Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance: e-Newsletter 2010-03

e-Newsletter 2010-03

Diversity Alliance e-Newsletter

March 2010

The Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance seeks to dismantle racial, socioeconomic, and institutional barriers to ensure that people of all ethnic backgrounds have equal access and opportunity to participate fully in the life of the community.

Migrant mentoring program builds bonds in Holland area

2009 Migrant mentoring program

Migrant Mentoring Program

The following article was written by Erin Albanese; featured in the Grand Rapids Press on 02/14/10.

Pedro Gonzalez first heard the word "college" from a mentor provided by the Diversity Alliance. He was a sixth-grader who spent the summers living in migrant housing with his younger brother and parents.

"When the season was in full-mode, they didn't have the time to take me out because they had to be working," Gonzalez said of his parents. But his mentor introduced him to the idea of education past high school, as well as to what the community had to offer, through trips to Lake Michigan, Craig's Cruisers, the YMCA and other places.

"I got to experience what a child my age would do in the summertime," said Gonzalez, now a senior at Michigan State University majoring in global area studies and Spanish. He said his mentor opened a new world for him. "That's why I'm in college actually," said Gonzalez, who now is a volunteer with the College Assistance Migrant Program, helping students who are migrants and their children.

The Diversity Alliance's migrant mentoring program is in its 12th year. It is currently recruiting people to serve as mentors from March to November. Prospective mentors will complete an orientation and screening that includes interviews and criminal background checks.

The program started with about a half-dozen children 12 years ago and has grown to about 45 mentors serving 70 children. Most of the children attend Holland, West Ottawa and Grand Haven schools, with many returning to Mexico and Texas during the winter, said program director Sarah Salguera.

Migrant students often feel isolated, she said. "Because their families migrate, they may not be aware of where to go," she said. "One of the goals is to break down the isolation that exists between the farm worker community and the general population." The mentors help the children progress academically and socially, experiencing more fully the community, Salguera said.

U.S. Department of Education statistics show a 45 percent high school graduation rate for children of migrant workers. The rate for program participants is 83 percent, with 62 percent pursuing college education, Salguera said.

More than 11,000 migrant workers come to Ottawa County every year, the largest such population in Michigan, Salguera said. Several camps are located in Holland.

Heather Medina-Sauceda has been a mentor to siblings Alberto Hernandez, a West Ottawa High School freshman, and Denise, a Harbor Lights sixth-grader, for five years. Medina-Sauceda spends time with them each week, even in winter, since the family stays year-round. They recently made igloos at Pigeon Creek Park with the Ottawa County Mentoring Collaborative, a group that offers free activities to several local mentoring initiatives. They also go to the library, parks and the beach. Medina-Sauceda, a conservationist for the Department of Agriculture, said she enjoys teaching Alberto and Denise about nature. She has also attended their Confirmations and First Communion celebrations.

"I've become close to their families," she said. But many more children could benefit, Medina-Sauceda said. "It is a commitment, but even an hour out of someone's day - the children really appreciate that," she said.

To apply, [click here] to download the application. Please complete, save, then e-mail the application to: program@ethnicdiversity.org.

For any questions, contact Sarah at program@ethnicdiversity.org or at (616) 846-9074.

The Migrant Mentoring Program provides academic and social supports for children of migrant
farm workers and their families, and creates opportunities for cultural exchange between volunteers
and migrant families. Additionally, a summer reading program serves children ages 0-5.
[learn more]

May 20 Summit Morning Breakouts Announced

2010 Summit Learning Breakouts

BUSINESS
Inclusion: The Critical Step in the Business Case & Triple Bottom Line Solutions
Presenters will discuss how companies can achieve and maintain inclusion in the workplace and how to participate in building strong communities that attract and retain talent and new business opportunities.
Presenters: David Barrett, Director of Talent and Management for Learning and Development at Cascade Engineering; Melita Travis-Johnson, Director of Inclusion Initiatives at Encompass, LLC

COMMUNITY/GOVERNMENT
Building One America: Advancing Policy for Inclusion
Presenters will discuss a national coalition working to secure national, state, and regional public policies to build racially integrated, environmentally sustainable communities. Supporting a balanced program of revitalizing central cities, stabilizing older suburbs, and diversifying newer suburbs, learn of efforts to bring Building One America to West Michigan and how you can help.
Presenters: David Rusk, Metropolitan Area Research Corporation; Paul Scully, Building One America

EDUCATION
Cultural Sensitivity: Responding to the Changing Face of Our Community
A panel of educators will discuss and critically analyze cultural and socialization issues and obstacles that children face daily within the public school systems and how we can work cohesively to overcome barriers that impede learning and inter-cultural relationships.
Moderator: Carol Evans, Assistant Superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools
Panelists: TBA

FAITH
Building One Community: Practicing Faith and Racial Justice in Multi-Cultural Communities
An inter-faith panel of faith leaders will discuss and explore how issues of racial justice are viewed and addressed within their faith and in our changing community.
Moderators: Dr. Charles Green, Professor of Psychology at Hope College; Pastor Denise Kingdom Grier of Maple Avenue Ministries
Panelists: Zahabia Ahmed-Usmani, Muslim; Father Charlie Brown of St. Francis de Sales Parish; Kim Douglas, Baha'i; Earl James, Coordinator of Multiracial Initiatives and Social Justice of the Reformed Church of America; Rev. Blaine Newhouse of Calvary Reformed Church

2010 Summit Keynotes

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum - widely recognized as a scholar, teacher, race relations expert, leader in higher education, and author of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? - will be providing the morning keynote address.

Joining Dr. Tatum, to provide the lunch keynote address is Dr. Tony Campolo - author, minister, and national media commentator on religious, social, and political matters.
[read more]

2010 Summit Supported By*
*as of 02/28/10. Deadline for underwriters is 02/19/10. Deadline for all other sponsorship levels is 04/01/10.

Underwriters
[image]

Supporters
Bank of Holland ... Gentex Corporation ... Louis Padnos Iron & Metal Company ...
St. Patrick's Church ... West Michigan Lakeshore Association of Realtors

The Lakeshore Region Summit on Racism gathers hundreds of individuals of the community
to a conference focused on the effects of racism and is designed to stimulate a year of action.
[learn more]

The 2010 Summit on Racism is scheduled for May 20, 2010 at Hope College.
Registration will begin in April.

Ottawa Co Residents AND Employees Benefit from Spanish Courses

"I think of all the programs that the county offers, this is truly the most beneficial to both the county AND the employees.
I am learning so much. Thanks to these classes, I have been able to help Spanish speaking persons paying traffic tickets, directing people to the right courtroom, etc. I'm definitely not "conversational" ready, pero espero que consiga la oportunidad de ser (but hope to get the opportunity to be)."
Jeanna Meengs, Court Recorder for Chief Judge Bradley Knoll, Holland 58th District Court

Language Academy
The Diversity Alliance continues to provide Spanish classes to Ottawa County employees. Last week, another Level One class began. The class is completely full and additional people are on a waiting list. The class is off to a great start with learning correct Spanish pronunciation.

In addition, the Diversity Alliance just concluded a Level Two class with great success. The students have developed a solid understanding of verb conjugations in the present tense.

A current Level Three class is coming to a close this month; students have been very dedicated, learning more than 60 new vocab words every week.

Haiti Earthquake

Wear Your Support

Supported by

Diversity Champions

Diversity Partners

2009-2010 Diversity Supporters

Bank of America
Frey Foundation
Johnson Controls, Inc.
Springview Foundation

Consider supporting the Diversity Alliance.
[learn more]

2010-03-01 Holland Sentinel "MY TAKE - This is the Real Rashad Hussain"

Cal Thomas exercised his First Amendment right to free speech in his piece "Who is Rashad Hussain?" in the Feb. 21 Sentinel without exercising the responsibility of sound journalism. After extensive research on Hussain I would like to share accurate information about our new "special envoy."
[read more]

2010-02-16 Wired "How to Raise Racist Kids"
Step One: Don't talk about race. Don't point out skin color. Be "color blind." Step Two: Actually, that's it.
There's no Step Two.
[read more]

2010-02-05 New York Times "Fade to White"
The blacks who are enraged by "Precious" have probably figured out that the film wasn't meant for them.
[read more]

2010-02 Smithsonian Magazine "The Scurlock Studio: Picture of Prosperity"
For more than half a century the Scurlock Studio chronicled the rise of Washington's black middle class [read more]

U.S. Census Bureau is accepting applications for temporary, part-time Census Takers.
Bi-lingual individuals are encouraged to apply.
State of Michigan is accepting applications for a Civil Rights Specialist/American Indian Affairs Specialist positions.
Miami Workers Center (in Florida) is accepting applications for a Communications Associate and an Online Organizer positions.
Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity is looking for a part time Human Services Person to oversee our homeowner selection.

[learn more]

2010-02-14 Grand Rapids Press "Migrant mentoring program builds bonds in Holland area"
Article featuring the Migrant Mentoring program.
[read more]

[view more] news and resources

Women's History Month: March
St. Patrick's Day: March 17
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: March 21
International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade: March 25
Passover: March 30 - April 05

The City Human Relations Commission will conduct a four-week Housing Workshop Series during Tuesday evenings in March from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
[download flier]

Diversity Lecture Series XV
Morris Dees, Civil Rights Activist, Attorney, Author
April 02, 7:00pm
Foundtain Street Church, Grand Rapids
[read more]

Community Reading Project: Three Cups of Tea

The Grand Valley State University Meijer Campus in Holland is pleased to be participating in the 5th annual Community Reading Project.

This year's book selection, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson, tells the story of Mortenson's adventure and commitment to building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

BaFa BaFa: A Cross-Cultural Simulation Game, presented by the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance

March 18, 7:00pm at GVSU Meijer Campus

Interdisciplinary Panel Discussion

March 25, 7:00pm at GVSU Meijer Campus

Community Discussion Groups

April 01, 7:00pm at GVSU Meijer Campus

Author Visit: Greg Mortenson

April 06, 2:30pm at Herrick District Library

April 06th, 7:00pm at GVSU Allendale Campus

[view flier]
[visit website]

Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony General Meeting on poverty and homelessness
March 12, 7:00pm
Center for Women in Transition, 411 Butternut, Holland
Call 392-5086 for more information.

Spanish-English Computer Classes
Basic Course runs Mondays March 08-April 15 from 9:00-Noon or 6:00-9:00pm
Advanced Course runs Tuesdays March 09-April 16 from 9:00-Noon or 6:00-9:00pm.
Latin Americans United for Progress Computer Lab
16th and Pine, Holland
Call (616) 392-5058 for more infromation.

[view more] events in our community.