your weekend. [ latin music plays ] >> buenos d^as y bienvenidos. welcome once again to "tiempo." i'm joe torres. this morning, we focus our attention on latinas young and old and latinos over 50. accesslatina, a nonprofit in new york city, has launched a program to help some latina business owners reach their economic potential with an accelerator program. qu\ es eso? we'll tell you about in just a few minutes -- and how to apply, as well. that's equally important. right now, though, a new hispanic report out by nielsen says the older latino population is... thriving financially and enjoying good health. iqu\ bueno! good news finally. the report is called "american vanguard: latinos 50+:

healthy, wealthy, and wise." it also says older hispanics are growing in numbers and exerting cultural, economic, and political influence. here to enlighten us about these findings, what they mean -- jenny alonzo, from nielsen's latino advisory council, m_nica cort\s-torres -- otra prima -- from aarp. thank you both for joining us this morning. fabulous news. i mean, too often on the news and here, we're talking about issues that are problems, that are bad, that are difficulties, that are challenges. your report says they're doing fabulous. that's wonderful. was that the biggest surprise for you, or you knew that ahead of time? >> i knew that ahead of time. i knew that, joe. >> you knew that. >> right, right? as i grew into this population this year -- 50. >> congratulations. >> thank you very much. >> we're very happy [indistinct] >> thank you, thank you. >> you got your card, right, that came in the mail. >> but, yes, we knew that because we're seeing it in the marketplace. this is a group that has been acculturating a lot of the

doing things and yet holding on to their heritage. >> let me put in in perspective. the fastest growing segment in the older u.s. population -- older is relative, everyone, we understand -- is older latinos, which i think is fabulous. in what ways are you starting to see that influence throughout american culture? >> what we're starting to see is that this older generation, 50-plus, is really becoming a bridger, right, for the 64 and above and then the younger, the 18 to 49, and, of course, children. >> right, because -- >> yeah, they're really helping. >> they're in that multicultural household. we see people living together tal la abuela or the kids or people who are between 50 and 64, and we're all influencing everything that we do. >> so, is this population growing because they're growing into that segment or are they growing because of new arrivals that are falling into that segment or both? >> i think it's a little bit of

both, but mostly it's they're growing into the -- and we have longer life spans, latinos. that's something else that the report found, that we're living healthier and we're living longer. >> mm-hmm. >> and, actually, that's a good point. you know, so, the majority's growing into this population, right? and they're hanging out in this age bracket longer. but because they're living longer, you're also starting to see, again, more of an opportunity for marketers and brands to connect because that means the purchasing power, the life of the purchasing power, is also longer. >> that much longer. >> absolutely. >> but healthy, wealthy, and wise tells me that, at least from a wealthy perspective, that latinos are doing something right in terms of planning for retirement. or am i reading too much into it? >> i think it's a combination. there is a group of folks, of latinos, and this is what we wanted to focus, right, on the conversation is about, you know, there are latinos that have been preparing for financial security, but there's certainly another group of latinos who still are struggling.

and the longer that we live, we have to think about what are gonna be those costs, right? so it's not just about you want a nice home, but you have to think about, you know, how about your health. you're living longer, but those costs are gonna increase. >> of course, the longer you live, the greater the costs are going to be. >> so we have to balance that out. >> one of the points made in the report -- "given close family ties, older latinos help shape values and attitudes of younger generations." and give me specifics. in what way are you seeing that? >> well, for example, so, there's a co-sharing and a co-learning happening, right, as the 50-plus is making sure that the younger generation doesn't forget the cultural relevance of being latino in the u.s., right -- the music, the food, you know, the habits. >> watching tv. >> the watching tv, los remedios -- you know, those kinds of things. put vicks vaporub all over you when you're sick -- like those kinds of things, right? >> as much as our mothers might disagree with that. >> for sure. >> but, you know -- >> i'm a big fan. >> but even our younger generations, with that

we were watching the telenovela together, so that's influencing the younger generation to value that medium, as well. >> but we'll get back to this in a second when we come back 'cause we're up against our first break. they're also embracing what the younger generation has to say. >> exactly. >> so you'll see a lot of them "facebooking." >> i'm gonna have you talk about that when we come back. next -- more on "latinos 50+" report. still ahead on "tiempo" -- how about this? -- we'll tell you about a program for latina entrepreneurs. the people behind it are looking to help a select group of latina business owners to join their specialized program. also, later on, we'll tell you about a unique mentoring program to empower younger latinas to strive both in school and in life through positive role-modeling. we got a lot going on today.

>> welcome back to "tiempo." we're breaking down a new report out that shows older hispanics -- the report says older latinos growing in numbers, exerting cultural, economic, political influence, all in a great way. helping us discuss these findings -- jenny alonzo, from the nielsen's

m_nica cort\s-torres from aarp. i want to pick up where we left off. yes, i can see abuela in the kitchen cooking with the recipe book that she's gonna pass down to her granddaughter. but is she at the point where her granddaughter can say, "mommy, you can find it here, abuela, on facebook or on my ipad"? are older latinos ready to embrace technology, if you will? for one example. >> not only are they ready, they're doing it. so they're asking their granddaughter and nieces and nephews to show them how to use that smartphone, how to get on google hangouts, how to use google search engines to find things they need. >> and even not just abuela, but if we're thinking about the 50-plus in general, the 50 to 64 are very much engaged with -- they're tweeting, they're "facebooking," you know, they have their groups. >> yeah, i can just picture them, yes. "mira, mira. look at my friend from high school." >> exactamente. and those are those connections that we're making, so we're seeing -- it's about also seeing this group as influentials. >> do you find that that is

happening in partly because of the communal living arrangements that so often happen in latino households, that that's one benefit? we're all together. we can all share information under the same roof. >> that's part of -- part of it is the communal living, and i think part of it is a little bit of that optimism that we have. and we also want to track what the kids are doing. we want to stay connected. so part of that culture, that centrality of family that we have in latinos, you know, the facebook allows that type of -- social media allows those connections. so that's a way that we've become influentials in using it as connectivity. >> i think you want to stay connected as a parent, as a latino parent, not only in part 'cause i'm interested -- because also i feel responsible. >> of course. >> yes, knowing what my son or my daughter's doing or where they're going or who they're visiting on the interweb or lo que sea. >> and the more that we're starting to live in another state and you move, you know, you can see what's happening in new york, in california, and you feel part of that group. >> let's talk shopping. who doesn't love shopping? >> [ chuckles ] >> latinos apparently love shopping, verdad? >> we do. >> you found this -- a

65-plus, "olders," spend more your report found. "a remarkable 22% per shopping basket over their non-hispanic, white peers." >> that's right. major implications for brands, right? you want to connect with this audience. they tend to go on shopping "trips" together. you know, you go into one of the big stores like costco or bj's, and you see this multigenerational event happening. and so, yes, they're adding more to that shopping cart than your typical consumer. >> yeah, 'cause you're not -- when we think about family, it's not just mami, papi, right? you're thinking about your neighbor, you're thinking about your cousin, so the household is bigger, so the purchasing power is larger. >> and the savings are greater, which is one of the reasons why costco is a great place to go -- and bj's -- because they buy in bulk. they've taken that opportunity on a family level, saying, "let's go together. we'll save even more." >> it's a way for families to spend together, and not only are they spending more in their shopping cart -- they're going

more often, as well. so it's not just one trip a month. they tend to go more than once a month. >> okay. >> that's part of that social -- that gathering, that family value. >> absolutely. >> "let's meet this day. vamos por all*." >> and it's almost another teaching opportunity, too, when you go together. okay, you've gathered all this information. you have seven months to, i think, put the report together, right? >> yeah, a little over six. >> y ahora qu\? now that you have it all in one place, what do you do with all this info, this pile-full that you now have? >> so, now nielsen goes out and meets with marketers, brands, entertainment entities, to talk about political, you know, groups, to talk about the opportunity that it is to have this audience really part of your mix, part of your marketing plan, part of your media plan -- really, part of your strategy. so it's really about disseminating the information in a way that they can then use it to help them reach this consumer. >> right. exactly. and at aarp, it's similar in the sense of we are trying to unpack notions about what it means to

as true influentials and not thinking about, you know, "ohh, now i'm 50." it's like, "oh, yes, i'm 50." >> you know what's gonna happen? abuela's gonna notice that amazon is tracking her. [ laughter ] and then the granddaughter's gonna have to explain to abuela why. >> why. but here's the why, joe. this is why it's so important, because the conversation about that 50-plus has always been the "dire, poor latino --" you know, they come here, they're struggling. guess what. that's another side of the coin. that's the other reality. >> and we've discussed that on "tiempo," which is why, at the very beginning, i was so excited to have you guys because this is wonderful news, and it's good news, and it's beneficial news for families across the board. so much^simas gracias. thank you guys. >> thank you, joe. >> coming up next on "tiempo" -- accesslatina, a nonprofit right here in new york city, has launched a specialized program for latina entrepreneurs. the agency looks to help a select group of latina business owners. we will tell you about that

>> accesslatina is a nonprofit here in new york city. it has launched a program that provides capital to a select group of latina entrepreneurs, and that capital includes a $25,000 grant -- pretty sweet -- plus advanced education, publicity, mentoring, to name a few. only a few women, though, will get this opportunity of a lifetime. here to tell us more about the program and how you can apply -- bianca cab*n from accesslatina and catherine cuello-fuente,

entrepreneur and c.e.o. of a startup company. she'll tell us about her company in just a minute. this is a fabulous program -- web-based, correct? >> correct. >> okay. how does it work? give me the 30-second nutshell version. >> sure. so, you can go to accesslatina.org to apply. everything's going to be online. the competition's online, and we'll have judges that are gonna be screening the businesses online once you apply. >> qualifications are... >> they include you have to have been in business for two to three years, you have to be in steam, which is science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, as well as agriculture and social innovation -- those are the industries that we're targeting -- and you have to have a minimum of $100,000 in revenue. correct? >> the deadline is november 28th. >> november 28th to get your application in. how soon will you start notifying the winners that they're winners? >> january, we'll notify the 10 finalists that they've won, and then, in march, we're gonna be selecting the five finalists that will receive the $25,000

now, catherine, you were not part of this accelerator program. however, you were, when you started your company -- which is... >> greenhopping. so, greenhopping helps you find green-juice bars and vegan-healthy food not only in new york -- in 14 cities, as well. we came out in 2013. and, so, i'm a master's student at nyu, and i was a part of the accelerator program that nyu ran. >> okay, when you see an accelerator program like this, i'm sure you wish, "oh, i wish i could've been a part of that." but what is it, other than just the capital, that can help young latina entrepreneurs like you? >> i think any entrepreneur in the city is just -- you know, you're either clueless, or you're an expert, right? so, if you're clueless, you really need the network, you need the mentoring, you need the connections, regardless of the field you're in. so, you know, at nyu -- and i know that other organizations have the same problem -- they're not targeting women, specifically latinas, and that's the benefit of accesslatina. >> go ahead. run with that. i see you nodding your head. >> yes, thank you, and what i will say is that what we're seeing is a lot of these women are experiencing stagnation.

businesses where they really do need access to capital, networks, and education to get to the next level, and that's why we're focusing on latinas -- first of all, 'cause we're the fastest-growing business segments in the united states, but also because we're seeing that they don't have the access they really need to get to the next level. >> okay, so, say they win and they win access to mentoring. who are the mentors? who are the ones that are guiding them to take their business to the next level? >> well, we're partnering with multiple amazing organizations including georgetown business school, barnard college here in the upper west side. we're partnering with renowned professors from georgetown and universities in spain to give these women access to training in a variety of areas -- how to pitch their business, how to sort of market their business -- things like this that will really allow them to reach their full potential. >> mm-hmm. how extensive is the application process? i mean, how much time do they need to carve out to get it and get it right? >> well, i think that the -- you can go online. it's all there.

it's pretty straightforward. i think that, once you meet the basic criteria, you'll have to go on and sort of put together a small sampling of what your business is about, and then they'll be -- you know, once we'll go deeper. >> and the program is open to women in puerto rico? >> yes, so our target markets puerto rico. >> and puerto rico. >> yes. >> and you're gonna get a vast number of applications, especially now that you've been here on "tiempo." [ both chuckle ] how did publicity in that realm help you? >> well, that's my background. >> okay, well, then you could be a mentor. >> yeah, i know. i think -- i mean, i think it's just the way to go. like, it's not about what you're doing, but it's about letting people know what you're doing. so the publicity that they're gonna get through accesslatina is just gonna -- it's gonna open so many doors that it'll really be that pivotal moment that'll take them to the next level. >> but in the realm of publicity, bianca, it would be not just, you know, signs and business cards, but also through, i would guess, online and social media, correct?

>> absolutely. it's just being associated with a brand that we're putting together that catherine has helped us build and that i think is very strong because this is the unique sort of only accelerator of its kind for latina businesses in multi-market segments. so we're doing something very innovative here, and we're really excited about it. >> i don't want to bury people in numbers, but one of the numbers in your report -- women-owned businesses generate more than $1.4 trillion in revenue and employ more than 7.9 million people. that's across the country. >> that's exactly right, and latinas are leading that because they're starting business six to market. so latinas are leading new business generation. they're creating jobs, they're creating economic growth, but yet, you know, it's very sad they only earn 56$ to $1 that white men make, so they really have not realized their full potential. there's money being left on the table, and we want to invest in them. >> the time is going out quickly, so let's give the website one more time. it is accesslatina-- >> accesslatina.org. >> .org, and the deadline is... >> november 28th. in. ladies, thank you.

continued success with the business. >> both: thank you, joe. >> next on "tiempo" -- a mentoring program that provides a space in which young latinas can learn how to strive personally and academically -- when we come back. [ latin music plays ] join the millions who have already switched. we switched. and now, we're streaming netflix. who knew time warner cable's internet was so fast! mom switched. and now, we can watch our favorite shows together, on demand. i switched. so i can connect to the internet just about anywhere with my free twc wifi hotspots. join the millions who switched to time warner cable.

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>> i love this next segment. the l.o.v.e. mentoring program provides a space in which young latinas can learn how to strive personally and academically. it works in partnership with organizations, universities, and public schools.

the wellbeing of young girls in latina communities throughout new york. joining us to talk about this great program -- and mentor herself -- claudia espinosa and mentor stephanie col_n. thank you both for being here. this is your baby. you founded this, what, four years ago, right? >> yes, sir. >> how did it come to fruition? what happened in your life that said to you, "claudia, i need to do this"? >> well, it was an experience i had, and before then, joe, i didn't know about this problem surrounding the latina community. but i worked for a suicide-prevention program, and i learned not only about the high suicide attempts among young latinas, but also about the high statistics in regards to dropout rates and teen-pregnancy rates. >> so you came up with this program. how does it work, in a nutshell? >> we pair college students, female university students, with high-school students in high schools throughout new york. >> so the mentors go to the high schools? >> yes. >> and spend how much time with the young girls?

>> we meet every week once a week for an hour and a half. >> okay. >> yes. >> stephanie, you're a mentor. >> yes. >> mentoring how many girls? >> two. >> brooklyn, queens, staten island -- where? >> brooklyn and the bronx. >> in brooklyn and the bronx. and you're in college right now? >> yes. >> where are you a student? >> john jay college of criminal justice. >> when you talk to these girls, what are you talking about? >> we're talking not only about college, but we're talking about self-esteem. we're talking about, "how did your day go? how did your week go? are you having any issues? do you need to speak to me about something that i would like to help you with?" things like that. >> are they willing to open up to you? >> yes, it's just all about how you present it. you know, you have to be very laid-back. you have to be calm and, you know, just be approachable. >> what fascinates me, claudia, is that the college student is not far from the high-school student in terms of age, in terms of progression. is that by design that they're so close where she can say to her mentee, "i know what you're talking about -- i was just there a couple of years ago myself"? is that part of the purpose of why it's young girls with even

younger girls? >> that's the main purpose. >> that's the main purpose. qu\ bueno. that's fabulous. >> that's what separate the mentoring program that we do with other mentoring programs, the idea that -- and we not only heard this or created this ourselves just like a magic formula. the mentees say all the time, "i can see myself in my mentors shoes in two, three years from now." so that age gap, reduced age gap, was like a pur-- yeah, on purpose. >> is that the evidence that you need to know that what you're doing is working? >> yes. >> yeah, the girls coming to you and saying. >> yes. and, yes, the most important thing for us and, i guess, for our mentors, too, is to hear from the mentees themselves saying that having that close relationship with a college student, which is where they would like to see themselves in a few years, that's -- yeah, that's exactly what we want to hear, yeah. >> i asked you, stephanie, as a mentor -- and i don't know how long you've been doing it. i'm sure it feels wonderful. it must be tremendously

rewarding to know that, in one small way, you're helping out young girls who perhaps might have taken a different turn in life had you not been there for them. >> yeah, it is tremendously rewarding. i've said to claudia and to others multiple times that i would've benefited so much from a mentor when i was their age. and i learn as much from them as they do from me, so it's great. it's just this give back, give and take. it's just great. >> i would assume that, with each mentor and with each mentee, you learn a little bit more and that your knowledge grows exponentially, that you just get better and better at what you're doing because you hear the stories more and more and you can plan and focus about how to handle such things. am i stretching it? >> no, no, no, you're absolutely right. we started with a program in harlem four years ago, and we then gradually grow in, so we expanded from manhattan to bronx, brooklyn, queens. so that diversity is where exactly that brings that. left. there is your facebook page, and well. if there's a high-school

administrator who's watching who would say, "oh, i'd love to have them come to my high school," what do they need to do? >> please contact us. please go to our website. please contact us. there's info at lovementoring.org. what we want is to expand and implement our mentoring programs in more public high schools. >> and if colleges have girls that want to serve as mentors, i'm sure you want to hear from them, as well. >> please do so, as well, yes. we need more l.o.v.e. mentors. thank you. >> what you're doing is great, claudia. fabulous. and way to go, stephanie. that's really, really good. >> thank you, joe. >> before we go, we want to take a look at the "tiempo" community calendar for this week. if you're in for some clowning around, then check this out. you're in luck. a one-of-a-kind mexican circus is going on now in the bronx. the hermanos vazquez circus is happening at 725 exterior street, right outside of yankee stadium. for more details, visit hermanosvazquez.com. next saturday, october 31st, in manhattan -- halloween -- you can check out mano a mano: mexican culture without borders event. they will be having some artmaking, live music, much more. that's happening at 131 east 10th street in

best news of all -- free, open to the public. and it runs from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., again, on halloween. reach out to us on facebook or twitter if you think there's something you'd like us to include on the "tiempo" community calendar. all right, we thank you for spending part of your sunday with us. we covered a lot of ground today. remember, if you missed any part of our show and want to review it all, you can watch at abc7ny on the web, on your tablet, or even your smartphone. that wraps up another jam-packed edition of "tiempo." thanks for watching. we'll see you again next time.