THE LATINO INITIATIVE
Cooperative Extension and the Center for International Understanding
September 19-21, 2005
In partnership with the Center for International Understanding (CIU), we are offering 50
agents an opportunity for advanced training in working with the Latino population. Mark
your calendars for September 19, 20 and 21. This training session will begin at 12 noon
on September 19 and end with a luncheon on September 21. The training will be held at
the Brownstone Hotel in Raleigh. A CRD grant has been secured to pay for both
nights of lodging, three lunches and one evening meal at a special Latino event.
Agents will need to use their county allocation of state travel dollars for mileage and
other meals as appropriate.
Please respond to Craven Hudson if you are planning to join us at
craven_hudson@ncsu.edu.
Official registration through the iLMS program will be available soon. There will be an
email announcement when this registration process is available.
The Latino Outreach Team (LOT) is working with Extension Administration to offer a
cross-cultural trip to Mexico for 25 individuals who participate in the September 19-21
training session. The Center for International Understanding has offered similar cross-
cultural trips for community leaders throughout North Carolina. Information from the
Center is included at the end of the itinerary for the September 19-21 training session.
There will be a separate application process for this professional improvement
opportunity. The LOT is working to obtain funding to help participants cover the
expenses associated with this trip.
Tentative Agenda:
Brownstone Hotel, Raleigh
September 19
12:00-1:00 Lunch (provided)
1:00-3:00 Demographic Changes in North Carolina
Jim Johnson, UNC Kenan Flagler Professor
3:00-3:15 Break
3:30 Trip to Latino work environment. Dinner out with the Latino community
September 20
8:30-9:15 Climbing the Language Wall, Craven Hudson, NCCE
9:15-10:00 Current Issues Facing the Latino Community,
Governor’s Office for Hispanic/Latino Affairs & El Pueblo
10:00-10:30 Break (displays and conversations with speakers)
10:30-12:30 Many México’s, Nancy Westfall de Gurrola, University of Mexico City
12:30-1:30 Lunch (provided)
1:30-2:15 US/Mexican Relations and Economic Forces, Nancy Westfall de Gurrola
2:15-2:30 Break
2:30-3:30 Programming 101 for Latino Audiences, Julie Landry, NCCE
3:30-4:15 Hoke County’s Latino Advisory Board, Clinton McRae, NCCE
4:15-5:00 Tyrrell County Latino Programming, Dee Furlough, NCCE
5:00-6:00 What is the Center for International Understanding’s Latino Initiative?
Millie Ravenel and Melissa Edwards, CIU
Viewpoints from program participant, Ed Emory, NCCE
September 21
8:30- 9:45 The Acculturation Process, Emilio Parado, Duke University
9:45-10:00 Break
10:00-10:45 Cultural Cues and Language, Craven Hudson, NCCE
10:45-12:00 Provider versus Manager. Program Delivery Resources and Techniques
12:00 Lunch (provided)
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Information about the Latino Initiative and cross-cultural trip.
THE LATINO INITIATIVE
Immigration is a statewide challenge that calls out for
imaginative leadership
Background: The Center for International Understanding’s Latino Initiative provides NC
policy leaders with a fresh approach to immigration integration. North Carolina has the fastest
growing Latino population of any state, and most of the state’s newest residents are from
Mexico. The Latino Initiative provides NC leaders with resources and information to create
practical solutions for successfully incorporating immigrants into their communities.
Goals:
To develop a multi-disciplinary network of leaders interested in investigating the
challenges of incorporating immigrants into strong North Carolina communities
To inform leaders of the challenges and achievements of Latinos in North Carolina and
related service providing agencies
To gain a deeper understanding of the cultural, political, social and economic issues
impacting the decisions of Mexicans to come to NC and the life cycle experience of
Mexicans who migrate and the families they leave behind
Why Cooperative Extension?
North Carolina saw a 536 percent increase in its Latino Hispanic population from 1990-
2000, and a 517 percent increase in Latino student enrollment from 1994 to 2004.
Statewide, Latinos/Hispanics comprise 13.6 percent of total births in 2003.
Who is involved:
Participants are leaders from counties experiencing rapid demographic changes
Between 1998 and 2005, 235 policy and civic leaders participated in the Latino Initiative.
They included legislators, city and county elected officials, Latino leaders, law
enforcement officers, educators and leaders in health, housing, agriculture, law, business
and communities of faith.
A team for Cooperative Extension will be comprised of 25 members
Participants are required to:
Attend all portions of the program
Act as good ambassadors of North Carolina while in Mexico
Create an action plan summary for developing lessons learned, presenting them to a wide
circle of colleagues, and applying them to effect appropriate change within participants’
organizations
Agree to serve the community as a resource regarding integrating immigrants and related
issues
Cost of the program:
The cost for the program is $3,800 per person. Funding can be raised through grants and
private sources.
Schedule/Tentative Dates:
September 19-21, 2005. Study in NC
Presentations, readings and facilitated discussions led by scholars and experts.
February 10, 2006. Preparing for travel
Cross-cultural seminar, group discussions and travel preparation.
March 20-26, 2006. Study in Mexico
Seven-day program in Mexico to better understand issues impacting decisions to come to
NC.
June 9, 2006. Planning for Change (1-day)
Participants discuss what they learned and how it will impact local decision-making. Each
person will create an action plan summary for sharing lessons learned across the
leadership of their county. The Center will remain in touch with leaders in order to collect
local solutions that could assist other North Carolina communities.
What have been outcomes for this program in other counties? Each county identifies its own
issues that need attention, and, through the networks created with policy leaders and the Latino
community, identifies and implements their own solutions. A sampling of outcomes:
Health
Action plans in 9 communities that focus on effective health education for Latinos,
effective methods to teach providers, and collaboration with Latino leaders to effect
change that will benefit Latinos as well as NC communities
Mobilization of policy leader networks to respond to a state-wide rubella outbreak
Efforts are underway to provide low-cost group health insurance to members of Latino
organizations (membership is open to individuals of any ethnic background)
Utilization of Lay Health Advisors/Promotores to deliver holistic health promotion with a
sub-emphasis on Nutrition/Preventing Obesity and Diabetes
County Health Department received a grant to improve health services for Latino
children
Public Safety
Educational outreach, through collaboration of community colleges and police officers,
for adult ESL students
Law enforcement cultural training that focuses on officer safety and community outreach
(also provided training to 350 DMV examiners on reaching Latino drivers and ensuring
safe roads in NC)
City police department provided Spanish language materials for a facilitator to hold a
workshop on North Carolina laws and procedures in a migrant community in Mexico
Community Outreach
Chatham County participants defused a David Duke anti-immigration rally in Siler City
Creation of a new nonprofit organization by a local police department to focus on the
needs of the community’s non-English speakers, with start-up costs supplemented by the
town
Mayor-led efforts to support Latino community center
Establishment of a program to train churches on outreach to immigrants
Renewed focus on community outreach that pays attention to all backgrounds and
ethnicities
Education
Influence on legislation related to education, such as a bill addressing the academic
achievement gap between minority students and their white counterparts, including
efforts to address the needs of students with Limited English Proficiency
Allocation of new funds by Chatham County commissioners for their school system to
start a newcomer center
Improved services and teaching for ESL students
Implementation of staff development programs to increase cultural awareness and
sensitivity for the benefit of all students
Increased outreach to Latino/Hispanic families through improved communication
methods, development of Spanish-language materials, and collaboration with service
agencies
About the Center for International Understanding:
Founded in 1979, the Center for International Understanding has sent more than 7,500 North
Carolinians to 47 different countries to learn from and about the world. The Center is committed
to helping North Carolinians live and work effectively with people of all cultures. Its unique
blend of global education includes short-term immersion programs abroad, coupled with study
and training in North Carolina. The Center works primarily with policy leaders and educators,
providing them with the experiences and tools necessary to guide their communities and the State
through changes associated with an increasingly interdependent world. The Center for
International Understanding is a public service program of The University of North Carolina.
Executive Director: Millie Ravenel
Website: ciu.northcarolina.edu
For more information: Please contact Melissa Edwards, Latino Initiative Program Manager,
medwards@northcarolina.edu, 919-733-0600.