Cooper/Howard Hispanic/Latino Group

October 21, 2004

Stein House, Boonville

Attendance: Art Schneider, Jamie Thomson, Leonor Jurado, Andrew Melendez, Raquel White, Tom White, and Donald Frederick.

Issues Forum: Jamie reported 16 people attended. Thirty-four were scheduled.  She said there was a wide range of occupational backgrounds and ages and genders. Two-thirds reported they thought differently as a result f the forum.  She asked about possible future topics and responses included information on laws, etc., rarely discussed in schools.

They discussed the lack of support network for immigrants, skilled versus unskilled immigrants, among other topics.

The evaluations were very positive.  Twelve of 16 reported that as a result of the forum they had a greater respect for others’ views.

Fourteen said they would recommend this forum to others.

Eleven would recommend individuals attend a forum on another topic. Possible topics mentioned were “The troubled American Family” and “Immigration Law and Rights.”

At the end of this e-mail are the reports Jamie has put together.

English as Second Language: No report

Spanish pen pal exchange: Raquel, Art and Tom were to contact schools to ascertain interest in an electronic pen-pal exchange with Centro Latino.

Raquel said she had talked with the teacher at Ss. Peter & Pail. Spanish is offered in eighth grade. Rita Rapp is the teacher. There is interest. Rita will be contacted.

Tom said he has not had an opportunity to meet with David Barton. (He has been in Florida with the emergency preparedness there.)

Art contacted Bunceton School and the school there is interested. The school does not have e-mail addresses for the elementary age students because of concerns about unwanted e-mail being sent them. The principal will be in touch with the technology teacher to arrange for the e-mail addresses. Art has sent an e-mail to the superintendent, principal and Lisa Brininstool at Columbia Centro Latino to begin then process of setting up the e-mail pal program.

Jamie and Art reported that University Extension is providing some funding to assist in a face-to-face meeting between the e-mail pals. None of the funding may be used for bus transportation. 

International Festival---Andre reminded the group that it had discussed an international festival in January at Turner Hall. These would be booths in the afternoon with representatives from various Latino and Hispanic countries. This would target families with young children. The evening program would be a dance with Del Alma. Andre approached Thrivent on behalf of the group

Don Frederick as a Thrivent representative (a Lutheran benevolent association that includes major funding for educational and charitable programs) for Immanuel Lutheran. The project would need to receive approval and the meeting for this would be mid-January. It must include community outreach. He said the church would assist in the fundraising and Thrivent would match the fundraising.

Andre and Art discussed the January date after learning of the Thrivent timeline. Since Easter is in March, they have discussed the Hispanic Festival be in April. (Chris Angelo, who could not attend the meeting, also supports this.)

Leonor said the first week of April is when the Big Muddy s scheduled. This suggests the second or third weekend of April as possibilities.

Fundraising: Raquel suggested a bake sale or craft sale. She would be willing to contact Ricky Powell for a $50 donation.

Don said the match would need to be sent to Thrivent by Cashier’s check.

Also suggested by Lenora was having a movie and charging $1 admission. (One problem is that videos/CDs have copyright restrictions that do not permit showing movies commercially).

It also was suggested that the dance tickets be $10 per couple. With just 30 couples $300 would be raised.

Art suggested that the Girl Friend’s Place be contacted about vendoring food.

Don reiterated that Thrivent would provide volunteers to assist.

Also discussed were making snacks that could be sold—finger foods.

Lenora suggested that an admission be charged for entry to the Hispanic exhibits, perhaps $1.

Raquel suggested that she could secure recipes for snacks. The group discussed each preparing a certain number of snacks to sell at the event.

Art was asked about the purpose of the festival. He suggested three outcomes:

1)     To educate Boonville area residents about the variety of Hispanic cultures.

2)     To facilitate relationships between Boonville residents and Latinos.

3)     To stimulate participants to learn more.

It was suggested that the Spanish teachers be involved in the festival process. Art said he would arrange to contact the schools and secure the names of the Spanish teachers.

Raquel said she would be willing to gather recipes from a variety of Hispanic cultures and provide them to our members.

The members would prepare perhaps a 100 of the samples for sale at the festival. 

Raquel will send the recipes to Art for distribution and members will be asked to select a recipe.

April 16 will be first choice for the festival and April 23 second choice. Turner hall will need to be contacted on this.

Distribution of Welcome (Bienvenidos) brochures: Art asked where the group thought that we should distribute the brochures.

The suggestions were: library, churches, chamber of commerce, food pantry, Senior Center, Nordyne, Fuqua, Caterpillar, Hospital, Harvest House, Health Department. The Extension Center will arrange for this.

(This also highlights deficiencies that will need to be corrected in future editions. Howard County information on churches, chamber, food pantry, employers, health department is not in the brochures.)

The next meeting of the group will be at 5:30 p.m. December 16 at the Stein House.

NOTE: Art checked with Turner Hall and the dates are available. However, the cost would be substantially more than $100 because that is wedding season and the hall could be rented out for much more than $100. However, a fee close to $100 would be possible for Sunday, April 17. That may not be as attractive for dancing in the evening.

The group will need to discuss this at the next meeting.

Also, there is a need to discuss promotional costs.

Reports from Jamie:

National Issues Forum

“The New Challenges of American Immigration”

Thursday, September 30, 2004

Boonville, Missouri

NIFI Questionnaire

1.  Do you agree or disagree with the statements below?

Emphasizing cultural differences is more likely to drive Americans apart than to bring them together?

The main terrorist threat to the U.S. comes from persons who arrive here from abroad.

The country’s racial and ethnic diversity is a main source of its strength.

Immigrants have a positive economic impact on this country.

Current levels of immigration strain already overburdened social services such as education and health care.

By working for lower pay, low-skilled immigrants displace U.S. workers.

2.  Do you favor or oppose each of these actions?

The government should maintain a computerized system to carefully track all foreign students and workers.

All immigrants should be required to learn English so they will be more quickly assimilated.

We should admit more refugees fleeing from religious and political persecution.

We should admit more skilled workers to fill critical occupational shortages in fields like nursing.

The U.S. should drastically reduce the number of immigrants it admits now.

We should provide financial relief to states like California and Texas that have especially large numbers of immigrants.

3.  Do you favor or oppose the statements listed below?

We should discontinue bilingual language programs in schools, EVEN IF this makes it harder for immigrant children to do well in school at first.

We should keep immigration at present levels, EVEN IF this means accepting more unskilled workers who will need social services.

We should reduce the numbers of immigrants allowed into this country, EVEN IF this means keeping families apart and turning away refugees from persecution.

4.  Are you thinking differently about this issue now that you have participated in the forum?

YES   4            NO   3

• Hearing other opinions is enlightening.
• I have more questions—laws, rules, and regulations.

5.  In your forum, did you talk about aspects of the issue you hadn’t considered before?

YES   5            NO   1

6.  What, if anything, might citizens in your community do differently as a result of this forum?

• Unsure
• What services are available?  How can we prepare for diverse groups?
• Continue to meet
• Support immigrants’ needs for education.
• Good question
• Better coordinate services available [to immigrants]
• Acknowledge positive contribution of immigrants to one community.
• Encourage better education/exposure to diversity of citizens to help decrease fear.

7.  How many National Issues Forums have you attended, including this one?

1 – 3   [7]

8.  Male   4     Female   3

9.  Are you:

African American   1     White/Caucasian   6

10.  How old are you?

18 – 30   [1]                 31 – 45   [3]                 46 – 64   [2]                 65 or older   [6]

10.  What is your ZIP code?

65202, 65203, 65233, 65237

National Issues Forum

“The New Challenges of American Immigration”

Thursday, September 30, 2004

Boonville, Missouri

Evaluation Responses:

Are you thinking differently about this issue now that you have participated in the forum?

Yes  10                                   No  5

Comments:

• I gained insight into how other people in the group thought about these issues.
• The idea of more open immigration ideas.
• I will try to educate myself more about this topic.
• I appreciated the diversity of opinions, and a higher degree of compassion than I expected.
• I have a little clearer understanding of this subject.
• It was interesting to hear different views.
• More education needed on immigration including trends, laws, etc.
• New issues considered.
• More aware.
• This issue is rarely discussed in my social circles.  I was very much in the dark about how others feel about immigration issue.  I never knew people felt this way.

In this forum, did you talk about aspects of the issue you had not considered before?

Yes  10                                   No  5

Comments:

• Lack of support network.
• Economic aspects—making the quotas more strict.
• Aspects of skilled vs. unskilled immigrants and their contributions/threats to community.
• The 3 labels or views of immigration.
• The 3 views present were good models.
• European Union.
• Limited professions for entry.

As a result of this forum, do you have a greater respect for other’s views?

Yes  12                    No  2

Comments:

• All ideas are worth hearing, even if you don’t agree.
• I was grateful for the respectful contribution of the participants (people generally listened to each other).
• Same [did not check either response]
• Helps to understand different points of view.
• I respect their sincerity and concern.
• No, I felt I always had respect.
• Good diversity of opinion.
• Listen more closely.
• Even if I don’t agree its good to her other points of view.

Would you recommend this experience to others?

Yes  14                                   No  1

Would you like to attend other issue forums?

Yes  11

No  1

Comments:

• Troubled American Family
• Would depend on topic availability [did not check either response].
• Depends upon subject—Workforce, Immigration Laws/Immigration Rights [did not check either response].
• Possibly [did not check either response].

I like to see other community members sharing.

National Issues Forum

“The New Challenges of American Immigration”

Thursday, September 30, 2004

Boonville, Missouri

Approach #1 

America's Changing Face -- Is There Too Much Difference?

Proponents of this approach see immigration as a looming identity crisis.  At the present rate of immigration, increasing diversity threatens to break the bonds of unity -- the common ideals of language and democracy -- that define our political institutions.  Immigration should be slowed to allow time for immigrants to assimilate into American culture.

• Idea of unity, love—911
• Control
• Expectation of English language—honor culture—better lives
• Act as if/cultural awareness
• Resources kept [under] our control
• Not our obligation
• Against government—solve our own problems
• Fear, lifestyle issues, angry [that] system is broken—immigrants taking our jobs/$$
• Fear criminal justice system—secure borders, terrorists
• Control how many immigrants [enter this country]
• Unfair—immigrants get breaks
• Concern[s] about citizenship—illegal stay, refugee laws.  What they can/cannot do?
• Mandatory English—should not
• Fear base—speaking English or all Spanish.  Community concerns—police school, hospital.  Charity vs. justice

Approach #2

A Nation of Immigrants -- Remembering America's Heritage

In this view, open immigration has been the backbone of America's strength.  Combining diverse cultures yields a uniquely strong and rich society and, overall, immigrants offer far more to American society than they take from it.  America must continue to welcome newcomers despite the costs.

• Like culture, country, freedom
• Mentor
• Family ties
• Effective/jobs/higher pay vs. low pay threaten community
• Skilled workers vs. control
• Control, limited entry of immigrants
• Ethnic concerns
• Threat to young people—job related resentment
• Not enough jobs for U.S.
• No workforce here—but immigrant providing the workforce
• Overpopulation
• Our community needs [are] not met.  Immigrants will do the work.
• Policy—refugees
• Some can and some cannot
• Skilled workers enter [and] stay
• Moral society [is] our obligation
• Develop their communities
• Blended economy

Approach #3

A Matter of Priorities -- Putting Economics First

Those who advocate this approach contend that immigrants strain the public purse, compete for jobs, and exceed our carrying capacity.  They say that the nation would benefit economically by restricting the number of newcomers, and by looking more closely at how their arrival affects the well-being of those who are already here.

• No appeal
• Skilled workers contribute to the community
• National/internal leaders
• Criteria [for] good citizenship
• Control [of] illegal vs. legal services
• Their agenda [upon] entering our country
• Laws, government, rights
• 90 days rev. (?) check
• Benefits—healthcare
• Deprived [of] healthcare
• Government fair [in dealing with] immigrants in U.S.
• Not limit skilled persons
• Everyone come—criteria [is] citizenship.  Why are they here?
• Education helps

Tensions

• Rules—how to use them?
• Government involvement—grant programs
• Services [provided in] any language
• Time, money, resources
• Higher taxes
• Fear racial profiling
• Fear loosing our culture
• New programs
• New change in our diversity
• Free trade—jobs vs. workers

Common Ground—values

• Children see diversity
• Caring spirit
• Children [are] not allowed [to] embrace diversity—learned behavior
• Parents/community involvement—create barriers
• U.S. slow interethnic group
• United U.S.
• Expanded cultural
• Lack support network with immigrants
• Not yet

Your change

• Totally different
• Nobody talks to each other
• Need more laws
• Common ground—good/bad stories

Why no show of immigrants [to this forum]

• Work[ing tonight]
• Language barriers
• Intimidation
• Not open comments
• [Said yes to] please you [then] no show
• fear