U.S. born and immigrant Latinos have contributed to the U.S. in various ways: from soldiers and heroes to braceros, from labor union to mutual aid organizers and civil rights activists. Their achievements in the fine arts have earned them Academy, Emmy and Grammy Awards as well as the Pulitzer and Nobel Prize. Many are well regarded as intellectuals in such fields as education, medicine, science and philosophy. They have been active in local, state and national politics-- ranging from Senators to Ambassadors to Supreme Court Justice and have excelled in nearly every athletic sport in both the Olympic and professional levels.

Benefits to the U.S.

Economically

Large work force (construction, agriculture, factory, services)

Keep costs down / Keep business in US

Entrepreneurs

Latinos start up businesses – 3 times the national average

2002 - Generated more than $222 billion in revenue

New businesses cropping up in places such as: Rhode Island, Georgia, South Carolina

Consumers AND Taxpayers

Purchasing power

Reached ONE trillion in 2010! 

War participation

       Latinos have served in all U.S. Wars – Starting with the Civil War to the present

       Most decorated ethnic population 

       WW II – 13 American Medal of Honor Recipients

Arts/Education/Politics

Note: Many, including former Governor Jeb Bush, believe Rubio has great potential as a Presidential contender.  

• Christina Aguilera, pop singer
• Isabel Allende, writer
• Alberto Alfonso, choreographer
• Roberto Alomar, baseball player
• Julia Alvarez, writer
• Luis Walter Alvarez, Nobel Prize-winning physicist
• Rudolfo Anaya, writer
• Desi Arnaz, actor
• Judy Baca, artist
• Joan Baez, folk singer and activist
• David Barkley, soldier and Medal of Honor recipient
• Jean-Michel Basquiat, artist
• Ruben Blades, actor
• Jose Canseco, baseball player
• Lynda Carter, actress
• Franklin Chang-Dìaz, astronaut
• Cesar Chavez, labor leader
• Linda Chavez, conservative commentator
• Linda Chavez-Thompson, labor leader
• Henry Cisneros, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
• Sandra Cisneros, writer
• Roberto Clemente, baseball player
• Celia Cruz, singer
• Sammy Davis, Jr., singer, actor
• Oscar De La Hoya, boxer
• Dolores Del Rio, actress
• Cameron Diaz, actress
• Gloria Estefan, singer
• Emilio Estevez, actor
• America Ferrera, actor
• Andy Garcia, actor
• Jerry Garcia, musician
• Rupert García, artist
• Ernesto Galarza, labor organizer
• Roberto C. Goizueta, businessman
• Scott Gomez, hockey player
• Pancho Gonzalez, tennis player
• Salma Hayek, actress
• Rita Hayworth, actress
• Joseph Marion Hernandez, U.S. congressman
• Oscar Hijuelos, writer
• Maria Hinojosa, journalist
• Dolores Huerta, labor leader
• Raul Julia, actor
• Jose Limon, modern dancer and choreographer
• Jennifer Lopez, actress, singer
• Mario Lopez, TV Personality, actor
• Nancy Lopez, golfer
• Trini Lopez, singer
• Juan Marichal, baseball player
• Ricky Martin, singer
• Melquiades Martinez, U.S. Secretary for Housing and Urban Development
• Pedro Martinez, baseball player
• Mario Molina, Nobel Prize-winning chemist
• Ricardo Montalban, actor
• Rita Moreno, actress, singer, dancer
• Anthony Munoz, football player
• Carlos Noriega, astronaut
• Antonia Novello, U.S. Surgeon General
• Ellen Ochoa, astronaut
• Severo Ochoa, Nobel Prize-winning biochemist
• Edward James Olmos, actor
• Rosie Perez, actress
• Anthony Quinn, actor
• José Quintero, theater director
• Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico
• Geraldo Rivera, talk-show host, journalist
• Alex Rodriguez, baseball player
• Chi Chi Rodriguez, golfer
• Linda Ronstadt, singer
• John Ruiz, boxer
• Alberto Salazar, marathoner
• Ken Salazar, Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior
• Carlos Santana, guitarist, singer
• Luis Santeiro, writer
• Selena, singer
• Junípero Serra, missionary
• Richard Serra, sculptor
• Charlie Sheen, actor
• Martin Sheen, actor
• Jimmy Smits, actor
• Sammy Sosa, baseball player
• Gary Soto, writer
• Sonia Sotomayor, U.S. Supreme Court Justice
• Nydia Velásquez, U.S. Representative
• Lupe Velez, actress
• Raquel Welch, actress