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Northwest Indiana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit corporation formed under the laws of the State
of Indiana and the United States of America.
We are here for the Hispanic/Latino Community in Lake, Porter and Laporte Counties.
The organizers realized that our community is larger that any one city or township, with concerns that are the
same throughout the entire region. So, rather than have many small, unorganized business groups repeating the
same services and wasting valuable dollars and manpower it was agreed to pull our experiences, knowledge and
work skills together to form a strong core group of people.
The NWIHCC is all about business...how to start one, grow one, join one or buy one. NWIHCC is about
education...about what is in the commercial world available for everyone.
This organization had the benefit of the help of a Representative of the Governor's Office on Latino/Hispanic
Affairs as well as a Board Member and Officer of the Indiana State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Why did it take
someone from outside our Region to help us identify such a glaring need? We don't know for sure, but when the
question was asked (Where is the Hispanic Chamber for NWI?), the answer was quick and sure, "We don't know, but
we'll start one!". The question was asked by an Hispanic (Juana Watson), and answered by Hispanics (Debra
Bolanos and Rita De La Rosa). With the experience knowledge and work skills of these persons and the the help
of the initial Board of Directors the NWIHCC was formed.
The experiences, knowledge and work skills of all our members are building this organization. Some large,
notable members and sponsors include: banks (Citizens, Centier, First Midwest) ; hotel chain (Radisson); McDonald
Hispanic Owners Association; Superior Orthopedic; insurance companies (American Family-- soon to be member
State Farm); One in Million Inc.; mortgage lenders; title companies; and non-profits such as The Empowerment Zone,
LACASA, Robertson Child Development, E.C. Urban Enterprise and Hispanic Women's Forum. Other members
consist of an attorney (a pretty good one, we are proud to say...and a law firm Partner), a few bank's
employees/officers (marketing and account handlers), entertainment/dance instructor(e.g., Xel-Ha School of
Dance) and travel business owners, Government Housing specialist, varied small business owners (construction,
real estate broker, marketer, homeopathy, real estate investor, medical office manager), just to name a few.
Perhaps, 90 or so in total at present count.
When you become a member of the NWIHCC, you will be able to strengthen yourself as an individual, increase
your experience, knowledge, and work skills. You will also help strengthen the Hispanic/Latino community in
Northwest Indiana and its surrounding communities.
THIS ORGANIZATION, AS WELL AS THIS WEB SITE, WILL GROW AND DEVELOP IN THE COMING MONTHS. PLEASE
JOIN AND HELP US.
Not all of the members are business owners. You do not have to be a business owner to join...You
do have to believe we can accomplish our goals.
of Indiana and the United States of America.
We are here for the Hispanic/Latino Community in Lake, Porter and Laporte Counties.
The organizers realized that our community is larger that any one city or township, with concerns that are the
same throughout the entire region. So, rather than have many small, unorganized business groups repeating the
same services and wasting valuable dollars and manpower it was agreed to pull our experiences, knowledge and
work skills together to form a strong core group of people.
The NWIHCC is all about business...how to start one, grow one, join one or buy one. NWIHCC is about
education...about what is in the commercial world available for everyone.
This organization had the benefit of the help of a Representative of the Governor's Office on Latino/Hispanic
Affairs as well as a Board Member and Officer of the Indiana State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Why did it take
someone from outside our Region to help us identify such a glaring need? We don't know for sure, but when the
question was asked (Where is the Hispanic Chamber for NWI?), the answer was quick and sure, "We don't know, but
we'll start one!". The question was asked by an Hispanic (Juana Watson), and answered by Hispanics (Debra
Bolanos and Rita De La Rosa). With the experience knowledge and work skills of these persons and the the help
of the initial Board of Directors the NWIHCC was formed.
The experiences, knowledge and work skills of all our members are building this organization. Some large,
notable members and sponsors include: banks (Citizens, Centier, First Midwest) ; hotel chain (Radisson); McDonald
Hispanic Owners Association; Superior Orthopedic; insurance companies (American Family-- soon to be member
State Farm); One in Million Inc.; mortgage lenders; title companies; and non-profits such as The Empowerment Zone,
LACASA, Robertson Child Development, E.C. Urban Enterprise and Hispanic Women's Forum. Other members
consist of an attorney (a pretty good one, we are proud to say...and a law firm Partner), a few bank's
employees/officers (marketing and account handlers), entertainment/dance instructor(e.g., Xel-Ha School of
Dance) and travel business owners, Government Housing specialist, varied small business owners (construction,
real estate broker, marketer, homeopathy, real estate investor, medical office manager), just to name a few.
Perhaps, 90 or so in total at present count.
When you become a member of the NWIHCC, you will be able to strengthen yourself as an individual, increase
your experience, knowledge, and work skills. You will also help strengthen the Hispanic/Latino community in
Northwest Indiana and its surrounding communities.
THIS ORGANIZATION, AS WELL AS THIS WEB SITE, WILL GROW AND DEVELOP IN THE COMING MONTHS. PLEASE
JOIN AND HELP US.
Not all of the members are business owners. You do not have to be a business owner to join...You
do have to believe we can accomplish our goals.
 |
 |
 |
We received an excellent letter from
our Scholarship Winner..please
open this pdf for her letter to us all.
our Scholarship Winner..please
open this pdf for her letter to us all.
The Northwest Indiana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce....Celebrating Another Year of Success!!!
The NWIHCC celebrates another growing year, and successfully representing Hispanic business ownwers in the
Northwest Indiana area. In 2008, our Chamber held several successful networking events and workshops for the
members.
We have continued to address the needs of the Latino business community as well as enteract with the Latino
population in the Northwest Indiana area.
The organization has established relationships with other organizations in NWI to provide resources and sevices for
their members that their members did ot know existed (creating business plans, marketing, minority certification boot
camps, financing opportunities, etc.). Their members have also been able to connect with other members and
non-member business entities to form new relationships, partnerships, and in turn create new business opportunities
for the business.
The Chamber has:
Partnered with the Indiana Minority Enterprise Center (IMEC),
Secured office space @ 5246 Homan Ave., Suite 307B (mailing address: PO Box 2024) Hammond, IN 46304,
Offered members planning classes, thru The Empowerment Zone, and
Been able to provide resources for various types of financing opportunities.
The group held several networking luncheon events at the Radisson Hotel, which gave our members and attendees the
opportunity to connect with other business entities, which included:
Local bank-offered services thru Citizens Financial, Centier Bank, First Midwest, Standard Bank, First
Financial, and Harris Bank;
Local colleges and universities present were Ivy Tech, Indiana University Northwest, Purdue, Phoenix, Devry,
and Brown Mackie College;
Other entities in attendance were White Lodging, Majestic Casino, Resorts Casino, One In A Million, Inc., Staff
Source, International Community Alliance, Work One, Better Business Bureau, Lake CountyVisitors &
Convention Bureau, Boys & Girls Club of Northwest Indiana, Hope Center of Northwest Indiana, BP, State
Farm, We Care From The Heart, and SBDC.
We continue to believe that as an organization, business owners and as individuals, we need to support other
Hispanic organizations and continue to promote and participate in their events. Our board members are not only
involved with the NWIHCC, but are actively participationg in other non-profit organizations...as board members,
committee members as well as general members...within the Northwest Indina area. This helps us collaborate with
and support other organizations with their programs and events they hold within their communties.
Here is a brief summary of the things your organization has accomplished for the year 2008:
We (financially)gave or donated:
$500 for scholarship sponsorship to the Hispanic Women's Forum Scholarship Fund
Donated to the East Chicago Christmas Parade event
To the International Community Alliance's fundraising events
Joined the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
We partnered:
With the IMEC's Business To Partnership Supplier Diversity Conference, serving on it's planning committee, in
which over 100 minority business owners had the opportunity to connect with the corporate buyers of larger
corporations throughout Northwest Indiana and the State
With the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce to co-host a luncheion to unveil the East Chicago master plan for the
revitalization of the North Harbor District and renovation of the Carnegie Library
With the Indiana Minority Enterprise Center and are also represented on their Board
With Hope Center of Northwest Indiana and Purdue to plan and sponsor the "Everyone Can Go to College" fair
With Centier Bank, the SBDC, the Urban League of NWI, Gary Chamber of Commerce and the Lakeshore Chamber
to sponsor the "Getting Down to Business" seminar
We sponsored or co-sponsored:
And planned, our own Health Fair event at the Jean Sheppard Center in Hammond, IN
The Three Kings Day event @ the Roberto Clemente Center, among other events, including participation in the
Bomba and Plena Events
The Indiana Diversity Women's Network first Annual Luncheon event
An SCCLR fundraising event
An Xel-Ha School of Dancing annual fundraising event
The "Victims of Violence" fundraising event...to raise funds for a teenaged violence-victim
The Puerto Rican Parade and Cultural Organization's first Scholarship Awards Banquet
For the 2008 Latino Resource Fair...we were a Gold Sponsor...held in Hammond, IN
We participated in, or were advocates for:
(to be continued...)
OUR NEW PARTNER |
|
THE HISPANIC WOMEN'S FORUM
ANNOUNCEMENT:
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Workshops
Business Feasibility Workshop
"Want to Start a Business?"
The feasibility workshop is designed to help would-be entrepreneurs determine their preparedness and
ability to start a business by examining the opportunities, responsibilities and challenges involved in
business ownership.
When: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday February 23
Where: Purdue Academic Learning Center, 9900 Connecticut Drive in Crown Point, Room 277
Cost: $25 and pre-registration and pre-payment via Visa, MasterCard or Discover are required.
Register or information: 219-644-3513
Register online: http://isbdc.ecenterdirect.com/ConfSignup.asp?ConferenceID=10893
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