Reaching out to the Hispanic Community

[willblowers]

Hello,
I'm an intern with the University of Portland athletics department and was hoping that maybe some people here have some ideas on how to reach out and market the Hispanic community in Portland. Does anyone know of some youth soccer or baseball leagues we could hand out schedules/fliers/brochures out that would help us out?

GO PILOTS!

[Geezaldinho]

Hello,
I'm an intern with the University of Portland athletics department and was hoping that maybe some people here have some ideas on how to reach out and market the Hispanic community in Portland. Does anyone know of some youth soccer or baseball leagues we could hand out schedules/fliers/brochures out that would help us out?

GO PILOTS!

OK, I'll turn that around a little. If you want to market the Latino community, ask yourself why the Latino community should be interested in UP.

Sure, from time we have had some Latino players, both men and women, but that's not enough. If you want to reach out to Latino groups, figure out how you can connect with them that's to their benefit.

Here's a couple of suggestions:

One of the things I have heard from the Latino community is that Playing time on fields is monopolized by white middle class club programs. Try offering facilities at UP that are more inclusive. For instance, The Turf field at UP was built in part by grants from USSoccer and Fieldturf to allow inner city youth groups to use the field. (check the original announcements when the field was built.)

Is the field being offered to any Hispanic groups?

There is a group at Tigard HS that might help you contact hispanic youth teams
Try the MECha/Latino Club at Tigard High School for scholarships for Latino students.

Call the city of Hillsboro and see what groups are reserving playing time at Walnut Park there. It's the only Park in the area that services primarily the Hispanic community.

Call Nike. they have from time to time done camps for hispanic kids in Woodburn and McMinnvile, which is really where the center of Hispanic culture is in the Portland area. They will be able to connect you with Hispanic sports programs.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/woodburn/2009/07/free_nike_soccer_camp.html


and there was a lot of interest in UP when we played their National team It seems like that was pretty good exposure. I'm a little surprised there hasn't been more follow-up on that. Isn't USC's Ali Kashroshahin still an assistant for the MWNT? Call him.

It's only after you demonstrate that they have something to gain or can get some connection to UP that they will be interested in our Sports programs.

Then you can tell them about names like Lopez, Guerrero, Roble, Carillo, Cruz, Guante, Los tres Dominguez, and of course our favorite Basketball player from Puerto Penasco.

Hope that helps

[PilotNut]

Excellent advice, Geezer.

"Marketing" (im speaking generally, not anything specific) these days often seems to just want the quick fix, without the necessary investment in the "background"... i.e. preparation, building relationships, etc...