One Community Montrose/Delta
Olathe Community Forum
May 12, 2007
Introduction notes:
Discovering Our Strengths :
• Wall of Wonder
Olathe Community Strengths:
ESL in schools; Required two years Spanish in Olathe; Mesa State Spanish classes; Schools; Newcomer's club in Montrose; Adult ESL education; Latino Leaders; Migrant Head Start & education programs; Early childhood centers offering information in primary language; Latino businesses; Strong Spanish community of support; Community groups; Festivals; Anglos who speak Spanish & smile; Some churches; Parents help w/ translation with local schools; Welcome wagon (CA.); Agricultural community;
Group Strength #1 |
Group Strength #2 |
Group Strength #3 |
Group Strength #4 |
Group Strength #5 |
Education
Good schools;
ESL programs in schools and for Adults;
2 yr Spanish language requirement;
Parents help with translation at school;
Mesa State Spanish classes;
Migrant education
Program;
Migrant Head Start;
Early childhood centers offering info in primary language |
Community
Churches
Community groups
Festivals
Latino Leaders
Strong Spanish community of support
Bilingual Anglos who smile!!
Newcomers club in Montrose |
Economy
Agricultural community
Latino businesses |
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Mapping Our Issues (Take Picture then Re-create)
Mind Map of Factors Affecting Montrose/Delta One Community
Prioritizing of Issues
1. Welcoming & support center (23)
2. Newcomer orientation (15)
3. Identifying leaders in all communities & bridging (15)
4. Community cultural activities (12)
5. Acquiring language skills to communicate (11)
6. Legal support (11)
7. Community advocates/ supporters (Promotores) (8)
8. Educating everyone's children (8)
9. Educational opportunities at University (8)
Debrief Mind Map & Wall of Wonder
Notes:
Other Categories of interest:
Labor:
Education about employment
Education of employers about the culture of their employees
Media: Bilingual radio and newspaper
Economic Factors:
Income disparity
Government awareness of economic factors
General community awareness of economic contribution of immigrants
Immigration reform :
Streamline a guest worker program
Political awareness and education about the need to normalize and legalize workers
Healthcare:
Need for universal healthcare
Inequities in healthcare
Law enforcement:
Education for law enforcement personnel about the different cultures they serve
Education of newcomers about the legal system, laws and the culture
Resources:
Access to clothing, affordable housing, legal support, etc.
Our Dreams for 2011
Team 1
• We are all bilingual
• Appreciate all cultural difference no matter where we come from
• Vibrant and enthusiastic agricultural center, jobs for everyone
• Olathe community center
• Universal health care – FREE
• Fairness in employment
• Understanding cultural similarities,
• Understand and cooperate with law enforcement
• Affordable housing concept
• Dual immersion schools, especially elementary
• Effective community dialogues
Team 2
• An integration of cultures, respectful of difference and each other
• Freedom of communication w/o fear
• Local government & community integrate
• Political laws change, education, health & legal changes
• Personal involvement and participation, ID problems. Without participation, there is nothing/
• We must love our place where we live and love each other. Otherwise, there is no community. Through education and support a new generation is learning the language of our country.
Team 3
• More education and financial opportunities and support for ALL students in our community
• Participate more in community, be more involved, know what's happening.
• Help with legalization papers, understanding immigration laws and procedures. Documentation supports participation
• Welcome centers with bilingual people
• Help for Cora people at community center, schools, jobs
• Help others and their children, keep them in school and motivate to continue on
Team 4
• Welcome/multicultural center for community
• Community integration celebration day
• Better communication, beyond language to cultural understanding
• Family support for education, graduate high school
• Easier access to health services and medical information
• Walking access and sidewalks
• Better trash pick up
Team 5
• Community seen as multicultural
• No more fear, period. We all live here together and are making a community. Don't fear what we don't understand.
• Connect our leaders, we've done that today J . Network and develop young people through leadership training.
• ESL program, go both ways, learn both languages
• Yes sidewalks, benches, awnings, paved streets, places to visit with each other, encourage us all to talk together and share time.
Dreaming Our Future
One Community Montrose/Delta Present Group Dreams
Education
• We are bilingual
• Dual immersion schools
• Educate ourselves about culture
• Increase post high school education
• Financial support for higher education
• More support for our children to continue in school
• Teaching Spanish as a second language
• Greater Family Support
• More Adult ESL programs
• Develop Leadership among our youth
TeamSign Up:
Housing
• Affordable Housing
• Co-housing: mixed ethnicity
• Love our neighbors
• Affordable housing complex near migrant worker dorm
Team Sign Up:
Healthcare
• Free Health Care For Everyone
• Easy access to health services
• Easy access to health education
Team Sign Up:
Culture
• Appreciate different cultures
• Cultural Awareness: understanding cultural similarities and differences
• One culture: cultural integration
• Celebration day for every culture and display of national flags
• Multicultural community
• Absence of fear of what is different and not readily understood
Team Sign Up:
Community (including recreation, civic participation, community relations)
• A vibrant agricultural community
• A multicultural community center
• Effective community dialogue
• Love and respect for community
• Community participation
• Welcome centers with bilingual speakers
• Trash pick up
• A resource center
• Community benches, better sidewalks, places to visit and connect with each other
• Total acceptance of each other
• Civic/Government responsibility for the community
• Participation in civic activities
• Attendance at community council meetings
• Freedom of communication without fear
• Community is integrated with local government
• Connecting our community leaders
• Network and develop young people through leadership training
Team Sign Up:
Business/Employment
• Jobs for everyone
• Equality in employment
Team Sign Up:
Law Enforcement
• Cooperative law enforcement
• Laws change in a positive way
• Assistance with legal documentation
• Understand and cooperate with law enforcement
• Change in
Team Sign Up:
Other
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Team Sign Up:
Closing Comments
• May 12 th Community Integration Day
• Begin now to put some of these ideas in place
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Plus/Delta
5:00 End of Forum
