N.C. Hispanics contribute billions
to economy, according to new study
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
CHAPEL HILL -.North
Carolina's rapidly growing
Hispanic population con
tributes more than $9 billion
to the state's economy through
its purchased, taxes and labor,
while costing the state budget
a net $102 per Hispanic resi
dent ip health care, education
and correctional services,
according to a new study by
researchers at the University
of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill
If recent migration trends
continue, the- total economic
impact of Hispanic spending
in the state could increa'se to
$18 billion by 2009.
These were among the key
findings and conclusions of
the first major comprehensive
study of the state's Hispanic
population and its economic
impact .conducted by the
Frank Hawkins Kenan
Institute of Private Enterprise
at UNC for the N.C. Bankers
Association (NCBA), in coop
eration with the Mexican
Consulate of Raleigh. The
study assessed the economic
impact of the state's growing
Hispanic population and iden
tified potential business
opportunities provided by this
fast-growing market.
"This study quantifies for
the first time the enormous
economic "contributions made
by our state's Hispanic popu
lation, as well as pointing to a
wide range of public policy
issues and business opportuni
ties to be explored," said Thad
Woodard, NCBA president
Exhibit
Jrvm page A I ~ ~ ~
wounds through art and spiritual
ity. This is the first time that all
four art galleries have come
together on an artistic project at
one time.
Foundation, an ECHO grant was
given in the amount of $ 16,000 to
help fund the project.
The Diggs Gallery will fea
ture the works of 41 artists,
including artwork by the late
Earnestine Rainey Huff! Other
artists include Raul Montero,
I ne curators, vicl
Diapne Caesar,
Belinda Tate and Kim
Vernadoe, envisioned
a citywide exhibition
that celebrates the true
racial and cultural
diversity of our com
munity," McNabb stat
ed, "a diversity so rich
and so broad that no
one institution could
capture it alone."
Artists' participat
Bonner
Mona Wu and Ann
Bonner.
Referring to her
self as a newcomer,
Bonner feels that the
event is an opportuni
ty for local artists to
come together of one
accord about such an
important topic. She
believes that the art
work alone will gen
erate conversations
among the different
ing come from all over the Triad
area. Artwork will include paint
ings, sculptures, installations, and
other mediums. The event is
sponsored by Crossing 52, an
organization formed to enhance
racail relations by eliminating
racial barriers throughout the
arpa. Through the Winston-Salem
races that will view tfoe exhibit.
"Visual art evokes thought. It
evokes conversation," Bonner
said. "Visual art J? there. It's in
your face, and you have to choose
to communicate with it, by look
ing upon it. You have to choose" to
embrace the thought or you could
just walk away and ignore it, but
it's hard to ignore something
that's visually present."
Her artwork featured at Diggs
is a mixed medium titled
"Consolidation." It's a piece
based on her interpretation of the
history of the Christian faith.
There will be other activities,
such as games, that will be used
as devices to get individuals to
converse with one another. In
fact, the exhibit will eventually
coincide with SECCA's
Community Day Celebration in
May. ?
Although the exhibit is cen
tered around racial topics, Kopf
explained that doesn't mean the
topics discussed have to be ones
of heated debate and controversy.
"I think the biggest thing is
just getting everybody in the
room together, where they can get
to meet one another and shake
hands, talk, and enjoy looking at
artwork together. I surely think
that's a beginning of developing a
real relationship with one anoth
er," Kopf said.
and chief executive officer.
Among the study's find
ings:
? North Carolina's
Hispanic population totaled
600.913, or 7 percent of the
state's total population, in
2004. The average Hispanic
household contains 3.7 people
(compared with 2.4 people in
the average non-Hispanic
household) and earns about
$32,000 annually (compared
with $45,700 for non
Hispanics).
? Hispanics filled one in
three new jobs created in
North Carolina between 1995
and 2005, with significant
concentrations in the con
struction industry (29 percent
of the labor force).
? Hispanics annually con
tribute about $756 million in
taxes (direct and indirect)
while costing the state budget
about $817 million annually
for K-12 education ($467 mil
lion), health care ($299 mil
lion) and corrections ($51 mil
lion) - for a net cost to the
state of about $61 million, or
$102 per Hispanic resident.
Martinez
from pugr \4
school.
Martinez spent 19 years at
Chicago State University as a
professor and administrator,
where * he established a
national reputation for Ha
demic leadership in diversity
and multilingual education
issues. He also devel
Throughout his career.
Martinez has conducted
research and published exten
sively, focusing on diverse
educational issues. Much of
this work "has been funded
through grants awarded by
the National Institutes of
Health, public school dis
tricts, the National
Association of Foreign
Student Advisors and the fed
oped arftf laught edu
cation courses at the
Chicago Urban Skills
Center of Malcolm X
College, Governor
State University in
College Park, 111.,
and Northeastern
Illinois University in
Chicago.
"I look forward to
helDins Chancellor
eral government s
Teacher Training
Project, among
other organiza
tions and pro
grams.
Martinez has
earned wide pub
lic recognition,
including partici
pation in several
highly selective
Martin and the WSSU leader
ship teahi advance the univer
sity's clear strategic plan to
become a nationally recog
nized center of excellence in
health services, teacher edu
cation. science and technolo
gy, and financial services,"
Martinez said. "Our faculty
and staff will inspire academ
ic innovation and attain lead
ership by listening to all voic
es, considering all ideas, and
working together with the
common goal of creating the
highest quality learning expe
rience."
fellowship programs: the
American Association of
State Colleges and
Universities (AACSU)
Millennia Program, the
Mexican-American Legal
Defense Fund, and the
Kellogg Foundation. He was
also named Teacher of the
Year by the Latin American
Student Association in 1982.
Martinez is married to
Mayra Alvarez, an elementary
education school teacher and
certified school psychologist.
They have two children,
Karissa, 13, and Adriel, 9.
Pholo courtesy <>1 Digjn. (iaflcn
Anne Kesler Shields' Towers 9/11 Abu Cihraib will be phrt of the show.
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