Hispanics are changing the face of Metro Orlando - Not only in numbers, but also in influence.
Excuse José Maunez-Cuadra if he
shakes his head every now and then.
When the professor of digital media
at the University of Central Florida arrived
on campus in the late 1980s, there were few
Hispanic students among the total enrollment
of roughly 15,000.
Today, Hispanics make up 12.85 percent
of UCF’s more than 48,000 students—
equaling approximately 6,425 students.
Hispanic dancers bring exquisite expertise to the stage
at Orlando Ballet—plus a flair that is hard to deny.
Andres Estevez remembers the training
with more than a little anguish. In grade
school, while most Cuban youngsters were
outside playing, Estevez was hard at work in the ballet studio.
His dance studies included competitions among classmates
and psychological tests, with the weak being tossed aside. In
Cuba, ballet dancing was and remains serious business.
Ahora Orlando revisits Hispanic heroes from the war in
Iraq. Each had made it home.
After serving as a Navy reservist,
David Vernaza returned home to
his wife and children with damaged
muscles and nerves in his right
shoulder and left leg. The pain didn’t stop
the moment he stepped on U.S. soil, not
in the least. Yet, he was alive.
REGIONAL
OVERVIEW A Diverse Region
Metro Orlando offers numerous styles of life in three distinct counties.
NEIGHBORHOODS Places
to Live
Look east or west, north or south, metro Orlando offers plenty of options
for new residents.
BUSINESS Sunny
Outlook
Thanks to a thriving business community, the odds of finding a good job are better in metro Orlando.
HEALTHCARE Medically
Speaking
The region can never be described as taking a Band-Aid approach to treating
hospital
EDUCATION Lessons
in Learning
Whether it’s for kindergarten or adult continuing education, the
region earns high marks for academic excellence and teaching innovation.
ACTIVITIES What
to Do?
Plenty. You have many choices among shopping, dining, sports, culture
and nightlife.
HISPANIC IMPACT 
