Ask Mauricio—Introduction
by Mauricio Velasquez
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| Editor’s Introduction |
Mauricio Velasquez has been a featured ANLA Management Clinic
speaker for the past few years on workforce issues (Hispanic/Latino
Workforce, Sexual Harassment). ANLA has launched a consultant
partnership with Mauricio as an ANLA member benefit. This column is the
first in a regular series that is aimed at answering your real-life
questions about ever-shifting workforce issues. Read
on…
I was asked to author a series of articles regarding my
workplace diversity presentations and it struck me
that I wanted to come up with a column that answers
your questions (you, the reader, the member) who is "in the
trenches" and needs the most help. I am not comfortable sitting in my
"ivory tower" and trying to "come up" or anticipate
what you need addressed in this column or series of
articles, so send me (Mauricio@anla.org)
your most
difficult questions or issues or problems (or what
I will call opportunities), and I’ll use this forum to
answer them. Ask Mauricio will also be archived on ANLA’s
website, and you’ll soon be able to submit questions
there, too!
Here are a few "frequently asked questions" to get the ball
rolling. This first one is a fundamental, and a great
place to start this column.
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Dear Mauricio:
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I’m embarrassed that I don’t know,
but what is the
difference between Hispanic and Latino? |
This isn’t a silly question, and one of the first questions I
get asked all the time. I now start my presentation
with this short explanation each time.
Hispanic means you are of Spanish descent—your heritage can be
traced back to Spain. I am Hispanic and I am very
proud of my heritage.
Latino means you are of Latin-American descent—Central and South
America and the Caribbean. In other words, you are from the Latin
American basin and this includes all countries from the
Dominican Republic and Cuba to Mexico and Guatemala to
Honduras and El Salvador to Colombia (where my parents
are from) and Brazil to Paraguay and Argentina and all
of the other countries in this hemisphere. By the way, I
am Latino and Hispanic. My parents have traced their roots from Spain to
the United States through Colombia, South America.
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Dear Mauricio:
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Can you be Latino but not be Hispanic, or Hispanic but not Latino? |
Sure, if you came to U.S. directly from Spain, you are Hispanic
but not Latino. If you came from Central or South
America but your roots are native or indigenous (Maya,
Inca), than you are Latino and not Hispanic. When
Hispanics and the native populations "mix" the most common term I have
heard used is "mestizo."
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Dear Mauricio:
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Why was last year’s Clinic program poorly attended and this year’s program was nearly
standing-room-only? |
People in the industry are finally starting to admit that the
industry has changed. The workforce—the backbone of
the industry—is becoming increasingly Hispanic and/or
Latino and in many parts of the U.S. is the majority
of the workforce. Rather than ignore these issues, people are
really starting to look at their workforce and realize that we can’t
continue to manage this new workforce the same way we
have always managed our past workforces. A new
workforce requires new practices, demands new policies
and procedures and if the industry does not "wake up" the new
Hispanic/Latino workforce will leave our industry and move to other
industries … and there is no one "right behind them" to "do the work."
So, I thought this might be a nice foundation to build on. Now,
it’s your turn. Fire away! Hit me with your best shot!
What is the number one, burning question you have for
me?
My next column will start with my
answer to two common questions, "What one thing can we
do to deal with our "new" workforce?" and "Where do we
start?"
 Send your questions to me at:
Mauricio@anla.org or via fax to
703/709-0591
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