Making the case that hospitals receive at least 60% of their revenues from minority patients and that minority businesses are getting only a tiny fraction of the billions of dollars in hospital contracting opportunities, members of the Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce (LALCC) leadership and board strongly urged supply chain executives from PIH, Cedars Sinai, Kaiser Permanente and representatives from the Hospital Association of Southern California (HASC) to start immediately working with minority-owned businesses and to start awarding contracts to qualified minority-owned companies that have been under-represented in the hospital procurement business for years.   

Chairman Darrel Sauceda and Chair Emeritus Gil R. Vasquez recently met with significant supply chain executives and the HASC to urge for more contracting opportunities for diverse small businesses and to push for the immediate passage of AB 1392, a bill that would require hospitals to provide an annual report detailing hospital’s efforts to provide more business opportunities to minority, women, LGBT, and disabled veteran businesses.   

“For many years,” Chairman Sauceda said, “We've (minority-owned business) been excluded from opportunities for (hospital contracts) while minorities have provided hospitals with billions of dollars in revenues. Sixty percent of hospital revenues come from minorities.” Making the point that minority businesses are underrepresented, Mr. Vazquez shared that “businesses owned by minorities only receive 1-2 percent or less of all the hospital contracting opportunities awarded.” 

Citing previous attempts by LALCC to open hospital contracting opportunities that did not lead to any meaningful, successful procurement awards to LALCC members and other minority chambers, both Chairman Sauceda and Mr. Vasquez made a convincing case to promote Latino and other minority businesses.   

“You have to take a chance,” Chairman Sauceda told supply chain executives about contracting with LALCC members, “Our (chamber) members will work harder and will not let you down.” 

 To start the process for more contracting opportunities for minority-owned businesses, a Vendor Diversity Fair is scheduled for Thursday, June 29, 2023, from Noon–3 pm at the PIH Health Whittier Auditorium, 12401 Whittier Blvd., Whittier, California, 90602. Supply chain executives and hospital representatives will be available to discuss contracting requirements and opportunities.     

PIH Health, Communities Lifting Communities, and HASC are hosting the event. The Vendor Diversity Fair is a forum for diverse vendors and host hospitals better to understand each other’s business and contracting needs and build strong business relationships. Please visit the LALCC website for more details. www.lalcc.org  

LALCC members are encouraged to support the passage of AB 1392 with a letter of support or want to know more about it can visit the California Legislative Information website at:  

Bill Text - AB-1392 Hospitals: procurement contracts. (ca.gov)  

This Fair is open to all: Register Here

The United Hispanic Chamber of Commerce announced its 44th Annual USHCC National Conference Kick-off event in Orlando, Florida on August 15, 2023. This event is a prelude to the largest gathering of Hispanic business leaders in America and an opportunity to hear exciting details about the upcoming conference in September.

The Annual Conference will bring together civic leaders, advocates, elected and appointed officials, corporate and academic supporters, entrepreneurs, college students, and more. Take advantage of the early bird rate by registering before Friday, July 28, 2023.

To register for the conference, click here. 

The conference will be held at the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, and USHCC is offering a discounted group rate starting at $182.00 for single/double occupancy plus tax. Don't miss this opportunity to connect and engage with other Hispanic leaders and supporters. You must register for the conference to receive the hotel discount.

The important issue of promoting mental health awareness and ending the associated stigma and its effects on small businesses, were the two key takeaways during the recent Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce sponsored event held at the Wellnest and Emotional Health Clinic near USC.   

The latest health news and statistics show a marked increase in mental health issues among children & adults and there are many contributing factors including the aftermath of the two-year pandemic. For one, the emotional stigma and embarrassment towards mental health, social media, the economy, increasing housing costs, homelessness, and the lack of awareness of available access to mental health services and resources.  

Cultural factors and misunderstandings about mental health can play a role too. Discussions about mental health are often taboo subjects in some cultures. Mental and emotional health talks among family members are often avoided due to the stigma, the shame associated with it, and not knowing how to talk about it.  

This avoidance can have damaging consequences for small business owners and their families was a key topic discussed at the “Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month - End the Stigma- Promote Mental Health” Small Business Social Mixer and Program.  Small businesses need emotionally reliable employees to function and to get the work accomplished for success and to pay the bills. Many small businesses do not have the resources and are not equipped to handle employees with mental and emotional health issues.  

The event was moderated by Christina Sanchez, Vice President of Public Affairs at AltaMed, and featured Charlene Dimas-Peinado, President and CEO of Wellnest. Charlene provided an expansive overview of the mental health problem and provided numerous suggestions on how the small business community can support their staff.  

One example is to develop a plan to assist employees and family members dealing with mental health problems. She said giving employees a mental day off, establishing boundaries around work schedules and not emailing employees after work or in the early morning as samples to promote a less stressful work environment and reduce work anxiety.   

The emergence of Artificial Intelligence and technology and their role in providing technological solutions for treating mental health were addressed in the “Q and A” segment of the program. The popular meditation and mindfulness programs such as “Calm” and “Headspace” were recommended as useful “tools” in a wellness toolbox for some employees who can utilize the apps as part of a daily wellness routine.  

“Calm” and “Headspace” are two mindfulness applications that can be downloaded on phones and are used to alleviate daily work stress and anxiety, two issues that can contribute to mental and emotional health issues.   

The event ended with Charlene providing small businesses with mental health information, strategies, and possible solutions to assist their employees experiencing mental and emotional health issues. Due to its relevancy and impact on small businesses, a second mental health and emotional wellness event is planned and a flyer with the details will be sent to members/subscribers of the LA Latino Chamber of Commerce.     

Written by Mario Uribe, LA Latino Chamber Director, Communications Strategist

The Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce supported the TELACU Educational Foundation Build The Dream Gala Celebrating 40 Years. Since 1983, community investment has empowered thousands of first-generation Latinx youth and veterans from underserved communities to earn high school diplomas and college/graduate degrees, preparing them to launch successful careers, particularly in sectors where Latinx have traditionally lacked representation. It was great seeing many Chamber supporters and friends.

Receiving the 2023 TELECU “CREO” award City of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and The Honorable Rob Bonita, Attorney General State of California.

Congratulations to our Board Member Dr. David Lizarraga and the team at the TELACU Educational Foundation for continuing The Dream.

Written by Mario Uribe, LA Latino Chamber Director, Communications Strategist.

With billions of dollars in contracting opportunities at stake, the “DGS How to do Business with the State of California” webinar in three parts, provided an extensive overview on how small businesses can get certified and start bidding to get their share of the thousands of contracts with the State of California.   

Hosted by the Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce, the webinars presented topics on Certification Eligibility, Certification Benefits, Cal eProcure, Small Business and Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises. The Small Business eligibility requirements include the small business must be independently owned and operated, not a dominant field of operation, the principal office must be in California, Owners (or officers for a corporation) domiciled in California, have 100 or fewer employees, Gross annual receipts less than $16 million dollars, and if a manufacturer, 100 or fewer employees and no gross annual receipts of more than $37 million (with affiliates).  

The informative webinars were presented by the Office of Small Business and DVBE Services Business Outreach Liaison, Marvin Manuel, who gave an online tour of the small business website and showed participants how to navigate the California State Government Marketplace (CSGM) website to locate contract opportunities and the “dos and don’ts” to have the best chances for securing winning contracts.  CSGM is the website for the State’s Procurement and Certifications Programs.  

In case you missed it, the 3-part webinar is available for viewing on the LALCC website and LALCC YouTube Channel.  

Written by Mario Uribe, LA Latino Chamber Director, Communications Strategist

The Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce  Board Directors, Community Activist and Hollywood Producer Moctesuma Esparza’s 1982 iconic film “The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez” was recently recognized and honored by being added to the National Registry of Film as a landmark Chicano film and for being a truly authentic Western classic.  The film features Edward James Olmos and is one of the most important Chicano produced films in Hollywood. 

“We need to be able to have an example of what can be done, which is the incredible achievement that Eddie Olmos and our incredible team did with ‘The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez,” Esparza said.    

Talking about the shortage of Chicano directors and representation in Hollywood, Esparza recently said in an interview with Spectrum, “We’re looking to be able to create this pipeline so that students can start learning filmmaking in junior high school, high school, undergraduate, and get to the top film schools in the country for graduate programs, which is where people’s careers really get launched. There are fewer Mexican-Americans at UCLA film school than when I was in film school 50 years ago. So, this is a real problem,” Esparza said. 

A graduate of UCLA and born and raised in Los Angeles, Esparza is also known for the commercially successful films “Selena” and “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.”  Esparza said it was always his dream to have “an impact on Hollywood and to be able to affect the image and portrayal of Mexican-Americans and Latinos in Hollywood.”  

Each year, the National Film Registry (NFR) selects 25 films showcasing the range and diversity of American film heritage to increase awareness for its preservation. The NFR is part of the Library of Congress and the National Film Preservation Board (NFPB), originally created by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988. With inclusion of Esparza’s film, “The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez” joins other important films added to the NFR like “Grease,” “Amadeus,” “Titanic,” and “The Silence of the Lambs.”  

 Written by Mario Uribe, Director, Communications Strategiest, LA Latino Chamber

This year marks the celebration of Dolores Huerta's 95th Birthday.  The celebration took place at the California Museum in Sacramento.  Our Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined the festivities of the Dolores Huerta Reception.

Our Co-Chair of the Corporate Advisory Board Anna Sauceda and key Chamber supporters from AT&T, Alice Perez and Susan Santana, and Esmeralda John Pena, Vanir, extended the invitation to attend. We applaud AT&T for being a contributor to the work of the Dolores Huerta Foundation as they enter their 20th year.

Such a special evening! Vanir Chairwoman and CEO Dorene Dominguez, a University of Notre Dame alumna, current board member of the Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce, and current board member and founder of The Dominguez Dream in Memory of H. Frank Dominguez, was honored to co-host a celebratory event for scholars who were recently accepted to the University.

Together, Dorene and her co-host, Notre Dame Vice President for Undergraduate Enrollment Micki Kidder, congratulated the students, many of whom attend Nicholas Academic Centers, on their incredible accomplishment and welcomed them and their parents to the Fighting Irish family.

Vanir was excited to attend the ribbon cutting of the Santa Monica College and Malibu campus sheriff substation this last Saturday. This facility is a classroom facility providing general education classes and a substation for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Vanir provided program, project and construction management services for Santa Monica Community College’s Bond Construction Program passed in November 2016.

Congratulations to Chamber member Denise Gutierrez, President and CEO and the team at the California Council on Economic Education on an amazing evening celebrating community leaders and individuals. Awards: Tony Thurman, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Excellence in Leadership Award, U.S. Bank, Corporate Excellence Award, Ben Bergstrom, Excellence in Teaching Award, and Rosario Marin, 41 Treasurer of the United States, Life Time Achievement Award. CCEE is the only nonprofit that teaches economics and financial literacy to K-12, and gives equity and access to financial literacy.

They have also served over 300,000 students through their program. You have to applaud the CCEE team and supporters for enriching the lives of families. Most importantly, they give every student in California a chance to succeed.

Continuing the work of the Chamber!

Our Chairman Darrel Sauceda and Julian Canete, President and CEO of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, testified at our State Capital in support of California AB 1392 - Diversity in Hospital Supplier Procurement. This legislation would require large hospitals to submit a plan to the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) to increase procurement for minority women, LGBTQ and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises  (MWDVLGBTBE). 

In addition, hospitals would also need to publicize available, verifiable and detailed plans and goals for access to procurement contracts and have a pathway for minority businesses to partner with hospitals.