What is Hispanic Families Work Group

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What is Hispanic Families Work Group?

• a collaborative group comprised of business,
  social service, faith community, state and local
  government, education, health service, and
  community leaders dedicated to enhancing access
  to, and quality of, opportunities and services
  for Hispanic families in McLean County.

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Mission
to improve opportunities for Hispanic families in
McLean County.
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Membership 84 individuals from 43 organizations

• Social Service agencies
• Churches St Marys Spanish parish
• Business State Farm, Country Insurance and
  Financial
• Education Illinois State University, Illinois
  Wesleyan University, UofI Extension, Heartland
  Community College, Lincoln College, all local
  K-12 districts
• Government Bloomington and Normal Mayors
  Offices, parks/recreation, county health
  department
• Funders State Farm Bank, United Way, Economic
  Development Council, Health Department, City of
  Bloomington, Town of Normal, Raza Development Fund

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McLean County Demographics

• Hispanic population in McLean County has grown
• 1,671 (1.2) in 1990 (source US Census Bureau,
  http//factfinder.census.gov)
• 3,833 (2.5) in 2000 (source US Census Bureau,
  http//factfinder.census.gov)
• 5,295 (3.2) in 2006, estimated (source US
  Census Bureau, Population Estimates,
  http//www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php), an
  increase of 27
• Summary The percentage of Hispanic individuals
  out of McLean Countys population has more than
  doubled, and almost tripled, in the past 15-20
  years.
• Note Latinos, like other minority groups, are
  likely to be undercounted!

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McLean County Demographics Per Local Sources

• McLean County is a destination
• More Latino individuals in McLean County than
  adjacent counties (higher percentage of overall
  population) 
• In Central Illinois -- Kankakee, LaSalle, and
  Champaign counties also have fast-growing Latino
  populations.

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Organization

• Beginning 2004
• Judge Dozier concerned about process for Hispanic
  Families
• Karen Major agreed to convene social service
  providers meeting
• Similar concerns expressed

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Connectors

• Octavio Gonzalez
• CASA volunteer,
• State Farm employee,
• HERO (Hispanic Employees Resource Organization)

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Connectors

• Fr. Gregg Petri
• Local parish- St Marys Catholic Church
• Connection to Hispanic community
• Spanish mass
• Trusted leader
• Kermes

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Connectors

• PATH
• Service connections
• Directory experience
• All Our Kids Network
• McLean County Health Department

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Connectors

• United Way
• Dave Wuethrich
• State Farm Insurance
• Panel Chair
• Panel Priority
• New Initiative

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Accomplishments

• Monthly meetings (2004-present)
• Lunch
• First Friday
• 30-35 in attendance
• People joining every month

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Accomplishments

• Spanish Directory of Social Services 2006
• 2nd edition 2007
• PATH is data warehouse
• State Farm Bank funded the printing

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Accomplishments

• Portal (2005)
• U of I Extension intranet
• Links to resources
• Meeting minutes
• Committee areas for sharing documents
• Member email contacts

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Accomplishments (cont)

• Strategic planning retreat
• (May 2005)
• Community Education
• Professional Development language
• Cultural Awareness
• Conference

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Accomplishments
Cultural Conference for Professionals 2006

• Keynote Ann Schauber, author, Working with
  Differences in Communities
• No budget to begin planning
• Member organizations contributed
• Venue
• Airfare for keynote
• Lodging
• Breakfast, lunch, snack
• In-kind brochure, printing, registration
• Presenters all but keynote donated time and
  travel
• 20 fee for 1-day conference (w/book)
• Sold out 130 maximum

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Accomplishments

• Outcome from conference
• Naturalization Ceremonies

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Accomplishments

• Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations - 2006
• Cultural Picnic at Brigham Elementary School
• Art Show Latino/Hispanic artists, St Joseph
  Medical Center Atrium
• Childrens Day Normal Community Center,
  luchadores

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Accomplishments (cont)

• United Way sponsored trainings (2006-2007)
• 7 completed, 1 planned
• Culture and language for social service front
  office staff

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Accomplishments (cont)

• Logo (2006)

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Accomplishments (cont)

• Bylaws/succession planning 06-07
• Planning retreat (2007)

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Accomplishments (cont)

• Sponsored Speakers
• Janet Murguia, President National Council of La
  Raza (2007)
• Marti Jones The Immigration Project (2006)
• Dolores Huerta activism (2007)

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Accomplishments (cont)

• Address
• Hispanic Families Work Group
• Post Office Box 5285
• Bloomington, IL 61702-5285

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Accomplishments (cont)

• Brochure(s) 2007

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What made it work?

• Timing
• Opportunity
• Hot topic
• great needs
• Non-political
• No other group like it
• 2 universities, 2 colleges
• Social service organizations
• Self selected membership

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What made it work? (cont)

• Connectors horizontal and vertical

Social Services and Education
Funders, Business and Government
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What made it work? (cont)

• ISU service learning focus
• IWU new president vision to move students
  into service learning
• St Marys looking for services for parishioners
• Already had Spanish mass
• Kermes
• Western Avenue Community Center overload and
  change in mission
• State Farm-- largest employer of Hispanics

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Future Directions

• Needs assessment 07-08 (funding secured)
• Strategic Plan (07-09)
• Spread awareness of community resources
• Learn ways to serve the Hispanic community
• Become a clearinghouse of information between
  agencies
• Educate the public about issues

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Future Directions Hispanic Heritage Month
Highlights
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Other Downstate Communities

• Arcola - Mi Raza http//www.miraza-arcola.com/
• Rantoul Cultivadores
• Champaign/Urbana - Latino Partnership of
  Champaign Co
• Peoria Amigos Unidos
• Cobden Southern Illinois Hispanic Ministry
• http//www.ccsil.org/charities/hispanic.asp
• Beardstown Cass County Interagency Council
• LaSalle IL Valley Hispanic Partnership Council
• Decatur Latinos en Acción
• Quad Cities Casa Guanajuato http//www.casagtomo
  line.org/
• Fairmont City Latino Roundtable

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• All groups are working to improve the lives of
  Latino families and neighbors in their own
  communities.