Photo courtesy of Franklin Garcia

Though it may not seem to be the case, any great communicator has to be a great listener as well, and there is no doubt that Saul Solorzano was just that. I met Saul more than 20 years ago when I was just learning to speak Spanish. Though [...]]]>

Photo courtesy of Franklin Garcia

Though it may not seem to be the case, any great communicator has to be a great listener as well, and there is no doubt that Saul Solorzano was just that. I met Saul more than 20 years ago when I was just learning to speak Spanish. Though my aptitude wasn’t great, I have always been a person with a lot to say, and Saul would listen. I am not sure how much of what I said made sense or if it was even that comprehensible, but Saul listened with the patience of a man much older and wiser than his years. This capacity to listen patiently, to wait and ruminate, and then break into an ear-splitting grin when he had something to say is what I will always remember about him. His incredible ability to listen, and listen and then listen some more put so many people at ease, because they truly felt heard. And so when he spoke on behalf of the community, people really felt that his words were those that they had shared with him, that his vision was made of up of so many voices and ideas from the community in which he lived and served for so many years. Saul—community leader, father, husband and extraordinary communicator for D.C.’s Latino community—was laid to rest today. Saul Solorzano, presente!



Last night, Hollywood crowned its best and brightest. The 83rd Annual Academy Awards spotlighted all that we’ve come to love about films and regrettably all that continues to disappoint us about major filmmaking.

Poster for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, held February 27, 2011.

One best picture nominee, The Kids Are Alright, portrays a happy, [...]]]>

Last night, Hollywood crowned its best and brightest. The 83rd Annual Academy Awards spotlighted all that we’ve come to love about films and regrettably all that continues to disappoint us about major filmmaking.

Poster for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, held February 27, 2011.

One best picture nominee, The Kids Are Alright, portrays a happy, functioning family headed by a lesbian couple who gave birth to two children by the same anonymous sperm donor. Javier Bardem, recognized for his role in Biutiful, was the only leading or supporting character of color among this year’s acting nominees. Neither won in their categories.

We know that to have this small a number of films representing the rich diversity of society beyond the silver screen is not unusual, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating. How many Oscar-caliber films depicting a variety of ethnicities, orientations, traditions, abilities and social situations have been written but never made, or made and then promptly banished to limited distribution releases? No one who observes the diversity we encounter everyday can reasonably argue that the audience for such films is merely marginal.

To be fair, Hollywood does occasionally throw us a bone. In 2010, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, earned six Oscar nominations including Best Picture. In previous years, films like Slumdog Millionaire and Brokeback Mountain offered bright spots. The notoriety of these films is notable because it is rare.

This is about more than how many African American actors get Oscar nods, how many Hispanic or Asian filmmakers get their screenplays “green-lighted,” or how many women work their way into powerful positions behind the camera. Such instances are extremely important because they naturally pave the way for more diverse content in film. But because movies have often demonstrated an incredible ability to shape the way we interact with each other, how refreshing would it be for the movie industry to do a better job of creating stories that reflect the broader spectrum of the human experience? Besides providing hours of great entertainment, we would all be able to gain a little bit of wisdom, a little bit of understanding and a lot more insight about the people we encounter every day.

Peter LaFarge: Tribal Troubadour

November 2010

Peter LaFarge Tribal Troubadour

“Gather ’round me, people, there’s a story I would tell, About a brave young Indian you should remember well; From the land of the Pima Indians, a proud and noble band, Who farmed the Phoenix Valley in Arizona land.” ―Chorus: “The Ballad of Ira Hayes,” by Peter LaFarge

Peter LaFarge was [...]]]>

Peter LaFarge: Tribal Troubadour

November 2010

Peter LaFarge
Tribal Troubadour

“Gather ’round me, people, there’s a story I would tell,
About a brave young Indian you should remember well;
From the land of the Pima Indians, a proud and noble band,
Who farmed the Phoenix Valley in Arizona land.”
―Chorus: “The Ballad of Ira Hayes,” by Peter LaFarge

Peter LaFarge was a singer and songwriter known for bringing Native American issues into the public spotlight in the 1950s and 1960s through contemporary folk music.

As a youth, LaFarge competed as a rodeo rider. After serving in the United States Navy during the Korean War, he worked as a rodeo cowboy where an accident almost cost him a leg. After recuperating, he relocated to New York City, where he became increasingly interested in music, particularly songwriting. As a singer-songwriter, he became well-known as a folk music singer in Greenwich Village, along with Bob Dylan, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Dave Van Ronk and Pete Seeger.

As a result of his performances in Greenwich Village, he was signed to Folkways Records and recorded five albums devoted to Native American themes between 1962 and 1965.

His most famous song, “The Ballad of Ira Hayes,” tells the story of a Pima Indian who became a hero as one of five United States Marines who raised the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima, but later experienced prejudice and became an alcoholic after his return to civilian life. This song was made popular by Johnny Cash, who covered the song in his 1964 album, Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian. It would reach No. 3 on the Billboard country music chart.

Tragically, LaFarge died on October 27, 1965, in his New York City apartment. With his powerful lyrics and messages, LaFarge is widely considered a pioneer in the Native American rights movement and is known for being one of the first politically aware Native American musical artists.

This guest blog post is by Leah Holmes-Bonilla, a Senior Account Supervisor and the Multicultural Services Manager at Vanguard Communications.

Have you ever mused about wanting to live in a world with a generation of self-assured, enthusiastic, forward-thinking and culturally diverse young people? Think no more because they are here. Fifty million 18-to-29-year-olds make up [...]]]>

This guest blog post is by Leah Holmes-Bonilla, a Senior Account Supervisor and the Multicultural Services Manager at Vanguard Communications.

Have you ever mused about wanting to live in a world with a generation of self-assured, enthusiastic, forward-thinking and culturally diverse young people? Think no more because they are here. Fifty million 18-to-29-year-olds make up a major portion of this new and exciting generation: the Millennials.

The Pew Research Center‘s recent publication, Millennials: A Portrait of Generation Next, provides a window into the world of Millennials and what makes them tick. This generation is the most culturally diverse in the history of the nation, college-focused and more tolerant than any before them. They believe that good parenting, successful marriage and helping others are among the most important things in their lives. They view their values and beliefs as in sync with those of their parents more so than any previous generation.

Millenials are well attuned to their world and to its ever-changing landscape. They seek news and information in real-time. They embrace new technologies, information sharing, are astute networkers and incredibly hopeful about the here-and-now, as well as about the future.

So, as present day communicators, what does this tell us? Our communications efforts need to understand and resonate with Generation Nexters. Is the message direct and clear as well as hopeful? Does it reflect the diversity of the audience it hopes to reach? Are the avenues for disseminating the message in tune with the tech-savvy of this audience?

As veteran communicators this is an exciting time for both learning about and communicating with Millennials. If diversity, real-time content and hope are the lens through which we need view and reach out, then we should consider ourselves fortunate.

After you rejoice in the knowledge of who the Millennials are, remember a few simple cues in your communications efforts: be credible, relevant and real. Understand that constant communication and flexibility in communicating are also important. And finally, never be afraid to learn from your audience.

Hispanics in every life stage are increasingly online, and the majority prefer content in English, according to a new survey from Cheskin Added Value, commissioned by AOL Advertising.

The survey shows Hispanics (58%) closing the digital gap between themselves and the general population (71%).

Since our first study in 2002, the number of Hispanics online has [...]]]>

Hispanics in every life stage are increasingly online, and the majority prefer content in English, according to a new survey from Cheskin Added Value, commissioned by AOL Advertising.

The survey shows Hispanics (58%) closing the digital gap between themselves and the general population (71%).

Since our first study in 2002, the number of Hispanics online has grown significantly – faster, in fact, than the total US online population.

Hispanics consume online media in English, which the survey says reflects a greater availability of English language information (27.6%) vs. Spanish (7.9%).

In general, Hispanics recognize the disparity between the availability of English and Spanish language content. They perceive English sites as more comprehensive, detailed and useful than Spanish language counterparts. This belief is prevalent across all levels of acculturation and life stages.

What’s more, Hispanics are early adopters and technology leaders, and they favor quality of online information over language preference. Not surprisingly, the survey showed that Hispanics were skeptical of straight translation, favoring meaningful adaptations that reflect ties to their home country or their experience in the U.S.

The survey included more than 700 Hispanics in various life stage groups: the young and free (30% of sample) stage represents people who are single, average 26-years-old and have no children; the young family stage (17%) are 33-years-old, married and have one child; the mature family stage (23%) are 40-years-old on average, married and have two children; the prime of life stage (18%) are 41-years-old, married with no children; and the empty nester stage (13%) are 57-years-old, have children over 18 years old and are married. The survey authors chose this approach over the more traditional lens of acculturation and language.

Segmentation by life stage provides another way to understand the values and interests of Hispanics, based on their preferences and behaviors, which are not necessarily unique to their cultural background or acculturation level.

This type of analysis showed that English-language marketing messages are favored by almost all of the youngest Hispanics, as well as many of the other market segments, regardless of time in the U.S. and English-language fluency.

The entire report can be obtained here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitaldemocracy/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Understanding how best to communicate with and support refugee communities living in the United States can be a daunting challenge. In 2008, more than 60,000 refugees immigrated to the United States from all around the world. For refugee families, their arrival in America is not the end of their [...]]]>

http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitaldemocracy/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Understanding how best to communicate with and support refugee communities living in the United States can be a daunting challenge. In 2008, more than 60,000 refugees immigrated to the United States from all around the world. For refugee families, their arrival in America is not the end of their journey, but a beginning filled with new opportunities and many transition challenges.

Recently, I discovered a new research resource that can help communicators become more culturally and linguistically competent when reaching out to and supporting refugee communities.  The Cultural Orientation Resource Center (COR Center) develops informational materials for refugees, service providers, and anyone interested in learning more about refugee communities in the United States.

Compiled by resettlement service providers working within these communities, the COR Center “backgrounders” provide  historical and cultural characteristics about refugee groups which can help communicators  determine what strategies, tactics, and messages would be best to reach their target audience. For an example, read the recent backgrounder on Iraqi refugees living in the United States that were displaced by the Iraq war and its aftermath.

What’s more, the Center has highlighted their available resources on Haiti, including a background on Haitian history and culture, as well as an English-Haitian Creole phrasebook.  They are designed “primarily for service providers and others assisting refugees in their new communities in the United States,” and both can be viewed online or downloaded for free.

Research is the foundation of effective communication.  Thanks to this free database, we can help refugees seeking asylum in America adjust to their new country by using these documents to deepen our understanding of their past and present, but also learn to speak the same language.

Photo Credit: U.S. Census Bureau, Public Information Office

The Washington Post reports that 20 percent of people may not participate in the 2010 census, even though they are legally obligated to do so. According to a new poll from the Pew Research Center, many respondents said they are too busy or uninterested to fill [...]]]>

Photo Credit: U.S. Census Bureau, Public Information Office

The Washington Post reports that 20 percent of people may not participate in the 2010 census, even though they are legally obligated to do so. According to a new poll from the Pew Research Center, many respondents said they are too busy or uninterested to fill out the 10 question form, while many others simply distrust the government or worry about privacy.

In response to concerns from national civil rights groups, the Census Bureau has been touting a $133 million advertising campaign, which includes television spots in 28 different languages. The Bureau estimates it will reach the average person 42 times with slogans such as the “2010 census – it’s in our hands.”

Key to the Bureau’s success will not only be its ability to offer ads in-language, but also to provide messages that respond to cultural concerns and barriers to filling out the form. The Census Bureau reports that the emphasis in the message varies with the audience, with objects, backgrounds, and other props changing in some TV ads to reach different groups.

The question is, will that be enough? With the Census launching in March, two months of positive, culturally considerate messaging might not be adequate to mitigate years, even decades, of misinformation and distrust.

Census officials say that each percentage point of nonresponse to the initial survey costs $80-90 million to hire people to knock on doors. In preparing for the 2020 census, it might be wise to consider investing that money over the next decade in long-term, culturally competent messaging that increases dialogue and understanding about the need for and benefits of this critical decennial count.