While the digital divide is narrowing for many Americans, Latinos — both English and Spanish speaking — have seen the greatest increase in internet and technology access in the last few years.

Since 2009, Hispanics with internet access climbed from 64 to 84 percent by 2015, according to a new Pew Hispanic report released Wednesday.

Among Spanish-speaking adults, 36 percent used the internet in 2009, but that number more than doubled to 74 percent in 2015. READ MORE AT NBC NEWS

Facebook on Thursday blamed lackluster technology education at the high school level for the difficulties it faces in diversifying its workforce.

"It has become clear that at the most fundamental level, appropriate representation in technology or any other industry will depend upon more people having the opportunity to gain necessary skills through the public education system," Maxine Williams, Facebook's Global Director of Diversity, said in a statement.

Her comments came as Facebook released its latest diversity stats. READ MORE AT PCMAG.COM

The world that your parents grew up in is no more. Gone are the days of graduating from college and working one job for 40 years until you can collect your pension.

Things don’t work like that anymore. In 2016, the modern job world is fast-paced and rapidly changing. Potential employers care more about efficiency and skill than the years of experience under your belt. READ MORE AT HUFFINGTON POST

Hispanic millennials are turning their backs on Spanglish, a slang that mixes English-language norms into Spanish and instead opting for proper American English. “The typical trend is that the first generation prefers to speak Spanish, the second generation is bilingual, and the third generation is generally monolingual,” Jody Agius Vallejo, an associate professor of sociology at USC who studies immigrant integration. But there is more going on than the natural trajectory of how immigrant groups assimilate to become Americans.

The fading of Spanglish could be a response to two separate trends we have seen over the last decade, terrorism and gender-empowerment. READ MORE AT HOLA ARKANSAS

We all know about glass ceilings as the deceiving transparency of moving into the upper ranks of a corporation by members of under-represented groups. We don’t often think of that barrier as a detriment to an enterprise’s long-term success and value. We tend to think of it as a matter of fairness and equity towards those who have struggled to gain access and develop their careers.

However, if one stops to think a bit more deeply, glass ceilings inhibit vision and action that could augment the ability of a company to see more opportunities, understand more consumers and manage resources more effectively. By blocking would be points of view that could contribute valuable insights to corporate strategy, glass ceilings are actually obstacles to rapid evolution, which could stunt the growth of companies seeking a fresh outlook on rapidly growing consumer segments — such as women, cultural minorities and those with unconventional gender identification. READ MORE AT HUFFINGTON POST

Often business professionals fear risking their relationships or looking bad when referring someone they don’t know or have never done business with.

In some cases, they don’t already know and trust the source they are referring.

While fear of risk is the most common reason for networking and connection fatigue, today we will address strategies to overcome another reason: Being too busy.

“I’m too busy!” ... or there's simply too much going on...READ MORE AT DENVER BUSINESS JOURNAL

The beauty industry rakes in some USD 460 billion globally per year and over USD 48 billion in the U.S. annually and now at least five Latinas are seeking their slice of the humongous pie. Here are five with beauty and make-up lines:

1: Alexandra Wilkis Wilson
With over 15 years of international experience in luxury goods, retail and finance, Cuban roots Alexandra Wilkis Wilson is the Co-Founder of GLAMSQUAD and of Gilt. Alexandra took Gilt from a start-up idea to a more mature global enterprise. GLAMSQUAD’s signature makeup styles allow you to have your own personal stylist in the comfort of your own home in NYC and LA. READ MORE AT NEWS AMERICAS

In order to reach the group you’re targeting, you need to know where to put your ads.

And if you’re trying to reach Hispanics in the same places that you reach other segments of the population, well, it’s not going to work.

It turns out Hispanics’ use media very differently than the general population, according to the latest comparable metrics report from Nielsen, which details media habits among different demographics. READ MORE AT MEDIA LIFE MAGAZINE

Read biographies of feature guests for the 2016 Latina Trailblazers Networking Forum being held next Thursday, July 28 at CUVEE Chicago. 

MODERATOR

Trina Fresco, Vice President, U. S. Community Alliances, Events & Engagement, Nielsen

Trina Fresco is the Vice President of U.S. Community Alliances, Events and Engagement for Nielsen. In her role she leads the collaboration with multicultural organizations across the country to increase Nielsen’s brand awareness with diverse consumers and improve the overall probability of multicultural involvement to reach our commitment of ensuring diversity in measurement. Trina also represents Nielsen as a Thought Leader. She serves as the Women in Nielsen (WIN) Midwest co-chair of the community relations subcommittee. She offers large-enterprise expertise through her tenure as vice president of operations for an IT firm for six years, plus national account manager and paint chemist within the chemical industry for nearly a decade.

Trina is passionate about her community and is an active board member of the Chicago Foundation for Women, and serves on a number of additional boards and committees. Most importantly, Trina is the mother of two angels, Sofia and Giana, and a little king, Lorenzo. Having had three children under three at one point in her life, she and her husband, George, try to keep things calm in the South Loop of Chicago.

DISCUSSION PANELISTS

Evelin Freytas, Agent and Owner, New York Life Insurance, President, University of Illinois Latina/Latino Alumni Association

Evelin Freytas, LUTCF, CLTC, received her Bachelor’s degree in International Business from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. During her undergraduate career she studied Finance and International Business in Granada, Spain and at The Chinese University of Hong Kong as well as being an active member of Alpha Psi Lambda National, Inc. After graduation, Evelin began her career as a District Manager of Automatic Data Processing Payroll Services (ADP), in which she designed payroll and HR solutions specifically for the needs of small businesses.

Today, she is a Financial Services Representative for New York Life Insurance Company; she helps businesses and individuals create a roadmap to help them reach their financial goals. Evelin has received: The Premier Centurion Award, Annuity Champion Award, Community Impact Agent of The Year Award, Life AllStar Award, Career Life Producer Award, Career Life Success Award and Life Foundation Award; becoming the first Latina to earn all of these accolades in the Chicago North-shore office.

She is actively involved in several community organizations centered on education and empowerment of women and Latinos. Evelin currently serves as President of The University of Illinois Latina Latino Alumni Association (IllinoisLLAA), collaborates with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Latino Alliance and is a member of the Advisory Board for the Ecuadorian Volunteers Association. In addition to her work and community involvement, Evelin is a life learner and currently enrolled in an MBA program in downtown Chicago.

Ana Gil Garcia, Professor, Northeastern Illinois University

Ana Gil Garcia is an international education activist professor with a strong advocacy for diversity and inclusion and presently teaches at Northeastern Illinois University. As she developed her professional career, Ana formed strong educational leaders who are currently serving at various schools not only in Chicago but around the world. Her tenure in Chicago has been recognized from multiple organizations that valued her sense of sustainable and distributed leadership.

Mentoring and coaching minority women and young professionals for higher education is her educational life plan. She has taught for more than 30 years, from 6th grade to graduate classrooms and has held administrative positions and has kept her passion on transforming lives from the classroom.

Her service to the education professional communities can be verified by several ways: mentoring young professionals for higher education, coaching female professionals for doctoral programs, developing junior faculty, actively engaging in different boards and councils, training teachers to become school leaders, participating on campaigns against domestic violence and child abuse, advocating for Latino leadership parity and creating international bridges for minorities. Her defense of democracy and equal opportunities has brought recognition from various human rights groups. She has devoted most of her passion to ensuring peace and global citizenship education as the vehicle for preparing young people for their involvement in the civic life in their communities.

Karina Llergo Salto, Arts & Crafts Professional, Karina Llergo Art

Karina Llergo was born and raised in Mexico City where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design as well as advanced degrees in Multimedia, Animation, and Abstract Art. She studied with famed Mexican artist Roberto Cortazar and portraitist Enrique Estrada, who both saw her talent and strongly encouraged her to continue her artistic journey.

While keeping art at the forefront of her mind and heart, Karina enjoyed a highly successful corporate career as art director for Mexico City’s top newspaper “Reforma” and at illustrious advertising agency, McCann Erickson. Among the many campaigns she helped create, some of her most memorable were for clients such as Coca-Cola, Revlon and Kimberly Clark.

Throughout her professional life, Karina painted and worked tirelessly to develop her unique style. As a lifelong dancer, competitive swimmer and avid skydiver, she found herself drawn to depicting on canvas the palpable energy of the human body in motion.

Driven by these fascinations and armed with her talent for figurative painting , Karina found a way to translate her observations and creative imagination into thought-provoking paintings of breathtaking beauty.

Since moving to Chicago in 2007 and transitioning to art full time, Karina’s work has received high praise and she is greatly admired throughout the vibrant Chicagoland art world. Among her many accolades, Karina has received numerous Outstanding Achievement and Best In Show awards at distinguished art shows all over Chicagoland and exhibits in galleries throughout the United States.

Of Mexican, Armenian and Spanish descent, Karina’s diverse background influences her life in every way, as does her insatiable passion for the creative arts. When she is not painting, Karina relishes spending time with her husband and four children.

Leticia Romero, Owner, Azul Holistic Spa & Wellness Center, Author , Today’s Inspired LATINA

With a background of business administration and a passion for wellness and holistic health care, Leticia is co-founder and owner of Azul Holistic Spa & Wellness Center. Leticia and her twin sister Silvia Romero created Azul Spa as an inspiration of well-being promoting a variety of healing therapies through a holistic approach that attends to the needs of body, mind & spirit. Their passion for the spa business concept grew stronger and with great success. Azul Holistic Spa and Wellness center recently celebrated its fourth anniversary in the west loop in Chicago and recently opened a Miami Beach location.

As a founder an entrepreneur Leticia has been recognized by numerous associations, earning the award of reflecting excellence as a Latino business by Reflejos Newspaper in 2013, among others. Leticia and Silvia have been recognized for their work and nominated for Latinas entrepreneur of the year award by the Chicago Latino network in 2014. Azul Spa has been featured on Radio: WIND, WGN with Bill Moller and Univision radio. They also recently participated in a segment on “Living healthy Chicago” on WGN. Leticia has been featured on the cover of NegociosNow, Latina Style Magazine, Modern Luxury Miami magazine and Azul Spa was nominated as one of the best Spas in Chicago, by Savvy Sassy.

The Romero sisters are very proud to be a Latino business and have strategically aligned themselves with distinguished Latino organizations; such as the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Women in Business, Women of ALPFA, among others. Although Azul Spa has found great support among the Latino business community, its appeal is wide range and highly regarded in the Spa industry of Chicago.

Time is running out to register. Don't miss the signature summer networking event for Chicago's Hispanic professional community in celebration of Latina Trailblazers at one of River North's most exclusive social destinations... CUVEE Chicago.

If you applied for a promotion and got turned down, you're probably feeling pretty rejected. Being passed over for a job never feels great, but it can be a particularly bitter pill when you're turned down by people who you see every day and who know your work well. But a "no" or a "not this time" doesn't need to be the end of your aspirations. Here are five things you can do in the aftermath of the rejection that can position you much more strongly for the next opportunity.

Don't take it personally. In most cases, being passed over for promotion isn't a repudiation of your skills or your personality. READ MORE AT U.S. WORLD & NEWS REPORT

When it comes to top earners in the entertainment field, at least six Latinas are holding more than their own. Here they are in order of highest earners:

1: Gloria Estefan
This Cuban-born singer turned singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman is worth a whopping USD 500 million and sits on the top of the pile of highest earning Latinas. That includes her minor ownership stake in NFL team, the Miami Dolphins. READ MORE AT NEWS AMERICAS

Retirement can seem like an impossible dream for many U.S. Hispanic women, who earn on average a little more than half of what white men are paid, according to an activist here.

"Latinas living in poverty after retirement are a symptom of a larger problem, that of unfair wages and unfair labor practices that keep women of color over-represented in low-income jobs," Cristina Aguilar, executive director of Denver-based advocacy group COLOR, told EFE.

"Less income means that Latinas can't save for times of crisis, nor for their children's education, much less for their own retirement," she said. READ MORE AT FOX NEWS LATINO

The world that your parents grew up in is no more. Gone are the days of graduating from college and working one job for 40 years until you can collect your pension.

Things don’t work like that anymore.

In 2016, the modern job world is fast-paced and rapidly changing. Potential employers care more about efficiency and skill than the years of experience under your belt.

Now, more than ever before, we live in a world where the market rewards passion more than anything else. Whether you are “pursuing your passion” or bringing your passion to your pursuits, the modern market pays for this handsomely.

So with that in mind, here are 4 pieces of essential career advice tips for all of your millennials out there. READ MORE AT THE HUFFINGTON POST

Growing concern about global warming could determine who Hispanics vote for in the presidential election, a poll released Thursday shows.

Nearly 80 percent of Hispanics consider global warming to be a somewhat serious or very serious problem, up almost 7 percent from a year ago, the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economic Polling Initiative poll found. READ MORE AT SUN SENTINEL

White Americans tend to say that they would rather not own a business and dislike taking risks, in stark contrast to non-white Americans.

Since 2007 the fastest growth in small business ownership has been among ethnic minorities, specifically women from ethnic minorities. The number of businesses owned by white women has increased by just over 10%, but for Hispanic women it has grown 87.5%.

YouGov's latest research shows that this social trend may be born out of deeper differences in attitude. READ MORE AT YOUGOV

Considering that 90 percent of millennials do not expect to stay at any particular job for more than three years, they are creating quite a head-scratching situation for human resource professionals and those who work in recruiting. To attract the best and brightest of this group—and to prevent turnover as much as possible—it helps to have a better understanding of this wave of workers. READ MORE AT ROCHESTER BUSINESS JOURNAL

I credit my passion for community building to how I grew up. I’ve been able to take the soft skills that my Ecuadorian family taught me — being welcoming to all, valuing empathy, embracing personal stories — and turn them into my own competitive advantage when it comes to producing content online for the various communities I manage.

My approach to online communities is why Andrea Guendelman’s words on turning our Latino culture into our alma mater really struck a chord. As the co-founder of BeVisible, a website that helps Latina millennials network both in real life and online, Andrea and Silvia Travesani, her fellow co-founder, have enabled Millennial Latina to embrace each other and support one another’s dreams. READ MORE AT FORBES

Americans have been feeling pessimistic toward the U.S. economy thanks in part to a decrease in median household income since President Obama took office. In the first quarter of this year, the economy grew at just 0.5% annualized pace.

U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Javier Palomarez said on the FOX Business Network’s Cavuto: Coast-to-Coast despite the economic challenges that continue in a slow-growth environment, Hispanic businesses have found a way to be successful. READ MORE AT FOX BUSINESS

Intel, SAP, Lyft, Spotify and VMware are just some of the 30 Silicon Valley based companies that have signed a "Tech Inclusion Pledge" as a promise that they will promote diversity in their workplaces going forward.

Two years ago, the civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson pointed out the lack of diversity in the tech companies operating out of Silicon Valley. He went so far as to press a number of companies to release their data regarding the number of African Americans, Hispanics and women employed at their organizations. READ MORE AT BETA NEWS

We all know networking is one of the essential ways to getting almost anywhere in life. Networking just involves talking to people (the right people) and getting your name out there. Ideally, getting people talking about you.

There are typically two types of people out there: the introverts and the extroverts. Introverts, being more self-secluded and more of observers, usually have a harder time putting themselves out there; not to say that they do not have a social life, but their social circle may be just a bit smaller than most.

Extroverts, on the other hand, are more outspoken and more willing to put themselves in the line of fire if need be. Networking tips are used differently for both parties seeing as they both have different aspects as to how they operate and present themselves. READ MORE AT ULOOP