
I have been thinking a lot about what Latinos really want, and perhaps a better question is what do they really need. Everything I do with NAHREP, The Hispanic Wealth Project, and L’ATTITUDE is about answering those questions. We talk a lot about creating a new narrative for the Latino community. Not an easy undertaking, but definitely one that is sorely needed. I don’t think that Latinos want anything different than most people – freedom, financial security, health and safety – but getting those things has sometimes been elusive. Knowledge is power and education is the great equalizer. In my view, Latinos need more awareness; specifically, a better understanding of our system and more access to capital and key relationships. Education comes in many forms, but through NAHREP, I get the chance to see how lives are transformed when they become more aware of what is possible and how to get there. Awareness will be my key word for 2020. More to come…
When the government tries to tackle a specific issue with a policy, it often causes new variations of the problem to emerge in different areas. In other words, "any action has an equal and opposite reaction." When taxes and regulations are reduced, as is expected in 2025, two things tend to happen: those at the bottom economically have it tougher because there are fewer safety nets and protections. Those at the top make a killing.
Next week, I will be speaking at a Hispanic Leadership Summit at the United Nations. I was asked to speak on the topic of Unity. The following is a preview of my speech.
The image of Latinos is not just a nice thought; it affects everything from business opportunities and access to capital to how our children are treated at school. Latinos are among the hardest workers and most entrepreneurial of any group in America. However, negativity has dominated the narrative about Latinos for far too long. This one is on us.