Friday, August 11, 2006
Black colleges recruiting Hispanics
USA Today ran an AP article earlier this week about how traditionally black colleges are seeking to boost their enrollments by outreaching to Hispanics.
The article mentions some campuses are hiring Hispanic recruiters, distributing brochures featuring Hispanic students, and establishing special scholarships for Hispanics. In addition, recruiters are visiting predominantly Hispanic high schools and setting up booths at college fairs geared toward Hispanic students, the article says.
These are all good and effective approaches.
The number of Hispanic students attending historically black colleges increased more than 60% from 1994 to 2004, while the number of black students grew by 35%, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
The article mentions some campuses are hiring Hispanic recruiters, distributing brochures featuring Hispanic students, and establishing special scholarships for Hispanics. In addition, recruiters are visiting predominantly Hispanic high schools and setting up booths at college fairs geared toward Hispanic students, the article says.
These are all good and effective approaches.
The number of Hispanic students attending historically black colleges increased more than 60% from 1994 to 2004, while the number of black students grew by 35%, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Lieberman/Lamont Race in CT largely ignore Latinos
Anyone paying any kind of attention to politics knows Joe Lieberman is in trouble. The 3-term incumbent senator from Connecticut is trailing newcomer Ned Lamont in the latest polls with the primary tomorrow (the latest Quinnipiac University poll has Ned Lamont ahead but within the margin of error).
Lamont is a millionaire who is essentially running on an anti-Iraq war and anti-George Bush platform. He has succeeded in using Lieberman's vote for the war (although Lieberman's position is no different than most Democratic senators including Hillary) and the now infamous "kiss" from Dubya to pit Lieberman as less than a Democrat (although independent Congressional Quarterly has Lieberman voting w/Democrats 90% of the time).
What is interesting, from my perspective of course, is that neither candidate has actively sought the Latino vote in Connecticut. While Latinos historically don't vote in primaries, unlike in other parts of the U.S., Connecticut Latinos are largely Puerto Rican -- meaning they are at least eligible to vote. Lieberman's track record with jobs, health care, social security and others would track well with Connecticut's Latino population.
There are now approximately 440,000 Latinos in the state and approximately 65% are Puerto Rican. With the race so close, the candidates should have recognized the Latino vote could be the deciding factor to give the winner a few additional points. Unfortunately, neither has and thus they have wasted an opportunity.
Lamont is a millionaire who is essentially running on an anti-Iraq war and anti-George Bush platform. He has succeeded in using Lieberman's vote for the war (although Lieberman's position is no different than most Democratic senators including Hillary) and the now infamous "kiss" from Dubya to pit Lieberman as less than a Democrat (although independent Congressional Quarterly has Lieberman voting w/Democrats 90% of the time).
What is interesting, from my perspective of course, is that neither candidate has actively sought the Latino vote in Connecticut. While Latinos historically don't vote in primaries, unlike in other parts of the U.S., Connecticut Latinos are largely Puerto Rican -- meaning they are at least eligible to vote. Lieberman's track record with jobs, health care, social security and others would track well with Connecticut's Latino population.
There are now approximately 440,000 Latinos in the state and approximately 65% are Puerto Rican. With the race so close, the candidates should have recognized the Latino vote could be the deciding factor to give the winner a few additional points. Unfortunately, neither has and thus they have wasted an opportunity.
Wooing Futbol fans to Football
The NFL has launched NFLatino.com, a Spanish language website that is similar in branding to the English version.
According to an article in AdAge, the website is run in partnership with NFL Mexico.
The site has all the regular features (league and team news, schedules, scores, standings), but also features analysis from two Latino columnists, Hispanic-player diaries, and a listing of Latino players in the NFL.
As importantly, the site has a section that teaches the basics and rules of the game. To the uninitiated futbol fan, football is not easy to comprehend.
According to the article, internal NFL research shows that 72% of the 40 million U.S. Hispanics said they have spent or would spend time engaging with the NFL. In terms of marketing, the article says for now this is a soft launch of the site. They will promote it closer to the start of the season. They are working with AOL Latino.
According to an article in AdAge, the website is run in partnership with NFL Mexico.
The site has all the regular features (league and team news, schedules, scores, standings), but also features analysis from two Latino columnists, Hispanic-player diaries, and a listing of Latino players in the NFL.
As importantly, the site has a section that teaches the basics and rules of the game. To the uninitiated futbol fan, football is not easy to comprehend.
According to the article, internal NFL research shows that 72% of the 40 million U.S. Hispanics said they have spent or would spend time engaging with the NFL. In terms of marketing, the article says for now this is a soft launch of the site. They will promote it closer to the start of the season. They are working with AOL Latino.
I'm back ...
Was away last week taking care of my military reserve commitments. Stay tuned for more from Latino Lingo ...
