25 On The Rise

For 25 On the Rise, the chamber accepts nominations of people who are under 40 and are at least 25 percent Latino heritage. Nominees fill out a questionnaire about leadership, achievement, ethics and integrity, and community engagement, and then a panel of judges selects the 25 winners. This year’s judges included Zavala and Vargas, as well as Uri Camarena, a retired vice president of UPS; Milissa Silva-Diaz, co-owner of El Burrito Mercado; and Juan Palomo, an operations consultant for McDonald’s Corporation.

Active and Growing

Today, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce boasts a membership of more than 280 people and a dedicated group of 70 volunteers. In addition to traditional activities for networking and promoting business development, it focuses on four other program areas: workforce development, consulting and technical training, home ownership counseling, and financial education. In addition, it partners with Hispanic chambers in five other states to promote higher education among Latinos.

In its workforce development area, the chamber offers vocational English as a Second Language programs to help Latinos qualify for better jobs. In 2005, the chamber worked with five companies and helped increase the communication skills of 60 Latino workers. The chamber co-operates a program called Career Launch with Minneapolis-based Resource, Inc., a United Way partner. Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, this workforce development initiative helps prepare Latinos for careers in health care and customer service. Next year, the chamber hopes to expand these efforts into other industries.

The chamber’s varied training programs consist of workshops and consulting for entrepreneurs on starting a company or other business issues.

Another critical area of the chamber focuses on promoting financial literacy and home ownership among Latinos. By partnering with businesses and financial institutions, the chamber works to improve access to capital and teach Latinos about establishing or repairing credit, preparing a budget, and about the home ownership process. These programs are funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Finally, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce joins with its counterparts in Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan to increase the pool of Latinos who continue their education after high school. Employers, colleges, trade schools, and universities provide information about potential opportunities at the chambers’ annual Career and Recruiting Conference held each fall.

“We bring awareness outside of the community that we are organized and are a positive force in the community,” says Vargas. “Latinos are about obeying the law, keeping our businesses and practices in compliance with regulations, and growing and advancing the right way.”

Minnesota has benefited enormously from the Latino business people and professionals who live, work, and own companies in its midst. This year’s 25 On The Rise demonstrate that Latinos are a major contributor to Minnesota’s future—both today and in the future.