Partnerships that Support Latino Community Development
Southwest Region Alianzas
Goal 1: To develop resources and a centralized database that allows researchers, University of Missouri Extension (UME) faculty, the Latino community, and interested general public to understand the cultural diversity issues, the demographics of the current Latino population, and the resources available.
Developed a database of over ninety service providers and concerned citizens for working in the multicultural community in southwest region and registered them with Community Connection
On-going development of webpages for the Multicultural Network in Spanish for Latino readers globally and created an online citizenship course
Presented programs on "The Story of the Hispanic/Latino Experience in Southwest Missouri: Surveys of Latino Adults, Latino Youth, and Non-Hispanic Service Providers/Community Residents", University of Missouri Extension to state and general populations
Provided educational brochures written in both English and Spanish at the Ozarks Regional Alliance (ORA) meetings. Published and distributed brochures throughout the region and state
Health Issues, Concerns, and Barriers to Healthcare for Latinos in Southwest Missouri -
ORA member Suzanne E. Walker (Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Department of Sociology and Anthropology) and Susan Dollar (Assistant Professor, School of Social Work), Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, MO 65804.A pressing issue precipitated by the rising tide of Latino immigration to the U.S. concerns the use of health services. Labor demands of poultry and construction industries lure numerous Latino immigrants to Southwest Missouri, where their population increased by 284% between the 1990 and 2000 censuses. Data on issues of health and healthcare in this community have been lacking. In this research project, we collected systematic data focused on the demographics, health status, and health needs of Latino families in this region. Results will provide the data necessary to assess the impact of this rapidly growing population on the health delivery system and on the health of the communities at large. In addition to survey results from approximately 300 respondents in four primarily rural counties of Southwest Missouri, information from interviews and focus groups of healthcare providers presented a more complete picture.
Goal 2: To build the capacity of the community through a co-learner model of identifying the challenges of Latino individuals and those who serve them and to address these through learning of the language and cultural aspects of this population.
Grupo Superación
This group of thirty young ladies have been displaying great successes. They set their goals and are accomplishing them. They have received attention from the community for their volunteer efforts. They are starting new groups in Springfield and Malden, They also:
- Dance traditional Mexican dances and explain there meaning
- Present their projects in their communities
- Present their Congressional Awards participation
- Beginning 4H projects
- Domestic Violence training and shelter support
Latinos Contra Las Drogras (Latinos Against Drugs)
Latinos Contra Las Drogras is a Community 2000 coalition of Community Partnership of the Ozarks and Alianzas. Alianzas helped host the project for the 2001 program at the University of Missouri Extension office in Greene County for the Native American segment of the program. This year we have supplied speakers for forums on prevention of alcohol, tobacco and drug use in the Latino community. Jim Wirth has presented his research on Latinos in the Southwest Region to groups concerning racism, employment, schooling and social activities. Missouri Literacy Association, an organizational member of Ozarks Regional Alliances, has supplied clerical help through VISTA for meetings and organizing workshops. Alianzas is partnering with all institutions that need our expertise in assisting the Latino population.
Concurso De Literatura (Literature Contest)
Don Quijote literature contest sponsored by Alianzas, EL Tiempo, Grupo Latinoamericano, United Methodist Church, Title 1-C Migrant Education and Missouri Literacy Association is designed to give young people the opportunity to express themselves by writing about a personal experience and/or experiences of this country.
PAC meetings (Parents Advisory Committee)
Latino parents are trained in their own language to use services within their community that different organizations provide such as:
- Guest speakers from ORA or Alianzas to acclimate newcomers
- Work habits for working parents
- Train parents, teachers, and principals to work on effective team building.
- Train teachers, principals, and other staff to work effectively with parents.
- Provide range of awareness for parents to acquire information in order to allow them greater opportunities for participation in student related activities.
- Ensure opportunities, to the extent practical, for parents lacking in literacy skills in their native language or in English, to participate.
Noel Multicultural Committee
Thirty-six community leaders meet on a monthly base for providing an awareness of community services to the Latino community.
- Festivals by Alianzas and the Multicultural Community
- Search committee for local grants
- Congressional Awards for Migrants and families
- Committee on registering to vote in upcoming elections
- Soccer park has been presented to the city council and land donated from Tyson
- ESL training is needed and wanted
Festival de Amistad (Festival of Friends)
The Festival project of ORA served to bring awareness to the work of the Alliance and help people get to know more about cultures other than their own. The regional festival committee supported efforts of local groups in Noel, Monett, Springfield, and Carthage to plan and present concurrent Festivals of Friends on September 15 as a way to introduce long time residents of the communities to newcomers. The primary focus was to share Latino culture with people who have lived in the Ozarks for many years. Attendance at each site was estimated between 300 and 400 people except for Carthage. Carthage site had over 800 attendees. Each site had a variety of informational and international displays, music, and food. All four sites plan to host another event next year.
Goal 3: To build the capacities of UO/E to better serve this population.
Spanish Conversation Classes
Southwest region staff members are working hard to increase their Spanish language and cultural competency skills. Staff members are also involved in the following activities:
- Five staff members and one regional director have completed the second intensive Spanish language training provided through the Alianzas grant.
- Alianzas and Literacy Associates members have provided cultural training to other regional staff and Research personnel on cultural competency.
- Cambio De Colores Confrences are University approved for professional development
- Regional staff continues to identify and create needed Spanish language materials in their specific areas of expertise.
- Regional staff and local service providers are provided leadership in the planning of Cambio de Colores in Missouri.
- The third set of Introductory Spanish Conversation Classes was held at the Southwest Center. 13 people have completed the program, 4 from the Southwest Center and 9 FNEP people.
Goal 4: To build the capacity of local organizations, agencies, communities and businesses to assist in meeting the needs of the Latino population
The Edge Computer Class
Two sessions of an introductory computer class for Latinos are being taught. This is a joint project of Springfield-Greene County Library System, Grupo Latinoamericano, Literacy Consultants and University of Missouri Extension. The class is being taught in Spanish and English, with an ESOL slant. The Library is very pleased with the way the class have been conducted and with the success of the outreach to the local Latino community, who have not traditionally been library users.
Springfield ESOL Partnership
Tutoring has begun with a core group of seven trained tutors.
Twenty-seven students from Mexico, Taiwan, Bolivia, Peru, Japan, Columbia, and Argentina participate; average class size runs about eleven. Students’ Spanish educational level averages completion of secondary school. English skill levels vary from beginning to advance.
Women’s circles, healthcare discussions, creative writing groups, and mixed levels activities are used by the tutors so they can promote the small group experience.
New Frontiers 4H Club
The "New Frontiers" 4-H Club made up of all Latinos is doing very well. At a recent county achievement day, the club had several blue ribbon winners in demonstrations, judging, & personal appearance. It is very likely that some of members will qualify to move on to Regional Achievement. A Latino Soccer League is in the planning stages.
Branson ESOL Partnership
The tutor training of 18 ESOL tutors was completed in July, and Latino tutoring started in July. This program is a direct outcome of the Spanish conversation classes that Literacy Consultants did for Extension employees where four Extension specialists were certified during this training. The tutors are already in agreement to expand the program into areas of cultural brokerage and advocacy, which is seriously needed in the Branson area.
Migrant Leadership Academy
The Tri-State (OK, AR, MO) Migrant Leadership Academy was begun in 1998. It was noted that the migrant youth have had many opportunities to learn life skills but these opportunities often did not extend to postsecondary education or to well paying careers. The Migrant Leadership Academy was held at Southwest Missouri State University this year and Alianzas UO/E and other community specialists and staff held workshops and participated in awards ceremonies.
Padres Activos de Hoy (Parenting Skills Program)
Matte Rhodes CenterAlianzas Program and Mano a Mano (Hand in Hand) Multicultural Life Center are building trust in the Latino community. This parenting skills program was a successful incremental step toward building trust. Parenting skills groups are a growing need in Southwest Missouri. Objectives are to help coordinate and direct programming towards newcomers to our region in the southwest area of the state. Alianzas Project coordination of educational organizations and setting up an infrastructure on addressing the needs for teaching parents parenting skills in Spanish is a necessity. Alianzas Program and Mano a Mano have worked together to help teach a six-week course in parenting. Padres Activos de Hoy met for six sessions lasting 2 to 3-1/2 hours each, two to three times a week. Four groups were initially taught. Parent groups had 10 to 20 parents per group; child groups had 9 to 31 children each. Project total included 54 parents and 73 children. Subjects taught were:
- Styles of parenting
- The use of choices
- Building courage and self-esteem
- Responsibility and discipline
- I" messages
- Natural and logical consequences
- Mutual respect
- Winning cooperation from your child
- Saying no to drugs
- How to use family meeting to solve problems
- Emphasizing the family unit
Family
Violence Center
Barry,
Lawrence Counties Standing Together
Lafayette House
Domestic Violence in the Latino Community
Alianzas is continuing to coordinate and bring together all of the players in the area of domestic violence. Connected with Mattie Rhodes Counseling & Art Center for help and assistance in domestic violence. Resources of this agency will now be shared throughout the state. Agencies have been identified and have taken ownership of current tasks to effectively address problems of domestic violence. Lafayette House and its partners (Clark Community Mental Health Center, BLAST, Barry Co. Health Dept., Lawrence Co. DFS, Barry Co. Sheriff and BLAST Multicultural Task Team) have a federal grant for rural domestic violence/child victimization. Alianzas is focusing on rural domestic violence and is presenting workshops on cross-cultural training for service providers and shelters. Alianzas works with urban centers that have dealt with domestic violence counseling and are sharing with rural areas what they have learned. We are recording the concerns and needs of the people that are working Latinos. The training is consisting of:
- Obstacles in shelters
- What we have learned throughout the state
- What has been useful
- What we are still learning
- Complexities of immigration law in Domestic Violence
- Shelter rules that are culture flexible
- Answer questions and offering assistances
Latino Teen Suicide Prevention
University of Missouri Extension specialist held classes for over one hundred and fifty middle school students at Aurora Schools on teen depression and suicide prevention. Over 50% of the students were of Latino origin and a very high percentage knew of someone that attempted suicide or had thoughts of suicide themselves.
EDUSTAT
This is a Literacy Program for Latino prison inmates in the Federal Medical Prison in Springfield MO. Efforts in the region also include the development of an educational center in which Mexican citizens can pursue their secondary school diploma via distance learning. This will be done in conjunction with the Mexican Government, which is sponsoring these centers throughout the United States. We hope to replicate this program in other learning centers in our region.
Hispanos Unidos
Renato Cruz, Director of Hispanos Unidos, has joined forces with Alianzas Project and other service providers to bring in speakers from the community to speak on issues that the Latino community needs to know about and to learn the ways of the Ozarks’ communities. Meetings were held in Neosho, Carthage, and Noel with a large turnout of Latino people. Police, Fire Departments, Social Security, Mayors, political leaders and University specialists have participated in discussions on public safety, civic duties, and environmental care.
Goal 5: To assure that education and public policy are addressed on a statewide and local basis.
Alianzas Diversity Projects
- Presented a session on "Multicultural Competence and the Southwest Missouri Latino Survey" to Court Clerk College in Blue Springs, Missouri, Springfield MU Alumni Scholarship Association at Hickory Hills Golf Course, and FNEP regional supervisors at Columbia
- Two sessions in October to childcare providers from southwest Missouri
- "Multicultural Competence, Diversity, & Southwest Missouri Latinos"
- "Teaching Tolerance in Early Childhood
- Presented the workshop "Diversity and Leadership" to high school students in a Youth Leadership program called EXCEL at Mt. Grove, Missouri
- Presented the workshop "Diversity and Multicultural Competence" at Web City to regional area educators that teach Latinos students
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http://extension.missouri.edu/swregion/news/
Delivered to several publications that reach minority or multi-cultural groups. University of Missouri Extension releases have been carried in each of these media outlets:
- Aurora radio station (Spanish broadcasting)
- El Tiempo (Spanish stories)
- Provided assistance to staff of the Noel Multicultural Center in writing media releases and gaining media exposure for their July 7, 2002 event;
- Distributed stories related to Hispanic issues and concerns to all of the media outlets in southwest Missouri;
- Wrote and distributed information for various meetings and events related to diversity for Alianzas.
- Offered and gave special media assistance to Alianzas and ORA;
- Brought media attention to Alianzas study on the Hispanic population in southwest Missouri;
- Provided assistance to staff of the Noel Multicultural Center in writing media releases and gaining media exposure for their July 7, 2002 event;
- Efforts resulted in unprecedented coverage for the migrant leadership academy on the campus of SMSU. Total coverage exceeded a placement value of $5,000.
- Gained national media coverage for the Alianzas study on Latino issues.
The Missouri Multicultural Network Citizenship Course
The Missouri Multicultural Network's citizenship preparation course has just hit the 200 mark of enrollment. MSSU (Missouri Southern State University) had over 200 enrollees in the course, and have several have reported back saying they have gone on to become citizens as a result. Alianzas Specialists have been on the advisory board since the inception. Web links to the comments about the citizenship-preparation course are online. Most enrollees are from Texas and the East and West Coasts few are from Missouri. We are now promoting the site through all organizations that will host our logo so Missouri immigrants here may take advantage of this stellar course that is working extremely well for so many. All of ORA service providers are advertising to immigrant patrons for the INS naturalization course by enrolling in our free course.
EL Tiempo Newspaper
The El Tiempo Spanish newspaper is published through the McDonald County Press to address the needs of the Latino Community. The newspaper is written in Spanish and has a weekly distribution over 15 thousand in a three state area. University of Missouri Extension guide sheets and Alianzas advertisements are translated and printed frequently for free of charge.
Drivers License ITV
Southwest Alianzas help plan and host state wide ITV for driver’s license forum. Three sites of state sites were in southwest region.
Outcomes:
- Learned what efforts are taking place at the statewide level in regards to immigrants obtaining a drivers license
- Learned what others states have done to address this issue
- Learned how the Mexican Consulate’s matricula consular works
- Gained information on public safety/security and obtaining support from different entities such as Police Departments, Motor Vehicle Departments and others service providers
Bi-National Mexican Teacher Culture Exchange
The Mexican teacher culture exchange participating organizations include The Missouri Migrant Education Program (Title 1-C); DESE; Southwest Missouri University; the Mexican Government; and the University of Missouri Extension UMKC Alianzas Project. Three teachers from Mexico are currently placed in three different school systems in the state. Plan to place six teachers next year.
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