Yahoo! Telemundo kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month with two mini-sites.

Yahoo! Telemundo unveiled two specially designed mini-sites in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which each year honors the successes and contributions of the country’s largest minority group. The sites, Mosaico Hispano (Yahootelemundo.com/mosaico) and Battle of the Bands (Yahootelemundo.com/battleofthebands), celebrate the personal and professional achievements and musical talents, respectively, of Hispanics from throughout the U.S. The sites will be live from the evening of September 17 through October 31, 2007.

A tribute site to individuals who are living the American dream, Mosaico Hispano features video profiles of everyday U.S. Hispanics whose successes and triumphs have left an indelible imprint on their communities and are a source of inspiration for all. Among the stories featured are those of New York City’s Tats Cru, a group that has elevated graffiti to an art form; Concha Rodriguez, a Chicago funeral director who visits schools and community centers to talk to youth about the inherent dangers of gang violence; and, Juan Diaz, a Mexican immigrant who is today both a boxer and lawyer-in-training.

For its part, Battle of the Bands will showcase the artistry and musical talents of 10 up-and-coming U.S. Hispanic bands battling it out for instant online fame. The site will feature videos of each of the bands performing one song at a local venue as well as interviews with band members and fans alike. Users will vote to determine the fan favorite.

“Each year, Yahoo! Telemundo honors our Hispanic Heritage by paying tribute to the richness and diversity of the U.S. Hispanic market,” said Jose Rivera Font, general manager, Yahoo! Hispanic Americas. “Mosaico Hispano and Battle of the Bands are, however, more than showcases of success and talent; they are also online venues that allow our users to interact and engage with the U.S. Hispanic community at large.”

“These sites have been designed to complement Yahoo! Telemundo’s broad offering for the U.S. Hispanic market while giving our users more of what they yearn for – the chance to discover hidden gems within their community and share in that discovery with others,” added Peter Blacker, senior vice president, Digital Media, Telemundo Network Group.

Both Mosaico Hispano and Battle of the Bands will feature Yahoo! Telemundo Respuestas, which allows users can ask and answer questions related to any topic of interest, as well as number of interactive components including, forums, voting and polls.