NYE: Salsa at the Century Ballroom

Click on the above image for more info and for tickets! Everybody have a fantastic and safe New Year's celebration!

More Ag News! (free farm ed!)

Another discovery today in the world of Washington State Agriculture: business resources for the Spanish-speaking farmer! The Washington State Department of Agriculture has produced a five-disc set of audio CDs - (10) 30-minute segments on business and financial planning, marketing, crop insurance, good farm practices, safe use of pesticides, food safety, alternative energy, and state and federal farm projects.

These were produced with assistance from Washington State University (previously known as Washington College of Agriculture, if I recall correctly!).

The set, called Risk Management Strategies for Farm Businesses: Information for Latino Farmers in Washington State, can be ordered FREE by contacting Patrice Barrentine at smallfarms@agr.wa.gov or by phone at (360) 902-2057. Also try Malaquias Flores, Latino outreach coordinator for the WSU Small Farms Project, at (866) 978-9165.

Bilingual Agriculture Education Program

OK - I just learned about a really cool program offered through Wenatchee Valley College. The Bilingual Agriculture Education Program offers a variety of courses for Spanish-speaking orchard employees, including an introduction to horticulture, advanced horitculture, IPM technician, farm management, and introduction of viticulture. Also offered are pesticide license and forklift certification workshops and other continued education.

About 700 students have gone through the program since it began 16 years ago!

What's more, Wenatchee Valley College has an agreement with Washington State University which enables students to put credits toward a Bachelor's degree. This is just a fantastic way for our state's Latinos to further their careers and their opportunities. Kudos to Wenatchee Valley College!

Our Favorite Client

Hola - just got an interesting bite from a prospective client. Turns out, his business already has Spanish-speaking staff in place to support his intended Hispanic marketing efforts. Kudos to you, Brent!

We're letting you in on a little secret here: If you'd like to attract Latino consumers, start by putting an infrastructure in place (customer-facing staff, printed materials such as contracts, phone IVRU, etc) *before* you place that ad in Spanish-language media or even display that Spanish-language poster.

Think about it: Nothing's more disappointing than thinking that you'll get the service you need, when really all the company had for you is a poster in the window.

Plaza Bank is one of those rare businesses in our area that was built on the premise of truly serving Latinos (versus simply attracting them). Of course, most companies weren't founded on this premise, but that doesn't exempt them from making their very best effort to provide high-touch support to Latinos they do attract.

>> If you have questions about what this means for your business, just give us a ring at 206-621-2185 or write info@conexion-marketing.com.

Sí, Latinos are spending $$

We've been looking into the effects of the current economic downturn on Latinos statewide and Gigi came across this current Yakima Herald article. I like the title (and significance) of it: There's No Stopping the Shopping for Valley Latinos.

Take a read!

Neat coverage of Hispanic culture in The Seattle Times!

See recent article on Las Posadas, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and other traditions:
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19971225&slug=2579956

and this Quinceañera story, on yesterday's front page!
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008565989_mexico28m.html

Images from Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe @ St. Mark's Cathedral

Above is my old friend Alfredo Feregrino, who gave a sermon at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Spanish-language service at St. Mark's Cathedral up on Capitol Hill, December 14. He tells me that despite the inclement weather, there was great attendance at this first annual event and most of the performers showed up.

There was a group from Oaxaca that performed the Danza de la Pluma (Dance of the Feather, literally translated) and also La Banda Gozona.

So this was a service flavored with indigenous roots and unlike any other Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration in Seattle!

And...apparently Alfredo and our friend from KCTS/V-Me, Tony Gomez, played some music together! Wish we could've been there!

For more pictures click here.