MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO,
VERONICA COOL
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Happy March, Amigos y Colegas,
Proudly a female founded and led company, we are fully embracing Women’s History Month here at Cool. We are highlighting women’s achievements, impact, and perseverance, while also taking time to reflect on the inequalities that are still present in our society and re-focus on our vision of a more just and equal future, while evaluating how to get there.
This International Women’s Day, the theme is #BreakTheBias, a campaign intended to promote a diverse and equitable world free of stereotypes and discrimination. In line with this mission, it is important for us to consider how we can make our workplaces and communities more inclusive and open-minded. This was an important topic I discussed with Inez Stewart of John Hopkins Medicine and Nereida Perez of McCormick & Company, at the recent virtual Power Charlas with Powerful Women event hosted by Women of ALPFA Baltimore. These remarkable Latinas shed some light on why representation matters, and how allies can show up to amplify and support Latina voices. Let’s continue to maintain an open dialogue around these topics in order to work towards a future that celebrates diverse experiences!
We also recently facilitated the second session of the ¡Viva Baltimore! 2022 virtual event series, which disseminated vital information in Spanish to the Latino community about educational resources and financial assistance that our partners at Southeast CDC provide in order to make the dream of homeownership a reality for many in Baltimore City. You can watch the last event here and find more information about the upcoming session here!
At Cool & Associates LLC, we look forward to continuing the march toward an increasingly inclusive society, in collaboration with our colleagues and partners.
Saludos,
Veronica Cool
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Highlights & Announcements |
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Google Expands Digital Skills Initiatives for Latino Community
In order to address the current underrepresentation of Latinos in the digital economy, Google recently announced three new initiatives for digital training in the Latino community, including a partnership with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities to train college students in digital skills, $5 Million in grants awarded to several organizations that will help members of the Latino community prepare for jobs in the digital economy, and full access to Google Career Certificates in Spanish.
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Federal No Surprises Act Goes into Effect
The federal No Surprises Act, which protects patients from unexpected medical bills when receiving care from out-of-network providers, recently went into effect. The new law applies to both the self-insured health plans that employers offer and plans from health insurance companies.
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¡Viva Baltimore! 2022 Continues
The second informational session of Southeast CDC's annual Viva Baltimore event was held on Friday, February 25th. Moderated by Veronica Cool, the Live Facebook event featured Southeast CDC Housing Counselor Glenda Sierra-Schulz and PNC Bank Mortgage Loan Officer Vernon Kelley, who discussed a range of topics, including how to qualify for loans and available financial aid programs. The next event in the series will be held on Saturday, March 26th at 10am, and will feature a testimonial from a past program participant!
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Celebrating Women's History Month with the Contributions of Latinas
This month, we’re celebrating women and their contributions to art, civil rights, technology, media, politics, science, and more. Without women, our society wouldn’t be what it is today, and they often don’t get the recognition they deserve. So, in honor of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting the contributions of a few amazing Latinas whose impact in the US is often overlooked.
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How Language Learning Can Fuel Career and Business Growth
In recent years, the demand for bilingual talent has increased significantly across industries in the U.S. With more than one in five individuals in the U.S. speaking a language other than English in the home, these trends are likely to continue. Whether you’re an individual looking to level up your career or a business owner striving to expand your company’s reach and improve your team’s efficiency, the benefits of bilingualism are increasingly apparent in our rapidly globalizing world.
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BGE Launches Energizing Small Business Grants Program
Applications are now open for Maryland-based small businesses to apply for $20k grants through the BGE Energizing Small Businesses Grants Program. The deadline for the first round of grants is March 25, 2022, and recipients will be announced mid-May. Click here to read the eligibility requirements.
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Power Charlas with
Women in ALPFA
On February 24th, Women of ALPFA Baltimore held the virtual Power Charlas with Powerful Women event, featuring Inez Stewart of John Hopkins Medicine, Nereida Perez of McCormick & Company, and Veronica Cool of Cool & Associates LLC. These Latina powerhouses shared their insights on what makes a career fulfilling, the importance of mentors and sponsors, how identities come into play, why representation matters, and how allies can show up to amplify and support Latina voices.
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Latinos Driving Adoption of Cryptocurrency
Research shows that 24% of cryptocurrency owners are Hispanic and suggests that high adoption rates could be due to unique usage patterns, as Hispanics are more likely to use crypto as a payment method than their white counterparts. Alternative financial services have increasing potential to reach historically underserved markets, but also suggests a need for expanded financial literacy and skills training.
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Census Bureau Reports Undercounting the Latino Population in 2020 Census
The U.S. Census Bureau recently released the results of a demographic analysis that evaluates the accuracy of the decennial census. It reports that in 2020, the Hispanic population was undercounted by a statistically significant rate of 4.99%, which is more than three times the rate that Hispanics were left out in 2010. Accurate enumeration in the census is vital, as it directly impacts decision-making, political representation, and the distribution of federal resources.
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March: National Women's History Month
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March 2: Ash Wednesday
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March 4: National Employee Appreciation Day (March 4)
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March 6-12: National Foreign Language Week
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March 8: International Women’s Day
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March 8: Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Business Expo (Washington D.C.)
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March 8: Maryland Latinos Unidos Cafecito Virtual with Gabriela Lemus – Guest Veronica Cool
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March 12: Aztec New Year
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March 13: Daylight Saving Time Begins
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March 16: National Vaccination Day
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March 16: National Freedom of Information Day
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March 19: Father’s Day (Celebrated in Honduras, Bolivia and Spain)
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March 20: First Day of Spring
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March 23: National Tamale Day
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March 25: Maryland Day
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March 26: ¡Viva Baltimore! Facebook Live Event
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March 31: Cesar Chavez Day
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March 31: ALPFA Baltimore Professional & Student Networking Event
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HSF empowers students and parents with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete a higher education, while providing support services and scholarships to as many exceptional students, HSF Scholars and Alumni as possible.
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HAF improves the lives of Hispanics in the United States and promotes civic engagement by educating, motivating and helping them access trustworthy support systems.
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National Compadres Network
The NCN works with community leaders and decision makers to create strategic, sustainable systems of change and provide support in order to strengthen and re-root the capacity of individuals, families, and communities to honor, rebalance, and redevelop the authentic identity, values, traditions, and indigenous practices of Chicano, Latino, Native, Raza, and other communities of color.
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Unidos US
Serving the Hispanic community through research, policy analysis, advocacy efforts, and program work via 300 affiliates, Unidos US is challenging the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos in the U.S. across a range of key issues.
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"The Latino Gateway to Silicon Valley," Manos Accelerator is the first of its kind, offering hands-on mentorship-driven business education and access to early-stage capital and resources to foster a new generation of Latino entrepreneurs by enabling them to build and grow their companies.
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LEDC is a nonprofit organization empowering members of the Latino community and other underserved groups to build long-term financial security through programs focused on small business development, homeownership, counseling, and tenant organizing in the D.C. metro area.
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Yo Quiero Trabajo FB Group
YQT is a resource for Spanish-speaking individuals focused on workforce opportunities and development. Become a member today!
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