Central American Immigrant Building Dreams in the Triangle

Roldan looks at his van and his store with pride. He's glad to see thatsomething he worked so hard for is benefiting other people.

Roldan's store in North Raleigh, El Mandado, benefits a growing section ofthe population. As the Hispanic population continues to boom, more andmore stores like Roldan's are popping up all over the place-- taking careof everything from special cooking needs to special greeting cards, alldone in Spanish.

Rosalbana Ramerez is also new to the United States. Ramerez works atRoldan's restaurant. She admits coming to America for one reason-- money.

Roldan says more new immigrants are arriving with a greater knowledge ofthe English language. He says that's the only way to succeed in a foreignland. It's a tough, but promising venture.

Growth in the US means work. Roldan isn't the only person who knows it.Coming to America is an inviting idea. It's attractive to people becausethey can find jobs and a way to make a living. As long as that's thecase, more immigrants will come. Roldan is betting on it.

The nation's Hispanic population is 32 million people. In ten years,Hispanics are expected to become the largest US minority.