Latino/Latina Entrepreneurship

Join us for this exhibition presenting beautiful oil landscapes by Upstate NY artist William Pettit. Come of the opening on Fri., July 26, 5:30 - 7:30 pm, and acquire one at great value. Enjoy the paintings at Martinez Gallery regularly on Saturdays, 12:30 to 4:00 pm, or By Appointment (518-274-9377).

Join us for the Opening and Shop for exquisite oil landscapes, smaller in size, beautifully framed, and very affordable. The Gallery regularly opens on Saturdays (12:30 to 4 pm) and By Appointment (518-274-9377)

LATINOS/AS DRIVERS OF ECONOMIC AND POPULATION GROWTH It is important for Latino/a entrepreneurs to know of the economic potential of the Latinos/as. By 2026, we are projected to be a market representing $2.8 trillion. The population growth is also quite dynamic. What follows are selected sections quoted from "AXIOS Latino." Latinos accounted for more than 70% of the overall growth of the U.S. population between 2022 and 2023 — driven mainly through high Hispanic birth rates, new U.S. Census Bureau estimates released today show. The explosive growth confirms what many demographers have been predicting: the U.S. is becoming less white and more Latino and Asian American as the nation gets closer to the 250th anniversary of its founding. Latinos of any race grew to just over 65 million last year, an increase of 1.16 million (1.8%) from the prior year, according the U.S. Census Bureau. International migration was only about one-third of the overall net gain in the Latino population, with 437,000 migrants coming into the country. Hispanics of any race made up almost one-fifth (19.5%) of the U.S. population in 2023, making it the second-largest group after non-Hispanic white Americans.

Last night's "Celebrating Latinas in the Capital Region" event at The Arts Center of the Capital Region was not just inspiring—it was a game-changer for me. Winning that stunning bracelet from Gary Bartolina-Campbell’s raffle was the cherry on top, but the real win was hearing the empowering stories from fellow Latinas who are making waves in our area. It just made me love the Capital Region even more! Thank you so much to everyone who shared their stories and wisdom, and thank you NEW YORK CAPITAL REGION HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC for making the event possible! The night was filled with several moments of clarity for me, and here’s what really stuck: 1. We’ve all been fed the dream of hard work paying off, right? But stepping into the real world, it’s clear that it’s not just about putting in the hours—it’s about being smart with our efforts and valuable time. 2. Following your passion isn’t just a feel-good phrase; it makes the grind so much more rewarding. Sure, it’s scary and tough to chase what you love, but it beats the easy route that doesn’t fuel your fire. 3. Talking about money was almost taboo in many of our Latinx homes, but it’s time to change that narrative. Last night’s talks highlighted how crucial financial literacy is for our empowerment. The panel was more than inspirational—it was a call to action. I can’t wait for the next gathering to dive deeper into these conversations!

Last night's "Celebrating Latinas in the Capital Region" event at The Arts Center of the Capital Region was not just inspiring—it was a game-changer for me. Winning that stunning bracelet from Gary Bartolina-Campbell’s raffle was the cherry on top, but the real win was hearing the empowering stories from fellow Latinas who are making waves in our area. It just made me love the Capital Region even more! Thank you so much to everyone who shared their stories and wisdom, and thank you NEW YORK CAPITAL REGION HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC for making the event possible! The night was filled with several moments of clarity for me, and here’s what really stuck: 1. We’ve all been fed the dream of hard work paying off, right? But stepping into the real world, it’s clear that it’s not just about putting in the hours—it’s about being smart with our efforts and valuable time. 2. Following your passion isn’t just a feel-good phrase; it makes the grind so much more rewarding. Sure, it’s scary and tough to chase what you love, but it beats the easy route that doesn’t fuel your fire. 3. Talking about money was almost taboo in many of our Latinx homes, but it’s time to change that narrative. Last night’s talks highlighted how crucial financial literacy is for our empowerment. The panel was more than inspirational—it was a call to action. I can’t wait for the next gathering to dive deeper into these conversations!

Did you see Martinez Gallery's latest online exhibition "Grace & Turmoil"? Visit the exhibition, and be delighted, intrigued, or moved by the extraordinary work of 18 artists. Happy to take emails with questions or comments. https://lnkd.in/gQwvbD2K

On Sunday afternoon, at the Siena Men's Basketball home game, the Capital District YMCA honored Siara Ramos as February's Saint of the Month. Ramos provides one-to-one career coaching to high-achieving women looking to change career paths, secure promotions, land employment, and learn techniques for salary negotiations and interviewing. She has helped over 100 clients find employment and reach their short- and long-term goals to be competitive in the workforce. She has accumulated over 16 years of experience and expertise in various industry sectors, such as corporate settings, higher education and nonprofits. Ramos takes great pride in serving our community. She is the co-lead chair of the Catalysts for Change Alumni Committee through the Community Foundation. Ramos is an active member of the New York Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Capital Region Professional Women of Color organization, and a member of the 2023 class for CDYMCA’s Black and Latino Adult Achiever program, where she serves as a mentor to black and brown youth in the Capital Region. She is also a mentor in the 518 ElevatED program. Congrats Siara!