Our Story

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Eight years ago my cousin Marlene and I recognized the need for a culturally relevant Hispanic home and lifestyle brand serving the needs, tastes and values of the US Hispanic population.

At the time, I was an International Sales Executive for a television production and distribution company and Marlene was appearing regularly as a home improvement expert on both English and Spanish language Home Depot sponsored television segments.

Marlene had also served as a co-host for a Discovery Channel show called The Fix-It Line. So it seemed only natural to combine our resources, talents, and experience in our respective fields, and storm the US Hispanic market touting Marlene as the Latina Martha Stewart – albeit one with a bit more sass and salsa!

While we knew that the US Hispanic market was ready for us, we quickly learned that sponsors and advertisers were not.

We originally developed a concept called Tu Casa and began looking for television distribution and sponsors. I was shocked at the initial response from advertisers. While they appreciated our enthusiasm and energy, they informed us that, “not enough Hispanics are homeowners,” or my personal favorite, “Hispanics do not renovate or redecorate their homes in large enough numbers.”

Those ideas were remnants of a time when we were generally known as ‘Hispanics’ – a title given to us by the government for census purposes. We have redefined and empowered ourselves as LATINOS.

We are now recognized as the largest minority group in the United States with a purchasing power of almost 1 trillion dollars.

However, unlike previous generations of immigrants and their children, we refuse to shed our ethnicity. We acculturate rather than assimilate. As Latinos we seek ways to interweave our traditions into our new homes and lifestyles – balancing our aspirations as Americans with the desire to hold onto our language, culture and traditions.

Two years ago, Tu Casa has gave way to Casa Latina and advertisers and sponsors no longer tell us that LATINOS do not buy, renovate and/or redecorate our homes in large enough numbers.

Not only do they realize that we do, they have created whole multi-cultural advertising and public relations departments with the purpose of targeting us as a lucrative consumer base. What a difference a decade makes!

As Latinos in America we face similar challenges, hopes, dreams and desires.

Marlene and I have created Casa Latina to reflect the diverse Hispanic experience in the United States and to address the unique challenges we face.

More than a home and lifestyle brand, Casa Latina is a journey.

We invite you to join us. Interact with us, email us and comment on the articles presented. Let us know what’s important to you and yours. Become part of the Casa Latina family and join a community that will empower and inspire you to achieve your dreams.
THE FOUNDERS

Nora Maria Diaz-Bretherton and Marlene Pratt, Casa Latina’s co-founders, each offer over a decade of sales, distribution, production, media, interior design and on-air talent experience, encompassing both the English and Spanish language media markets.

Nora Maria Diaz-Bretherton graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She started her career as a sales associate at WCBS-TV in NY, the CBS flagship station. Nora’s strong communication skills earned her a position as a production assistant for the CBS Weekend Evening News. She was then promoted to broadcast associate for the CBS Weekend Evening News, providing editorial support for the national editor and the domestic bureau chief.

After honing her skills at CBS, Nora moved on to become a sales executive for Tapestry International, a US based production and distribution company. She left Tapestry International to launch Dos Damas Enterprises.

Nora then became Vice President of Sales for the US and Latin America at Beyond Distribution, an Australian television production and distribution company. She is now devoting her time to CasaLatina.com and collaborating with Telemundo on the Casa Latina branded news segment series.

Marlene Pratt has more than a decade of interior design and architectural experience. After studying architecture at New York City’s Pratt Institute, Marlene earned a degree in design from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

She is a renovation expert and an interior designer with extensive on-air media experience in both English and Spanish language television, print and radio.

Marlene has regularly appeared as a Home Economist/Home Improvement Expert on Fox, CBS, WB’s WPIX-TV and WNBC. She also co-hosted The Fix It Line, a home improvement series that aired on Discovery Channel.

Marlene also appeared on a weekly home improvement/interior design segment on the Spanish language television network Telemundo.

In addition, she served as a spokesperson for Georgia Pacific and traveled extensively to major Latino 6 markets around the country, appearing on local Spanish language television and radio stations to promote Georgia Pacific sponsored safety tips.