Moving Forward: Thought Leaders share their views on issues facing U.S. Hispanics.

Discovery Networks U.S. Hispanic Group announced the launch of “Moving Forward: Thought Leaders Share Their Views on Issues Facing U.S. Hispanics,” a study available to the public that provides a rich, and timely exploration of the key issues facing Hispanics in the United States by experts and opinion leaders from across the country.

Discovery Networks U.S. Hispanic Group and GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media embarked on the study in late 2006, speaking to experts and leaders from a range of disciplines including education, public policy, religion, medicine, mental health, law and business to examine the issues and challenges facing Hispanics in the United States today. The study spans a variety of topics including generational and cultural tensions, assimilation versus acculturation, discrimination, politics, bilingualism, and critical challenges for the future.

“Each day we aim to reach a greater understanding of our viewers in order to bring them informative and relevant content that will enrich their lives,” said Luis Silberwasser, senior vice president and general manager, Discovery Networks U.S. Hispanic Group. “We offer this study to the public and our colleagues to provide valuable insight into the fastest growing ethnic
demographic in the United States, and to advance discussion on the important issues facing Hispanic families living in this country today.”

A group of 21 thought leaders participated in the study including Congresswoman Hilda Solis, California 32nd Congressional District; Carol Robles-Román, Deputy Mayor of New York City; Dr. Ron Haskins, Co-Director of the Center on Children and Families, Brookings Institution; Gloria de León, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of the National Hispanic Institute and Dr. Felipe Korzenny, Director of the Center for the Study of Hispanic Marketing Communication, Florida State University.

The thought leaders hailed Hispanics for their strong family values and work ethic, which they say has contributed to the culture of the United States. They expressed concern about the misconceptions and negative stereotypes the media perpetuates. They talked about the importance of holding on to Hispanic heritage through language and how bilingualism is more accepted and more valuable than ever before. The thought leaders also looked to the future and said that the Hispanic community must focus on the importance of education, as well as the preservation of family ties that have made it so strong.

To view report CLICK below on link (Adobe Acrobat Reader required):
http://enespanol.discovery.com/convergence/thoughtleaders/pdf/movingforward.pdf>