Latino 247 Media Group - Sign up to be a JUDGE for the Int'l Latino Book Awards, We lost a key advocate with the passing of Rudy Acuña.

 

Vol 24, Issue 7 April 6, 2026 A week to the day after we lost one hero, Cesar Chavez, because of unfortunate parts of his life that finally became public, we lost another major champion of Chicano rights with the passing of the godfather of Chicano Studies, Rudy Acuña on March 23, 2026. We need to REMEMBER and Celebrate Rudy for his many decades of first helping CREATE Chicano Studies, and later ADVOCATING for its continuation and necessity. Over the years, Rudy authored dozens of books in three totally different categories, harder to do than one might think: Children's chapter books like Cultures in Conflict. History books like Occupied America and Anything But Mexican. Academic books like The Making of Chicano Studies. Since the 1980's, I have had an ongoing series of conversations with Rudy on a wide variety of Chicano/Latino issues. We almost always were on the same side of an issue, but far more often differed on the approach to gaining support for that view. He tended to be more straightforward, while my approach was often to build allies and community support before confronting whatever establishment entity was on the other side of the issue. Probably no one anywhere did more to develop the image that Cal State University Northridge has across the USA, and I only wish he had been treated better by administrators for what he did. Rudy, you are truly missed – but we will never forget the issues you fought for and the many victories you had. THANK YOU for all that you did and for the tens of thousands of lives you impacted in so many different positive ways. The deadline for entries into the International Latino Books Awards comes up in NINE days, so don't hesitate to get your entries in. For you lovers of books by and about Latinos, consider becoming a judge with the Awards and getting the opportunity to read some AMAZING new books in 87 different categories. Last year, we worked with 222 judges on evaluating the awards. This year we can take judges from anywhere in the world since the judges will be evaluating the digital editions of the books. We need judges in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, and you can be fluent in one or several of the languages. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP TO BE A BOOK AWARD JUDGE. Thanks for listening, Kirk Whisler You still have time to enter the International Latino Book Awards & the Latino Book Into Movies Awards Click here to get the info about both awards 2026 International Latino Book Awards Here’s the new deadlines for entering the Awards:  Final day to submit applications: April 15, 2026. Digital forms needed to be completed by the 15th.  Final day to submit PDFs of books: April 30, 2026  Final day to submit 2 printed copies of the books you are entering: June 15th  Finalists will be announced July to August 2026 Latino Books into Movies Awards We have reopened the Latino Books into Movies Awards and are once again accepting applications. Changes in the Awards:  We now accept books in Spanish as well as English. This is a first for us with these awards. This is because one of the studios we work with is looking for books in Spanish for their television and film productions.  Since this is a continuation of the B2M Awards group started in 2024, if the book you entered is part of a series AND if you have a new book in the series, you can include that book into these awards at no additional cost as part of the series. Just send us copies of the new book.  With the 2024 group of entries, we added two new video game categories: Child games and Adult games with a Latino perspective. Just wanted to remind all of you about that. Remember, now the Video Gaming Industry is bigger than the Entertainment Industry.  We have now added a new category, Latino Culturally Sensitive Games. These are NOT for video games, but rather board, card, etc., games. Think Loteria.  Finally, while movies once accounted for over 70% of all scripted entertainment, they are now under 40%. In the past, we’ve gotten more entries on the MOVIE side than on the TV side. We want to increase the TV entries. The deadline for entries into the Latino Books into Movies Awards will be August 15, 2026. Look at this email in the next two weeks to sign up as a judge for this year's Int'l Latino Book Awards. Last year we worked with 222 judges. See the larest version of Josefina Lopez' Real Women Have Curves Sign up for the Empowering Latino Futures Book Club or other newsletters The Leadership Playbook Six Moves That Make A Difference By Kate Zabriskie   Not every leader is a great one. Plenty of people wear the “leader” badge, but few earn the respect, trust, and loyalty that separates the good from the exceptional. The difference? Great leaders think, act, and show up in ways that set them apart. They don’t just manage—they inspire. They don’t just delegate—they empower. And they don’t just react—they anticipate. So what exactly makes great leaders stand out? Let’s break it down.   1. They Set the Standard and Live It Great leaders know they’re walking billboards for the behaviors and values they want to see in their teams. If you want your people to work hard, show up on time, and deliver results, you’d better be doing the same.   Here’s how they set the tone: They Walk the Talk: They don’t just talk about values like integrity or collaboration—they embody them. If they say deadlines matter, you’ll never catch them missing one. They Own Their Mistakes: Great leaders admit when they’ve messed up. “I dropped the ball on this, and here’s how I’ll fix it” earns more respect than pretending it never happened. They Show Respect to Get Respect: They treat everyone—employees, peers, clients—with the same level of respect, whether it’s the intern or the CEO.   Ask Yourself: What behaviors am I modeling for my team? Are there gaps between what I say and what I do?   2. They Prioritize Clarity Over Complexity A lot of leaders think throwing around buzzwords and jargon makes them look smart. Great leaders know it just makes them hard to follow.   Instead, they’re masters of clarity: They Make Expectations Crystal Clear: No one on their team is left guessing what “good” looks like. They spell it out: “We need to improve customer satisfaction scores by 10% this quarter, and here’s how we’ll do it.” They Simplify Goals: They break big visions into manageable chunks. “Increase market share” becomes, “Let’s land three new clients this quarter.” They Over-Communicate: Great leaders know that one memo or meeting isn’t enough. They repeat key messages often so no one forgets what’s important.   Ask Yourself: Are my team members clear on what’s expected of them? How often do I check for understanding?   3. They Build Trust, Not Fear Fear-based leadership is a shortcut—and a bad one at that. Sure, people might jump when you bark orders, but they’re not jumping because they respect you. Great leaders understand that trust, not fear, is the real currency of leadership.   Here’s how they build it: They Follow Through: If they say they’ll do something, they do it. No excuses, no dodging. They Listen More Than They Talk: Great leaders don’t just hear—they listen. Whether it’s feedback, concerns, or ideas, they show they value what their team has to say. They’re Transparent: When things go wrong, they’re honest about it. They don’t sugarcoat, spin, or hide behind vague statements.   Ask Yourself: Do my actions consistently build trust? Would my team say they feel safe bringing challenges to me?   4. They Empower, Not Micromanage Micromanagers drain the life out of their teams. Great leaders, on the other hand, empower their people to take ownership of their work—and the results speak for themselves.   Here’s how they empower their teams: They Delegate the Right Way: They assign tasks with clear goals, then trust their team to figure out the “how.” They’re there for support, not to hover. They Celebrate Wins: Great leaders don’t hog the spotlight. When things go well, they shine it on their team. They Let People Fail: This one’s tough, but it’s important. They know that sometimes the best lessons come from mistakes, so they create a culture where failure is a learning opportunity—not a career-ending event.   Ask Yourself: How much autonomy do I give my team? Do I celebrate their successes loudly enough?   5. They Stay Cool Under Pressure When the stakes are high, great leaders don’t panic. They stay calm, think clearly, and lead with confidence—even when the situation is anything but calm.   Here’s how they handle the heat: They Pause Before Reacting: Knee-jerk decisions rarely lead to good outcomes. Great leaders take a beat to assess the situation before acting. They Stay Solutions-Focused: While others spiral into blame or negativity, great leaders zero in on what needs to happen next. They Radiate Confidence: Even if they’re sweating on the inside, they project steady confidence to their team. Calm is contagious—and so is chaos.   Ask Yourself: How do I respond to pressure? Am I helping my team stay calm and focused, or adding to the stress?   6. They Never Stop Learning Great leaders don’t see themselves as finished products. They’re constantly looking for ways to grow, improve, and stay ahead of the curve.   Here’s how they embrace learning: They Seek Feedback: They don’t just give it—they ask for it. Whether it’s from their team, peers, or mentors, they’re always looking for ways to improve. They Stay Curious: Great leaders are always asking questions. “Why is this happening? How can we do it better?” They Invest in Themselves: From reading books to attending workshops, they never stop sharpening their skills.   Ask Yourself: When was the last time I sought out feedback? What am I doing to grow as a leader right now?   Final Thought Start small. Pick one thing from this list and commit to doing it better. Then add another, and another. Leadership isn’t about being perfect—it’s about showing up, doing the work, and inspiring your team to do the same.   And if you’re already leading? Remember this: Great leaders don’t just create great results—they create great people. That’s the difference, and it’s one worth striving for every single day.   About the Author: Kate Zabriskie is the president of Business Training Works, Inc., a Virginia-based talent development firm. She and her team provide onsite, virtual, and online soft-skills training courses and workshops to clients in the United States and internationally. For more information, visit www.businesstrainingworks.com. Helpful Research Key facts about U.S. Latinos The U.S. population grew by 24.5 million from 2010 to 2022, and Hispanics accounted for 53% of this increase. Read More From Our Partners An Icon Has Fallen – But Our Work Continues It is with a very heavy heart that I write this message. We were ALL saddened this week as the honest news about Cesar Chavez came. While most of us admired Cesar during his life, his actions against young girls and women can not be tolerated. Changing the name of Cesar Chavez Day events to Farmwork Day or something comparable is a great start. I first met Cesar in the early 1970's and got to know him through 20+ meetings over the next two decades. He certainly was well aware of what we were doing in Latino publishing. The UFW person I got to know and admire much more was Dolores Huerta, whom I've considered a friend for five decades. Within the UFW, she oversaw many of the external and political efforts while Cesar oversaw the internal ones. With Dolores' revelations this week, my heart goes out to her once again. It was insulting in 1993 when Cesar passed away that Dolores was not chosen as UFW President largely because of machismo. Eventually, she left the UFW and created the wonderful Dolores Huerta Foundation. With all the chaos caused by the current administration, and I believe that is one of its goals, we can NOT let Cesar's action also hurt our community more. We can learn from the Black community a lot about building up true NATIONAL leaders. While the Latino community has many local leaders, few have major national visibility. Whenever I go to NNPA events, the National Newspaper Publishers Association, they always have many Black members of Congress and key black business leaders. We do not see that with the NAHP, NAHJ, and other Latino organizations. The bottom line is that Latino leaders have NOT worked with Latino media in the way Black leaders have. Let's collectively work to build MANY NATIONAL Latino Leaders who have a real audience. From this tragedy that Ceasr caused, let's somehow create a brighter future. Thanks for listening, Kirk Whisler The National Association of Hispanic Publications Makes Landmark Announcements Nearly $2 Million in New Grants and Major Growth Announced at the  2025 National Association of Hispanic Publications Convention By Kirk Whisler SAN DIEGO— The 2025 National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP) Convention delivered a powerful message: Latino media is growing, unified, and more influential than ever. Held November 12–14 at the University of San Diego, the convention unveiled nearly $2 million in new grants, strengthened cross-industry alliances, and set the stage for unprecedented opportunities for Hispanic publishers and media partners nationwide. The NAHP has experienced extraordinary expansion, with membership surging 71% since 2022—now representing 771 print and digital outlets. This growth reflects the association’s sharpened focus on empowering members as multiplatform Latino content creators, not just traditional publishers. Collectively, NAHP members now reach 15.4 million Latinos every week—that’s 32% of all Latino adults in the United States. For brands and agencies, this represents one of the largest, most trusted, and most culturally relevant media networks serving Latino communities. At a time when some Latino media operations are only focusing on English-speaking Latinos, the NAHP focuses on reaching Latinos in the language they want, Spanish and/or English. The 2025 convention underscored NAHP’s deep commitment to cross-community coalition building. Today, NAHP collaborates closely with Black, Asian American, and Alternative media organizations nationwide, strengthening shared advocacy and expanding opportunities for partners who seek authentic multicultural reach. This unity gives brands, agencies, and philanthropic partners a single, strategic entry point into diverse media sectors—grounded in community trust. Speakers and allies included some of the most influential leaders shaping today’s news and media ecosystem, including: · Gary Acosta, Founder & CEO, NAHREP · Natalia Gonzalez, Program Officer, Knight Foundation · Dr. John Warren, Chair, National Newspaper Publishers Association · Todd Stauffer, Association of Alternative Newsweeklies · Regina Brown Wilson, California Black Media · Julian Do, American Community Media · Matt Pearce, Rebuild Local News · Tina Wu, News Media Alliance · Mago Torres, Google News Initiative Their collective insights reinforced that Latino media is critical to the future of American journalism, community trust, and equitable representation. Over the past two years, the NAHP Board has modernized its bylaws and operations to align with a digital-first publishing environment. The newly elected Executive Board includes: · Alvaro Gurdián, La Noticia – President · Evelyn Castro, La Prensa de Houston – Vice President · Jesús del Toro, La Raza – Marketing Vice President · Hector Felix Jr., El Informador del Valle – Membership Vice President · Ricardo Hurtado, El Sol Latino – Sales Vice President · Silvana Diaz, Noticia Long Island – Secretary · José Zepeda Jr., Aviso Community Media – Treasurer To better reflect the industry’s evolution, NAHP also introduced newly elected Industry Sector Directors, representing key media formats: · Anthony Ibarria, El Especial – Weekly Newspaper Director · Jesús Sanchez, El Comercio de Colorado – Less-than-Weekly Newspaper Director · Ghisela Eljach, InSouth Magazine – Magazine Director · Bel Hernandez, Latin Heat – Podcast Director · Daniel Ajzen, Hispanopolis – Website Director This expanded leadership ensures that every platform—from print to digital to audio—has a strong voice shaping NAHP’s future. In 2025, NAHP strengthened and expanded collaborations with leading institutions and brands, including:  Knight Foundation, Google News Initiative, T-Mobile, Wells Fargo, Diageo, Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, California Black Media, and Scouting America. These partnerships reflect a growing recognition of the essential role Latino media outlets play in civic engagement, economic empowerment, and culturally relevant communication. Celebrating Excellence: The José Martí Awards This year’s José Martí Awards saw an 18% increase in submissions, with especially strong growth in digital categories—showing the innovation and evolution happening across Latino media. Highlights include: · Latina Publisher of the Year: Hilda Gurdián, CEO, La Noticia (North Carolina) · Latino Publisher of the Year: Hector Felix Sr., Publisher, El Informador del Valle Their leadership reflects the talent, resilience, and creativity driving Latino journalism forward. The 2025 NAHP Convention made one thing clear: This is the moment to invest in and partner with Latino media. For Hispanic publishers, joining NAHP means gaining access to: · National partnerships and grant opportunities · Training, advocacy, and digital transformation support · A unified network that strengthens your voice and reach For agencies and brands, NAHP offers: · Direct access to trusted, locally grounded Latino outlets · Scalable national reach with cultural authenticity · Partnerships built on transparency, accountability, and community impact The future of Latino media is bright—and NAHP is leading the way. For more information on membership, partnerships, or programs, visit nahp.org. Please forward this free newsletter on to others who may find it useful. Please unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive it. Trouble viewing this e-mail? Read it on the web. HM101 Thank you.  Sinceramente,  Kirk Whisler Executive Editor,  Hispanic Marketing 101 email: kirk@whisler.com   voice: (760) 579-1696  web: www.hm101.com

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