California

new, 4,200-square-foot retail and convenience store targeted toward the Hispanic population is set to open in September in Paso Robles.

The business, called La Chiquita Market y Carniceria, will be at 532 N. 24th St., one block off Spring Street and across from Flamson Middle School. It will provide fresh meats, soft drinks, dry goods, ice, beer and wine, as well as hot food for lunch, said its owner, Gary Pederson.”*

For the first time ever, the Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA), a non-profit organization founded to advance the careers of Hispanics in the field of communications, will honor the very best in public relations campaigns that target Hispanic/Latino audiences.

Entries are now being accepted through Friday, August 22 for the best Hispanic public relations campaigns in Technology; Health and/or Beauty; Food & Beverage; Public Affairs; Financial/Investor Relations; Non-Profit; and Sports. For more details and to download the entry form, visit www.hpra-usa.org.

“HPRA understands it takes a special kind of expertise to develop and implement a communications campaign that resonates with the United States’ Hispanic/Latino populations,” said HPRA President Ivette Zurita. “While many industry award competitions may include Hispanic/Latino-targeted campaigns into a multicultural category, HPRA is setting a new standard in communication excellence by introducing a Hispanic-specific award program.”

“At the heart of HPRA’s Hispanic Public Relations Campaign of the Year is the desire to showcase the innovative, creative, and cultural competence of Hispanic/Latino campaigns recognized by the industry’s leading professional Hispanic organization,” added Zurita.

HPRA has long honored individuals yearly in four different categories, Journalism, Arts & Entertainment, Public Relations, and Corporation of the Year. However, this will be the first year that HPRA extends its awards to a campaign of the year — a search for the best public relations campaigns nationwide. The entries will be judged by an unaffiliated panel of communications experts, from academia to industry pioneers.

Awards categories are open to all public relations and marketing practitioners who practice in the United States and work on public relations/communications projects/campaigns that target Hispanic/Latino audiences throughout the United States.

The winning entries will be recognized at HPRA’s 24th Annual PRemio Awards & Scholarship Dinner, to be held Thursday, October 2 at the California Club in downtown Los Angeles. For more information about this year’s PRemio Awards & Scholarship Dinner and Sponsorship opportunities, contact Lourdes Lopez at 310.392.3777 or LourdesL@grammy.com.

About Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA)
HPRA was founded in 1984 as a non-profit organization to establish a network of Hispanics employed in the public relations profession in the Southern California area. HPRA has more than 250 members representing public relations, marketing and advertising professionals from agencies, government, non-profit and corporate companies. HPRA is dedicated to the advancement of Hispanic professionals and provides educational seminars and workshops throughout the year. The organization has awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships to Latino students pursuing a career in communications during the last 20 years. HPRA strives to be a resource for communications professionals and for those seeking insights into the Hispanic market. For more information please visit www.hpra-usa.org . “

The Prunedale resident and mother of four has been recognized for her work with the North Monterey County League of United Latin American Citizens Council at the local and state level, and she just was named LULAC’s California Woman of the Year in May.”*

While a debate rages about whether immigration’s effects have been positive or negative, what is undeniable is the poverty and poor living conditions in which many Central American and Mexican immigrants find themselves.

“Sun Valley,” says Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who represents the area, “is ground zero for the county’s underserved and uninsured populations in the eastern San Fernando Valley.”

More than 70 percent of Sun Valley’s estimated 46,000 residents are Latino - and at least half are undocumented. They often fall through the bureaucratic cracks of census and city statistics, but make up the bulk of the one-in-five residents living in poverty in the area. “*

National Spanish-language television network Univision will honor Dodger Legend Fernando Valenzuela at the first annual “Premios Deportes” today at 8 p.m. The awards show will be broadcasted nationally this Sunday, July 20 at 3 p.m. on Univision. Valenzuela will be honored as one of the most prominent Hispanic athletes in history with a lifetime achievement award, “Premio Leyenda Deportiva.”

Prior to the ceremony, Valenzuela will partake in a celebrity-filled red carpet celebration at the historic Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena at 7 p.m. Hispanic sports stars who will appear alongside Valenzuela include famed boxer Oscar de la Hoya, legendary Mexican soccer goalie Jorge Campos, retired NFL player Tony Casillas, NFL Hall of Fame recipient Anthony Muñoz, former Mexican soccer coach Jesús Bracamontes, and legendary Mexican forward Enrique Borja.

One of the most storied players in Los Angeles Dodger history, pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, became the only person in Major League history to win both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards in the same season (1981). The 20 year-old was an emergency starter on Opening Day because of injuries to Jerry Reuss and Burt Hooton, but a complete-game 2-0 victory that afternoon in front of 55,000 at Dodger Stadium against the Houston Astros became the start of “Fernandomania.” Valenzuela began the campaign with an 8-0 record, including five shutouts, and by the summer was the guest of the White House in Washington D.C. at a reception hosted by the president of Mexico. Valenzuela helped the Dodgers win the World Series in 1981 and overall won 141 games with Los Angeles through 1990.

Valenzuela is now in his sixth season as a Dodger Spanish-language broadcaster. He serves as the color commentator on the Dodgers’ Spanish-radio broadcasts on KHJ/La Ranchera 930 AM alongside colleagues Pepe Yñiguez and Hall of Famer Jaime Jarrín.

Univision Radio personality Eddie “Piolín” Sotelo, Univision’s Fernando Fiore of “República Deportiva,” and popular novela actress Angélica Vale will host the “Premios Deportes” gala event. “Premios Deportes” honor Hispanic athletes in ten different categories who have been selected for their character, talent and perseverance, as well as their contributions to and impact on the Hispanic community. “Premios Deportes” will air this Sunday, July 20 locally at 3 p.m. on KMEX-TV channel 34.”*

In celebration of National Council of La Raza’s (NCLR) 40th anniversary and its annual conference in San Diego, Microsoft Corp. today announced the launch of MSN Latino Mobile, as part of the company’s commitment to advance Hispanics in the United States through the use of technology.

MSN Latino Mobile is a new digital service that provides Hispanics with one-stop access to Spanish-language news, sports, entertainment, local movie listings, horoscopes, weather, money and finances, and Windows Live services such as Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Spaces and Live Search. MSN Latino Mobile gives U.S. Hispanics a quick and easy way to find the content and services they need while on the go and features specialized technologies that customize the experience for each consumer’s device. Consumers can access this free Spanish language service at latino.mobile.msn.com .

MSN Latino Mobile launches as a response to recent studies showing that Hispanics adopt technology faster than their African-American and Caucasian counterparts do. Mobile technology and bilingual software solutions play a key role in keeping people up to date with information and connected with their culture and their roots.

“We are committed to provide U.S. Hispanics with the right tools and solutions in their language of preference, and through content that resonates with their culture and their interests,” said Jose Pinero, director of Multicultural Marketing at Microsoft. “MSN Latino Mobile joins the group of products and services that Microsoft offers to Hispanics in the U.S. to help them stay connected with their communities and the rest of the world.”

Besides MSN Latino Mobile, Microsoft has other products and initiatives that have been specifically designed for the U.S. Hispanic market. They include Microsoft Office Spanish Language Pack, Microsoft Office Accounting Spanish version, Microsoft Office Live Workspaces in Spanish, Wisin & Yandel Custom Edition Zune, the MSN Latino portal and “Vida Digital Latina,” a seminar series to bring technology knowledge to the U.S. Hispanic community.

The new MSN Latino Mobile portal will provide up-to-the-minute Spanish-language news, including news from the Associated Press and FOX Sports en Espanol coverage for Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association and motorsports.

As part of Microsoft’s commitment to Hispanics, the company is supporting various NCLR initiatives, including the NCLR Annual Conference: Building a Stronger America, via a sponsorship of Monday’s luncheon, “Honoring Service, Courage and Leadership,” where Sgt. Maj. Irene Zamora O’Neal will receive the NCLR Heroes and Heritage Award. Microsoft is also sponsoring the NCLR Affiliate Lounge and Youth Town Hall and is the exclusive sponsor of the President’s Reception.

About MSN and Windows Live
Overall, MSN, Windows Live and Microsoft.com attract more than 550 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 42 markets and 21 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide. Most recently, MSN partnered with Control Room to stream Live Earth, the largest online entertainment event in history, with over 62 million streams worldwide.

Windows Live, a comprehensive set of personal Internet services and software, is designed to bring together in one place all the relationships, information and interests people care about most, with enhanced safety and security features across their PC, devices and the Web. MSN and Windows Live will be offered alongside each other as complementary services. Windows Live services and future beta updates can be found at ideas.live.com . Windows Live is available at www.live.com . MSN is located on the Web at www.msn.com .

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.”*

Vanessa Robledo, whose family winery has become an iconic success story and an inspiration for Hispanic immigrants, was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Latina Style Magazine this week.”*

This month, the singer gained a new platform that raises her profile — and potential influence — in the local music industry. She was named host of “Mex 2 the Max,” a popular music show produced for LATV, the L.A.-based network aimed at young, bilingual Latinos. The singer succeeds Patricia Lopez, the program’s original host, who’s now the morning sidekick for Rick Dees on Movin’ 93.9. It’s the first broadcast gig for Pérez, who has recorded seven albums in as many years, including her latest, “Todo de Mi” (All of Me), which drops Tuesday.”*

Welcome to Mexicalifornia. And no, I’m not talking about immigration policy or demographic trends or domestic hiring habits. I’m talking about that spell from the early 1820s to the late 1840s when California was Mexican.

All it takes to bring those years back, touristically speaking, is three or four days on the road, roaming between the rolling, wine-rich Sonoma hills and the cool, foggy coastline of the Central Coast. Even without the historic underpinning, the route makes for a classic California road trip. But this way, you end up with an inkling of what went on after Junipero Serra retired and before that guy found gold at Sutter’s Mill. “*

California’s best-known sanctuary city — a haven for illegal immigrants — has been escorting convicted juvenile offenders back to their home countries at city expense for nearly a generation and shielding them from federal officials in the process.

But after several recent embarrassing incidents, this famously liberal enclave has been forced to reconsider how it deals with young undocumented criminals.”*

When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger complained last year to a convention of Latino journalists that Mexican and Central American immigrants were “staying Mexican” because they weren’t learning English, he just may have been talking about much of the Northeast San Fernando Valley.

Today in Pacoima, Sun Valley and other areas of the Northeast Valley, Latino immigrants can do everything from shop and work to service their vehicles and get health care - all without having to learn English or interact with non-Latinos. “*

he “debate” over illegal immigration in the United States has always been dominated by hotheads—pissy, sloganeering loudmouths on either sides of the fence drawn together by their shared love of yelling crap on radio call-in shows and steering the dialogue away from anything approaching a solution. And since the 9/11 attacks (carried out by 16 legal immigrants and three on expired visas), the discussion has basically devolved into an incomprehensible jumble. Like did you ever see those supposedly pro-immigrant “A Day With No Mexicans” ads where everyone’s sad that there’s nobody to mow lawns or sell tacos? Who’d they get to write those, the KKK? Seriously, the whole thing just makes us want to shut off our brains and watch Reba or something. But then we remember the lives of some 12 million people hang in the balance of this pissing match (as well as the American economy, welfare, national security, etc), and it’s like, “[exagerated sigh] OK, [rolling up sleeves] looks like we’ll have to wrestle this away from the assholes after all.””*

The luggage store is pleased to present TelAranaTelAranaTelA, a solo exhibition featuring the work of ANA T. FERNANDEZ, the Headlands 2007 Tournesol Winner. The exhibition running from July 11 to August 9, 2008. features new and experimental work developed during Fernandez’ residency at the Headlands, and includes large scale figurative paintings, drawings, a video projection, and a new performance piece with sculpture iin collaboration with dancer/choreographer Jacinta Vlach of Liberation Dance Theater. Fernandez’ work is often based on documentation of both her own performances as well as the work of others. “*

During a speech emphasizing his shared values with the Latino community, Barack Obama unveiled another aspect of his health care plan at the annual convention of the National Council of La Raza, the largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States.”*

The Latino vote promises to be vital in November’s presidential election. Both Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama have been actively seeking to build support with Latino organizations. Sunday, Obama spoke in San Diego to the National Council of La Raza, a leading Hispanic advocacy group.”*

one little thing, non-political, the reporter make La Raza sound like La Rasa -t

Ramiro Carrillo Rodriguez, 48, father of two, died in Selma, CA on Thursday afternoon after working all day for Sun Valley Packing in Reedley thru a farm labor contractor. Ramiro had complained being sick from the heat. He was taken home by his foreman. He passed out almost as soon as he got in the house. By the time an ambulance got there he was dead on arrival. He leaves behind two children ages 13 and 16.

Ramiro’s death makes two farm workers dying of heatstroke last week, four farm worker heat deaths in the last 8 weeks and the 13th farm worker heat death since CA Governor Schwarzenegger took office.”*

Two years ago, the city passed an ordinance to punish landlords for renting to illegal immigrants. But it rescinded the rental restriction after a legal challenge was filed and bills began to mount.

Now Escondido is trying a new approach to what it calls the “public nuisances” of illegal immigration, citing residents for code violations such as garage conversions, graffiti and junk cars.
“*

Berkley City Manager Jane Bais-DiSessa recently was elected president-elect of the International Hispanic Network, which works to encourage professional excellence among Hispanic local government administrators.”*

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, speaking Saturday to the nation’s largest Latino civil rights organization, urged its members to campaign hard for Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, saying the presumptive nominee was their best hope for reforming federal immigration policies.”*

San Joaquin County Latino leader John Aguilar, 49, founder, president and chief executive officer of Vernon Transportation Co., died Thursday at home in Ripon following a lengthy battle with cancer.

“John’s passing leaves a huge void in our local community,” said Mark Martinez, CEO of the San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “He will be missed by his family, those whose lives he touched and, most of all, by his dedicated staff at Vernon Transportation.”"*

Today, Vibra Bank announces the successful close of its Initial Public Offering and the Grand Opening of its headquarters in Chula Vista.

Just six months after announcing its IPO, and nearly 200 investors later, Vibra Bank has raised $14.8 million in capital. Well in excess of the minimum required to open, this capital reflects the strong support that exists for Vibra Bank’s concept of a bi-cultural community bank with a focus on serving businesses in Chula Vista, the South Bay and the entire San Diego region.

Vibra Bank will hold its Grand Opening on July 23, 2008, at its headquarters located at 530 Broadway in Chula Vista. Mayor Cheryl Cox and representatives from the Latino and South Bay business community will be on hand for a special ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., followed by food and festivities.

“This is an exciting day for Chula Vista,” said Mayor Cox. “Vibra Bank is a unique bi-cultural community bank that will be a great asset to the residents and businesses of Chula Vista. We’re thrilled to welcome them to the neighborhood.”

Howard B. Levenson, Vibra Bank Investor and Board Member agreed, noting the San Diego community has gone without a bi-cultural bank for over 20 years. “This has been a long time

coming - and the fact that they’ve been able to accomplish this under the current market conditions is a testament to the strength of this venture.”

“Vibra Bank is different from other banks because we’re able to offer our customers a personalized banking experience to meet their specific needs.” said Vibra Bank President and CEO Scott Parker. “We’re committed to providing our customers with first class service that changes the way they view the customer/banker relationship. We want them to succeed and we’ll do everything we can to help them move forward.”

Vibra Bank will offer customers a wide range of services to meet their needs, including online banking and remote deposit (www.vibrabank.com). In addition, Vibra Bank is expected to generate a full range of loan products, while focusing on loans to businesses and business owners.

Their commercial and industrial lending products will include both secured and unsecured credit lines, term credit for fixed asset purchases, letters of credit and loans that qualify under the SBA guaranty programs. Commercial real estate lending products will include loans on retail, industrial and office properties. Vibra Bank will also offer carefully selected construction financing. A variety of consumer financing products will also be available to customers.

Based upon an initial capital level of $14.8 million, the Bank’s lending limits can comfortably accommodate maximum credits to one borrower of approximately $3 million on a secured basis or $1.8 million on an unsecured basis. Loans which exceed the Bank’s legal lending limit may be extended if participation agreements are in place with Vibra’s correspondent banks or with other community banks in order to sell a portion of the loan and reduce the Bank’s exposure. Vibra Bank will not engage in subprime single-family residential lending.

Vibra Bank’s board includes notable names from the San Diego and Latino business and banking community, including Enrique Schon, Chairman of Vibra Bank’s board and Founder of Mexico’s Banco Mifel and President SARSAP, a major Tijuana commercial real estate development firm; former San Diego Police Chief David Bejarano; Howard B. Levenson, former Chairman and CEO of Western Financial Corporation/Co-Founder Southwest Community Bank; Jeffrey Davidow, President of the Institute of the Americas and former United States Ambassador to Venezuela and Mexico; Luis Maizel, Senior Managing Director and Co-Founder of LM Capital Management and LM Advisors, the second-largest Hispanic money management company in the United States; Max Freifeld, partner in Prediales Atenas S.A. de C.V., a real estate investment company, and partner, board member and consultant for Autos Orientales, S.A. de C.V., a Nissan automobile dealership in Mexico, and also Founder and former Director of Hipotecaria Nacional and Hipotecaria Vanguardia; Maru Davila, Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Corporacion de Telecommunications Regionales, a telecommunications company she founded in Mexico; and Gershon Jaffe, Certified Public Accountant and Chief Financial Officer of Jaffe Finance Company, LLC, which specializes in asset-based financing and leasing for professionals. “*

As a county child mental health specialist who works with youth serving court-ordered probation, Baustista, now 39, is helping to fulfill the longtime need for more bilingual therapists who understand the many faces of Latino culture.

And he hopes to join other like-minded caregivers in a ground-breaking program designed to educate culturally competent therapists in how to break through barriers — such as language differences, distrust of government systems and an inability of counselors to understand cultural nuances — that may keep Latino residents from seeking counseling services.”*

Latino Expo USA Features Free Services on Health, Housing, and Citizenship, Plus Celebrity Appearances and Giveaways to the San Diego Community

San Diego, CA – Families in the San Diego area can enjoy diverse activities that are free and open to the public from Saturday, July 12 to Monday, July 14 at Latino Expo USA, presented at the 2008 National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Annual Conference. NCLR is the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States. These events kick off with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, July 12 at the San Diego Convention Center.

Latino Expo USA is a free, family-friendly expo with fun activities and informative exhibit booths and fairs. At Latino Expo USA, the whole family can enjoy games, raffles, prizes, live music, dancing, food, and product giveaways, as well as receive information from more than 200 exhibitors. Children—and grownups—can pose for photos with favorite TV characters, including Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer, PBS’ Maya and Miguel, Sea World’s Shamu the Whale, and the San Diego Padres’ mascot, the Swinging Friar. There will be a Kids’ Trail sponsored by McDonald’s that will lead children and their families to child-friendly booths and a showcase of San Diego’s emerging talent to find the next generation of Latino superstars.

Saturday will kick off with the NCLR Diabetes Dash, a 5k run/walk (3.1 miles) that aims to strengthen public awareness of diabetes. NCLR Affiliate San Ysidro Health Center, Inc. will bring out their mobile health unit and a representative from the American Diabetes Association will join to share information on diabetes prevention techniques and programs, and offer diabetes screenings. The race is open to all and free registration is available at www.nclr.org/diabetesdash. On-site registration opens at 5:30 a.m. at the San Diego Embarcadero, behind the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina. The race begins at 7:00 a.m. Arrive earlier for the warm-up led by the U.S. Marine Corps. A free commemorative T-shirt will be available to all Dash participants.

On Saturday and Sunday, Latino Expo USA will also feature the Housing Fair and Health Fair. The Housing Fair offers free credit reports and other expert resources to families seeking information and counseling on such topics as establishing credit, qualifying and applying for mortgage loans, and finding ways to refinance mortgage payments. The Health Fair features bilingual health professionals, free health screenings, information on access to health programs and services, and family health tips. The free health screenings will check blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels, and test for HIV/AIDS, among other health factors. Univision Communications, Inc. will also be helping attendees register for digital converter boxes for the upcoming digital transition out of their booth.

Also on Saturday, NCLR, in collaboration with the national campaign ya es hora ¡Ciudadanía! and ConAgra Foods, will host a free citizenship application session for the first 500 eligible legal permanent residents. Sunday will also feature a free HOME Clinic to help local families find ways to mitigate the effects of the mortgage crisis. Lawyers and financial experts will provide counseling and services to participants at no charge. Finally, Monday’s focus is on recruitment opportunities and will feature a special list of exhibitors who will have Human Resources staff on hand to answer career-related questions and share information about opportunities.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:	Fun events at the 2008 Latino Expo USA, presented by NCLR
ADMISSION:	FREE Parking at the San Diego Convention Center is $8.00.
WHERE:	San Diego Convention Center / Hall D 111 West Harbor Drive San Diego, CA 92101
WHEN:	Saturday and Sunday (July 12-13)10:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m., and Monday, July 14 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 2:30-5:00 p.m. Saturday, July 12 Diabetes Dash, 7:00 a.m., San Diego Embarcadero 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. (registration and warm-up at 5:30 – 7:00 a.m.) FREE Citizenship Application Session 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. / Hall C Latino Expo USA Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony, featuring Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer, PBS’s Maya and Miguel, and Shamu the Whale. 10:15 – 10:30 a.m. / Hall D Latino Expo USA Health and Housing Fairs 10:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. / Hall D San Diego Padres’ Third Baseman, Kevin ‘Kooz’ Kouzmanoff, Autograph Signing Noon – 1:00 p.m. / Hall D at the Entertainment Stage Talent Showcase, featuring local San Diego talent, DJs, and personalities, and Magic 92.5 FM’s ‘Xavier the X-Man’. 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. / Hall D at the Entertainment Stage, hosted by Sí TV, Magic 92.5 FM, and Z-90 FM Sunday, July 13 HOME Clinic, a foreclosure prevention clinic featuring a series of workshops by housing counselors and financial services experts including Julie Stav, presented with the support of State Farm Insurance Co. 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. / Hall C 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. / Hall C Mariachi Music and Dance Extravaganza, featuring local San Diego talent hosted by Recuerdo 102.9FM and La Nueva 106.5 FM 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. / Hall D at the Entertainment Stage Monday, July 14 Career Day, featuring Human Resources staff ready to answer questions and accept résumés for open positions (see list at entrance for participating exhibitors/recruiters) 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 2:30-5:00 p.m. / Hall D

JOIN THE FUN AT THE LATINO EXPO USA, PRESENTED BY NCLR!

It’s easy to make it to the 2008 NCLR Annual Conference and Latino Expo USA. Families can avoid parking fees by taking the MTS trolley or bus service to the San Diego Convention Center. On weekends, two children ages 12 and under can ride free with an adult who purchases a transportation ticket. Visit www.sdmts.com to learn more. For more information, visit www.nclr.org/latinoexpo.

“*

In the early 1970s, a Franciscan nun turned an East Los Angeles garage into a thriving cultural center that gave rise to some of the city’s most successful Latino artists. Self Help Graphics & Art later moved into a 1920s-era building on Cesar Chavez Avenue that would become distinctive for its mosaic-covered facade.

Artists such as Gronk, Frank Romero and Barbara Carrasco exhibited their work and taught at the center. Sister Karen Boccalero, its founder, became a patron of the East L.A. art scene.”*