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Culture Dicho del mes Economy Identity Labor Safety Social Services and Well Being Reasons for environmental racism defy simple explanation Since the term “environmental racism” was coined in 1987, researchers have investigated why minorities are more likely than whites to live in areas with higher levels of pollution. Many argue that environmental racism is due to racial income disparity or residential segregation. A study of the 61 largest metro areas in the U.S. revealed that the role of poverty and segregation in environmental racism is contingent on local conditions. The study found that black/white environmental inequality levels were highest in Orlando, Fla., Norfolk, Va., Louisville, Ky., and Portland, Ore. They were weakest in Baltimore, Las Vegas, Boston and Nassau/Suffolk, N.Y. “Taken as a whole, this study shows that environmental racial inequality exists in most large metropolitan areas, but it’s not universal and the explanation for it is more complex than many people think,” said study leader Liam Downey, University of Colorado at Boulder assistant professor. Source: University of Colorado at Boulder, as reported on Science Daily, " Environmental Racism Study Finds Levels Of Inequality Defy Simple Explanation", July 11, 2007, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070709133240.htm
What makes strong Latino marriages? When it comes to teaching about successful marriages, one size does not fit all. As the nation becomes increasingly diverse, the way marital happiness is addressed becomes more complex. In the past, marriage education tended to treat everyone the same. New research on successful Hispanic marriage indicates this approach may have flaws. Linda Skogrand, Extension family and human development specialist at Utah State University, conducted research that focuses on the strengths of Latino marriages. “One of the main things we found is that Latinos in our study are much less likely to think of the marriage as something separate from the family,” Skogrand said. “Whereas non-Latino marriage enrichment might focus on spending more time as a couple, this probably isn’t the best approach for Latino couples. The children need to be part of the process.” In Latino marriages, family affiliation is so important that “parenthood” is considered to be more important than “partnerhood,” she said. The study found that the primary goal of marriage is to have children and be part of the family that ensues. Marital happiness may not be the primary goal of marriage and may not be viewed as necessary in achieving a satisfying family life. Intergenerational connections, such as the relationship of a parent to a child, often take precedence over the marital relationship, with the children taking a higher priority than the marriage. The researcher found that children are the source of happiness and the glue that keeps Latino families together. Source: News release by Dennis Hinkamp, Utak State University, " What Makes Strong Latino Marriages?", http://extension.usu.edu/htm/news/articleID=2101, July 14, 2007.
Dicho del mes El hombre propone y Dios dispone. (Man proposes. God disposes).
Latino women are increasingly running successful businesses Latino women entrepreneurs are playing an increasingly prominent role in the small business boom that is fueling the economy, according to statistics cited in an article from DirectoHispano.com, a Web site for marketing to Hispanics. The article quotes statistics from the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce that reveal Hispanic women-owned firms employ 18.5 percent of the workers in all Hispanic-owned firms, generate 16.3 percent of the sales and that Latinas control 39 percent of the 1.4 million companies owned by minority women in the U.S. According to a survey titled “The Spirit of Enterprise: Latina Entrepreneurs in the United States,” by the National Foundation for Women Business Owners, Hispanic women are in a wide variety of industries. Ten percent are in construction, 10 percent in accounting, engineering and other professional services and 9 percent in manufacturing. A smaller number, about 4 percent, own businesses such as hotels, restaurants and bars. Nearly two-thirds of the Latina entrepreneurs use English and Spanish in their business activities. Just over half consider English their first language. The survey found that, compared to Caucasian and African-American female entrepreneurs, Latinas have more dependent children, are older and have lower formal education. “It would be an understatement indeed to say that Latina-owned businesses survive despite all odds,” the article says. “They face capital shortages, owners lack business education and experience, and their very existence is threatened by the skyrocketing costs of health care insurance.” Source: Center for Women´s Business Research, "Hispanic Women-Owned Businesses in the United States", 2006, http://www.nfwbo.org/minority/index.php. Also at http://www.ushcc.com/res-statistics.html
Minorities’ survey responses about marriage do not always match statistics A study by the Pew Research Center on marriage happiness touched on America’s high rate of out-of-wedlock births and cohabitation outside marriage. According to the study, 71 percent of Americans say the growth in births to unwed mothers is a “big problem.” Republicans and older people were more likely to give conservative answers than Democrats and younger adults. But the patterns in regard to race and ethnicity were more complex. Blacks and Hispanics are more likely than whites to bear children out of wedlock. Yet, according to the survey, these minority groups are more inclined than whites to place a high value on the importance of children to a successful marriage. The survey found that more than 80 percent of while adults have been married, compared with about 70 percent of Hispanics and 54 percent of blacks. The survey revealed another important finding. The percentage of Americans who consider children “very important” to a successful marriage dropped since 1990, and more now cite the sharing of household chores as most important. Source: Pew Research Center, "As Marriage and Parenthood Drift Apart, Public Is Concerned about Social Impact," July 1, 2007, http://pewresearch.org/pubs/526/marriage-parenthood
Some Hispanics report unfair treatment at work Twenty-nine percent of Hispanic workers have experienced discrimination or unfair treatment in the workplace, according to a nationwide survey by CareerBuilder.com and Kelly Services. The most common incidents of discrimination or unfair treatment involved not receiving credit for one’s work, co-workers talking behind their backs, not receiving a raise or bonus, not having concerns addressed or taken seriously, feeling their ideas or input are generally ignored, and being overlooked for a promotion. “(Hispanics) are among the two groups reporting the highest levels of severe discrimination in the workplace,” said Jesse Caballero, Senior Career Advisor for empleosCB.com. Twenty-two percent of Hispanic workers feel they are paid less than Caucasian co-workers who have the same skills and experience, 6 percent feel they are paid more and 58 percent feel they are paid the same. More than half of the Hispanic workers who experienced discrimination or unfair treatment said they did not report the incident. Sixty percent said they didn’t think reporting the incident would make a difference. Nearly 20 percent of Hispanic workers said their background works in their favor when applying for a job. About a third of the workers said their background works against them and half said their background had no influence. Source: CareerBuilder.com, "One-in-Five Diverse Workers Have Experienced Discrimination or Unfair Treatment at Work, CareerBuilder.com and Kelly Services Survey Shows", June 19, 2007.
Californians and disaster preparedness According to a March 2006, Public Policy Institute of California survey, Californians think that it is likely a disaster will affect them. Seven in 10 Californians think it is very (32%) or somewhat (41%) likely that their part of California will experience a disaster, such as a major earthquake, in the next 10 years. Latinos are somewhat more inclined than whites (36% to 29%) to say a disaster is very likely. The researchers found that most Californians have limited knowledge about preparing for a disaster. When asked how much they know about steps they can take to prepare for a disaster such as a major earthquake only three in 10 Californians (29%) say they are very knowledgeable, while half (52%) claim to be somewhat knowledgeable. Knowledge of disaster preparedness is somewhat higher among residents of the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles than among residents of the Central Valley. Whites (35%) are more likely than Latinos (17%) to say they are very knowledgeable about how to prepare for a disaster. Of the 2,002 adults surveyed, six in 10 Californians say they have a disaster supplies kit, while four in 10 do not. Whites (63%) are more likely than Latinos (55%) to have a disaster supply kit. About half of Californians are willing to pay more taxes for disaster preparedness. A majority of Californians (54%) support a one-quarter cent state sales tax increase to pay for disaster preparedness and planning. Support is higher among Latinos (69%) than whites (49%). Source: Public Policy Institute of California, "Just the Facts-Disaster Perceptions and Preparedness", April 2006, http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/jtf/JTF_DisasterPreparednessJTF.pdf
Early care and education participation among immigrant families One out of every five children in the United States is the child of an immigrant, and many of these children are at risk of school failure. Children in immigrant families are the fastest growing segment of the nation's child population. Participation in quality early education programs could be particularly beneficial for children of immigrants who face multiple risk factors; yet these children appear less likely to participate in such programs. A report prepared by the Center for Law and Social Policy aims to identify and respond to the needs of immigrant families so that teachers, schools, and early childhood programs are better prepared to serve these children. The researchers identified some of the factors affecting participation in preschool and childcare centers: -- Over a quarter of all young children of immigrants are poor and over one-half live in low-income households. -- Children of immigrants are more likely to live in two-parent households but less likely to have two working parents. -- The nature of immigrant employment may limit child care options. Immigrants are over-represented among the low-wage workforce and are likely to be working irregular and non-traditional shifts, nights, and weekends which makes securing child care even more difficult. -- Children of immigrants are more likely to have parents with less formal education. -- Most young children of immigrants live in mixed-status families (with at least one non-citizen parent), even though they themselves are likely to be citizens. Source: Center for Law and Social Policy, "Reaching All Children? Understanding Early Care and Education Participation Among Immigrant Families," http://www.fcd-us.org/ReachingAllChildren.html, January 2006.
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