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RILPBN creates career, educational and social opportunities for Latino professionals by connecting professionals and college students with each other, and with employers seeking to identify, retain and develop Latino talent.

RI Latino Professional Business Network www.facebook.com/RILP.Business.Network

rilpbn@gmail.com 401.274.5204

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The RI Latino Professional Business Network (RILPBN)

February 2009 – February 2014

Mission Incubating commercial relationship among Latino Professionals, Business Owners, Entrepreneurs and Community by offering a comfortable environment to gather and network among peers. Overview The Rhode Island Latino Professionals Business Network (RILPBN) comprised of Latino businesses, Latino Professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders. RILPBN creates career, educational and social opportunities for Latino professionals by connecting professionals and college students with each other, and with employers seeking to identify, retain and develop Latino talent. RILPBN is committed to serving the Latino small business community by striving towards the promotion, the advancement and development of Hispanic-owned businesses, provide the exchange of information and business opportunities for the benefit of our Membership and establish and encourage opportunities for RILPBN Members to do business with one another.

RILPBN fosters an environment for personal and professional growth for Latinos through monthly networking sessions hosted at El Macuto Restaurant, 1137 Broad St. Providence, RI 02905.

Vision The Rhode Island Latino Professionals Business Leaders Network (RILPBN) is the common place for Latino professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners and Community Leaders to network and exchanging of success stories while incubating commercial and Professional relationships one Latino (a) at the time.

RILPBN is a relationship-driven organization. Meeting other Latino professionals, business owner and entrepreneurs will prove to be an investment of your time that will yield dividends for years to come. Participation in RILPBN programs, events and member business functions will translate to valuable business opportunities and enhance the growth of your business and profession. The RILPBN fulfills its commitment of serving the needs of Latino business owners and professionals by:

1. Constantly seeking to establish and build relations at every level- locally, statewide, nationally and internationally- in order to generate new business opportunities.

2. Working closely with government agencies, top corporations and organizations to create viable partnerships that provide valuable benefits.

3. Advocating on behalf of business, by assessing and addressing the issues and needs of business owners, and consistently and effectively communicating them to our elected and appointed officials, as well as other legislative bodies.

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Goals: 1. To increase business, professional and economic opportunities for Latinos; 2. To enhance the team alliance professionals, business owners, entrepreneurs and community; 3. To develop targeted access and linkage to the Latino market and associated consumer markets; 4. To utilize our joint business, professional and legislative networks for the mutual benefit of the

participants and the Latino community; 5. To provide significant, measurable networking opportunities in the local commerce; and 6. To provide sustainable and continuous support of our common goals for economic development

for the Latino community.

At the business level: 1. Monthly networking sessions 2. Incubating commercial and Professional relationships 3. Advocate, promote and facilitate the success of Latino business and professionals 4. Support Latino leadership development 5. Foster Latino Entrepreneurship 6. Exchanging best practices among Latinos 7. Foster economic development

At the Community Level:

8. Advocate to leaders of business, educational institutions, governmental agencies, and the media on issues facing Latinos.

Possibilities

1. Implementing and strengthening programs that assist the economic development of Latino firms; 2. Increasing business relationships and partnerships between the corporate sector and Latino-

owned businesses; 3. Promoting international trade between Latino businesses in the United States and Latin America; 4. Monitoring legislation, policies and programs that affect the Latino business community; and

providing technical assistance to Latino business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs.

Issues 1. Access to Capital 2. Small Business 3. International Trade & Commerce 4. Digital Economy 5. Education 6. Workforce Development 7. Energy 8. Immigration 9. Affordable Healthcare

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Why the need for the RILPBN?

Consider the following statistics compiled by the US Census Bureau: • There are nearly 3 million Latino-owned businesses throughout the United States generating

nearly $350 billion in annual revenue.1 • Latinos constitute 53 million population of the United States as of July 1, 2012, making it the

nation's largest ethnic or racial minority, and 17 percent of the nation's total population2. • 132 million Latinos, the projected Hispanic population of the United States in 2060. According

to this projection, the Hispanic population will constitute 31 percent of the nation's population by that date.3

• 2nd Ranking of the size of the U.S. Hispanic population worldwide, as of 2010. Only Mexico (112 million) had a larger Hispanic population than the United States (53 million).4

• Rhode Island Latino-owned business jumped from 3,415 in 2002 to 5,764 in 2007, an increase of 68.8 percent. Over the same time period, revenues increased by 115.4 percent, from 213.7 million in 2002 to $460.4 million in 2007.5

• $2.4 billion Latino purchasing power in Rhode Island totaled6 • 138,500 Latino population of Rhode Island, or 13.2% of the state population7 • Over the past decade (2000-2010), Rhode Island’s Latino population grew 44 percent, adding

almost 40,000 residents.8 • There is untapped Latino business potential in Rhode Island that could help business owners more while

boosting economic growth.9 Clearly, the Latino community is an emerging, increasingly powerful force. Yet, Latino businesses have traditionally been, and continue to be, under-served and represented. Recognizing this, the RILPBN is committed to helping Latino and Emerging Majority-owned businesses thrive by focusing on advocacy, providing business development and training and promoting business opportunities across industries.

1 Source for statements in this section: Statistics for All U.S. Firms by Industry, Gender, Ethnicity, and Race for the U.S., States, Metro Areas, Counties, and Places: 2007, Table SB0700CSA01 <http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=SBO_2007_00CSA01&prodType=table> 2 2012 Population Estimates <http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk> 3 Source: Population Projections <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb08-123.html> 4 Source: International Data Base <http://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/informationGateway.php> 5 U.S. Census Bureau 2007 Survey of Business Owners, Rhode Island Latino-owned business 6 The Multicultural Economy 2010 (Athens, GA: Selig Center for Economic Growth, University of Georgia, 2010) 7 U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012 American Community Survey 8 PolicyLink and PERE analysis of equity in Rhode Island 9 The Growth of Latino Small Businesses in Providence, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, https://www.bostonfed.org/commdev/c&b/2012/spring/growth-of-latino-small-businesses-in-providence.htm

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Past Speakers:

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2014 Upcoming Activities

2014 Monthly Networking

21 February – 5th Anniversary of the Rhode Island Latino Professional Business Network (RILPBN) Celebration.

14 March-Sussy DeLeon, RE/Max New Horizon Successful Latina, Broker-Owner of RE/MAX New Horizons. In celebration of Women’s Month.

11 April - Winning the Future: Latino Education achievement issues in Rhode Island

09 May - Tribute to Mrs. Asia Méndez for her contribution to Rhode Island economic development and matriarchal to successful entrepreneurial descendants. In celebration of Mother’s Day.

13 June - 2014 - Elections Nonpartisan Gubernatorial Candidates Open Mike Networking

11 July 2014 - Elections Nonpartisan Mayoral Candidates Open Mike Networking

08 August - 2014 Elections Nonpartisan Secretary of State & General Treasurer Candidates Open Mike Networking

05 September - 2014 RILPBN Elections Nonpartisan Candidates Rally – Open to ALL Candidates. Meet and Network with Latino Professionals, Entrepreneurs and Business owners.

10 October Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

14 November Veteran’s Day Commemoration

12 December 2014 RILPBN 5th Anniversary Party!!

FORUMS

14 June, 2014 - Winning the Future: Latino Education Forum - Addressing the issue of Latino achievement in Rhode Island is critical to the long-term well-being of all Rhode Island

20 September – Latino Professionals Resume Bank - Highlighting qualified Latinas and Latinos resume bank that can be hired in management positions by public servants or appointed to Boards and Commissions.

18 October - Inspiring 21st Century Leadership Forum: Fostering Leadership Among Latino Students - The rise of young Latino student leaders, who were born to lead, is something we need to leverage to their fullest potential.

Upcoming Elections 9 September, 2014 Statewide Primary Elections 4 November, 2014 Statewide General Elections

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Networking Highlights

Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics? Hot: RI Latino Professionals and Business Leaders Network- The local network of Latino leaders recently hosted Providence School Superintendent Susan Lusi to present the district's strategic plan and discuss education as "the pillar of Latino economic and work force development." The goal throughout the year is to help incubate relationships through events and informal conversations. http://www.golocalprov.com/politics/side-of-the-rhode-whos-hot-and-whos-not-in-ri-politics153/ , December 20, 2013

“The relatively small size of Providence and its role as a cultural hub and state capital appear to have supported the development of a cohort of professional Latino leaders who hold networking events that bring the community together. Business owners and technical-assistance providers continued to attend the monthly networking events after the class ended. “The networking has been critical to developing my business,” the participant adds. He liked “the opportunity … to know what’s out in the marketplace. You can see globally what’s happening not only in the area in which you have your business but other related areas as well.” The Growth of Latino Small Businesses in Providence, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Communities and Banking, Spring 2012, https://www.bostonfed.org/commdev/c&b/2012/spring/growth-of-latino-small-businesses-in-providence.htm