HispanicBusiness

Ford Motor Company has always recognized the significant contributions women have made in moving this country forward, which is why this spring, Ford is teaming up with AOL Latino and Essence Magazine on two separate initiatives aimed at empowering and fostering growth within today's multicultural woman. Both programs tap into areas proven to be of importance to multicultural women and include the opportunity for consumers to enter for a chance to meet with some of today's leading empowerment coaches.

"Ford continues to be a company committed to the principles of empowerment and progress," said Crystal Worthem, multicultural marketing, Ford Motor Company. "We are excited about launching both initiatives as they provide an opportunity for us to touch the lives of both African American and Hispanic women in a way that is not only exciting but beneficial considering the economic climate that we all live in today. With both programs we are hoping to play a role in igniting the drive for women to make real change for themselves and their surrounding communities while driving progress toward the lives they deserve."

AOL Latino Launches Tu Voz

AOL Latino is partnering with Ford to launch a new online women’s destination, Tu Voz, www.tuvozentuvida.com. Tu Voz, which means “your voice,” will be a unique Spanish language resource that will act as a tool of empowerment for Hispanic women encouraging them to make real change for themselves and their families while living the life they deserve. Part of AOL Latino’s women's lifestyle network Tu Vida y Más, http:⁄⁄tuvida.aol.com, Tu Voz will be promoted through various social networking sites, such as Bebo, Facebook and Twitter, where AOL Latino has made a presence with its other properties and programming.

Tu Voz will be hosted by TV personality Lesley Ann Machado who will lead the audience to their desired areas of interest. There will be four coaches in the areas of Lifestyle, Health, Careers and Money that will provide tips and advice on how to empower women in their daily lives within these areas. Coaches for the program include Lifestyle coach Maria Marín, Health coach Dr. Aliza Lifshitz, Career coach Mariela Dabbah and Money coach Maria Inés Ferré.

“AOL Latino is thrilled to be partnering with Ford on this important initiative to do our part in helping empower the Hispanic woman in all aspects of her life,” said Miguel Ferrer, director of AOL Latino. “Our original content along with the insightful posts from these knowledgeable coaches will provide our audience with a starting point to feeling stronger about themselves and for sharing their everyday experiences for the benefit of the larger Hispanic community.”

"Ford is proud to have developed Tu Voz with AOL Latino as an empowerment community for Hispanic women. Our goal was to provide Hispanic women a unique, Spanish-language virtual network of their own,” said David Rodriguez, multicultural marketing manager, Ford Motor Company. “They are increasingly tech-savvy so what better medium for an empowerment community than online. Tu Voz reflects the value Ford places on community, supporting the increasingly important and vibrant Latina sisterhood.”