Panelists: Language barrier holding back Hispanics financially

By Chris Kudialis

Tuesday, June 28, 2016 | 2:10 p.m.

Higher wages, more formal education and a stronger connectivity with Nevada’s English-speaking community will drive future wealth among Nevada’s growing Hispanic population, business leaders and community representatives said during a panel discussion today at the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce.

“We need more vibrant entrepreneurs and more access to capital, and that starts with having the right connections,” chamber President Peter Guzman said.

More than 71 percent of Latinos participate in the Nevada workforce, compared to 63 percent of all Nevadans, according to a release from the National Council of La Raza, which is based in Washington, D.C.

But the median household income for Latino families is just under $47,000, compared with $51,000 for all Nevadans, the release noted.

Much of disparity is the result of a language barrier that impedes cultural integration, affects education and generally leads to lower-paying jobs, panelists said.

Beyond the workplace and classroom, Latinos also are being taken advantage of by scammers, panelists said.

Viridiana Vidal, state director at America’s Voice and a former Univision producer, said Latinos, especially Hispanic seniors, in Nevada are prime victims of scams.

Vidal said phony real estate agents and bankers ask for as much as $30,000 for a down payment on a home. The victims pay the money and never hear from the person again, she said.

Threatening phone calls from scammers pretending to be from the IRS also cost Latinos millions of dollars a year, Vidal said.

Such scams can “set families back years,” Vidal said. “It’s important that we educate the community about this, because it’s still going on.”

Other panelists said poor education is holding Latinos back.

“Education is key to building economic sustainability for our state and our communities,” Business consultant Leo Murrieta said. “We need to put a focus on that.”