News (Noticias) Tagged ‘La Comunidad’

la comunidad, one of the most awarded advertising agencies in the world, has appointed Antoinette Zel as agency president in the Miami office. A media pioneer, Zel, 43, most recently held the position of Senior Executive Vice President, Network Strategy for the NBC Universal/Telemundo Network. Prior to NBCU/Telemundo, Zel, a longtime MTV Networks executive, served as President of MTV Networks Latin America.

Zel’s appointment will enrich the leadership slate of la comunidad, the independent global creative leader, and position the agency for expansion in the US, targeting both the US Hispanic and general market consumer. Zel will be responsible for long-term strategic vision, business development and management of the US office, in tandem with la comunidad’s Buenos Aires office.

“I’ve known Antoinette for a long time and she’s always been an innovator. She knows the challenges faced by advertisers, and the current state of traditional media given her Viacom and NBCU experience. She knows the vehicles to use to get consumers to care - whether through branded extensions or original digital applications, and that’s very exciting for us,” said Jose Molla, la comunidad founder and Creative Director. “Plus, she has a great reputation as both an inspiring and effective leader; she’ll help us take la comunidad to the next level.”

With a track record growing businesses that thrive on creativity, Zel brings a broad perspective on marrying strong creative to the needs of consumers and marketers that result in tangible performance. She is especially known for her expertise in targeting the hard to reach 12-34 multi-cultural youth segment. In 2006, Zel and NBCU/Telemundo garnered its first Peabody Award for Excellence in Journalism for a news special, “For My Country? Latinos in the Military.”

A 13-year veteran of MTV Networks, as President of MTV Networks Latin America, Zel led all creative, commercial and strategic operations for MTV, Nickelodeon and VH1 in 22 countries in Latin America.

Trained as an entertainment attorney, Zel is a frequent keynote speaker who has been widely recognized by the media industry including Hollywood Reporter’s “Top 25 Hispanic Women in Entertainment (2007)”; and Ad Age “Top 25 Women to Watch,” (2006), and Billboard’s Top 20 Power Players in Music (2005).

About la comunidad

Founded in 2001 by brothers Jose and Joaquin Molla, la comunidad (the community) is a global independent agency known for excellence in multi-platform advertising and for authentic communications on multinational brands. La comunidad has three offices one in Miami Beach and two in Buenos Aires. La comunidad was named the 2006 Agency of the Year by Adweek’s Marketing y Medios; the agency has won numerous international advertising awards, including two Gold TV Lions and one Bronze Lion in the 2007 and 2008 editions of Cannes.

After just two years, la comunidad was ranked as the 13th most awarded agency in the world, according to The Gunn Report. La comunidad clients include Best Buy, Remy Martin, Johnson & Johnson, Citibank, Virgin Mobile, MTV/VH1, Volkswagen (Latin America), Disney Channel, Coca Cola Company and Rolling Stone Magazine, among others. For more information visit www.lacomu.com. “

The next few weeks will be critical for Centro de la Comunidad as it decides what role it can realistically play in the community.

The region’s leading Hispanic social service agency has fallen on some hard financial times. Last year, the agency received $274,000 in grants, but this year that figure may be much lower.”*

Hispanic Group, la primera agencia de publicidad independiente propiedad de una minoría y especializada en ofrecer estrategias dirigidas a nacionalidades específicas dentro del mercado hispano de Estados Unidos, informó hoy que la campaña “Construye Perú, Compra Perú”, lanzada hace solo un mes, ha generado un gran interés entre los peruanos que viven en Estados Unidos.  De hecho, el anuncio se ha convertido en uno de los videos más vistos en YouTube, a nivel mundial y comerciantes ya han experimentado un incremento en la demanda de productos peruanos.

“En Hispanic Group sabemos que la comunidad hispana en los Estados Unidos no es homogénea y que para ser efectivos en la comunicación de nuestros clientes debemos buscar símbolos acordes con la idiosincrasia de cada uno de los grupos dentro dicha comunidad.  “Construye Perú” es un ejemplo de nuestra creatividad a la hora de generar campañas étnicas efectivas,” dijo José Luis Valderrama, presidente y fundador de Hispanic Group.

La Cámara Peruano-Americana (PERUSA Chamber of Commerce) es cliente pro-bono (de servicio social sin costo) de Hispanic Group y fue así como la agencia de publicidad se involucró en el desarrollo creativo de la campaña “Construye Perú, Compra Perú”.  La misma está dirigida a alentar a los peruanos en Estados Unidos, a comprar los productos de la nación sudamericana.

El anuncio comienza con una simple pregunta: “Tú eres peruano, vives en Estados Unidos. ¿Qué harías por Perú?”. Las respuestas incluyen: construir un puente, una escuela o una cancha de fútbol y finaliza diciendo “elegir productos peruanos, voy a comprar peruano porque cada vez que lo hago le doy trabajo a un peruano”.

El equipo de Hispanic Group desarrolló el concepto creativo y consiguió que el talento musical, Eva Ayllón entre ellos, donara los derechos de la canción para que pudiese ser adquirida gratuitamente a través del web site de PERUSA. Además, la agencia maximizó la visibilidad de la campaña al añadir al plan de medios la utilización de YouTube.

“Nuestro objetivo es llevar el mensaje a la mayor cantidad de personas. La campaña va a través de televisión y prensa escrita, principalmente en medios dirigidos a la comunidad peruana. Entre los auspiciadores de la campaña está Sur Corporation, con sus Canales Sur y Sur Perú. Además, Hispanic Group vio la posibilidad de ayudar a PERUSA al alojar el video en YouTube y la reacción del público ha sido maravillosa,” indicó Valderrama.

En menos de un mes el video “Construye Perú, Compra Perú” ha sido visto por más de 24,000 personas y ya ha sido incluido en la lista de los 80 videos mas vistos en YouTube.  Este sitio en la web es muy popular ya que aloja una gran variedad de clips de películas, programas de televisión, vídeos musicales y vídeos caseros. Lo que significa que el anuncio desarrollado por Hispanic Group ha logrado captar la atención de los visitantes de este sitio aún cuando compite contra contenido de origen muy variado.

Los enlaces a vídeos de YouTube pueden ser también puestos en blogs y sitios web personales.  Muchos de los que han visto “Construye Perú, Compra Perú” ya han transferido el video a sus sitios personales.  Además, la gran mayoría ha dejado mensajes en el blog de YouTube expresando el impacto emocional que ha tenido el ver estas imágenes de su país al estar lejos.

“Logramos nuestro objetivo de maximizar el mensaje ya que hemos llegado a todo tipo de personas, desde peruanos jóvenes recién mudados hasta personas mayores que llevan mucho tiempo fuera de Perú. YouTube ha registrado clicks de todos los estados de la nación Americana, además de países tan lejanos como Sudan y Argelia,” comentó Valderrama.  “Este anuncio es el ejemplo perfecto de que al tocar los botones racionales y emocionales de la audiencia se logra la acción deseada.”

Y es que los mismos visitantes del blog en YouTube se han puesto como meta generar un millón de visitas al video y así fomentar la demanda por productos peruanos alrededor del mundo.  Esto ha desarrollado una oportunidad no solo para el comercio tradicional, sino para el comercio electrónico.  Por ejemplo, muchos han tratado de conseguir, a través de la Internet, las camisetas que usan los protagonistas del video.

Según Javier Payet, dueño de Belmont International Trading Corp., una empresa que ha introducido la marca Belmont en el mercado Hispano y dedicada a la distribución de productos peruanos tanto en supermercados como en restaurantes, ya se ha notado el incremento en la demanda de bienes peruanos. “Por lo general, los peruanos están muy orgullosos de sus raíces y consumen productos peruanos.  Sin embargo, luego del lanzamiento de la campaña quienes no sabían dónde conseguir ciertas marcas, ya han comenzado a procurarlas en tiendas y se está generando una demanda adicional,” afirma Payet.

Esta es la fase inicial de una campaña que contará con un segundo anuncio esta vez dirigido a la comunidad estadounidense invitándole a probar un producto peruano. La iniciativa forma parte de los proyectos que desarrolla PERUSA para aprovechar las ventajas que ofrece el Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) firmado en 2007 entre Estados Unidos y Perú.

Para ver el anuncio favor de visitar: http://www.perusachamber.com/

Acerca de Hispanic Group

Hispanic Group es la primera agencia de publicidad independiente propiedad de una minoría que se especializa en ofrecer estrategias a la medida para dirigirse a nacionalidades específicas dentro del mercado hispano de Estados Unidos. La empresa ocupa el lugar #12 entre las Agencias Hispanas de Publicidad en Estados Unidos y está entre las 10 primeras firmas hispanas independientes, según  la lista que publica la revista Advertising Age en el suplemento Hispanic Fact Pack. Con su sede principal en Miami y oficinas en Nueva York y Los Ángeles, la empresa tiene un equipo de 40 profesionales con amplia experiencia en mercadeo, posicionamiento de marca, publicidad, televisión y compra de medios. Hispanic Group se caracteriza, además, por su capacidad única de ofrecer acceso inmediato a equipos locales de investigación de mercado en 42 ciudades de Estados Unidos con más de 700 personas trabajando en campañas específicas según las necesidades de sus clientes.

El día de hoy se dio a conocer que la Junta Directiva de la Cámara de Comercio Nicaragüense Americana de California (CACONACA™) ha confirmado la selección de la Congresista Norteamericana de origen nicaragüense Hilda Solís como GRAN MARISCAL de la 13va. Feria Agostina Internacional 2008.

Solís goza de gran simpatía entre la comunidad latinoamericana ha estado involucrada en diferentes proyectos y propuestas de ley que benefician grandemente a la Diáspora nicaragüense, razón por la que la Junta Directiva de CACONACA decidió otorgarle este honor.
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13va FERIA AGOSTINA INTERNACIONAL 2008
Los Nicaragüenses residentes en el oeste de los Estados Unidos conservan su cultura, su idiosincrasia y la raíz de sus tradiciones familiares; bajo la tradicional música de Marimba, el ballet folklórico, el famoso Palo de Mayo, su Salsa y el Rock en Español, durante la celebración de la Feria.

DONDE:  Dentro de las instalaciones del Industry Hills Expo Center, ubicado en: 16200 Temple Street. City of Industry, California y con capacidad de estacionar más de míl automóviles y recibir más de diez míl personas se realizará la 13va Feria Agostina Internacional 2008 en medio de la alegría y diversión familiar en un fresco ambiente campestre en donde la comunidad nicaragüense y los hispanos californianos podrán gozar de las tradicionales comidas y bebidas típicas como el vaho, el nacatamal, el indio viejo, la carne asada, la fritanga, el gallo pinto, la güirila, el vigorón, el chancho con yuca,  el cacao, la pitahaya, la cebada, la chicha, el pinolillo, la milca roja, cerveza toña y otros.

CUANDO: Domingo 3 de Agosto del 2008
A partir de las 10:00 a.m. y hasta las 09:00 p.m.

QUIEN:  La Cámara de Comercio Nicaragüense Americana de California (CACONACA™) http://www.Caconaca.com con el apoyo de las Cámaras de Comercio Centroamericanas, Ontario Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Abandoned Children in Nicaragua Foundation, Cámara De Comercio Argentina-California, Hispanic Business Network, Latin Business Asociation (LBA), California Mexican American Chamber of Commerce, Asociación Mundial De Nicaragüenses En El Exterior (AMNE), Asociación Mundial De Mexicanos En El Exterior (AMME), Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce/LA TRADE Office. Las empresas Taca, La Opinión, Nicas en el Exterior News, MundoLatino.com, Web Enterprises Inc, MTOM Tours, Universal Bank, Nutrilife, Goldmine Group Int., Liborio Market, Continental Airlines, Flor de Caña, Centro Hispano, C. Castro and Associates, Cerveza TONA, Instituto Nicaragüense de Turismo Nicaragüense (INTUR)

PORQUE: Para resaltar la importancia de la cultura hispana dentro de la vida y la sociedad de Estados Unidos y para mostrar a la comunidad hispana las tradiciones, artesanías y la alegría de la nación nicaragüense y otros países latinoamericanos.

VISUALES:       Niños disfrutando del día en los brinca-brinca, payasos, juegos mecánicos, zoológico, piñatas, artistas, la gigantona, músicos, danzantes folklóricos y concursantes en el tradicional Palo de Mayo.

CONTACTO:
Roger Martinez
Chairman 13va Feria Agostina
(213) 384-8430
(626) 671-4186

Tito Lagos-Bassett
Vice Presidente
CACONACA™
Cell:(626) 806-2938
Tito@FeriaAgostina.com

Liberty Tax Service has made a commitment to the Latino community to provide them with service that is unmatched in the industry. To that end, the company created a training program for its Franchisees that would teach them how to service the unique needs of the Hispanic client. The 20 week course included instructions on culture, government and tax forms and the subtle proprieties relative to communicating with their Latino clients. This in-depth course was offered free-of-charge to all Franchisees and their staff.

Only Liberty Tax offices that have fluent, bilingual staffing and whose selected employees have met the qualifications associated with the 20 week course were eligible for certification. This exclusive recognition includes the honor of posting the Hispanic Services Seal of Excellence in their office windows that proclaims in Spanish “Orgullosamente Sirviendo A La Comunidad Hispana” or “Proudly Serving the Hispanic Community”. Offices bearing this insignia authenticate to the Latino community that they have been fully trained to service the Hispanic community’s tax needs, with a qualified bi-lingual translator on hand.

“This is the first year we’ve offered this program and we are very pleased that so many of our Franchisees participated,” says Martha O’Gorman, Chief Marketing Officer for Liberty Tax Service. “We plan to expand the format for 2008 and we anticipate even greater participation as we continue to provide this specialized training to our Franchisees.”

Liberty Tax Service has taken its commitment to the Hispanic community very seriously. They have a Hispanic Marketing Services Team whose charter is to assimilate with the Latino community so that the company can ensure it is providing the right services and communicating with the Hispanic community in the right way.

John Hewitt, Founder and CEO of Liberty Tax explains that “To many Hispanics, the tax and ITIN process can be foreign and confusing. It’s important that we acknowledge their unique needs so we may facilitate this experience. They should be able to count on us to complete their applications and filings correctly, and they should feel assured that their information will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.”

Liberty Tax Service offices nationwide provide free ITIN applications for all immigrants. “*

*From: http://www.hispanicprwire.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Two years ago, when Salvador Villicana discovered he had Type II diabetes, he wasn’t sure what he should do about it.

Villicana, a 44-year old Kaolin Mushroom Farms employee from Mexico, understood that treating Type II diabetes required dietary and lifestyle adjustments. He just couldn’t understand what they were.

“When I found out, I was referred to a doctor who only spoke English,” said Villicana, in Spanish. “And, since I’m not exactly an expert in English, it was a pretty big problem.”*

*From: http://www.philly.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

RAICES (“Roots”) Will Be The First Of Two New Los Tigres Records Planned For Release This Year, As The World’s “Most Influential Regional Mexican group” Celebrates Four Decades Of Making Music. While Los Tigres del Norte Has Always Given Voice To The Most Pressing Issues Facing The Immigrant Community, They Have Also Been Guardians Of The Community’s Cultural History. With The Appropriately Named Raices, The Legendary Los Tigres Honor The Best Of That Heritage With Newly Recorded Versions Of Classic Mexican Songs

 

“Los Tigres is the most enduring binational band today because it hears the humble… Los Tigres del Norte has reinvented Mexican popular music… Every record sells a million copies…. Its logo is as well known in Mexican communities as Coca-Cola’s … Los Tigres [are] the most perceptive chroniclers of the Mexican American experience. In song, they reflect its most personal feelings, and take the side of these millions of immigrants who are voiceless on both sides of the border… following a Los Tigres concert schedule is to discover all the places Mexicans live… The songs of Los Tigres del Norte remain one of the clearest windows into the immigrant soul.”

–         Los Angeles Times Magazine

 

During an unrivaled career as “[Regional Mexican] music’s greatest statesmen”(NY Times), the family band, known throughout the world as the legendary Los Tigres del Norte have been the immigrant community’s leading voice on issues of the day, as well as stewards of the people’s traditions and cultural heritage.  While the group continually chronicles the ongoing struggles of Mexican-Americans in the United States, it also provides a musical reminder of home and history.  Nowhere was this more evident then when the Hernandez family donated half-a-million dollars to UCLA’s Chicano Studies Research Center to fund the preservation of thousands of the earliest known recordings of Mexican music.

 

This year,  as Los Tigres del Norte celebrates four decades of making music (that began after crossing the border with oldest brother Jorge Hernandez just fourteen years old), the trail-blazing group plans to release two new albums that will respectively pay-tribute to the musicians that came before them, and then of course continuing their modern day chronicles through corridos.  On March 4^th, Fonovisa Records will release the new Los Tigres album RAICES (“Roots”). As the album’s name details, this album finds Los Tigres sharing their take on some of the most culturally significant and historic titles from the songbook of Mexican folkloric tradition.  “Rumbo al Sur” – a famed ranchera with Tigres bassist Hernan Hernandez singing lead – has just gone to radio as the first single from the album.

 

While Los Tigres del Norte is tipping their hat to the songs of the past, they do not plan to rest on the laurels of the band’s own history.  This will become evident not only with a second Los Tigres album planned for August, but also with a soon-to-be announced digital partnership that will be the most comprehensive ever launched in the Regional-Mexican genre.  Likewise, even though they are already multiple GRAMMY, LATIN GRAMMY and PREMIO LO NUESTRO winners (not to mention recent recipients of the Latin Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award), Los Tigres continue to be recognized for each new recording, as they currently hold yet another GRAMMY nomination and THREE PREMIO LO NUESTRO nominations for their last album Detalles. Look for Los Tigres to begin sharing the songs of Raices this week as they return to the road for their marathon concerts that visit fairgrounds, rodeos, concert halls & armory dances across the country.

 

Look For Los Tigres del Norte At These Upcoming Concert Appearances

Feb 01- ALBUQUERQUE, NM      Fantazia Ballroom          Feb 21 – Premio Lo Nuestro Awards (Presenters)

Feb 02 - EL PASO, TX             El Paso Coliseum          Feb 22 - FT MYERS, FL           Lee Civic Center

Feb 03 - LUBBOCK, TX          Salon Crystal                 Feb 23 – W. PALM BEACH, FL     S. Florida Fairgrounds

Feb 08 - RALEIGH, NC            Disco Rodeo                 Feb 24 – ORLANDO, FL          Kissimmee Arena

Feb 09 - ATLANTA, GA          Far West Rodeo            Mar 22 - SAN JOSE, CA          Convention Center

Feb 10 - SAN ANTONIO, TX   San Antonio Rodeo        Mar 23 – NAMPA, ID              Nampa Arena

Feb 15 - BOSTON, MA            Club Lido                      Mar 28 – LOS ANGELES, CA  Gibson Ampitheater

Feb 16 - WASHINGTON, DC  DC Armory                  Mar 29 – Tucson, AZ                Casino Del Sol

Feb 17 - MIAMI, FL                 Dolphin Stadium (At Honduras vs. Guatemala Soccer Match) * More to come

 

For more information on Los Tigres Del Norte, please contact John Reilly at 212.445.8440 / jreilly@rogersandcowan.com

Or Sylvia Bedrosian at 212.445.8424 / sbedrosian@rogersandcowan.com

- - - - - - - - - -

LOS TIGRES DEL NORTE Estrenan Su Nuevo

Album RAICES El 4 De Marzo

 

RAICES será el primero de dos discos que estrenarán Los Tigres  éste año como el grupo “Regional Mexicano más influyente” celebrando cuatro décadas creando música. Mientras Los Tigres del Norte han brindado una voz sobre temas sociales afectando la comunidad de inmigrantes, también han sido guardianes de la historia cultural de la comunidad.

Con el nombre apropiado de Raices, los legendarios Tigres del Norte Honran Lo Mejor de esa herencia grabando versions nuevas de canciones clásicas Mexicanas.

 

Con una carrera inigualable como “Los mejores de la música regional Mexicana”(NY Times), la banda de familia, conocida alrededor del mundo como los legendarios Tigres del Norte, han sido la voz principal de la comunidad de inmigrantes, en temas actuales, como tambien auxiliaries engendrando la tradición y herencia cultural.. Mientras el grupo continua sus crónicas sobre la lucha constante de los Mexicanos-Americanos en los Estados Unidos, a la misma vez brindan un recuerdo musical de su patria e historia. Nunca fue ésta más evidente que cuando la familia Hernández donó medio-millón de dólares al Centro de Estudios Chicanos de la Universidad de UCLA como patrocinio de la conservación de la música regional Mexicana más antigua.

 

Este año, Los Tigres del Norte celebra cuatro decadas de crear música (cual comenzó luego de cruzar la frontera con el hermano mayor, Jorge Hernández, con tan solo 14 años de edad), el grupo piensa estrenar dos discos en tributo a los músicos precedentes y luego, por supuesto, continuar con sus crónicas a través de corridos. El 4 de marzo, Fonovisa Records estrenará el Nuevo album de Los Tigres RAICES. Como bien describe el título, en éste album Los Tigres comparten canciones culturalmente e historicamente significantes obtenidas del libro de canciones folkloricas Mexicanas. “Rumbo al Sur” – una ranchera famosa con el bajista de Los Tigres, Hernán Hernández como vocalista principal – actualemte suena en la radio como el primer sencillo del álbum.

 

Mientras Los Tigres del Norte honran canciones del pasado, no piensasn dejar de hacer historia.  Esto será evidente con el segundo disco que estrenarán en agosto, como tambien con una co-alición cual sera la más extensa en el género de la música regional Mexicana.  Aunque ya han ganado multiples GRAMMY, LATIN GRAMMY y PREMIO LO NUESTRO (sin mencionar que recientemente fueron honrados por el Latin Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award), Los Tigres continúan siendo reconocidos por cada nuevo disco a la vez que una nominación al Grammy y tres nominaciones a los PREMIO LO NUESTRO por su último álbum Detalles. Los Tigres comenzarán a compartir las canciones de Raices ésta semana mientras regresan al maratón de conciertos alrededor del país.

 

Fecha De Conciertos De Los Tigres del Norte

Feb 01- ALBUQUERQUE, NM      Fantazia Ballroom          Feb 22 - FT MYERS, FL           Lee Civic Center

Feb 02 - EL PASO, TX             El Paso Coliseum          Feb 23 – W. PALM BEACH, FL     S. Florida Fairgrounds

Feb 03 - LUBBOCK, TX          Salon Crystal                 Feb 24 – ORLANDO, FL          Kissimmee Arena

Feb 08 - RALEIGH, NC            Disco Rodeo                 Mar 22 - SAN JOSE, CA          Convention Center

Feb 09 - ATLANTA, GA          Far West Rodeo            Mar 23 – NAMPA, ID              Nampa Arena

Feb 10 - SAN ANTONIO, TX   San Antonio Rodeo        Mar 28 – LOS ANGELES, CA  Gibson Ampitheater

Feb 15 - BOSTON, MA            Club Lido                      Mar 29 – Tucson, AZ                Casino Del Sol

Feb 16 - WASHINGTON, DC  DC Armory                  * Más por anunciar

Feb 17 - MIAMI, FL                 Dolphin Stadium (At Honduras vs. Guatemala Soccer Match)

Feb 21 – Premio Lo Nuestro  (Presentadores)

 

Para más información sobre Los Tigres Del Norte, favor de contactar a John Reilly al 212.445.8440 / jreilly@rogersandcowan.com

ó Sylvia Bedrosian al 212.445.8424 / sbedrosian@rogersandcowan.com“

The Hispanic population in Pittsburgh is growing steadily and has its first Spanish directory to prove it.

The Hispanic Center/El Centro Hispano launched its 302-page Directorio de Servicios Para la Comunidad Latina (Spanish Service Directory for the Latino Community) and it’s now available to Pittsburgh residents and businesses. “*

*From: http://www.popcitymedia.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Johnson & Johnson has tapped Vidal Partnership and La Comunidad to handle its U.S. Hispanic business following a review, a company representative has confirmed.

J&J spent $70 million in Hispanic TV and print through October 2007 and nearly $75 million for domestic TV and print in all of 2006, per Nielsen Monitor-Plus.”*

*From: http://www.adweek.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

A year after opening its doors at 4650 W. North Avenue in the Austin Community, Wal-Mart is working with Latino-owned businesses in an effort to integrate Hispanic products into the diverse Wal-Mart economy.

“It’s a great venture and we are excited to be part of it,” said Ignacio Hernandez, President of MexGrocer.com. “Working with Wal-Mart not only allows our products to receive great visibility and reputation, but it’s opening the doors for more minority-owned businesses to sell their products on a national scale.”*

*From: http://www.elimparcial.us
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

La Unión Internacional de Trabajadores de la Alimentación y el Comercio (UFCW) y UFCW Local 99 sostuvieron hoy un foro comunitario con los trabajadores de Arizona con el objeto de discutir cómo una política inmigratoria nacional fallida ha causado confusión y miedo generalizados entre los trabajadores y sus familias. En una reunión comunitaria celebrada hoy, los líderes de la UFCW deliberaron sobre el sistema inmigratorio fallido del país, que ha dado lugar a una interrupción masiva de la economía y de las operaciones comerciales.

El evento de hoy es parte de una serie nacional de eventos de extensión comunitaria ideados para congregar a la gente, celebrar la unidad y defender los derechos de los residentes legales, los ciudadanos y los trabajadores.

“Hemos visto que los agentes federales violan periódicamente los derechos de los trabajadores de la Cuarta Enmienda durante redadas masivas en lugares de trabajo de todo el país”, expresó Mark Lauritsen, vicepresidente internacional de UFCW. “Hasta que los líderes nacionales arreglen el sistema de inmigración del país, nuestras comunidades locales serán destrozadas y los derechos constitucionales de los ciudadanos y de los residentes legales serán violados en forma periódica. Nuestro país precisa desesperadamente un marco para seguir arreglando de forma humanitaria y exhaustiva nuestro sistema de inmigración. La aplicación fragmentada está exacerbando un sistema fragmentado. Nos unimos a la comunidad de Phoenix para cuestionar si la policía local podrá hacer cumplir las leyes de inmigración sin exponer a los residentes de la ciudad a perfiles delictivos en función de la raza, a la discriminación y a la violación de los derechos civiles”.

Entre los que hablaron en la reunión estaban los trabajadores de la UFCW que hace un año, el 12 de diciembre de 2006, Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, una celebración religiosa mexicana, fueron detenidos ilegalmente en las plantas empacadoras de carne de cinco estados durante las redadas en los lugares de trabajo que realizaron los agentes federales del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (Immigration and Customs Enforcement - ICE). Más de 12.000 trabajadores de plantas empacadoras de carne, entre ellos, ciudadanos, residentes legales e inmigrantes en curso de legalización, fueron arrasados en las redadas del ICE en seis plantas empacadoras. La UFCW representa a trabajadores de cinco plantas en Worthington, Minn.; Greeley, Colo.; Cactus, Tex.; Marshalltown, Iowa; y Grand Island, Neb.

“Es vergonzoso cómo los agentes policiales violan los derechos humanos básicos sólo porque nuestro gobierno no puede arreglar el sistema de inmigración”, dijo Maria Acosta de Phoenix, que trabaja en la tienda de comestibles Food City y es miembro de Hungry for Respect, un grupo de empleados que lucha por lograr mejores derechos en el lugar de trabajo.

“Me interrogaron y estuve detenida por horas sólo porque los agentes federales pensaron infringía las leyes de inmigración”, contó Pasqual Talamantes, un trabajador de la industria empacadora de carne de la UFCW de Grand Island, Neb. “Nos pusieron esposas y portaban armas. Les dije que yo era un ciudadano nacido en los Estados Unidos y no me creyeron”.

Para obtener más información, visite www.ufcw.org/icemisconduct.cfm

El texto original en el idioma fuente de este comunicado es la versión oficial autorizada. Las traducciones solo se suministran como adaptación y deben cotejarse con el texto en el idioma fuente, que es la única versión del texto que tendrá un efecto legal.”*

La Procuraduría General de Justicia de Michoacán señaló que el cadáver encontrado en un paraje cercano a la comunidad de Chiquimitío, a unos 10 kilómetros de esta ciudad, corresponde a Sergio Gómez, vocalista del grupo K-Paz de la Sierra.

El grupero, secuestrado la madrugada del domingo luego de que se presentó en la capital michoacana, tenía al menos 24 horas de haber sido asesinado, al momento en que se encontraron sus restos.”*

Grupo Gallegos won Best of Show at the 9th Annual Advertising Age Hispanic Creative Advertising Awards presented in cooperation with the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA) Friday evening in New York. The Long Beach, California-based Hispanic agency was the biggest winner of the evening picking up five other awards for Comcast (a TV Gold, two TV Silvers, a Radio Silver, and a Multimedia Bronze), as well as Gold and Silver TV awards for Energizer batteries and the California Milk Processor Board.

The Best of Show winning spot, titled “Ketchup,” pitches a Comcast Triple Play package for broadband, phone and cable service positioned as so attractively priced that your wallet is grateful. In the spot, the grateful wallet makes a bizarre leap off the table to shield its owner from flying ketchup. “The judges picked a Best of Show that showed that price promotions, which usually aren’t very creative, can be winners if they are based on a clever idea,” said Laurel Wentz, Advertising Age’s international and multicultural editor.

This year’s competition drew a record number of entries, 718, evaluated in the following categories: television, radio, magazine, newspaper, out-of- home, multimedia, nontraditional/guerrilla marketing, interactive and direct marketing. Two new categories were added this year, Bicultural and English- speaking Hispanics to reflect the growth of marketing efforts toward English- speaking Hispanics as well as the Spanish-dominant. The new Beyond Hispanic category recognizes that Hispanic agencies are increasingly being tapped by marketers to do broader multicultural efforts or general market work, such as the LatinWorks spot starring Carlos Mencia for Anheuser-Busch’s Bud Light, which debuted on the Super Bowl this year.

“We continue to raise the bar in creative excellence,” said Jackie Bird, AHAA chairwoman and president of WingLatino. “The quality of our work just keeps getting better and better as exemplified by the amazing work showcased during the ceremony. We are breaking barriers and using traditional advertising in interesting ways to connect with the multi-dimensional Hispanic consumer. We are demonstrating that we aren’t creating great Hispanic advertising, we are creating great advertising that just happens to target Hispanic consumers.”

The panel of judges was chaired by Aldo Quevedo, president and chief creative officer of Dieste, Harmel & Partners. The jury was composed of four creative talents: Quevedo; Juan Oubina, creative director, Grupo Gallegos; Andres Ordonez, VP-creative director, Zubi Advertising; and Paco Olavarrieta, creative consultant, and three senior marketers Graciela Eleta de Cacho, VP- multicultural development organization for North America, Procter & Gamble Co.; Isaac Mizrahi, director-multicultural marketing, Sprint; and Daniel Villarroel, director-multiethnic marketing, Maybelline New York and Garnier.

For the first time, a separate jury judged the fast-growing interactive category and included judges Rick Marroquin, CMO, Batanga; Fernanda Romano, executive creative director, Lowe Worldwide; Priscila Aviles Jamison, senior director, ethnic brands-creative, McDonald’s/U.S. marketing.

The awards show followed AHAA’s fall conference and was organized by Dieste, Harmel & Partners. The gala featured the El Dí­a de Los Muertos theme from the conference and was co-hosted by actors Manny Perez and Genesis Rodriguez.

A special report on the Hispanic winners is featured on AdAge.com and the winning work can be viewed in the November 5th issue of Advertising Age.

The complete list of Ad Age’s 2007 Hispanic Creative Advertising Awards winners follows.

TELEVISION GOLD — Entertainment/Media: Comcast Triple Play “Ketchup”, Grupo Gallegos, Long Beach, CA — Grocery Products: Energizer e2 Lithium “Immortal,” Grupo Gallegos, Long Beach, CA — Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Calif. Milk Processor Board “Ley de Gravedad”, Grupo Gallegos, Long Beach, CA — Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Calif. Milk Processor Board “Suenos” “Risas” “Ley de Gravedad” campaign, Grupo Gallegos, Long Beach, CA SILVER — Alcoholic beverages: Heineken “Lluvia,” The Vidal Partnership, New York — Automotive: Volkswagen “Confrontation,” Creative on Demand, Miami — Entertainment/Media: Comcast Triple Play “Pedro” Grupo Gallegos, Long Beach, CA — Entertainment/Media: Comcast Triple Play “Ladron”, Grupo Gallegos, Long Beach, CA — Grocery Products: Clorox-Glad Force Flex Trash Bags “Trash Tamer”, Dieste Harmel & Partners, Dallas — Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Pepsi-Sierra Mist “Cash Register”, Dieste Harmel & Partners, Dallas — Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Calif. Milk Processor Board “Suenos”, Grupo Gallegos, Long Beach, CA — Technology/Communications: Sprint “Silencio”, The Vidal Partnership, New York — Travel: Continental Airlines “Taller”, Bromley Communications, San Antonio, TX BRONZE — Automotive: Volkswagen “Kung Fu” “Timbales” campaign, Creative on Demand, Miami — Entertainment/Media: MTV “Calle,” La Comunidad, Miami — Grocery Products: Clorox Disinfecting Wipes “Hide and Seek”, Dieste, Harmel & Partners, Dallas — Technology/Communications: Sprint “Todo Sobre Mi Familia”, The Vidal Partnership, New York — Travel: Continental Airlines “Espanol” campaign, Bromley Communications, San Antonio, TX TV (PUERTO RICO) SILVER — Retail/Fast Food: Radio Shack-Memory Card “Gobernadores”, Draftfcb, San Juan, PR BRONZE — Grocery Products: Unilever-Ragu “Hindu”, JWT San Juan — Public Service: Alzheimer’s Foundation “Polaroid”, BBDO Puerto Rico RADIO SILVER — Comcast Cable Latino “Media Naranja”, Grupo Gallegos, Long Beach, CA BRONZE — Tecate “Virus Estornudo”, Grupo Gallegos, Long Beach, CA — Comcast Cable Latino “Diga”, Grupo Gallegos, Long Beach, CA NONTRADITIONAL/GUERRILLA MARKETING SILVER — Personal Music “Paisa”, Alma DDB, Miami BRONZE — Personal Music “Directions” campaign, Alma DDB, Miami — Personal Music “Voice Over” Alma DDB, Miami NONTRADITIONAL/GUERRILLA MARKETING (PUERTO RICO) GOLD — Amnistia Internacional “La Casa del Horror”, JWT San Juan SILVER — Toyota Yaris “Manijas”, Badillo Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi, San Juan MULTIMEDIA/INTEGRATED BRONZE — Comcast Triple Play “Mosca”"Ketchup”"Ladron” campaign, Grupo Gallegos, Long Beach, CA NEWSPAPER GOLD — Procter & Gamble-Tide “Stains Attack: French Fry, Jam, Soup”, Conill NEWSPAPER (Puerto Rico) BRONZE — Amnistia Internacional “John Wayne Gacy”"Ted Bundy” “Pee Wee Gaskins” campaign, JWT San Juan OUT OF HOME SILVER — Procter & Gamble-Tide “Messy Things: Coffee, Ketchup, Wine”campaign, Conill OUT OF HOME (Puerto Rico) GOLD — Verizon Wireless “Llamadas Interrumpidas: Mucho, Busca, Conmigo” campaign, Badillo Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi, San Juan MAGAZINE BRONZE — Clorox-Pine Sol “Sniff”, Dieste Harmel & Partners, Dallas MAGAZINE (Puerto Rico) SILVER: — PR Alzheimer’s Foundation “Forgotten Animals: Fish, Cage” campaign, BBDO PR BRONZE: — Toyota FJ Cruiser “Laberinto”, Badillo Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi, San Juan BEYOND HISPANIC GOLD: — Anheuser-Busch Bud Light “Class,” LatinWorks, Austin, TX SILVER: — Chicago Latino Film Festival “Cowboys,” Lapiz, Chicago — Katrina Foundation “Bin Laden”, La Comunidad, Miami BRONZE: — Xtra Pine “The Cleaning Hunk” Ole, New York — 1-2-3 Divorce “I don’t” “Leave the Bride” “Why Wait”, Dieste Harmel & Partners — Katrina Foundation “Picture in Picture” campaign, La Comunidad, Miami BICULTURAL/ENGLISH-SPEAKING HISPANICS (No Gold) SILVER: — Mun2 “Fences, Dream, Quiz Show” campaign, La Comunidad, Miami — Mun2 “Snoop Dogg Knows Best” campaign (1st 3 spots only), Mun2 BRONZE: — Toyota Motor Sales “Mundoyaris”, Conill, Los Angeles — [view at www.conill-ideas.com/mundoyarisdemoespanol] — Mun2 “Hotline Weird Callers” campaign, Mun2 INTERACTIVE: INTERACTIVE/WEB SITE GOLD: — McDonald’s “LoMcximo,” Alma DDB, Miami (View at www.iclatinamerica.com/app/lomcximo) SILVER: — Toyota Motor Sales’ “Yaris Music Lab,” Conill (View at conill-ideas.com/musiclabespanol) INTERACTIVE/BRANDING SILVER: — Art Basel Invitation, La Comunidad, Miami (View at www.lacomu.com/artbasel) BRONZE: — Sprint “Sprint Center”, The Vidal Partnership, New York (View at mediakit.adage.com/hispanicawards/vidal/sprint.html) INTERACTIVE/ONLINE AD BRONZE: — Hyundai “Respect,” Alma DDB, Miami (View at www.iclatinamerica.com/app/respect) DIRECT MARKETING GOLD: — Verizon FIOS campaign, La Agencia de Orci, Los Angeles BRONZE: — American Honda Motor, “Guataburger”, “Bersache”, “SiGuerld” campaign, La Agencia de Orci, Los Angeles About AdAge:

Advertising Age is the most trusted brand of news and intelligence on advertising, marketing and media, delivered however and whenever our community wants to consume it. Ad Age platforms include the weekly publication and real-time Web site; electronic newsletters; live events and conferences; streaming video, audio webinars, podcasts, blogs and more. Advertising Age is published by Crain Communications, Inc.

About AHAA:

The Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA) is the national organization of firms that specialize in marketing to the nation’s 46 million Hispanic consumers: the most rapidly growing segment of the American population. AHAA promotes the strength of the Hispanic marketing and advertising industry to the private and public sectors. AHAA agencies offer a unique blend of cultural understanding, market intelligence, proven experience and professionalism that deliver Hispanic market success for clients. AHAA agencies help organizations gain market share, increase revenue and grow profits by building the bridges and delivering the messages to reach America’s Hispanic consumers, who together have an estimated buying power of more than $930 billion. Visit www.ahaa.org/ for more information. “*

Three Latina women have filed a federal lawsuit in the Eastern District of New York today claiming that their former employer, a New York chain of travel agencies, has repeatedly and illegally exploited them in their workplace. Represented by the Justice at Work Project of the New York Legal Assistance Group, the low-income plaintiffs cite numerous violations of the New York State Labor Law and the Fair Labor Standards Act, including denial of minimum wage and overtime benefits. Elena Goldstein, the attorney for the plaintiffs, explained that Jorge Aldaz, chief officer of Atlantic Travel and its city-wide chain of travel agencies and courier stores, has illegally exploited these women and other employees on a regular basis. She said, “Through this lawsuit we hope to gain adequate compensation for these three brave women and for similarly situated workers.”

The lawsuit is a collective action filed on behalf of the named plaintiffs as well as all other employees of Aldaz’s stores commonly known by the names of Atlantic Travel, Atlantic Courier and Travel Multiservice. As set forth in the complaint, plaintiffs were forced to work up to 68 hours each week and were subject to lengthy unpaid “training” periods. Plaintiffs were routinely denied minimum wage, overtime pay, and state law wage supplements. Indeed, one worker received a total of $200 in compensation for working 63 hours/week for six weeks — about $.53 cents for each hour worked.

Pilar Barrera, a named plaintiff in the lawsuit and a member of La Union de la Comunidad Latina (an immigrant-led organization working for economic justice in Sunset Park) states that she and the other workers “are simply seeking justice and want Mr. Aldaz to fulfill his duties as an employer.”

The lawsuit also cites Defendant Aldaz for retaliating against one of the plaintiffs for demanding her rights under federal and state law. Aldaz responded by promptly cutting her schedule — and her earnings — dramatically.

Goldstein explained, “These stores operate as retail sweatshops for educated immigrant women. Through this lawsuit, we hope to obtain the money owed to the plaintiffs as well as send a strong message to other employers who exploit immigrant workers that all workers are protected by the law.”

Founded in 1990, the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) is a not-for- profit law office providing free civil legal services to low income New Yorkers. A full service agency, NYLAG provides consultation, representation and advocacy. Last year, NYLAG handled 22,370 cases and impacted additional thousands through successful impact litigation and community legal education. In 2006, NYLAG launched the Justice at Work Project to consolidate and expand its employment law practice with an emphasis on immigrant workers. For more information on NYLAG, go to www.nylag.org/.
New York Legal Assistance Group

CONTACT: Elena Goldstein, +1-212-613-5024, or Jodie Clark,
+1-212-613-5095, both of the New York Legal Assistance Group

Web site: www.nylag.org/

“Cyloop.com wants to be the next MySpace for music fans.

On Wednesday, Miami-based Hispanic advertising agency la comunidad launched a campaign that positions the site as the place to hear music and interact with artists.”

(-ESP-)

“El cantante puertorriqueño Chayanne iniciará su gira europea en el festival MTV Málaga Summer 2007 que se celebrará en Málaga el próximo dí 10 de agosto.

Chayanne comienza así­ su gira española, que también le llevará a actuar el 5 de septiembre en el Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid y el 8 de septiembre en el Palau Olí­mpic de Badalona Barcelona.”

July 16, 2006. The 11th Edition of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) will take place from October 7-14, 2007 at the ArcLight Cinemas located at 6360 W Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028.

One of the most prominent Latino Film Festivals in the USA, LALIFF promotes the richness and diversity of Latin Cinema from the United States, Latin America, and around the world. LALIFF celebrates the work of existing and emerging Latino directors, producers, writers and actors by showcasing feature films, documentaries and shorts, as well as movies that depict Latino culture. In addition, the festival promotes the distribution of Latino films by creating a bridge between independent filmmakers and the film industry in Hollywood. A competitive festival with prizes, LALIFF also offers industry workshops, panels, labs, networking receptions, educational programs, and hosts some of the best Galas in Tinseltown.

For filmmakers interested in participating in the festival, LALIFF will be accepting submissions for feature films, shorts and documentaries until July 27. For more information and to download the entry form, please log on to: www.latinofilm.org

About LALIFF:

LALIFF, a 501c3 non-profit organization, was co-founded in 1996 by actor, director and activist Edward James Olmos; and by independent producers Marlene Dermer and George Hernandez. The festival held its first edition in the summer of 1997 and last October, LALIFF celebrated its tenth anniversary with an exciting program that showcased more than 140 films, including festival’s winners, UN MUNDO MARAVILLOSO and the documentary EN EL HOYO. LALIFF also honored the career of Spanish actor and director Antonio Banderas with the GABI Lifetime Achievement Award. Other celebrities who joined the festival’s screenings and events included: Jimmy Smits, John Singleton, Melanie Griffith, Roselyn Sanchez, Barbara Mori, Mia Maestro, Marisol Nichols, Cheech Marin, Adam Garcia, Lupe Ontiveros, Sofia Milos, Wanda de Jesus, Tom Sizemore, Nicholas Gonzalez, Laura Harring, and Faye Dunaway, to name a few.

Recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science as a qualifying festival for its awards in the Short Film category, the organization established the LALIFF Collection at the Academy Film Archive, which is open to the public and includes film titles presented at past years’ festivals. In 2006, LALIFF announced the creation of the Latino International Film Institute (LIFI), dedicated to mentor, develop and support Latino filmmakers in the United States and internationally. LIFI also supports the development and further education of students from elementary to junior college in the United States. LALIFF is a membership organization.

11th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF)
October 7-14, 2007
ArcLight Cinemas - 6360 W Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028
www.latinofilm.org

El Festival aceptará solicitudes de inscripciones hasta el 27 de julio

16 de julio, 2007. La edición nÚmero once del Festival Internacional de Cine Latino de Los íngeles, (LALIFF, por sus siglas en inglés) se celebrará del 7 al 14 de octubre, 2007 en el complejo ArcLight Cinemas localizado en el 6360 Oeste de Sunset Boulevard en Hollywood, California. LALIFF promueve la riqueza y la diversidad del cine latino mediante la exhibición de lo mejor y más reciente de cineastas latinos provenientes de Estados Unidos, Latinoamérica, América Central, el Caribe, España y Portugal.

Para los cineastas interesados en participar en esta edición, LALIFF continÚa aceptando solicitudes de inscripción de largometrajes, cortometrajes y documentales hasta el 27 de julio, 2007. Para más información y obtener la solicitud, favor visitar: www.latinofilm.org

Desde su comienzo en 1997, LALIFF le ha dado la bienvenida a miles de cineastas y aficionados del cine latino, convirtiéndose en un evento muy esperado por la comunidad del Sur de California. LALIFF, cofundado por el actor, director y activista Edward James Olmos; y por los productores independientes Marlene Dermer y George Hernández, celebró su décimo aniversario en octubre del 2006. El pÚblico disfrutó de la presentación de más de 140 producciones incluyendo las pelí­culas ganadoras del festival, UN MUNDO MARAVILLOSO y el documental EN EL HOYO; al igual que estrenos de pelí­culas como: PRETENDIENDO, protagonizada por Bárbara Mori; BELLA, protagonizada por Eduardo Verástegui; y YELLOW, con Roselyn Sánchez. En adición, el festival sorprendió al pÚblico con la proyección de BABEL, la aclamada pelí­cula nominada al Oscar del director mexicano Alejandro González Iñárritu.

En su décima edición, LALIFF también celebró la carrera del actor y director español Antonio Banderas, quien estuvo presente, junto a su esposa Melanie Griffith, para aceptar el Premio GABI. Otras personalidades que se unieron a las presentaciones y eventos del festival incluyen a estrellas de cine y televisión como: Jimmy Smits, John Singleton, Mia Maestro, Marisol Nichols, Cheech Marí­n, Adam Garcí, Lupe Ontiveros, Sofí Milos, Wanda de JesÚs, Tom Sizemore, Nicholas González, Laura Harring, Leonor Varela, Kate del Castillo, Fernando Allende, Damián Bichir y Faye Dunaway.

Este año, el festival presentará más de cien pelí­culas, documentales y cortometrajes donde el talento latino proveniente de Estados Unidos, América Latina y Europa se destaca en las diversas facetas de producción, guión, dirección y actuación. Como en años anteriores, LALIFF auspiciará estrenos, eventos especiales, talleres de cine, y seminarios presentados por miembros de la industria de cine en Hollywood. Conmemorando los cien años del nacimiento del afamado cineasta mexicano Gabriel Figueroa, el festival también presentará una retrospectiva de sus pelí­culas.

11va Edición Festival Internacional de Cine Latino de Los íngeles (LALIFF)
Fecha: 7 al 14 de octubre, 2007
Lugar: ArcLight Cinemas - 6360 Oeste de Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028
Información: www.latinofilm.org

“The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., today released the text of a letter to President Bush signed by more than 100 Latino grassroots organizations expressing their deep concern over the short- and long-term impact of stepped-up immigration raids on the children in affected families. The organizations in the communities where these raids have occurred are often the first to respond to the humanitarian crisis created by these events. Below is the text of the letter:

President George W. Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We, the undersigned Latino organizations, write to express our outrage and deep concern over the manner in which workplace raids have been conducted all across the United States in the past few months. As organizations that work closely with the communities that are directly impacted by these raids, we are often the first to respond to the immediate humanitarian crisis that occurs when a raid is conducted. Particularly, we are concerned about the raids’ short- and long-term impact on children. There are approximately 3.1 million U.S. citizen children who have at least one undocumented parent, and there are 1.8 million undocumented children in the U.S. We believe that the U.S. must take the needs of these children into account and fix the broken immigration system that separates them from their parents.

Workplace raids leave a long-lasting impact, not only on the local economy, but on the children who are separated from their parents as a result of a raid. Recently, thousands of immigrant workers have been detained as the result of raids. Many of these workers are parents of young children, many of whom are U.S. citizens. While it is our understanding that single parents are occasionally released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody to care for their children, there are many parents who are transported to ICE detention facilities far from their homes, and their family members have no ability to communicate with them.

In the aftermath of the raids, churches, schools, and social service agencies have scrambled to determine which workers have children, assess which children must be picked up from day care and school, find caregivers for the children, and provide basic health and nutrition services. In addition to providing basic necessities, advocates have encountered other problems trying to care for the children of detained parents. For example, after the Swift and Co. raids in December 2006, advocates highlighted cases in which they were not able to interview parents to determine any special needs their children may have. It has also been difficult, if not impossible, for advocates to gather information about sick children who needed medication. Following the recent raid in New Bedford, Massachusetts, a dehydrated infant was hospitalized because her mother had not been able to breastfeed her. Family members or friends have been put in the difficult position of having to care for the children of detained parents, and teenage children have been placed in the unfortunate and unfair position of having to care for younger siblings on their own.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick correctly characterized the recent raids as a “humanitarian crisis.” Our children deserve better, and it is up to the Administration and Congress to deliver to them a sound immigration policy that does not result in parents being separated from their children. The time is long overdue for our nation to stop tearing apart these hardworking families and bring about real, comprehensive solutions to our immigration problems. We strongly urge you to work with Congress to bring about an immigration reform that will allow immigrant workers to work legally, American communities to prosper, and children to thrive.

cc: Michael Chertoff
Julie Myers

Sincerely,

Academia Cesar Chavez – Saint Paul, MN
Acercamiento Hispano de Carolina del Sur – Columbia, SC
AltaMed Health Services Corporation – Los Angeles, CA
Bridge Academy Charter School – Bridgeport, CT
Calexico Community Action Council – Calexico, CA
CARECEN – Washington, DC
Carlos Rosario School – Washington, DC
CASA of Maryland – Silver Spring, MD
CASA of Oregon – Newberg, OR
Center for Hispanic Policy & Advocacy – Providence, RI
Center for Training & Careers/WorkNET – San Jose, CA
Centro Campesino Farmworker Center, Inc. – Florida City, FL
Centro de Amistad – Guadalupe, AZ
Centro de la Comunidad – Baltimore, MD
Centro de Residentes Bolivianos – Madison, WI
Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe – El Paso, TX
Centro Hispano of Dane County – Cambridge, MA
CentroNí – Washington, DC
Centro Presente, Inc. – Cambridge, MA
Cesar Chavez Academy – Pueblo, CO
Cesar Chavez Dual Language Immersion Charter School – Santa Barbara, CA
Chicano Awareness Center – Omaha, NE
Chicano Federation of San Diego County – San Diego, CA
Coalition for New South Carolinians – Columbia, SC
Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition – Denver, CO
Colorado Rural Housing – Westminster, CO
Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, Inc. – New York, NY
Community Child Care Center of Santa Clara County – San Jose, CA
Conexión Américas – Nashville, TN
Congreso de Latinos Unidos – Philadelphia, PA
Council for the Spanish Speaking – Milwaukee, WI
Del Norte Neighborhood Development Corp. – Denver, CO
Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation – Detroit, MI
Dolores Huerta Preparatory High School – Pueblo, CO
DRAW Academy – Houston, TX
East Las Vegas Community Development Corporation (ELVCDC) – Las Vegas, NV
El Centro de la Raza – Seattle, WA
El Centro de las Americas – Lincoln, NE
El Pueblo, Inc. – Raleigh, NC
Emigrantes Sin Fronteras – Phoenix, AZ
Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center – Miami, FL
Florida Immigrant Coalition – Tallahassee, FL
Gads Hill Center – Chicago, IL
Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO) – Atlanta, GA
Hands Across Cultures – Española, NM
HELP – New Mexico, Inc. – Albuquerque, NM
Hispanic American Student Association (HASA), University of Central Oklahoma – Edmond, OK
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Minnesota – Minneapolis, MN
Hispanic Coalition of Florida – Miami, FL
Hispanic Committee of Virginia – Falls Church, VA
Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama – Birmingham, AL
Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas – Springdale, AR
HOLA – Hispanas Organizadas de Lake y Ashtabula (OH) – Painesville, OH
Hyde Square Task Force – Jamaica Plain, MA
Idaho Community Action Network – Boise, ID
Kentucky Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights – Lexington, KY
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights – Chicago, IL
Information Referral Resource Assistance Inc. – Edinburg, TX
Instituto del Progreso Latino – Chicago, IL
La Casa de Esperanza – Waukesha, WI
La Casa Health Network, Inc. – Little Rock, AR
Latin American Coalition – Charlotte, NC
Latin American Community Center, Inc. – Wilmington, DE
Latin American Research and Service Agency – Denver, CO
Latin American Youth Center – Washington, DC
Latino Community Development Agency – Oklahoma City, OK
Latino Economic Development Corporation – Washington, DC
Latino Family Services – Detroit, MI
Latino Leadership – Orlando, FL
Latino Memphis, Inc. – Memphis, TN
Latinos for Education and Justice Organization – Calhoun, GA
Latinos United for Change and Advancement – Madison, WI
Law Offices of Navarro & Associates – Santa Ana, CA
Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care – Washington, DC
Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance (MIRA) – Jackson & Biloxi, MS
Montebello Housing Development Corporation – Montebello, CA
Mujeres Latinas en Acción – Chicago, IL
NAF Multicultural Human Development Corporation – North Platte, NE
National Association of Latino Independent Producers – New York, NY
Near Northside Partners Council, Inc. – Fort Worth, TX
New Jersey Immigration Policy Network – Newark, NJ
NEWSED CDC – Denver, CO
Parent Institute for Quality Education – San Diego, CA
Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund – New York, NY
Repertorio Español – New York, NY
Rural Opportunities, Inc. – Rochester, NY
Salem/Keizer Coalition for Equality – Salem, OR
San Diego County SER/Jobs for Progress, Inc. – Oceanside, CA
SEA MAR Community Health Centers – Seattle, WA
Servicios de La Raza, Inc. – Denver, CO
Siete del Norte CDC – Embudo, NM
Southern Poverty Law Center – Montgomery, AL
Southwest Key Program, Inc. – Austin, TX
Spanish Speaking Citizens’ Foundation – Oakland, CA
St. Matthew Immigration/Detention Committee – Baltimore, MD
Tejano Center for Community Concerns – Houston, TX
Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) – Nashville, TN
United Dubuque Immigrant Alliance (UN DIA) – Dubuque, IA
United Hispanic Americans, Inc. – Fort Wayne, IN
University of Wisconsin Latina/o Law Student Association – Madison, WI
Vecinos Unidos – Dallas, TX
Washington State Migrant Council – Sunnyside, WA
Watts/Century Latino Organization – Los Angeles, CA
Western Colorado Justice for Immigrants Committee – Grand Junction, CO”

“Zyman Group, the premier global marketing management consulting firm dedicated to helping companies accelerate growth profitably through transformational strategies, today announced that Gary Bassell, former Chairman and CEO of Bravo - the pioneer Hispanic marketing agency that for two decades ranked as the largest in its market - and former president of the world-renowned agency La Comunidad, has been named Managing Principal with the firm. In that role, Mr. Bassell will co-lead Zyman Groups Multicultural Practice as well as lead select U.S.-based client relationships. He will be based in Miami.”

“Hispanic PR Wire and the Palm Beach Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America PRSA are hosting a top-notch Hispanic media panel at the West Palm Beach Marriott in Downtown West Palm Beach on Wednesday, March 21.The program will feature the following media representatives: Carlos Mahecha, producer for Hablando con la Comunidad; Deborah Ramirez, editor for El Sentinel; Tenchy Salas, president and CEO for Portada magazine; Jose R. Uzual, editor for El Latino Semanal; Ana M. Valdes, staff reporter for La Palma.”

“The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes are some of the leading causes of death among Hispanics. However, according to the 2005 National Health Interview Survey, Hispanic adults have the highest rate of being without a “usual place of health care,” at 26 percent, compared with a national average of 15 percent.

Four organizations — Howard County General Hospital, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, the Howard County Health Department and Alianza de la Comunidad — joined forces Saturday in hopes of educating Howard Countys Hispanic community on these facts and making a difference in a welcoming, relaxed setting.”