Amid the steady arrival of new immigrants to the United States and the challenges facing those already living here, proper guidance on how to navigate life in the country—and handle the myriad associated procedures and formalities—is vital. For 25 years, Latino immigrants have found a helping hand in ElParacaidista.com, a monthly guide and online resource center designed to answer their questions and provide proactive information—even before they arrive in the U.S.
Since 2001, ElParacaidista.com (The Parachutist) has continuously offered its support and commitment to the Hispanic community—now numbering over 68 million—and has accompanied thousands of Latinos right up to the moment they achieved citizenship and beyond. What began in Miami as an 8-page mini-newspaper—accompanied by an online version—that sold out every month on the streets of South Florida, earned a “Best of Miami 2002” award from the Miami New Times, and was eagerly read online by Hispanics from their homes in other states and Latin America, evolved into an essential resource. The newspaper went fully digital in 2012.
“Celebrating this 25th anniversary is a tremendous achievement, and we are happy to offer—with even greater strength—this true compass for the Latino immigrant; because here, taking the wrong path can cost a lot of money and can even jeopardize the possibility of living and working in this country,” says Aira Guevara, editor and founder of this immigrant guide. This Venezuelan-American journalist poured her own experience as a “parachutist” into what became “the guide for newcomers—and everyone else—in the U.S.”
To further boost the impact and reach of this philanthropic and social mission, they are launching their new online platform on this 25th anniversary—developed in partnership with ECP Communications Corp and Blank—to drive their nationwide community service efforts. “In an environment where trust is built in seconds, a well-designed digital platform becomes a fundamental tool. Under the leadership of Elizabeth Cotto-Poueriet, CEO of ECP Communications Corp, we developed a modern, functional website focused on user experience, enabling information to reach the immigrant community in the United States clearly, quickly, and effectively,” explains Jorge Gandara, CTO of the Mexican agency Blank.
“We believe that digital transformation is not just about technology, but about creating solutions that connect people with the services they need. This project is an example of how a well-executed digital strategy can strengthen a social mission, expand an organization’s reach, and build greater trust among its users,” explains Cotto-Poueriet. “Serving the entire immigrant community—which needs reliable, readily available information for their daily affairs—more quickly and efficiently is our priority,” notes Guevara.
Miami Beach, Florida–based ElParacaidista.com is precisely that guide to positive acculturation. People find everything there — from where to go if they get sick without insurance or cash on hand — to how to obtain licenses to open a business or secure investment capital to expand one. It offers information on rights and responsibilities as a citizen, help with choosing a good lawyer, registering a trademark, handling a landlord’s failure to fix a leak, or protecting oneself against mechanic fraud. Understanding credit reports, legally starting a home-based business, and even checking the professional records of doctors or lawyers—or the backgrounds of tutors and nannies before hiring them—are just some of the vital details provided. All content is rigorously researched by a team of journalists committed to serious, impartial, and independent information.
“We receive many calls from all over the United States that constantly inspire us to keep researching, updating, and publishing—on a monthly basis—information vital to immigrants,” says Guevara, citing cases such as a self-employed plumber facing the job market for the first time with no idea what his peers earn or how to create a résumé; a professional couple wishing to immigrate based on their merits; a small business owner defrauded by a bad check who is looking for a place to file a claim; and an engineer who wants to practice her profession but does not know whether or not she needs to have her credentials validated. For 16 years, through its Foreign Title Revalidation seminars and guides, El Paracaidista has been one of the most reliable and serious sources of guidance on this crucial topic for professionals graduated abroad.
“The idea is for their integration to be a mutually beneficial process for them and for the country welcoming them. The vast majority do not come to take; they come to give—and to give a great deal—to enrich this great nation as it celebrates its 250th anniversary,” the editor concludes.
