Latino Power & The Gig Economy in '25 | Tanzina Vega, Award-Winning Independent Journalist
Mi gente, the first season of Moneda Moves is ready for launch! Thank you for joining us in the new year and our 180th installment of our Moneda Moves notitas. This season, we’re focusing on 2025 economic trends, how they affect our entrepreneurial community, and how our community will move the American economy. You can expect to hear from some incredible experts this season, including investors and national journalists—starting with this week’s guest.
It is more important than ever to pay mind to how Latinos are contributing to the economy—especially Latinos in the growing gig economy. Did you know that two in five Americans are part of the gig economy? For Latinos, an impressive 50 percent identify as independent workers, as shared by the Independent Women’s Forum. In kind, this week, we’re exploring how we tap into all that joint economic power we yield as well as the ins and outs of the growing gig economy.
Our guest is the award-winning journalist, educator, and host Tanzina Vega. Tanzina has led coverage of inequality at some of the world’s most influential organizations, including The Boston Globe, The New York Times, CNN, and New York Public Radio. In my eyes, Tanzina’s news coverage is the blueprint for reporting on money and race in the United States, as well as on money and inequality overall.
The gig economy is growing, and Latinos are increasingly participating in it, whether it’s on its own or in addition to a 9-to-5 job..s. Freelancing has its perks—you can work from home, set your own hours, and be your own boss. But it’s not the kind of work we were traditionally encouraged to pursue or the same rules that apply. In our conversation with Tanzina, we discover that the shift toward the gig economy may have been born out of necessity. We also discuss how critical it is for Latinos to know their contracts, what to watch out for, and how to advocate for their terms and worth.
This week, we’ll discuss how Latinos can tap into collective potential and how to navigate the gig economy. While freelancing can create new economic opportunities, it’s important to learn from established professionals like Tanzina, who have covered and experienced the gig economy firsthand. When new freelancers lack the knowledge to navigate contracts and negotiations, they could end up with predatory terms and unreasonable conditions. But with the right resources and advocating for their worth we can leverage the gig economy to continue to wealth build.
No te lo quieres perder.
Follow Tanzina on Instagram: @tanzinavega
Follow Moneda Moves on Instagram: @MonedaMoves
Follow your host Lyanne Alfaro on Instagram: @LyanneAlfaro
Main podcast theme song from Premium Beat. Our music is from Epidemic Sound.
