Global Partnerships, in the Business of Hope

This past weekend, there were a couple of articles in The Seattle Times that caught my eye.

One was an editorial entitled, "Especially in hard times, we must invest in our women." This article espoused the idea that families and communities can be best helped through the women: "More than ever before, women are playing a critical role in protecting the well-being of our families and communities."

This immediately reminded me of one of my pet causes, Global Partnerships. And sure enough--the editorial was co-authored by Leanne Moss and Bill and Paula Clapp--the latter two being the founders of that very organization. Global Partnerships is a fabulous cause that works with women in rural Latin America, most of them indigenous, offering hope for self-sufficiency, self-esteem and equality through microcredit loans.

What first lured me in? That just $50 of mine can help a woman get on her feet, starting a business doing something she knows how: weaving, baking, sewing, retail ... She pays that loan off and the $50 goes to the next woman who has a skill she'd like to share to put a roof over her family's heads, or help see her kids get educated.

I saw a documentary, No Son Invisibles, during the Seattle International Latino Film Festival a few weeks' back that showed in amazing detail the kind of help and hope organizations like Global Partnerships can bring to a community. It all starts with one woman, and what we may consider pocket change. Then she's in business, working hard, and she's relatively successful--and it's contagious. The other women want to have that, too. They make a pact (peer lending) whereby in many cases no new loans are given until the first one is paid off, and the lendee is held accountable by her peers as well as by the lender. And then after paying off the first loan on time, she has an opportunity to borrow more to expand her business. And so on ...

So it's that time of year when I'd like to promote a very important event. It's the organization's annual fundraiser on Tuesday, October 20, 11:30am - 1:15pm at the Seattle Westin. Please consider attending the Global Partnerships Business of Hope Luncheon and learning about the wonderful ways this organization works to help the poor free themselves from poverty in Central and South America. I think they may in Mexico by now, as well. Here's a link to check out the event and learn more about the work Global Partnerships does.

The second article from the Times this past weekend was about how Global Partnerships and PATH are teaming up with Pro Mujer (Pro Woman) to bring health services to the same populations; as Global Partnerships CEO Rick Beckett points out, "poverty and poor health are inextricably linked." I'm sure this new partnership will be among the announcements they share with Business of Hope Luncheon attendees. I'll never forget the year they announced that my school, Seattle University, had invested a half-million dollars in their program. I can't tell you how proud I was to be affiliated with that school.

Events of past years have been wildly successful, and I'm really hoping this year is no different. The folks at Global Partnerships, like Chris Megargee, really show gratitude for their connections and donors. So, if you can afford to do it, go--and learn how so few American dollars can turn so many families around in rural Latin America.

At Seattle U - Reading by Norma Cantú

Public Reading by Norma Cantú of the University of Texas at San Antonio

WHEN: Wednesday, May 20, 7pm
WHERE: Seattle University School of Law, 2nd Floor Gallery

All are welcome to a talk and reading, given by Norma Cantú of University of Texas at San Antonio. Cantú’s teaching and research interests include Chicano/a literature, U.S. Latina/o literature, creative writing, border studies, women’s studies, and folklore. The 2007-09 Wismer Professor, Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs of the Department of Modern Languages and Women's Studies extends this invitation to all to join us at this event to honor this renowned Chicana author.

Speaking of EDUCATION ... read what the Martinez Foundation is doing!

This just off the press - Edgar and Holli Martinez are sponsoring 15 - count 'em - 15 Masters in Teaching scholarships for students of color through the Martinez Foundation. They're helping students at three schools, University of Washington, Washington State University, and Seattle University--with 5 scholarships to be awarded for each university.

Read the story and learn about the first recipients! Congrats!

Seattle U welcomes newly admitted Latino students

Seattle University held a special reception last night welcoming Latino undergrads to the University. Students who had been accepted, some with their parents, attended to hear about current student experiences and how SU supports each student as they enter the University and find their path.

Victor Zamora of the school's admissions office put the event together and invited Latino faculty and other staff to share their roles, and to join in recognizing these students.

Victor read off some statistics that remind us that in the U.S., Hispanics lag behind non-Hispanic whites and every minority in terms of high school graduate and college entrance, and he applauded not only the students in attendance but their parents for encouraging them to achieve more than perhaps others in their family had before them.

Our own research shows that a whopping 39% of Puget Sound region Latinos have not finished high school, 37% have their high school diploma, and 16% have at least some college.

How does this compare to the national statistics? Considering that 32.5% of U.S. Hispanics (twice as many) have at least some college, we're lagging way behind. And this issue will be compounded when Latinos represent 30% of our entire country by 2025.

Victor mentioned that of all universities in the U.S., only 4% of the professors are Latino. This explains a lot, because students don't have the same encouragement or mentorship they might have if they enter a school with a professor that looks like them or speaks their language.

To download our free study on Hispanic Consumers in the Puget Sound Region (produced in conjunction with Seattle University), please visit our site.

CULTURAL COMPETENCE a must-have in our global economy

Today SU has organized on a really cool program for grad students: Communicating your Multicultural Competence through your Resume.

The workshop, put on by the Career Center and Office of Multicultural Affairs, explores the importance of multicultural competence in various professional roles. They'll help students develop concrete resume bullet points that speak to individual awareness, knowledge, and skills.

I served on a panel this morning for Public Relations Society of America Puget Sound that dealt with multicultural trends and issues as they pertain to PR. It was an insightful, informative panel (Steve Sneed of FESTAL and Chris Ishiwaki of Sound Mental Health added a lot of expertise), but there will be a podcast available soon so I won't go into it here.

BUT GET THIS: In 2025, one of every four U.S. residents will be Latino. In 2050, half of the U.S. will be a "minority." Diversity is the new white! And employers appreciate that value-add you bring when you can demonstrate cultural competence in the workplace. At the same time, your life can be enriched by a better understanding of cultures.

We've heard from several contacts that clients are looking for cultural competence, and they want to know where to get it. Well, there's no easy button for that! Start looking at/listening to/watching different media that might open your eyes, read books that detail other cultures, meet new people who can bring their cultural gifts to the friendship, attend events that open your eyes to new traditions, learn a language!

These are some of the ways to enhance your cultural competence. You can also hire cultural experts, such as Lee Mozena of Zenith Diversity. Lee's a pro at this, and her personal strength is in Eastern and Middle Eastern cultures. You can check out www.zenithdiversity.com. One event of hers that I'm looking forward to is next week, and it's FREE:

WHAT: Cultural Keys and Cues: A Guide for "Northwest Nice" Folks

WHEN: February 25, Noon - 1pm

WHERE: Community Capital Development, 1437 S. Jackson St, Seattle 98144

Here's the blurb: Increase your confidence, skills and awareness in dealing with non-Western cultures. This seminar helps mainstream business owners understand and effectively manage cultural differences at work. Learn specific "do's and don'ts" around issues like touch, eye contact and gender roles, plus the WHY behind them. Discover how cultural norms and values influence employee behaviors around time, interacting styles, respect and community obligations.

Hope to see you there!

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Seattle University is holding the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe this Wednesday, December 10th at 12:05 pm in the Chapel of St. Ignatius. If you haven't yet visited this amazing chapel on the SU campus, just off Madison and 12th, take the opportunity to celebrate this occasion while surrounded by natural elements and award-winning architecture.

In the Roman Catholic Church calendar, December 12th is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe which is also celebrated as a major religious holiday in Mexico. This date is the anniversary of the Mexican Indian Juan Diego's second encounter with the Blessed Virgin Mary on Tepeyac Hill outside Mexico City in 1531. Resident Minister Maria Ochoa will share reflections on the readings for the feast in Spanish.

For details, please contact Campus Ministry: agila@seattleu.edu

Give to a child or elder through Seattle University

It's that time of year again! The Giving Tree – sponsored by the Seattle U Center for Service and Community Engagement – is a great way to help grant the holiday wish of a child or an elder in our community. They make it easy for us to step up and help.

Starting Tuesday, November 25th, please stop by the Seattle University Student Center Pavilion, Room 124, to take a tag from our tree and buy a gift for a child at Childhaven or Treehouse and/or an elder at Elderhealth Northwest.

Please return UNWRAPPED gifts with the tag attached by December 11th for delivery. If you have any questions, please contact David Henry, SJ at 206-296-2326 or henrytd@seattleu.edu. Thank you for helping them reach their goal of 100 gifts for the holidays!

Attention SU Marketing 491 Students

I'm going to be teaching your Service Management & Marketing class this afternoon! And yes, I will make sure you know all about Hispanic marketing and its necessity, even right here in lil' ol' Seattle.

Here's a teaser of what I'll be sharing:

• what makes service marketing a challenge
• stories about some of the service-oriented brands we're working with and why they are successful with their strategies.
• ways brands can grow their positive public perception, even in tough economic times
• examples of how to market inside out for best customer retention
• and much, much more!

You'll want to be there.