How can we make it better?

[Teresa]

Hello,
I am interested in finding out how people in small town communities can
welcome our hispanic/Latino community. Im sure that there is not one real
solution, but what can the the local people and cities do to make things
better? I am doing research for an english class on the subject. I can see
the segregation of our community and it really bothers me. Thanks for any
response you can provide.

Teresa

[Perry Winkle]

Post by Teresa
I can see
the segregation of our community and it really bothers me. Thanks for any
response you can provide.
Teresa

It would help if you would be more specific. Where is
it that you live?

When you use the loaded term "segregation"
it has all sorts of negative implications. People in
general tend to "congregate" with others who they are
comfortable with. EVERYONE prefers to "congregate"
with people who they share something in common with.
In a sense, we "segregate" ourselves when we do that.

[Teresa]

You are exactly right. Segregation is a harsh word. I did not mean for it to
sound negative. For starters, I feel that we have a language barrier that
keeps people in congregations. I live in North Carolina. I feel that each
individual town should put forth an effort to bring people from differant
backgrounds together for more community interactions. What are other cities
doing to unite the gap between people of differant cultures?
Thanks,
Teresa

Post by Perry Winkle

Post by Teresa
I can see
the segregation of our community and it really bothers me. Thanks for any
response you can provide.
Teresa

It would help if you would be more specific. Where is
it that you live?
When you use the loaded term "segregation"
it has all sorts of negative implications. People in
general tend to "congregate" with others who they are
comfortable with. EVERYONE prefers to "congregate"
with people who they share something in common with.
In a sense, we "segregate" ourselves when we do that.

[Perry Winkle]

Post by Teresa
You are exactly right. Segregation is a harsh word. I did not mean for it to
sound negative. For starters, I feel that we have a language barrier that
keeps people in congregations. I live in North Carolina. I feel that each
individual town should put forth an effort to bring people from differant
backgrounds together for more community interactions. What are other cities
doing to unite the gap between people of differant cultures?
Thanks,
Teresa

I live in south central NEW Mexico, where a large
segment of the population is of hispanic extraction.
And bordering my town is an Indian reservation.
Each culture has its own feasts and celebrations
as annual events to which everyone is invited. These
free events, sponsored by various entities, are the
best way I know of for making each of us aware of
the history and traditions of each other, and the
important contributions each culture makes to the
present-day UNITED States of America.

I think the important thing to remember is that most
of these events are not thought of as something
to bring people of different cultures together, although
they accomplish that. Rather, more important is the idea of
celebrating one's cultural roots - and keeping that which
makes one's cultural heritage what it is today.

[Teresa]

Thank you for sharing your information with me. The town that I live in does
not do anything at the present. I plan to present any and all suggestions to
our local government on various ways that we can make this happen. Would you
have any ideas on the types of organizations or groups that help with
planning these events? You have been very informative. I appreciate any
information you can provide.
Teresa

Post by Perry Winkle

Post by Teresa
You are exactly right. Segregation is a harsh word. I did not mean for it to
sound negative. For starters, I feel that we have a language barrier that
keeps people in congregations. I live in North Carolina. I feel that each
individual town should put forth an effort to bring people from differant
backgrounds together for more community interactions. What are other cities
doing to unite the gap between people of differant cultures?
Thanks,
Teresa

I live in south central NEW Mexico, where a large
segment of the population is of hispanic extraction.
And bordering my town is an Indian reservation.
Each culture has its own feasts and celebrations
as annual events to which everyone is invited. These
free events, sponsored by various entities, are the
best way I know of for making each of us aware of
the history and traditions of each other, and the
important contributions each culture makes to the
present-day UNITED States of America.
I think the important thing to remember is that most
of these events are not thought of as something
to bring people of different cultures together, although
they accomplish that. Rather, more important is the idea of
celebrating one's cultural roots - and keeping that which
makes one's cultural heritage what it is today.

[Perry Winkle]

Post by Teresa
Would you
have any ideas on the types of organizations or groups that help with
planning these events?

Many of the annual events are sponsored by those
kinds of organizations that represent the various
factions involved. For example, in my town there
is a "hispanic Chamber of Commerce" that is separate
from the Chamber of Commerce that represents most
of the businesses in town. They sponsor at least
two events annually - the Cinco de Mayo and
Diez y Seis de Septiembre events. Churches are
another sponsor of annual events, especially the
Catholic churches. Local civic organizations sponsor
many events - Lions, Rotary, Lulac, Women's Clubs, etc.
My town has a Regional Arts Council that sponsors
year-around events, both visual and performing arts,
that are free to the public.

Then there are the events intended as fund raisers
for the various groups that sponsor them. Annual
events like Aspenfest, Octoberfest, Motorcycle Rally
(as many as 35,000 participants), Cowboy Symposium,
Rock and other types of concerts, Chili Cook-off,
several different art fairs, and others that I
haven't thought of.

[Teresa]

Perfect! We are behind times in alot of areas. This information gives us
something to propose to local organizations such as these. Thank you for
being so helpful. We only have one chamber of commerce, I see that there is
alot of work to be done in our community. Change comes with people working
together and this will start the process.
Take care, and thanks again.
Teresa

Post by Perry Winkle

Post by Teresa
Would you
have any ideas on the types of organizations or groups that help with
planning these events?

Many of the annual events are sponsored by those
kinds of organizations that represent the various
factions involved. For example, in my town there
is a "hispanic Chamber of Commerce" that is separate
from the Chamber of Commerce that represents most
of the businesses in town. They sponsor at least
two events annually - the Cinco de Mayo and
Diez y Seis de Septiembre events. Churches are
another sponsor of annual events, especially the
Catholic churches. Local civic organizations sponsor
many events - Lions, Rotary, Lulac, Women's Clubs, etc.
My town has a Regional Arts Council that sponsors
year-around events, both visual and performing arts,
that are free to the public.
Then there are the events intended as fund raisers
for the various groups that sponsor them. Annual
events like Aspenfest, Octoberfest, Motorcycle Rally
(as many as 35,000 participants), Cowboy Symposium,
Rock and other types of concerts, Chili Cook-off,
several different art fairs, and others that I
haven't thought of.