Campaign Launches During National Small Business Week
During National Small Business Week (May 3–9), Aquí: The Accountability Movement is launching “Buy Latino. Build Community. Build America.” This is a national social media campaign to uplift the power, resilience, and economic impact of Latino-owned businesses across the United States. The campaign calls on individuals, families, and communities to take direct action by supporting Latino businesses and investing in the neighborhoods they sustain.
The organization and its partners are also drawing attention to the devastating impact that the Trump administration’s immigration policies are having on small businesses and the U.S. economy. Sindy Benavides, the organization’s Founding Executive Director, is available for interviews in English and Spanish.
“More than five million Latino-owned businesses contribute over $800 billion to the U.S. economy every year. Latino entrepreneurs are not just part of the American economy – they are the engine,” said Benavides. “From your corner store to your mechanic, from the restaurant that knows your order to the small business creating the next innovation, these businesses are woven into the fabric of our daily lives. We are proud of our community and the role we play in building America.”
“At the same time,” she continued, “many Latino-owned businesses are facing real and growing challenges tied to current immigration enforcement policies, and a broader climate of fear. When fear rises, streets go quiet, customers stay home, and small businesses feel it immediately. We are losing entrepreneurs, workers, and economic stability in real time. This is not just a community issue — it is an economic one. When Latino businesses struggle, entire neighborhoods feel the impact.”
“Recent immigration efforts are hurting not just Todos Supermarket’s bottomline, but the heart of our business — our workers and customers. There is a paralyzing fear impacting daily activities like buying groceries, a bare necessity to nourish our bodies. Many families have to calculate the risk of leaving their homes to go to the store, send their children to school, and even go to church. Businesses are hurting and how we persist is through collective community support,” stated Carlos Castro, Owner and Founder of Todos Supermarket in Northern Virginia.
Aquí’s week-long mobilization to “Buy Latino. Build Community. Build America.” emphasizes that every dollar spent is a direct investment in resilience, local jobs, and shared prosperity.
Said Itzel López, Co-Founder and CEO of the Latino Economic Development Council, outlined the organizations' 10% Challenge: “If just 10% of U.S. households chose to spend $30 at a Latino-owned business during National Small Business Week, it would generate a $400 million economic surge. That’s not symbolic — it is transformational. Your money is your voice. Every dollar invested locally builds a stronger community.”
Latino-owned businesses are not only economic drivers but also trusted community anchors — places where people gather, connect, and find a sense of belonging. In many neighborhoods, they serve as safe and familiar spaces during uncertain times.
Said Rudy Espinoza, Chief Executive Officer of Inclusive Action for the City in Los Angeles, “At the same time that we're fighting for big, systemic change, there are also everyday actions that we can all take that make a difference. Choosing to ‘Buy Latino’ is one of them. It’s a tangible way for individuals and institutions alike to align their values with how they spend. Investing in our communities supports families, helps entrepreneurship flourish, and builds a stronger future.”
Added Jay Miranda, President & CEO of the Honduran-American Association, “Buy Latino. Build Community. Build America.” is more than a message — it is a call to act with intention. At its core, this is about strengthening communities, protecting opportunity, and ensuring that our economy works for everyone. The Honduran-American Association is committed to changing the narrative of who we are as Honduran-Americans, to one that fully encompasses our talents, contributions, and the economic impact of the estimated 2 million members of our Diaspora.
“As part of the Buy Latino effort, we have mapped over 700 Honduran-American owned businesses in the United States (https://hondurasusa.org/#/business-map). We will be calling our network to participate and support one of those businesses, or any other Latino businesses in their local community.”