Dr. Juan Andrade was invited by Joe Ponce, Executive Director Global Operations Quality and President, GM Hispanic Initiative Team at General Motors, to address Latino employees in Detroit on the economic impact of Latinos on the U.S. economy and the social and political implications of Latino population growth.  The group meets monthly at various locations throughout the country.

Andrade spoke about an America that is in the process of transitioning from benefiting economically from the presence of Latinos to depending on the presence of Latinos for its own survival.  Latino purchasing power, an economy that is now larger than that of Turkey, Australia, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa, is vital to the economic security of the United States and helps create millions of jobs for non-Latinos.

Based on data provided by the Nielsen Company and survey research conducted by Telemundo, approximately 131 Latinos are born every hour.   

Latinos accounted for 50% of the nation's total population growth from 2000-2010, and will account for 60% of the U.S. population growth over the next five years.  One in every six people in America is Hispanic.  One in every four mothers is Hispanic.  One in every five teens is Hispanic.  And one in every four children is Hispanic.

Andrade concluded by saying that Latinos are living in the best of times in terms of our ability to give back more to this country and the worst of times as more and more states pass anti-immigrant legislation and anti-Latino sentiment is raging from coast to coast.  He called on the audience to help set the record straight and help enlighten an American society that is content in its own ignorance and oblivious to the facts.  The audience responded with a standing ovation.