A Danish proverb says that knowing a different language is not just the ability to communicate, but the ability to venture into new worlds and incorporate other cultures. That proverb might work in Denmark , where people have been influenced by different cultures and languages throughout the centuries. In fact, it is not hard to find an average citizen there who can switch worlds and languages in a heartbeat.

What about embracing a new world right here, in black and white Birmingham , Alabama ? Hernan F. Prado, president of the Alabama Latin American Association and former researcher for the University of Alabama Department for Rural Services and Research, compares the integration of Alabamians with its new Hispanic immigrants to a marriage, with all its traditional ups and downs. Assuming the analogy is valid, what is the current status of this relationship?

A little context, por favor

The Southeast saw a huge Latino immigrant influx in the 1990s. These newcomers were not Cuban refugees escaping a dictatorship to arrive in sunny and prosperous Miami . They were mostly Mexicans and Guatemalans, looking for their little spot under the sun, and the freedom a $7 dollar-an-hour job can buy for a family of four. And they found it in sweet home Alabama !

Northeastern Alabama cities - Fort Payne , Albertville , Collinsville , Gadsden, you name it - welcomed the new arrivals. Friendly employers were happy to have new laborers harvesting their crops and keeping their chicken plants up and running. Hispanics were hard workers, reliable, committed to their shifts, and never opposed to overtime. Who says good help is hard to find?

Many little Alabama towns got a boost in their economy, a quick economic turnaround, a magic economic development formula that any politician would like to take credit for. It was love at first sight.

First comes love, then marriage .

It wasn't long before the word got out. Hispanics were in high demand. Some anxious employers in Southeast Alabama went well south of the border to place their classified ads and put up billboards - " Come work in Alabama . " Then, they would come back and wait, hoping for the perfect "catch" to match their specific laborer needs.

So, if the magic formula is working in the Northeast, why wouldn't it work in Birmingham ? With the metro Birmingham 's construction industry booming - and its need for workers in the food, landscaping, and cleaning businesses - the Hispanic courting season went full throttle.

Hispanic or Latinos, it doesn't matter how we would call them. They are always so gentle, so well-behaved, so dedicated to their work, their families, their religious values. Also, their timing couldn't have been better. Our gardens and offices never looked so clean and neat!

Now, I wouldn't be fair if I didn't mention that the feeling was reciprocated. Hispanics love it here! People still look into your eyes and say hello. Just like in the old times! Alabamians are caring, considerate, and sincerely enjoy helping the needy. And, of course, there are Wal-Marts everywhere! Suddenly, this national giant chain has become the cultural bridge, a sacred ground where we all meet and can agree about - there is no better family entertainment on Sunday afternoons.

Who said we didn't have things in common?

Where is the love?

Well, let's assess today's relationship situation. In 2000, about 56,800 Hispanics lived within a 75-mile radius of Downtown Birmingham; they represent 75% of Alabama 's entire Hispanic population of 75,830. The annual Hispanic population growth rate in this region is an astounding 27%.

  Are Hispanics really returning the love they've gotten in this relationship? According to the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic businesses in the Birmingham area increased by almost 180% between 1992 and 1997. This growth rate more than triples the national average of 55.5%, putting our area at No.2 in terms of Hispanic business growth among 13 similar metropolitan areas.

Okay, I guess this proves my point: Hispanics are contributing to this "marriage." Besides all their hard-work and loyalty, they bring their very tasty cuisine, a variety of colorful folk dresses, a contagious musical beat, and a language that sounded so poetic in high school.

What better way to experience it all first-hand than at, Fiesta! , a new annual event that celebrates Hispanic culture, held in Birmingham 's Linn Park in 2003 and last year. And Gadsden will debut a new cultural event, Festival Cinco de Mayo , this year. Thousands of Hispanics and non-Hispanics are coming together to showcase and celebrate the valuable contribution of the Hispanic culture and heritage to the State of Alabama .

These venues offer some of the best ways for corporate America to reach out to and get exposure in this flourishing market, right? Shouldn't this be the model for a wonderful relationship? I hope we all can remember this noble time, when the honeymoon's first blush starts to fade, before our bad habits get on each others' nerves, when it seems easier to break up and pretend we never met.

Personally, I prefer to think that Alabamians and their new Hispanic/Latino residents are both conscious that, as in any mature and dependable relationship, this suitable and timely match can be cherished and nurtured. And as a result, we may all be able to grow live together in harmony.

Vivian Mora , a native of Spain, is the vice president of KPI Latino. If you want to know more about how to market to Hispanics in Alabama , please contact her or Hernan Prado at KPI Latino (205) 328-9334.