Latin-Pak, established as a Door Hanger marketing program, now offers three unique ways to reach U.S. Latino consumers with the introduction of its National FSI and Direct Mail programs. The door hangers, hand-delivered each month to high-density Latino neighborhoods, feature poly bags filled with product samples, bilingual advertisements, and coupons. The FSI program places bilingual inserts in local, regional and national Latino newspapers weekly reaching over 3 million Latino households per week. Latin-Pak's direct mail services include list rentals with demographic enhancements and inclusion in their monthly targeted ride-along mailings. Advertisers, whether well-known or new to the Latino market, can create a customized marketing plan, gaining access to over 3 million Latino households in California, New York, Texas, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Miami, Chicago and Puerto Rico, enjoying services billed on a "One-Buy, One-Bill" basis. Clients include Columbia House, Anchor Bay Video, See America and Gerber Life Insurance. Call Vincent Andaloro, Managing Partner, 310-457-5846.

Broadway shows are now accessible for non-English speaking audiences thanks to ShowTrans, an infrared sound system that transmits a scene-by-scene synopsis in a listener's choice of Japanese, Korean, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or French. (Languages vary by show.) For a $10 fee, theater-goers rent a hearing device for use during any performance of The King and I or Disney's Beauty and the Beast. (Other shows to be added soon.) This state-of-the-art multilingual commentary service is linked to the show's cueing system and gives a plot summary at the start of each scene, (not a word-for-word translation throughout,) so that the theater patron can follow the action of the show. The ShowTrans production team works in collaboration with the show's authors to ensure that the in-language script captures the spirit of the production. Co-marketing opportunities are available for companies looking to reach non-traditional audiences. Call ShowTrans President Susan Lee, 212-575-3117.

One way The Chase Manhattan Bank shows its commitment to small businesses is by forging alliances with organizations that serve women and minorities. Chase lent its support for a new US Small Business Administration initiative by hosting the press briefing for the SBA's Women's Prequalification Loan Program now available in the Greater New York and Long Island areas. The loan program matches applicants with non-profit intermediaries, who provide specialized support in developing a viable loan-application package. Once SBA approved, the applicant locates a competitive lender; Chase wants to be that lender. Recently, Chase won the prestigious Pinnacle Award for the greatest number of SBA loans in the area and the Pacesetter Award, which acknowledges excellence in lending to minority- and women-owned businesses. Chase offers a wide variety of lending products to small businesses of which the SBA program is one. Call Janice M. DiMarino, Vice President, Chase Manhattan Bank 212- 622-9560.

An ethnic public relations agency specializing in cause-related marketing and community outreach, this 10 year old firm recently moved its headquarters from Madison Avenue to the heart of "El Barrio": East 116th Street. President and creative director Aurora Flores creates ethnically-sensitive and successful programs for mainstream clients such as McDonald's, P&G, Goya Foods, Kraft, NYNEX, and the Museum of Modern Art using innovative and non-traditional approaches based on hands-on measurement of community issues and trends "before they're exploded onto general market headlines." Twelve years ago, in her first PR position, Aurora created the "Heroes An-nimos/Unsung Heroes" campaign for the New York Tri-State McDonald's Owner/Operators account, now a premier component of McDonald's Hispanic marketing effort. Aurora Communication's facilities include a state-of-the-art recording studio for commercials, PSAs and jingles. Ms. Flores, an original NAHJ journalist and NY chapter founder with 5000+ published articles to her credit, helps bring Latino culture, such as mambo dancing and cuatro playing, on to national center stage. Call Aurora Flores, 212-410-2999.

The 1998 Asian Media Planning Source (AMPS), a two-volume set of directories, is now available from LLT Advertising, a multicultural advertising agency specializing in targeting Americans of 12+ ethnic and niche markets for clients such as Charles Schwab, Time Magazine, Hong Kong Bank, MetroPlus Health Plans and Bell Canada. Both books provide essential data on Asian-language media in the U.S. serving the Chinese, Filipino, Indian/Pakistani, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese communities. The Print AMPS and the Broadcast AMPS, covering domestic Asian-language publications and TV and radio stations, include circulation, programming format, and advertising opportunities and requirements. Multicultural Marketing News readers pay $550 for both books, a savings of 20% off the combined rate. Call MMR, 212-242-3351.

One of the many initiatives of the Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC) is the Fourth Annual Women-Owned Business Conference, which celebrates Asian women entrepreneurship and will focus on technology during its June conference in New York City. AABDC is a nonprofit consulting firm that provides technical and professional assistance to develop marketing and financing strategies for Asian American small business owners. Its recent New Majority Economic Summit brought together African-American, Asian-American and Hispanic business owners in an annual forum to foster communication, exchange information and promote sustainable business/trade relations joining together minority and national business communities. Call Pamela Gee, Vice President, 212-219-1681.

Greer & Associates, P.C., founded by Ida Rae Greer, Esq., is one of New York City's leading residential and commercial real estate litigation and transactional firms, primarily representing owners, cooperative corporations/condominium associations and lenders in all aspects of landlord-tenant and commercial litigation and transactional matters. The firm's attorneys, all of whom are seasoned real estate practitioners, have built their reputations by representing their clients in a broad range of real estate litigation matters. Ms. Greer is a contributing author of New York Practice: Landlord and Tenant, which is due to be published by West Publishing Corporation. The firm currently includes Lisa A. Wellman, Esq., a senior litigation associate, and Melinda P. Lisanti, who is also a contributing author of New York Practice: Landlord and Tenant. Call Ida Rae Greer, Managing Partner, 212-253-1900.

NetWorkz, an organization committed to an agenda of empowerment for African-Americans and other minority professionals, has launched the bi-monthly event, "NetWorkz After Dark". This ongoing multi-faceted networking event is designed to promote and build personal as well as business relationships for professionals representing all industries and business classifications. While NetWorkz provides a level playing field for minority professionals, its mission is to build economic strength through collective leveraging. Marketers wanting to reach this unique and attractive consumer audience can promote products and services through sponsorship of NetWorkz After Dark events; advertising in NetWorkz 1998 Business Directory and advertising on NetWorkz Online website. Entrepreneurs and small business owners wanting to take advantage of marketing services offered by NetWorkz can do so at a nominal cost. Call Anthony Simons or Wendell Niles, 212-685-4033.

Discover the successful direct marketing strategies to reach Hispanic, Asian- and African-American consumers from a distinguished roster of speakers representing America's top corporations in a two-day conference in NYC presented by the Institute for International Research. Hear from panelists from Selecciones Reader's Digest, Southwestern Bell, Avon, The Fannie Mae Foundation, Pacific Bell, Grolier, Essence by Mail, NYNEX, AT&T, Bank of America, Barbados Tourism Authority, Mutual of New York and others. Real-world direct marketing case studies, the latest demographics and consumer trend information will be presented. Conference moderated by Multicultural Marketing Resources, Inc. All attendees receive a free six-month subscription to this newsletter. Conference fee, $1295. Call 800-999-3123.

Linda Konner, head of the New York-based Linda Konner Literary Agency, and whose list of authors is primarily female, is herself an author whose books focus on topics of interest to women. Her current book is Just The Weigh You Are: How To Be Fit And Healthy Whatever Your Size (Chapters Publishers, $22.95). The book deals with issues that women have struggled with for decades - weight acceptance and the possibility of being healthy in a large body - and profiles singer Carnie Wilson, model Katie Arons and other healthy, successful women who have come to terms with their size and who vow to never diet again. As Konner, former editor-in-chief of Weight Watchers Magazine, notes, 62 percent of American women today wear a size 12 or larger, not the tiny sizes models and actresses would lead us to believe are the norm. Call Linda Konner, 212-691-3419.

Jeffrey Jacobs, through the non-profit company he founded in 1993, CIVITAS Initiative, is supporting the development of "CIVITAS Living Laboratories" in Houston and Chicago. These centers bring best practices to bear on the assessment and treatment of abused and neglected children. Jacobs, president of the Harpo Entertainment Group, and business partner, Oprah Winfrey, have long been active in educating the public about child abuse through television and film. The mission of CIVITAS, Latin for "return to community," is to discover and disseminate real-world solutions to problems impeding the optimal development of children. The "Living Laboratories". formed by partnerships with public and private institutions, support innovations that can havea systemic impact on the welfare of children. A communications and media component will soon disseminate "what works" in the Laboratories to policy makers and the public. CIVITAS Initiative is currently seeking "on loan" pro bono agreements with agencies who can provide support for CIVITAS' efforts in the areas of technology and communications. Their website is at http//www.bcm.tmc.edu/civitas. Call Suzanne Muchin, Executive Director, 312-915-6484.

The Asian Pacific American Women's Leadership Institute (APAWLI) is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to the enhancement and enrichment of leadership skills for Asian and Pacific American women. The program is committed to enabling participants to advocate for positive social change that will lead to better communities; increasing participantsŐ understanding of contemporary issues facing Asian and Pacific Americans; and creating a national network of Asian and Pacific American women leaders to mentor and support future leaders, all toward the goal of helping America fully realize the capabilities and talents of all its people and become a participatory, multicultural society. Their supporters include AT&T, Coors Brewing Co., W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Levi Strauss Foundation and Pacific Bell, among others. Call Martha Lee, President, 303-863-8899.

The Harlem Venture Group (HVG) is a pro bono monthly breakfast forum founded to help support economic revitalization in the community through entrepreneurship. Each meeting features a keynote speaker and forum where entrepreneurs seeking financing or other support present their ideas to an audience of venture capitalists, private investors, bankers, attorneys, accountants, data processing professionals and other business services providers who may pursue a business relationship with the presenter. A panel of judges from the investment community selects an Entrepreneur of the Month from among the presenters. The HVG then pays his or her funding application fees. Entrepreneurs who simply want to network informally or to observe are also invited. The HVG is organized by Management Consulting of New York (MCNY) and SuccessGuide. Upcoming speakers include Keith Clinkscales President & CEO of Vibe Magazine and Tony Brown of Tony Brown's Journal. Contact Bret Leonard, Executive Director 212 866-7087.