Announcing Verano Bilingue Summer 2022 with Spouseforce, powered by Blue Star Careers

Published: March 28, 2022

Announcing Verano Bilingue Summer 2022 with Spouseforce, powered by Blue Star Careers

Professional development opportunities for bilingual/Latinx/Hispanic military spouses

Did you know? 

According to Blue Star Families’ Social Impact Research 2021: The Diverse Experiences of Military & Veteran Families of Color Survey, 43% of military spouses of color are not working but need or want paid employment, compared to 32% of white, non-Hispanic spouses. 

Here’s what else we found regarding employment challenges facing military spouses of color, including Latinx/Hispanic:  

• 27% of military spouse respondents of color are unemployed, compared to 17% of white, non-Hispanic respondents.
• Active-duty spouses of color, like their civilian counterparts, experience poorer employment outcomes associated with their gender and race/ethnicity, but these employment challenges are exacerbated by their military affiliation.

In 2021, the Blue Star Careers Program identified a solution to these challenges to support Latinx/Hispanic spouses with finding a sense of belonging in their communities and workplaces: Verano Bilingue – a virtual summer program that offers the tools and resources to build a network and access employment opportunities while using bilingual skills to their advantage. This programming complements Blue Star Families’ Racial Equity & Inclusion (REI) Initiative and Military Spouse Employment Initiative, helping to drive solutions that combat isolation and cultivate a welcoming environment for all military-connected family members.

Through Verano Bilingue, bilingual/Latinx/Hispanic military spouses are empowered to access personal development tools that fuel their success – all while spotlighting employers looking for diverse talent. The first year of the program proved to be a huge success, which is why we’re excited to announce its return for 2022!

 

“I am deeply grateful for being able to participate in […] Verano Bilingue [2021] with Blue Star Careers. As military spouses, oftentimes, we are displaced from our familiar community, friends, and professional peers. This can be further compounded when we relocate to an area where there isn’t a strong Latino community. Having weekly get-togethers with others like me, allowing me to connect and be inspired by the successes [of] other Latinas experienced in spite of our nomadic lifestyle, was so helpful.” – Rosalba, Marine Corps Spouse / Navy Veteran, Verano Bilingue 2021 Participant

 

Here’s what you can look forward to when registering for Verano Bilingue 2.0: 

Access to essential tools that empower you through career development, including: resume support, LinkedIn profile engagement, interviewing options, addressing unique bilingual talent needs, and most importantly, the opportunity to build your network and connect with other successful Latina leaders in the community.

Military spouses: sign up to get the latest news and updates on Verano Bilingue 2.0 and year-round programming: https://www.tfaforms.com/4875924. And if you haven’t already, join our free Spouseforce virtual community today on Facebook and LinkedIn – where daily career action takes place!

Employers: if you’re looking to serve as an ally for our bilingual talent community by sharing career opportunities and resources, we invite you to connect with us at [email protected] or visit our website at www.bluestarfam.org/careers to learn more.