SUMMER 1999
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In this issue 'It's fun and you could learn a lot' -- Kids teach seniors about the Internet IMTC Y2K program goes national Extension attracts new state funding SF 361 helps strengthen Iowa families K-12 youth discover science, technology through E-SET Cultural communications workshops build understanding with service providers, Hispanic populations |
Cultural communications workshops build understanding with service providers, Hispanic populations Eastern Iowa clergy were concerned about their inability to communicate with, and to understand and provide for, a growing number of Hispanics in the area. Needing a resource to guide them to proper training, they turned to Iowa State University Extension. "The need came to us," said Linda Holmquist, area ISU Extension education director in Cedar Rapids. "We listened to their need, explored the need statewide and looked at ways extension and Iowa State University could address the issue."
What they found statewide was a situation in which service providers -- police, healthcare workers, emergency teams, school personnel, government workers, as well as the clergy -- were seeing increasing numbers of Latinos in their communities, but were not able to communicate with, and many times not able to understand culturally, this new, growing population in their communities. "The statistics were there to show a steady increase in the Latino population across the state," said Holmquist. "Often the increases are clustered by industries, bringing large numbers to some very rural areas. We saw a way for ISU to bring a statewide perspective to the issue and through extension distance education, deliver help to rural areas. We worked with the ISU Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures to find a solution." The solution was Hispanic Cultural Communications, a series of workshops for Iowa service providers coordinated by ISU Extension Extended and Continuing Education. An August pilot of the program will be aired on the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) in three Iowa sites yet to be named. The two all-day Saturday and two half-day Sunday workshops will identify the locales from which Iowa Hispanics are emigrating and some of the social and political organizations of those countries. The series will identify the range of motives that bring Hispanics to Iowa and identify long-term and short-term objectives of the members of this population. Included as part of the workshops will be information regarding important cultural values held by Hispanic immigrants that may differ from those of longer-term residents of Iowa. The differences among Hispanics in Iowa (cultural, dialectical and religious) also will be covered. Basic communication with Hispanics relative to particular interaction situations, such as simple greetings, basic verb conjugation and words dealing with family, job, food, clothes and health will be taught. Madeleine Henry, chair of ISU's Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, said ISU faculty or academics who have worked with ISU will teach the workshops. One of the workshop instructors was involved with a similar class in Texas. She is excited about her department's role in the workshops. "In our department the past year, we have offered four evening, noncredit basic Spanish language classes for staff and community," said Henry. "The community response has been good. Through this class we have been made aware of the great interest Iowans have in knowing more about the Spanish language and culture." To address that growing interest, a fall session is being
planned. Interested people can reach Holmquist at the ISU
Outreach office in Cedar Rapids, (319) 398-1272. |
