Latino 247 Media Group - Today, we will hold our 79th Latino Book & Family Festival

 

Vol 24, Issue 9 April 25, 2026 Today, we will hold our 79th Latino Book & Family Festival. The event will be at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, California. It's been nearly three decades since my compadre, Edward James Olmos, and I co-founded what today is Empowering Latino Futures. I want to THANK the many thousands of people we've worked with in the decades since then. The Festivals, and the other GREAT programs like the International Latino Book Awards, North County Informador, and Education Begins in the Home have reached millions of people over the decades, and impacted thousands of lives. I HOPE TO SEE MANY OF YOU TODAY IN OCEANSIDE. 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 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 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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