JACKELINE CACHO CELEBRATES A DECADE OF LATINO TRIUMPHS

by : Luana Ferreira

The Queen of Spanish Language Edutainment Programming celebrates the tenth anniversary of her award-winning national TV show. She is grateful for the prestigious recognitions received from leaders all over the country for her dedication to the Latino Community.

JACKELINE CACHO has never been afraid of challenges. After being a news anchor and national correspondent for two of the most prominent Spanish TV Networks in the country, she decided to become a pioneer in edutainment programming. Jackeline created a positive and inspirational TV show that portrays the real stories of Latinos in America.

This former Peruvian beauty has proven that positive programming is needed in Spanish programming. “Now more than ever, we need to see how our community leaves a legacy in America. After a difficult pandemic, we are reinventing ourselves and continue working hard with hope and faith. We have to recognize that we are the present and the future of this amazing country, our country. We need to tell our stories to inspire the next generations of Latinos-americanos”, says Jackeline.

“My goal was to work at Univision one day. After three years, I was there opening the first-weekend newscast for the network in San Antonio, Texas”, she explains. Working at Univision gave her a perspective of the Latinos community’s needs. She wanted to make a difference through her work. “I was always a positive journalist, and I wanted to talk about stories that meant something to my community.” Among her most remarkable works at Univision are a unique series about foster care and the trafficking of women on the border. She describes it as “different issues that sometimes news does not want to talk about– but I was very passionate about it.”

Jackeline also wanted her work to feature Latinos differently and inspire the community. The journalist could not relate to the stories that portrayed Latinos primarily as drug dealers and criminals. “That is not who we are. We are hard-working people who come here for the loved ones and give our families the best.”

Her motivation was to create Jackeline Cacho Presenta Triunfo Latino, an independent program featuring inspirational stories of Latinos in different areas. The show is celebrating its 10th anniversary, but back then, many people said the project would not work because “positivity doesn’t sell.” Triunfo Latino became a pioneer in this television segment and opened doors for other people to do similar things.

In 2018 Jackeline was invited by the Unit- ed Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) to be the master of ceremonies (MC) and special guest in New York City at the inauguration of the Spotlight Initiative - a global multi-year partnership between the EU and UN to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030.

Now Jackeline is getting ready for Dubai and where she will represent Latinas at The First Ladies Forum & Economic Development Summit. She will release the Global Initiative: “Despierta tu poder mujer – Awaken- ing Your Power Woman.” Cacho believes that women can eradicate depression, anxiety, and panic attacks by awakening inner power and empowering their purpose as females.

Jackeline doesn’t have plans to slow down in the coming years. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Triunfo Latino, she is launching a podcast. The journalist is also working to present this year her bestselling book “Mi Mochila Emocional “(in English, My Emotional Backpack) during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Of course, television is also in her plans, as she plans to produce more series about Latinos. She wants Latinos to have the chance to see productions in Spanish that were filmed in the US and not in other countries. “We are the largest growing community in the United States, and that comes with many necessities’.’ Jackeline and her production company, with the support of her husband and business partner Mexican director and producer Thene Muciño, have plans to continue producing educational series and docuseries. Very much like the first one they did in 2018 “Un día con Alzheimer’s- Los recuerdos que se han ido”. Which has been the first documentary in Spanish about Alzheimer’s produced in the US with cases and studies about Latinos and Alzheimer’s in America in this decade – it has 2 Emmy nominations.

Jackeline believes in the power of the Latino community and says that recognizing their heritage is crucial to understanding where they want to be. “I always follow my mother’s saying: if you know where you came from, you will know where you go. If you come from a dysfunctional and poor family, you have to accept that, earn it and move on with your actions in life, but if you live in denial - then it is a problem”.

“We are like a plant. We have to continue growing and have more arms”, Jackeline adds.