Cooper/Howard
Hispanic/Latino Group
5:30 p.m. January 31, 2005
Mayor Danielle Blanck’s House
818 Bingham Road
Attending: Danielle Blanck, Jane Houf, Jamie
Thompson, Andy Melendez, and Art Schneider. Lisa sent an e-mail, as she had to
take children home at the time of the meeting. Tom and Raquel have a school
event to attend. After the meeting Chris Angelo said to keep her informed.
Christina Velasquez-Case has been named director of Alianzas for the University
and is now based in Kansas City.
Bienvenidos Boonville: Art brought a box of
the Bienvenidos brochures for distribution to 17 different locations in the
Boonville area and one in Otterville. All graciously shared the distribution
load.
Janie reported that First Baptist Church has a room set aside for Hispanics use
if and when the need occurs. The room has seating for 10.
Update on ESL and Fuqua: Janie and the mayor have been working at
contacting Fuqua. This is the slow season and the company has cut back on hours.
They will continue their efforts.
Meanwhile, Janie also is contacting LaHacienda. Janie currently has two people
in ESL. They are using books for this class on handling daily tasks. Janie had
planned on using books for people who work in businesses for Fuqua. She is
considering a combination of books for daily life and business for La Hacienda.
She also has found that many do not plan to stay in the United States for very
long and are able to operate without learning the language.
Bunceton-Centro-Latino Update: Lisa
Brininstool sent an e-mail noting that the e-mail pal program would be starting
by Feb. 4 or Feb. 11. She said the teacher in charge of this has been on
maternity leave. Lisa also reported Centro Latino has moved from Parkade Plaza
to 206 Austin—this is across the street from Hickman High School on the Business
Loop and behind Taco Bell. She said to “Tell everyone hello and I will see you
next time.”
International Festival: The mayor reported
the casino has decided not to participate. Art has been informed by Bianca Thoma
that LaHacienda will participate with food, but the details are still to be
finalized.
Them mayor expressed serious concern about being able to generate sufficient
attendance to meet the expenses. The hall would be about $230 and the band $600.
She noted it takes a lot of manpower to bring such an event together.
Art said he has tried to establish contact several times with Latino groups at
M.U., but not been successful. Janie said that there is a cultural concern of
trying to please and often people say they will help, but they do not do so.
“What we (the group) has done is wonderful,” the mayor said. “Maybe we are
trying to do too much. I think we can pat ourselves on the back.” Maybe meeting
once or twice a year is satisfactory and more frequently if there is an influx.
Leslie and Davis Oswald had been contacted to see about the Missouri River Rats
cosponsoring the festival. By co sponsorship, Art had suggested promoting the
festival and dance. David’s father died this morning and he and Leslie will be
gone this week.
Art also had asked about Latin dance lessons that could culminate about the time
of the festival.
George and Alfredo of DelAlma have offered to help with the project. They have
volunteered dance instructors before DelAlma plays. Alfredo suggested that
restaurants might sponsor an international festival. He said promoted in Sedalia
and Marshall could attract a large crowd. He suggested a $6 admission charge for
the dance.
Earlier, Art had talked with the Boonville High School student body president
and she thought students would be eager to attend a dance with DelAlma. The
mayor advised that a broader range of student commitments would be necessary to
make the festival work.
Art asked to defer a decision until the end of February to allow some more
efforts to be made to see if it can be pulled together.
Mini-society: No report from Lisa. She does not have the names of authorized
coordinators.
Jamie reported that the Kaufman Foundation no longer sponsors mini-society and
the home page for the program is no longer on the web. However, the program
still exists. Neldra Flint who is still with the foundation coordinates it.
Jamie is contacting her to get updates on materials, etc…
She said Extension urban youth specialist Leon Moon will assist in getting
Spanish instructors for Columbia. Jamie also will check wit r-H youth specialist
Jim Ronald on assistance in Columbia. She said that she and Carmen would start
the Mini-Society series starting March 3. It should end June 9. Carmen is
recruiting participants at this time.
Cambio de Colores: Art noted that Cambio de
Colores would be March 30-April 1. Last year Janie attended in St. Louis. She
reported the conference was “excellent.” She will be attending the conference
this year in Columbia.
Art encouraged the mayor to consider attending and Andy to also consider it. He
suggested the church be asked to pay the $175 fee. The website is:
http://www.decolores.missouri.edu/
The registration must be postmarked by March 16th, 2005.
The fee includes all breaks, two breakfasts, one lunch, and one dinner, as well
as a conference packet. Registration will be $200 for applications received on
or after March 17th.
Meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.