THE PROBLEM:  US government leaders predict that the Latino population will dominate the presidential election results by 2020. Already, the Latino votes in swing states have huge political influence in the US but by 2050 the Latino population will be 45% of the total population of North America. However, nearly  50% of the Latinos working in the US are illegal or undocumented workers and live in a shadow culture that is forced into secrecy and subsequently they send most of their money earned ($30 billion in 2004) back to their country of origin. Some seek to purchase bogus social security numbers and thereby receive benefits for which they are not eligible creating animosity from other taxpayers whose funds are being illegally siphoned to pay for their benefits. Meanwhile the 9/11 tragedy and the subsequent exposure of Al Qaeda and its network has discovered that there are terrorist cells forming just south of the border of the US and that they are practicing using the Border pipeline of illegal immigrants to be the best pathway to smuggle dirty bombs (suitcase size nuclear bombs that can kill 1 million people) and terrorists into the US. Meanwhile , the Latino workers remain the economic backbone of our local business community in construction, painting, landscaping, restaurant, hospital and nearly all other industries serving the needs of the greater community.  If they were to ‘strike’ for one day it would shut down business and hold the economy of the US hostage. The convergence of these factors in business, community development, and government makes our  relations with those South of the Border, whether US citizens or not, of prime importance for the future health of the US and the improvement of our world.

THE VISION :  To develop a network of annual events in appreciation for the Latino community as leaders from the community , business and the government collaborate to provide a Fiesta for the whole Latino family centered around a sports and music festival  for youth and adults  involving all the businesses  in the city  in a way that increases the sense of strategic partnership locally an globally.

THE OPPORTUNITY:   Genuine friendship begins with an appreciation about what ‘the other’ does to enhance your life. When the appreciation is mutual the friendship can bond and last in a network that will continue to be a source of blessing in your family and into the marketplace penetrating and uplifting the quality of life in one’s own community and city.  The South of the Border Fiesta is an idea that is potentially forming into a national enterprise that can provide a unique opportunity for government and business leaders in a local community- that is served primarily by Latinos- to appreciate them and to show a genuine interest in their well-being and successful assimilation in the US beyond the scope of a ‘job’ or a ‘vote’. 

This kind of authentic  appreciation can build the trust and love that is needed to motivate leaders to come together to collectively solve the nagging immigration problems that are such a threat to the security of the US and the health of our economy.  Besides, stronger local friendship with those of ‘other’ cultures can lead to bonds of friendship that can radically improve and invigorate our foreign policy as we build bridges to the Future through contacts with our Latino friends’ country of origin.

The Mission:  To convene innovative community, business and government leaders to develop a series of  high impact community  enterprises to express honor and appreciation to the Latino community for all they do for the community at large and add value to their lives in order to serve them as they grow to become vital participant in the success of both the US and their country of origin.

At the Event-

• A quality sports tournament for the entire Latino family (for youth and adults)
• South of the Border cuisine from the best of Chicago
• A quality concert sound stage featuring famous Latino singers for both young and old
• A corporate and government presence that builds a bridge to a preferred future

During the whole year-

• A neighborhood resource center serving Latinos on site and on the web in order to meet medical, legal, lingual, social, family and other needs
• Strategic seminars and gatherings year round that seek to meet the social, emotional, and spiritual needs of the courageous Latino families that are the backbone of our economic community
• Media coverage of the event helps to focus the greater Chicago community on the special contribution and need of our Latino neighbors and how we can better serve them.
• Leading Sponsors will be sought like Pepsi, McDonalds, Boeing, Sears, Servicemaster, Caterpillar, etc. to host the event so that the entire cost  will be underwritten allowing all local business contributions to go solely to on-going community efforts to help support  and strengthen the Latino community 

Goals and Strategy:
Program Revenues
National Sponsor $50,000/ unlimited teams sponsored
Regional Sponsors $25,000/ unlimited teams sponsored
Top Anchor Sponsors $10,000/ unlimited teams sponsored
Headline Sponsors $3,000 / unlimited teams sponsored
Team Sponsors $1,000 x # of teams participating
Admission Fee Taste of Latino Food Tickets purchased

2005 /50 teams $250,000
10,000 attendance

2006/ 100 teams $1,000,000 (with US grant)
20,000 attendance

2007/ 250 teams (3 cities) $1,500, 000

2008/ 1000 teams (10 cities) $ TBD