Colegas,
It has been a summer of hope and transition for all of us. With increasing numbers of vaccinated individuals in our community, the world is reopening.
International travel is semi-open to Europe, and I was able to enjoy some quality time exploring Greece with the family. The food and culture were exceptional and the sights were magnificent and obviously ancient! I was fascinated by the "everyday", language wasn't a barrier, because everyone spoke some English, and most signage was bilingual. More importantly, everyone we encountered was patient and eager to understand and interact with us.
This emphasized the need to focus on human engagement back at home in the USA, and in our case, engaging people from different backgrounds. This is why our work with the Latino community is so important- especially around Covid-19, voting and access in general.
There is no doubt that our communities still need us, and the fight against this pandemic is not over yet. According to the CDC, Latinos continue to represent 28.8% of new COVID infections nationwide and 18.4% of deaths. More than ever, Cool’s team has been working arduously to reach our community and ensure we are getting the help and information we need to stay healthy and keep each other safe.
At Cool, our team is getting fired up on the 53rd anniversary of Hispanic Heritage Month! This month-long commemoration (Sept. 15 to Oct. 15) recognizes the heritage, culture, and contributions of generations of those in the U.S. whose ancestors came from Spain, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. One of our most important roles as Hispanic Strategists has been to educate businesses and organizations on their role during HHM through lectures, training, and our very own Hispanic Heritage Toolkit.
Latinos are making strides everywhere – in a significant way. According to the 2010 Census, 20% of the U.S. Population are Latinos (approximately 58M people). In Maryland alone, Latinos make up 9.5% of the population. It is estimated that by 2060, 28.6% of the nation’s population will be of Hispanic origin. We can’t wait to see what activities you embark on to celebrate the Hispanics around you, and as always, we are here to help!
Finally, I am proud of the continued support from our community and our continued collaborations from back-to-school initiatives, social causes, vaccine campaigns, and increased social presence. At Cool, we are true believers in meaningful communication, building community and trust while being consistent in all our work. We wish you a beautiful end of summer.
Calurosos saludos,
Veronica Cool
CEO & Hispanic Strategist
