The U.S. Latino economy is now a $4.4 trillion economic force. So why do companies still underestimate Latino consumers and their influence?

For Hispanic Heritage Month, Multicultural marketing expert Liz Castells-Heard, CEO and chief strategy officer of Infusion by Castells, joins journalist Sheree R. Curry to talk about the growing economic power Latinos, wealth building and why cultural fluency matters in business.

They also discuss homeownership and investing, entrepreneurship, the wealth gap, immigrant resilience and how companies can better understand the increasingly multicultural consumers they serve.

Listen to This Conversation Matters wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube at @ShereeCurryMedia. This Conversation Matters originally airs on Power 104.7 FM in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Background
• 03:14 Multicultural Marketing
• 08:15 Starting a Radio Show
• 09:11 Career Journey and Multicultural Marketing
• 16:24 Diversity in the Workplace
• 22:20 Latino Wealth Gap
• 29:33 Wealth Building and Trust in Financial Institutions
• 32:17 The Mobility Gap and Family Support
• 36:21 Advice for Building Wealth and Assets
• 41:49 Accessing Resources and Networks for Wealth Building
• 47:45 Personal Journey and Overcoming Challenges

About This Conversation Matters: This Conversation Matters is a weekly show about the social issues shaping our communities, from race and inequality to justice, economic opportunity and overall well-being. Each week, journalist Sheree R. Curry speaks with experts and people with lived experience to help you better understand why these issues matter in our lives.

#HispanicHeritageMonth #ThisConversationMatters

Andrea Jenkins spent eight years representing Ward 8 on the Minneapolis City Council, including serving as City Council president. In this episode of This Conversation Matters, she joins host Sheree R. Curry to talk about the experiences that shaped her political leadership, the changing face of representation and why voting and local government matter.

Jenkins also reflects on making history as the first Black openly transgender woman elected to public office in the United States.

And if you think one vote can't make a difference, Jenkins has a compelling example: She won her final City Council race by just 38 votes.

Listen on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia or wherever you get your podcasts. This Conversation Matters originally airs on Power 104.7 FM in St. Paul, Minnesota.

James Beard Award-winning chef and author Ashleigh Shanti joins This Conversation Matters host Sheree R. Curry for a conversation about Black Southern food, culture and creativity. Shanti explores how geography, migration and family traditions have shaped distinct cuisines across the South and why foods once dismissed as inexpensive or working-class fare are increasingly being celebrated on high-end menus.

The Our South: Black Food Through My Lens author also challenges the expectation that Black chefs must connect everything they create to their ancestry. Sometimes, she says, a chef should simply have the freedom to create. Shanti also reflects on Top Chef, her James Beard Award and being named to the TIME100 Next.

See the video version on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia https://www.youtube.com/@ShereeCurryMedia

Takeaways

• Culinary inspiration from family and regional influences
• The importance of preserving and celebrating regional cuisine and cultural history Community support is crucial for small businesses
• Recognition and accolades are significant milestones for chefs

Chapters

• 00:00 The Journey to Good Hot Fish
• 03:05 Early Culinary Influences
• 05:23 Our South: Black Food Through My Lens
• 07:51 Regional Cuisine and Cultural Significance
• 18:55 The Shift in Culinary Narratives
• 23:05 Preserving Cultural History Through Food
• 28:19 Top Chef Experience
• 30:39 Building a Community
• 31:09 Winning Restaurant Wars
• 33:53 Charlotte's Culinary Scene
• 36:42 Exploring Asheville
• 38:38 Accolades and Recognition
• 42:24 Food as Medicine
• 45:20 Cultural Heritage and Food
• 49:16 Planning a Podcast Episode

This conversation with attorney and activist Nekima Levy Armostrong highlights the community's response to Operation Metro Search and the ongoing fight for police accountability.

See the full episode on the "This Conversation Matters" podcast and on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia

https://www.youtube.com/@ShereeCurryMedia

Nurturing a child's natural talent is essential for success, says YouTuber Ami McClure of the @MightyMcClures. She's mom to twins Ava and Alexis and son Jersey.

See the full episode of our interview with her and husband Justin McClure on the "This Conversation Matters" podcast and on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia

https://www.youtube.com/@ShereeCurryMedia

Justin McClure of the @MightyMcClures and dad of the McClure Twins shares the journey of building a business while learning digital marketing and editing at night. The positive impact on his kids is evident, and they are proud of the mark they've made by being positive.

Find full episode on the "This Conversation Matters" podcast and on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia

https://www.youtube.com/@ShereeCurryMedia

Ami McClure of the @MightyMcClures and mom to the McClure twins, emphasizes the need to maintain personal identity and style even after becoming a parent, in order to show children that life doesn't end after having kids.

Find full episode on the "This Conversation Matters" podcast and on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia

https://www.youtube.com/@ShereeCurryMedia

Michael Tucker emphasizes the need for individuals to manage their careers proactively and communicate their aspirations to their employers.

Find full episode on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia

https://www.youtube.com/@ShereeCurryMedia

Mentorship is valuable. Michael Tucker shares what a mentor told him. What advice from your career mentor still resonates with you?

https://www.youtube.com/@ShereeCurryMedia

Civil rights attorney and Racial Justice Network founder Nekima Levy Armstrong joins This Conversation Matters for a wide-ranging discussion on police accountability, corporate responsibility, immigration enforcement and what she sees as growing threats to American democracy. 

Drawing on her decades as an activist and legal advocate, Levy Armstrong reflects on the legacy of George Floyd’s murder, the long history of civil rights, and the systemic factors shaping current events. She also breaks down the federal charges following her arrest at the Cities Church ICE protest,  why she believes public pressure is often necessary for holding institutions accountable, and where she finds hope despite a challenging political climate.  

Follow This Conversation Matters on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia

In this episode:

• Nekima Levy Armstrong's journey into civil rights law and activism  
• The lasting impact of George Floyd's murder and citizen-recorded video  
• The history, strategy, and impact of the Target boycott  
• The Cities Church ICE protest, Operation Metro Surge, and federal charges against protesters  
• Historical Impact Video evidence is helpful but not sufficient for justice
• Faith, corporate accountability, and civic engagement  
• Why Levy Armstrong believes hope requires vigilant actione.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Background
• 07:05 Early Activism and Civil Rights Advocacy
• 13:26 Impact of Slavery and Black Codes
• 16:45 Political Parties and Systemic Disenfranchisement
• 19:10 Generational Wealth and Political Pawns
• 27:22 Challenges to Democracy and Systemic Disruption
• 31:55 Accountability and Constitutional Rights
• 34:27 The Impact of Video Evidence
• 38:20 The Power of Public Pressure
• 46:52 Corporate Accountability and Boycotts
• 53:26 The Weaponization of the Department of Justice
• 01:06:06 The Fight for Racial Justice
• 01:10:05 Advice to the Public