Latino small businesses provide social, economic, and cultural comfort to their communities. They are also excellent facilitators of community capacity—a major component of effective social work practice. Social work practitioners have a vested interest in seeing such businesses grow, not only among Latinos but all communities of color. Reviewing the latest research on formal and informal economies within urban communities of color, Melvin Delgado lays out the demographic foundations for a richer collaboration between theory and practice. Delgado deploys numerous case studies to cement the link between indigenous small businesses and community well-being. Whether regulated or unregulated, these establishments hire from within and promote immigrant self-employment. Latino small businesses often provide jobs for those whose criminal and mental health backgrounds intimidate conventional businesses. Recently estimated to be the largest group of color running small businesses in the United States, Latino owners top two million, with the number expected to double within the next few years. Joining an understanding of these institutions with the kind of practice that enables their social and economic improvement, Delgado explains how to identify and mobilize the kinds of resources that best spur their development.

Sosa draws on his own experiences as well as those of other successful Latino politicians, entertainers, sports stars, and business people to illustrate the obstacles that Latinos must overcome and the power of their heritage. By showing in detail how Latinos can compete and win in American society, The Americano Dream is unique in the marketplace, and will quickly become the business bible for a new generation of Latino entrepreneurs.

Many Latinos have a deep desire to achieve the "American Dream", to attain success and discover their life purpose. Yet, in the pursuit of these elusive goals, many end up merely "Keeping up with the Joneses" or realize too late that the ladder of success they are climbing is leaning against the wrong wall. Now, in How to Achieve the 'American Dream' – Without Losing Your Latin Soul, author and "America's #1 Latino Success Coach" Don Daniel Ortiz shows readers of all backgrounds that not only is reaching your "American Dream" possible, he also reveals a secret path, hidden in the stories of ancient mythology, that will lead you directly to the achievement of your deepest desire, your highest hopes and personal fulfillment. In, How to Achieve the 'American Dream' – Without Losing Your Latin Soul, readers will discover how to: * Stop chasing success and start living your life purpose * Bridge the gap between your "Two Worlds" * Harness the power of Latino values Faith, Family & Frijoles * Define your Latino version of the "American Dream" * Unlock the secrets of your personal story * Follow a proven 7-Step path for achieving your "American Dream" * Overcome fear to find peace, happiness and fulfillment * And much more Written with a unique Latino perspective, How to Achieve the 'American Dream' – Without Losing Your Latin Soul is an inspiring, insightful and entertaining book that unlocks the powerful, profound secrets hidden in your personal story – and about overcoming fear to achieve your American Dream.

The book's central focus explores several "myths" associated with American entrepreneurship: the idea that small business owners are "job creators"; that entrepreneurs are the "backbone" or "engine" of the economy; that entrepreneurship provides a path of economic mobility for immigrants, ethnic and racial minorities, and women; that the Horatio Algiers "rags to riches" story is possible for anyone willing to work hard. Instead, I provide a critical perspective that challenges these myths of American enterprise, arguing that successful entrepreneurship requires access to social and economic capital resources and support that are often distributed along the lines of race, class, and gender in the highly stratified American economy and society.

Advancing U.S. Latino Entrepreneurship examines business formation and success among Latinos by identifying arrangements that enhance entrepreneurship and by understanding the sociopolitical contexts that shape entrepreneurial trajectories. While it is well known that Latinos make up one of the largest and fastest growing populations in the U.S., Latino-owned businesses are now outpacing this population growth and the startup business growth of all other demographic groups in the country. The institutional arrangements shaping business formation are no level playing field. Minority entrepreneurs face racism and sexism, but structural barriers are not the only obstacles that matter; there are agentic barriers and coethnics present challenges as well as support to each other. Yet minorities engage in business formation, and in doing so, change institutional arrangements by transforming the attitudes of society and the practices of policymakers. The economic future of the country is tied to the prospects of Latinos forming and growing business. The diversity of Latino experience constitutes an economic resource for those interested in forming businesses that appeal to native-born citizens and fellow immigrants alike, ranging from local to national to international markets. This book makes a substantial contribution to the literature on entrepreneurship and wealth creation by focusing on Latinos, a population vastly understudied on these topics, by describing processes and outcomes for Latino entrepreneurs. Unfairly, the dominant story of Latinos—especially Mexican Americans—is that of dispossession and its consequences. Advancing U.S. Latino Entrepreneurship makes clear the undiminished ambitions of Latinos as well as the transformative relationships among people, their practices, and the political context in which they operate. The reality of Latino entrepreneurs demands new attention and focus.

The Hispanic-Latino community is large, expanding, and an important contributor to the U.S. economy. Numbering over 50 million, Hispanic-Latinos currently represent about 16% of the population. Hispanic-Latinos engage in a diversity of jobs that help keep the American economic engine running. The practice of entrepreneurship has been on the rise with over 2.3 million business in the United States categorized as Hispanic-owned, generating over $345 billion in sales. This book examines the entrepreneurial mindset of Hispanic-Latinos in the United States. With limited literature on the subject, the authors created a pioneering book that captures the viewpoints of real-life Hispanic-Latino entrepreneurs. Using a 15-item questionnaire, the authors obtained information on entrepreneurial intent, goals, and business strategies utilized. This book highlights real world business experiences, inlcuding challenges relating to entrepreneurial pursuits, and the importance of hardwork, discipline, and a positive mindset in the success of an enterprise.