Editor’s note: In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, PRSA is publishing a series of blog posts from prominent Hispanic public relations and marketing professionals. This is the second post in that series.

During my speaking engagements in support of National Hispanic Heritage Month, I have witnessed a new spirit in the air. Hispanics are growing more confident, self-aware and eager to see what the future holds for our growing community.

However, with our renewed enthusiasm, comes some concerns. As our Hispanic voices get louder, and as our community becomes more influential in America, we must shift our focus and accept greater responsibility.

Here are just a few signs of our increasing power:

• Estimated $1.2 trillion in Hispanic consumer purchasing power by 2012.
• 50.5 million Hispanics in America.
• 1-in-4 American schoolchildren are Hispanic.
• Hispanics will reach 30 percent of the total U.S. population by 2050.

The new Hispanic mainstream story is written each day and we must be reminded that with power there is responsibility; and with responsibility there is accountability. This means we must tone down our entitlement demands and speak more about what our own personal responsibilities are to help advance the impact and influence of Hispanics in America.

Continue reading " The Burgeoning Hispanic Leadership Responsibility "

Editor’s note: In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, PRSA is publishing a series of blog posts from prominent Hispanic public relations professionals. PRSA Chair and CEO Rosanna M. Fiske, APR, co-hosted Hispanic PR Chat (#hprchat) Oct. 5; a transcript of the chat is available here.

When I am first introduced to someone as “Rosanna Fiske,” my name seems to confuse some people.

The first question that inevitably comes up is “Where are you from?” I usually respond saying that I’m from Miami. But, then, the real question that’s in most people’s heads pops up, “No, I mean, where are you from originally because your name doesn’t seem to match how you look?”

What most people are likely thinking is that I probably look “Latina,” if there’s such a thing as looking Latina. What they don’t know is that my background is rather mixed. Yes, my background is Spaniard, Cuban, Chinese and French. Is there a stereotype look for that?

Part of the problem is most people don’t really understand what it means to be Latina. Or Hispanic, for that matter. Or both, as these terms are usually used synonymously, yet they’re not.

Continue reading " Know the Person Behind the Label "

More than 300 public relations and communications professionals gathered in Dallas this week for the first-ever Hispanic Public Relations and Social Media Conference. The brainchild of the Hispanic Public Relations Association and Hispanic PR Blog founder Manny Ruiz, the conference gave professionals a fresh look at communicating with the U.S. Hispanic market. It also provided great networking opportunities and compelling professional development breakout sessions tailored to the needs of practitioners engaged in multicultural marketing.

I was honored to represent PRSA — a conference partner and sponsor — and to deliver the opening reception keynote address. A number of other PRSA members, including Sonia Sroka, chair of PRSA’s Diversity Committee and senior vice president, director of Hispanic marketing, for Porter Novelli, and Stephen Chavez, a member of the Los Angeles Chapter‘s Board of Directors and vice president of Hispanic marketing at Ketchum Public Relations, also took part in the conference.

Continue reading " A Postcard from the Hispanic Public Relations and Social Media Conference "