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Stepping into the mainstream

"The percentage of those who can go to college has jumped dramatically. Immigrants come here specifically for the education they can give to their children." — Esther Cepeda, columnistERIK UNGER

In 2007, according to the association, 6,787 Hispanics earned master's degrees in business, including MBAs, making up 4.6% of all such degree-earners.

Yet in a metropolitan area that's about 20% Hispanic, many are unsatisfied with the level of representation — and recognition — that Hispanics receive in the broader community. Chicago-based syndicated columnist Esther Cepeda, for one, believes too many lists of local leaders are short on Hispanics.

Stepping into the mainstream

Hispanic entrepreneurs are "growing at a much faster pace than other businesses. They are reaching out to a broader community." — Roberto Cornelio, Hispanic Entrepreneurship Center | Photo: Erik Unger

From this week's Focus

By: Kevin Davis August 03, 2009

A new generation of young executives is redefining what it means to be a Hispanic in business in Chicago. In the past, Hispanic professionals and business owners largely were concentrated in ethnic niches — Spanish-language marketing, for instance, or producing foods crafted to Hispanic tastes.

Chipping away at tech

By: Kevin Davis August 03, 2009

When he was in the fifth grade, Albert Castillo heard about a new extracurricular activity at his school: computer science.

"I begged my parents to sign me up for these classes," Mr. Castillo, 37, recalls. "I think they went into debt to pay for it."

His parents, both Mexican immigrants, had little money and little, if any, knowledge of computers. They came here in search of work, and both took factory jobs.