Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Educator Resources - ICT Diversity - La Familia Network

Career Communications Group, Inc (CCG) was founded over a quarter of a century ago with a unique mission: To promote significant Hispanic achievement in engineering, science and technology. As a minority-owned diversity services company, they recognize the mandate to promote excellence to youth by telling the stories of the thousands of unheralded people striving for success. Through their inspiring magazines, award-winning syndicated television programs, and annual national conferences, CCG reaches thousands of students and professionals each year.

It is through their continuous research and relationships that they are addressing this urgent need: To promote opportunities for the Hispanic Community to take a leadership role in developing and teaching its children and professionals about the work of technology, and to ensure that they will have a role in this phenomenon, if they are prepared.

Addressing the gap in Internet usage and computer ownership between the U.S. mainstream and the many cultural groups that are Hispanic is both a moral imperative and good business. Hispanics quickly are becoming the new "minority majority" in America. Moreover, in several cities, Hispanics make up the majority of the population. In California, Hispanics, African Americans, and Asian Americans together outnumber non-Hispanic Whites.

These demographic changes have made Hispanics a major consumer group. Consumer buying-power among minorities has nearly doubled over the past decade. Hispanic spending alone is expected to reach $454 billion this year.

Addressing the inequalities in technology usage and ownership provides fertile ground for companies in the Digital Economy. Only 47 percent of Hispanic households have a computer. At the median age of 26 years, compared with 35 for the general population, Hispanics are more likely to embrace technology-oriented products than are others.

For industry, an even more compelling reason to address technology and the Hispanic community is the changing face of the employment pool. Hispanics are now more than 11 percent of the total work force. Yet, they make up less than 4 percent of the technical work force. As companies tap into previously ignored segments of the work force, issues like work force preparedness will become even more important.

The field of technology is the future. Studies show that Information Technology is already outstripping all other industries in economic growth. As a community, it is critical Latinos become a major part of the economy of the next millennium. Education and job-preparedness are the guarantees needed to find a place in that development. La Familia Network is at the forefront of that work.