AZHCC Reaches 20 Years of ‘DATOS: The State of Arizona’s Hispanic Market’

By Editor September 22, 2016 11:13

By: Cindy G. Castillo

The Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has more than one reason to celebrate this year, but the most important will be taking place on September 27 when they host the 20th Annual “DATOS: The State of Arizona’s Hispanic Market.”

Considered to be one of their most prominent events of the year, DATOS is a Valley staple and has evolved into something bigger than itself – a resource for businesses and community leaders to understand the economic impact of Arizona’s Hispanic community made up of 2.1 million Latinos.

James Garcia, Communications Director for the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (AZHCC) / Photo Credit: Facebook — Mary Rabago

James Garcia, Communications Director for the chamber, attributes the continued interest the community has for the event to the way it continues to innovate. “There’s always something fresh in the report,” Garcia explains, “and that’s because in our community there’s always happening. What we’re doing is documenting in real time the changes in the [Hispanic] community, changes that are happening quickly and having a substantial effect in our state.”

One of the most prominent ways Arizona’s Hispanic community is evolving is in its population. “When you look at the numbers, Arizona’s population since the 1990s has tripled, and when you have a tripling of a population in a state that doesn’t have that big of a population to start with, that’s going to shake the culture,” he said.

All these details and more can be studied closer in the 20th Annual DATOS report, which notes how these changes will transform our state’s economy. The report will be given to attendees on a USB drive, which will also include an additional half a million dollars’ worth of research produced by AZHCC.

This year, DATOS will take a small turn in its focus and dive into the effect that Latino voters will be having on the 2016 elections. “[In the 2016 DATOS], we reported 635,000 Hispanic registered voters in Arizona,” Garcia said, “since then, there’s been an announcement of 75,000 more registered voters when this election cycle began.”

Additionally, it is expected that 25,000 more Latinos will register to vote from now until Election Day.

The DATOS presentation titled, “Impact of Latinos on U.S. Politics and the Economy” will be given by former U.S. Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros and international business executive Sol Trujillo. They are also the founders of the Latino Donor Collaborative, which looks to reshape the perception of Latinos as part of the American social mainstream.

More than a thousand businesses and community leaders are expected to attend next week’s conference, marking for yet another successful year for the chamber. To purchase tickets or for more information on the 20th Annual DATOS, please visit www.azhcc.com