A ‘pachanga’ with a purpose - Baltimore

The word pachanga means “party” in Spanish, and the atmosphere was certainly festive, with guests gathered under tents on the Carrillos’ verdant lawn and the smell of mint from the mojitos pervading the air. But for the Carrillos, there was another reason to invite people over on a Sunday afternoon for Cuban sandwiches and croquettes: the opportunity to make inroads in a community that is becoming economically powerful in the region. It was hard not to notice the event’s sponsor, Chevy Chase Bank, where Carrillo works as the director of Hispanic banking.

“These events are a great opportunity to reach out to the Hispanic community,” said Marta Brito Perez, who used to be the director of human relations for Montgomery County but now works for a Delaware-based drug company. “There is great economic potential, so understanding how to reach the community is a must.”"*

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