Cooper/Howard Hispanic/Latino Group
5:30 p.m., April 12, 2005
LaHacienda

Present: Jennifer White, Tom White, Andy Melendez, Raquel White, Tommy White and Art Schneider.

Pen Pals—Lisa Brininstool was unable to be present. Earlier she e-mailed Art that she has been in contact with New Franklin School in addition to Bunceton School. Bunceton had been delayed for two reasons: students did not have individual e-mail addresses. After that hurdle was addressed, the teacher needed an extended pregnancy leave. It is uncertain to what extent a picnic will be possible.

Mini-Society—Jamie Thompson’s family is facing medical issues and Jamie was unable to be at the meeting. She has reported that the first sessions of Mini-Society have been held. The initial enrollment was 16 youth with others unable to attend the first meeting, but planning to be at future sessions.

Update on Bienvenidos brochure—Several additions in English have been added to the brochure to include Howard County. Still to be added are welcome from Howard County communities and commissioners of both counties.

Art attended Cambio de Colores and will include information on the differences between Latino schools and American schools in the brochure. Other additions will be brought to the group. The revised expanded draft is hoped to be available by this fall.

International Festival Celebration—Jennifer noted that plans are moving forward at the Y for summer programming. At the end of this week she will be meeting the Y director (after her meeting with the parks & recreation director) to work on a multi-organizational collaboration youth program May 31 to July 8.

She will suggest that the summer youth program conclude with an international festival. She thought maybe children could make items as part of that festival and perhaps even have a program for parents that evening.

Art noted dentist. Ricky Powell donated money for an international festival and those funds could be used.

Discussion then focused on people in the Boonville area who are from different arts of the world sharing what life is like in their home countries. In some instances, people who have studied or been abroad can also serve as resources.

Members were able to identify local people with the following connections: Puerto Rico, China, Argentina, Russia, Germany, and Indonesia.

Some discussion covered possible games that the children could learn that had their origins in other countries. Suggested for a starter discussion were chess and dominoes.

Miscellaneous—Raquel shared two instances in which she assisted law enforcement. In one instance the individual’s vehicle broke down and he was stranded. She served as a translator.
In the second instances there was an accident. Four Hispanics were driving from Colorado to Kentucky. Work in Colorado had been put on hold because of the snowfall and they were told to take three weeks off. They were going to see family in Kentucky when the driver fell asleep. Medical care was needed and Raquel served as a translator.

Work—Some discussion of 18-year-olds who had been working as roofers in Columbia at $21 an hour during the summer not being hired because Mexican workers were taking the jobs at lower pay.

Meeting concluded at 7 p.m.

Next meeting tentatively scheduled for late May or early June to assist with the International festival. Jennifer will link with the group, as we get closer to the date.