This just in from our NSHMBA friends…

Can you imagine next year will be 2010? NSHMBA will be 22 years old and Americas’ population is ever shifting to a multicultural environment now lead by Latinos as the largest majority. There are many statistics that talk of the rapid changes but none more powerful than:

- 50 million Latinos in America making up officially 15.1% of the population

- $1.2+ trillion in purchasing power and growing rapidly

- 40% of all Latinos are under the age of 18

- 20-25% of the students in high school are Latino

- 25% of all children 5 and under are Latino

- Sadly only half of our Latino youth are graduating from high school

but there is hope…..

America needs strong leadership and in particular it needs strong Latino leadership. Where does this come from? Who will lead? The answer unequivocally is you. Across the US, in our chapters, our schools, and in our communities America needs you to lead. By practice you (we) must model our mission gathering others that will follow to grow our leadership. Leadership through education to improve society. It is that simple in principle but far from it in execution.

In 2010, NSHMBA will step up a notch. Our vision is to be the premier Hispanic society and this means across the board. We’ll strengthen our chapters with infusion of our corporate partners as every where I visit I challenge our sponsors to give first of their Hispanic leaders because this is where the corporation, the employee, NSHMBA and the community get the greatest benefit. The finances are important but growing a leader will often bring those resources with him/her, if not initially certainly in the longer haul.

Make a difference, get involved! www.nshmba.org