NAHREP and the Hispanic Wealth Project, Inc. are finalizing a report on the state of Hispanic wealth in America. The report will be built around an in-depth survey on family wealth taken by several hundred Latino families that includes how their financial position has been impacted by COVID-19. So, what are we hoping to learn from the study? Among other things, I hope to better understand what forms Latino families are holding their assets today, what they tend to do with extra money, how they have rallied together to deal with the devastations of COVID-19, and how immigrant families may differ from U.S.-born households.
A 2013 Pew study indicated that Hispanic families lost two-thirds of their median household wealth during the great recession. In fact, it was that study that inspired us to create the Hispanic Wealth Project and establish a goal to triple Latino household wealth within ten years. I am also anxious to see if Latino families are better prepared for a recession this time around. There is no perfect Spanish language translation for the word wealth, which says quite a bit about the cultural relationship that Latinos have with money. The subject of household wealth is central to the NAHREP mission statement and has galvanized our membership more than anything ever has. We have work to do, but I hope to learn how much progress has been made – and more importantly, how much America’s prosperity is tied to Latino prosperity. The report will be released during the NAHREP at L’ATTITUDE convention in September.
The attacks on DEI were never really about fairness, merit, or excellence. In this episode, I use a recent public moment to unpack what this debate is actually about — who gets recognized, who gets overlooked, and why so many people in power are threatened by any effort to widen access and opportunity. This is a conversation about merit, history, and the forces that try to preserve the status quo. The pendulum always swings, and when it does, people remember who stood where.
I saw a video recently that made me both angry and a little sad — people saying that even though they’re citizens, they don’t feel American. I understand the pain behind that feeling. But I also believe something important: America doesn’t belong to a narrow group of people, and it never has. Too often, we allow small-minded voices to define who “counts.” In this episode, I talk about identity, ownership, and why no one gets to tell you that this country isn’t yours. If you contribute to it, believe in it, and are willing to stand up for it, America belongs to you — just as much as anyone else.
Some are openly saying that immigrants make America weaker, not stronger — but the data tells a different story. Immigrants bring work ethic, entrepreneurship, and a deep appreciation for opportunity. Latino immigrants who have lived in the United States for more than 10 years have higher homeownership rates and higher net worth, and their children achieve higher levels of educational attainment. At a time when demographic decline threatens long-term growth, immigrants bring youth, household formation, and economic momentum. Meanwhile, countries with strict immigration policies are facing aging populations and stagnant economies. Immigration isn’t a weakness — it’s one of America’s greatest strengths.