Latino Social Innovation Thriving in Chicago
New Futuro named as a finalist for the Chicago Innovation Awards
CHICAGO, Sept. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- New Futuro, a Hispanic education community helping families get their students into college and beyond, is one of the finalists for the 2012 Chicago Innovation Awards. Selected out of almost 400 nominations, New Futuro is the only Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) finalist with a Latino focus. The final ten winners will be announced Monday, October 22 and celebrated at an event with over 1,500 business and civic leaders at Chicago's Harris Theater.
The Chicago Innovation Awards, celebrating its 11th year, is the only organization in the country dedicated to honoring the most innovative new products or services brought to market or to public service from a specific region. "It is an honor to be selected as a finalist for this prestigious award," said Marty Castro, co-Founder of New Futuro. "We are excited to be able to showcase the innovative approach New Futuro is taking to help solve the U.S. education gap."
New Futuro was nominated for its socially innovative high-touch, high-tech bilingual educational community designed to help families get their students into college and beyond. The Chicago based MBE has partnered with hundreds of organizations representing the non-profit, education, government and corporate sectors to reach millions of Latinos across the country with the help they need to achieve their educational and career goals. Through its unique business model, the organization is able to offer free, fully bilingual education tools, resources and ongoing guidance and support to Latino families – including thousands of dollars in scholarships.
"Our innovative business model is inspiring people to believe and achieve their dreams," said Peter Wilkins, co-Founder and CEO of New Futuro. "By focusing on increasing Latino college education rates, we are helping prepare the American workforce of tomorrow to compete in the global market."
"The most important message of the Chicago Innovation Awards is one of confidence and courage," said Thomas D. Kuczmarski, co-founder with Chicago journalist Dan Miller of the awards. "The economy is challenging but each nominee believes the simple truth that a powerful new product or service will find a rewarding market and has the courage to pursue their vision."
As one of the finalists, New Futuro will receive a scholarship to attend a day-long executive education program on September 18th titled "The Practical Innovator", taught at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. It is a full-day executive education course teaching the practical skills of innovation.
This year 13 judges, representing a range of Chicago's business community, will be involved in an exhaustive and complex judging process to select the final ten winners of the Chicago Innovation Awards as well as ten "Up & Comer" award winners for smaller organizations still in the start-up phases of their innovations. In addition, each of the finalists is automatically in the running for the annual "People's Choice Award," selected through online balloting at www.chicagoinnovationawards.com.
Contacts:
New Futuro, Jose M. Munoz, 312.848.8197, [email protected]
Chicago Innovation Awards: Bryan Brochu [email protected].
SOURCE New Futuro
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