Ask Mauricio

Ask Mauricio!

By Mauricio Velasquez
President, Diversity Training Group and Spanish Translation Services, LLC
ANLA Consultant

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…

Dear ANLA Members:

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.

Dear Mauricio: 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.

Dear Mauricio: 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."

Dear Mauricio: 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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