Latino Small Businesses and the American Dream : Community Social Work Practice and Economic and Social Development

Latino small businesses provide social, economic, and cultural comfort to their communities. They are also excellent facilitators of community capacity—a major component of effective social work practice. Social work practitioners have a vested interest in seeing such businesses grow, not only among Latinos but all communities of color. Reviewing the latest research on formal and informal economies within urban communities of color, Melvin Delgado lays out the demographic foundations for a richer collaboration between theory and practice. Delgado deploys numerous case studies to cement the link between indigenous small businesses and community well-being. Whether regulated or unregulated, these establishments hire from within and promote immigrant self-employment. Latino small businesses often provide jobs for those whose criminal and mental health backgrounds intimidate conventional businesses. Recently estimated to be the largest group of color running small businesses in the United States, Latino owners top two million, with the number expected to double within the next few years. Joining an understanding of these institutions with the kind of practice that enables their social and economic improvement, Delgado explains how to identify and mobilize the kinds of resources that best spur their development. Preface PART 1. SETTING THE CONTEXT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE UNITED STATES 1. INTRODUCTION Social Work and Small Businesses Urban Transformation (Place Making), Latino-Style The Latino Community and Small Businesses Definitions of Key Terms Tensions Related to Small Business Ambivalence of the Social Work Profession Socially Responsible Corporations 2. LATINO DEMOGRAPHICS AND GEOGRAPHIC DISPERSAL The Role of Demographics Demographic Profiles of Three Cities 3. RACIAL AND ETHNIC SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE UNITED STATES 6 Scholarly Attention to Ethnic Businesses The Informal Economy Theories on Ethnic and Racial Small Businesses Community Economic Development: Business Profiles Factors Facilitating and Hindering Business Creation Typology of Small Businesses A Life-Cycle Perspective 4. LATINO SMALL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Latino Small Businesses Latino Banks and Banking Characteristics of Latino Small Businesses by Sector Latino Newcomers and Small Businesses Business Survival Rates Profile of Latino Small Business Owners Naming of Small Businesses Social Interactions and Relationships Community Service: Funerals Income and Wealth Acculturation Marketing to Latinos Community Development Perspectives Latino Economic Development Tourism Latin American Businesses in the United States Health Insurance Coverage National Economic Vicissitudes PART 2. COMMUNITY SOCIAL WORK VALUES AND ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK 5. VALUES, PRINCIPLES, AND ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK Values Practice Principles Importance of an Analytical Framework Analytical–Interactional Dimension Stages 6. INDICATORS OF SUCCESS FOR LATINO SMALL BUSINESSES Social Indicators Framework and Indicators of Latino Small Business Success Need for Future Research 7. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION Community Social Work Support Epilogue References Index

Latino small businesses provide social, economic, and cultural comfort to their communities. They are also excellent facilitators of community capacity -- a major component of effective social work practice. Social work practitioners have a vested interest in seeing such businesses grow, not only among Latinos but all communities of color. Reviewing the latest research on formal and informal economies within urban communities of color, Melvin Delgado lays out the demographic foundations for a richer collaboration between theory and practice.

Delgado deploys numerous case studies to cement the link between indigenous small businesses and community well-being. Whether regulated or unregulated, these establishments hire from within and promote immigrant self-employment. Latino small businesses often provide jobs for those whose criminal and mental health backgrounds intimidate conventional businesses. Recently estimated to be the largest group of color running small businesses in the United States, Latino owners top two million, with the number expected to double within the next few years. Joining an understanding of these institutions with the kind of practice that enables their social and economic improvement, Delgado explains how to identify and mobilize the kinds of resources that best spur their development.

Columbia University Press

Latino small businesses provide social, economic, and cultural comfort within their communities. Social work practitioners hoping to address such needs, not only among Latinos but in all communities of color, have a vested interest in seeing these businesses grow. Latino small businesses are excellent facilitators of community capacity, a major component of effective social work practice. Reviewing the latest research on formal and informal economies within urban communities of color, this book lays the demographic foundations for a richer collaboration between theory and practice.