Cultural Access Group of Access Worldwide plans to unveil The Hispanic Health MonitorSM, a new market research study that will give members of the healthcare/pharmaceutical industry new insight and understanding of specific healthcare attitudes, behavior and misconceptions from the perspective of the growing Hispanic population. The study is being launched as the U.S. Hispanic population reaches record levels. Today, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 13% of the U.S. population is Hispanic, and those numbers will continue to grow in the next decade, outpacing the growth of the Anglo-American population 3 to 1. The Hispanic Health MonitorSM will examine specific patient issues surrounding health education, frequency of physician/provider contact, current disease management regiments, prescription habits, lifestyle & diet issues, along with culturally-based treatment issues. Cultural Access Group is a multicultural strategic planning and market research and consulting organization providing in-language, in-culture qualitative and quantitative research services. For more information or to discuss sponsorship opportunities, please contact Isabel Valdés or Jennifer Lynch, 650-965-3859.

MAPA Communications is a multifaceted consulting firm, specializing in multicultural marketing and communications (with a Hispanic market niche), public relations and public affairs, and sponsorship and strategic planning. Located in Washington, DC, MAPA serves a broad range of corporate, nonprofit, and government clients with local, regional, national and international communications services. MAPA clients benefit from the resources of a large organization while receiving the personalized attention of a boutique agency. The process begins with analysis of client needs and results in a measurable communications plan that fits the client's budget. MAPA does not operate in a vacuum. It goes beyond its communications foundation to provide a multidisciplinary approach to planning and problem solving. To ensure clients the highest level of research and data, MAPA has partnered with the Gallup Organization. MAPA has also developed a parallel planning approach that allows it to achieve client goals and objectives through communications strategies in the multicultural market that complement, rather than compete with, general market efforts. Contact Jose Rodríguez, MAPA Communications, Inc., 703-807-0500.

The Bravo Group, established in 1980, is the nation's largest fully integrated Hispanic marketing and communications agency. Under the leadership of Daisy Expósito, President and Chief Creative Officer, Bravo's multidisciplined services include advertising, direct marketing, public relations, research, promotions and event marketing. Clients include AT&T, Best Foods, Blockbuster, Campbell Soup Company, Chevron, Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield, H&R Block, Kraft Foods, Mattel, Merck, Philip Morris USA, Sears, United Airlines, Whitehall-Robbins, the US Army, US Postal Service and the US Bureau of the Census. More than 185 employees -- 90% of whom are Hispanic -- are located in NYC, Miami and San Francisco offices. The Bravo Group is your source of information on: EUR US Hispanic Market (population, demographics, psychographics, product usage) EUR Culture & festivals of different Hispanic communities EUR Hispanic buying habits and preferences, by category (i.e. retail, banking) EUR Hispanic media EUR Fortune 500 companies targeting the Hispanic market EURCensus 2000 and the US Hispanic market EUR Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept 15 - Oct 15. Contact Carmen Sepulveda, VP, Dir of Public Relations, 212-614-6214.

MINORITIES' JOB BANK www.minorities-jb.com promotes diversity in the workforce by connecting equal opportunity employers with qualified minority job seekers. Minorities-jb.com is produced by Black Collegiate Services, Inc., publisher of THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Magazine, which has been highly-respected for its diversity recruitment services since 1970. Features include online resume posting, a job bank database with search capabilities, and diversity employer profiles. The site's employer members receive unlimited open-position ads in the Job Database, unlimited access to the Resume Database, an Employer Profile and Listing, and a hyperlink to the employer's home page. A career development section contains current articles on employment-related issues and an employer member directory. The site also contains an extensive Multicultural Villages Network -- African-American Village, Asian-American Village, Hispanic-American Village, Native-American Village, Minorities'-Global Village and Professional Women's Village. There are also forums that address the cultural, economic, political and employment needs of minorities. Network highlights include news, art, social and career features, census information, event calendars and interactive discussion. Banner advertisements and sponsorship opportunities are available. Call: Preston J. Edwards, Sr, CEO, Black Collegiate Services Inc., 504-523-5320.

The Hispanic population of the U.S. is more than 31 million and growing at a rate that will see this number double in about two decades. To provide this Latino community in the United States with television programming that appeals to their strong sense of heritage and cultural identity, Canales ñ, a first-of-its-kind Spanish-language channel package was created. Canales ñ is available on select cable television systems nationwide as a part of a digital service. Canales ñ programming consists of well-branded channels to target each segment within the Latino community, which is comprised of a rich and diverse blend of cultures from around the world. The package includes Discovery en Español, CNN en Español, Fox Sports World Español, CBS TeleNoticias, Toon Disney, CineLatino, BoxTejano, BoxExitos, Canal 9. In addition, subscribers receive eight DMX Latino-formatted digital audio channels that encompass Latin Contemporary, Rock en Español, Salsa, Latin Dance, Tejano, Regional Mexican, Latin Jazz and Cumbia. Contact Paul Singman, VP, Advertising Sales, 212-527-9917, www.i-channel.com.

H&AMCR announces the opening of their Los Angeles area research complex, Multicultural Research CenterSM. "We opened a new facility to offer our services in the largest multicultural market in California," says Dr. Felipe Korzenny, President and CEO of H&AMCR, Inc. "Santa Ana is an ideal location to conduct Hispanic and Asian research." H&AMCR, Inc. now has offices in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles DMA and Mexico City. The growth of H&AMCR, Inc. has accelerated over the past two years, doubling its personnel to more than 40 employees. "Our most recent additions include James H. Owen, a seasoned and prestigious researcher, who joins the company as Director of Research Services, and Charo Aguila Mouritzen, an experienced and well known bilingual moderator of focus groups" says Dr. Korzenny. H&AMCR specializes in multicultural research and strategic consulting throughout the US, Latin America and Asia. Contact Nancy K. Shimamoto, Marketing Manager, 650-595-5028, nancy@hamcr.com, www.hamcr.com.

The American Advertising Federation Foundation, in partnership with Advertising Age, will present the 4th annual AAF's Most Promising Minority Students Program on February 24-25, 2000 at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC. The two day program is the ad industry's premier initiative and has presented the industry with over 200 qualified minority college students since its 1996 debut. Students and their faculty advisers are flown to New York and provided accommodations as guests of sponsors. Events include the gala Building Bridges for our Future luncheon salute to 25 finalists from colleges and universities across America. The objectives are to provide interview opportunities for talented minority advertising and marketing students, to build national awareness of the importance of cultural diversity and multicultural advertising, and to facilitate the exchange of ideas between promising students and industry leaders. Sponsorship opportunities, which include luncheon tables, and begin at $2,500 are available. Call Heide Gardner, VP, Diversity & Strategic Programs, 202-898-0089.

KSCI-TV, founded in 1976, is the preeminent Asian language TV station in the US, providing news, sports, dramas and entertainment in 14 languages including Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Tagalog. The station delivers upscale Asian families for advertisers such as AT&T, Colgate-Palmolive, Toyota, McDonald's, Metropolitan Life and Disneyland. The station's numerous community awards, including the Organization of Chinese Americans' Image Award and the Korean American Coalition's Community Service Award, shows its commitment to viewers. KSCI-TV was the first Asian-language station in LA to win an Emmy for its series, "U.S. Citizenship: A Dream Come True." Call Fernando Acosta, V.P., Sales & Marketing, 310 -442-2724.

What strategies and tools are top financial organizations using to develop profitable relationships with consumers in growing Asian, Hispanic and African-American communities? Attend this year's conference to find out about the latest developments in this growing market. Created by the Institute for International Research, this program brings together top marketers from banks, investment firms, insurance companies and other financial service organizations. A distinguished faculty of speakers will discuss issues such as identifying new areas of opportunity, developing culturally sensitive communications, refining direct marketing techniques, evaluating requirements for customer service integration and directing online initiatives. Speakers include representatives from: Allstate, Chase Manhattan, Metlife, Harris Bank, Charles Schwab, and Bank of America. The conference will be co-chaired by Multicultural Marketing Resources, Inc. All attendees will receive a free six-month subscription to this newsletter. Conference fee: $1,495. Call IIR, 212-661-3500 x 3111.

Strategy Research Corp will present the Year 2000 U.S. Hispanic Study and the seminar, "New Directions-Redefining the Hispanic Market" in Miami on Nov 4, in LA on Nov 9 and in NYC on Nov 11. This 20th Anniversary U.S. Hispanic Market Study will highlight changes in the marketplace and include key presentations by strategic planning experts on industry trends and exciting new ideas and insights on how to capture a greater share of the $300+ Billion U.S. Hispanic market. The full-day event will include discussion of trends in Hispanic population, demography, buying power, media habits, acculturation and language use. Sponsors of the Year 2000 U.S. Hispanic Market Study include People en Español, The Miami Herald/ El Nuevo Herald, Zubi Advertising Services and Editorial Televisa. Strategy Research Corporation, a division of Market Facts International, has more than 28 years of marketing research. Registration, $725 before 11/1/99; $795 at the door, includes the Year 2000 U.S. Hispanic Market Study (retail price $695). Call Strategy Research Corporation, 305-649-5400, visit Website at www.strategyresearch.com.

Rebecca Stein, who earned her M.A. degree in cultural anthropology at UCLA, has joined the staff of Erlich Transcultural Consultants (ETC), a full service marketing and consumer research firm specializing in multiethnic and multicultural research and consultation. Ms. Stein will direct qualitative research projects and manage secondary research projects. ETC's research includes an unusually broad range of in-language, culturally sensitive research studies. ETC conducts projects among the following populations: Latinos, Chinese (both Mandarin and Cantonese-speakers), Koreans, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Japanese, Cambodians, Hmongs, Arabs, South Asians, American Indians and the U.S. General Market. An outgrowth of research studies is ETC's cultural competency training department that tailors programs to each client company's particular needs. Contact Andrew Erlich or Joan Lawton, 818-226-1333. E-mail: etcethnic@aol.com or visit www.etctranscultural.com.

SRI's Sixth Annual Ethnic Marketing Event is scheduled for Sept 22-23-24, 1999 at the Hyatt McCormick Place in Chicago. Keynotes by Marilyn H. Gaston, M.D., Assistant Surgeon General, Hector Orci and Keith Clinkscales (formerly CEO of VIBE Ventures). Brand new information from ESPN /Chilton Sports Poll , MTV and The Source. Case Studies from leaders Frito Lay, MetLife, Southwest Airlines, Schering-Plough, Anheuser-Busch, Colgate will be shared. Gary L. Berman, Chair will speak. Led by The Market Segment Group, an exciting Market Immersion Tour is planned. Don't miss out on some of the latest techniques and strategies to multiply your presence in ethnic markets. Free Report, Sixth Volume of Buying Power of Black America, for early registrations! Call Rupa Ranganathan, 212-967-0095x252, visit www.srinstitute.com, email: rranganathan@srinstitute.com.

Galindo Publicidad, Inc., the translations company recently awarded for global trade by the World Trade Center, and Sweet Dreams Bilingual Publishers, Inc. a multimedia publisher, joined resources to market what parents and teachers are looking for -- Spanish-English Children's Story Books. Under the slogan One Storybook, Two Languages, the series is now being offered at a 30% pre-press discount. Parents and teachers will now have a tool to help promote bilingual skills and traditional values to reach and teach their little ones," says Tito Brovelli, CEO of SweetDreams. The first three fully illustrated hardcover books enlighten readers about Hope, Duty, Obedience and the Beauty Inside of Us. GPI's expertise in US Hispanic Markets, is a key asset to our strategy. GPI specializes in translating materials into Spanish and Portuguese. Call 1-800 572 9446 or visit Galindo Publicidad, Inc.' website at: www.translationsandmore.com or Sweet Dreams' at www.bilingualpublishers.com.