparing these future workers. AAHHE is proud to partner with ETS via the annual Tomas Rivera Lecture.”
“A myth persists among some out there that Hispanics don’t care about education, Donado said. “The fact is that along with economic opportunity, education tops the list of Hispanic priorities. So the challenge is to move our communities and our nation from the realm of `possibilities’ into the realm of `probabilities.’ Our motto should be `mission possible’.”
“Our society is changing faster than our capacity to keep up with the changes,” Donado concluded. “Let us not react to the changes around us, let us prepare. Let us shape those changes in a manner consistent with our numbers. Education, too, is evolving. And we Hispanics cannot be mere spectators. We must be players. We must move from doubts and uncertainties, to assured progress, along pathways with built-in and fail-safe mechanisms.”
The Tomás Rivera Lecture may be downloaded at http://www.ets.org/Media/Research/pdf/PICRIVERA6.pdf
About ETS
At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and post-secondary education, as well as conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. www.ets.org
About AAHHE
The American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, Inc. (AAHHE) is an association of Hispanic faculty and administrators at U.S. colleges and universities. It supports the development of Hispanic college professionals and is dedicated to increasing the number of Hispanics in higher education, bringing issues pertinent to Hispanics to the attention of the larger academic community, and recognizing achievements of Hispanics in support of higher education. For more about AAHHE, visit www.aahhe.org.
Goya Foods Unveils New State-of-the-Art Distribution Center in Georgia
MCDONOUGH, Ga., Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Goya Foods, America's largest Hispanic-owned food company, will open a new state-of-the-art distribution center in Georgia to aid with the expansion of their business in the southeast region. Located at 4005 Haworth Parkway, McDonough, GA., the facility will be officially inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 17 between 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Mayor Billy Copeland of the City of McDonough will be present for the ceremony.
The new Goya Foods facility is expected to spur economic growth and job creation for the region. The custom designed, energy-efficient facility will be the main distribution
center for the entire state of Georgia, along with parts of South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee. The facility spans over 150,000 square feet, and the space allows for future expansion of an additional 50,000 square feet. In conjunction with the inauguration of the center, Goya Foods will also present a 1,000 lb. food donation to St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry as part of their ongoing commitment to the communities they serve.
"We are so happy and excited to open the doors of our new distribution center and mark this important milestone in our company's history," said Frank Unanue, president of Goya Foods of Florida. "This new facility allows us to reach sectors of the Southeast region, which will help Goya reach a larger base of consumers and provide a greater variety of Goya products."
Guests attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony will receive an
exclusive tour of the distribution center and will also be able to enjoy a Goya-inspired lunch. To RSVP for this event please email [email protected] or call 786-347-4750.
ABOUT GOYA: Founded in 1936, Goya Foods, Inc. is America's largest Hispanic-owned food company, and has established itself as the leader in Latin American food and condiments. Goya manufactures packages and distributes over 2,000 high-quality food products from the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America. For more information on Goya Foods, please visit www.goya.com.