Cooper/Howard
Hispanic/Latino Meeting
5:30 p.m. Tuesday January 20, 2004
LaHacienda
Attending: Andy
Melendez, Santiago Mejia, Jamie Thompson, Raquel White, Janie Houf, Tommy White,
Tom White, and Art Schneider
Santiago Mejiais a new resident of
Boonville. He read about the meeting in the Boonville Daily News. He is from
Milwaukee and is currently looking for work. Andy and Art are to contact Carrie
Tyler about a position in Marshall. Also, other possible employer contacts were
given Santiago.
Update on emergency numbers booklet----Art
Schneider distributed a Spanish and English copy of the emergency booklet. It
was translated by Carrie Tyler. Bi-lingual went over both booklets for accuracy.
This will be modified into booklet form.Two additions will be made to the
booklet in conjunction with First Baptist Church. Raquel White said she will get
the information and send Art the changes.
Update on English as Second Language--Janie
Houf reported four Latinos and a four-year-old are taking the class. Judy Stack
is working with the four-year-old. Also, there is one Chinese speaker taking the
class. The classes are meeting twice a week and should be completed in April.
Update on Fuqua Homes and availability of meeting room
and sharing or funding books for employees in the English As Second Language
Program--Mayor Danielle Blanck was unable to attend because the City
council meeting regular meeting was moved to tonight in acknowledgement of the
Martin Luther King holiday.
Janie raised the question if Marshall has ESL classes and whether it might be
more reasonable for Fuqua employees to attend there. Art will contact Carrie
Tyler for information on this.
Janie also reported she had been discussing textbook scholarships for ESL
attendees and been advised that fully paid textbook scholarships sometimes
diminish the incentive to attend. It had been recommended to her that partial
funding scholarships be considered for textbooks.
Spanish second language-Spanish first
language small group discussions--Art Schneider. reported that news media
efforts were made to see if there was interest in perfecting basic Spanish
skills and Spanish speakers improving English skills. There was no response to
the call. It may be something that can be initiated at a later date.
Update on suggestion--Missouri Attorney
General Jay Nixon’s office has a booklet titled “Important Missouri Laws.” Jamie
Thompson reported that the booklet is being held pending modification. She will
let us know when it will be ready.
Spanish language publications from health--Cooper
County Nursing Service--Art Schneider received a couple of publications from the
nursing service for a packet.
Sister City Update---Art Schneider has
received a packet of material and downloaded information from the Internet. Andy
Melendez will review the information and report to the group at the next
meeting.
Friendship Festival--Art Schneider noted the
large Spanish speaking first language populations in Boone, Moniteau, Pettis and
Saline counties. He noted that in Springfield, Mo., a Friendship Festival is
held in the fall each year.
Janie Houf mentioned that an International Festival might be a very welcome
activity. Jamie Thompson mentioned that Sedalia has a global village program.
Thoughts were given to various international foods, perhaps street booths,
perhaps dances. Art suggested Del Alma as a possibility.
Some discussion was directed toward where it might be headquartered. Art
suggested Turner Hall , with its open floor plan and central location, might be
a location to consider.
Target season would be spring of 2005. Art mentioned that local not-for-profits
are eligible for funding from the city sales tax. The applications are in August
and the results known by October.
This will be pursued further at the March 23 meeting.