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"Enhancing
Extension's Capacity to Work with Mexican Immigrants"
Year
1: Wednesday, January 29 - Wednesday, February 5, 2003
Year 2: Wednesday, January 28 - Wednesday, February 4, 2004
Year 3: Thursday, January 27 - Thursday, February 3, 2005
Made
possible through funding support of:
- ISU
Extension Human Resource Group Professional Development Funds
(years 1, 2 & 3)
-
ISU Extension to Families (years 1, 2 & 3)
-
Excellence in Extension of the ISU Foundation, Group Professional
improvement Grant (years 1,2)
-
College of Family and Consumer Sciences, Helen LeBaron Hilton
Fund (years 1, 2, & 3)
-
ISU Council on International Programs, Special Grants Program
(year 2)
Project
Overview
The
purpose of this project is to increase awareness and understanding
among Extension Family and Consumer Science professionals of the
Mexican culture and, as a result, to improve educational programming
to meet needs of changing demographics within our state. The project
includes, annually : an interactive telecommunication research
seminar for staff to learn of multidisciplinary research programs
involving ISU faculty in Mexico; a six-day travel seminar ( plus
two days of travel) to Oaxaca, Mexico where staff will experience
cultural immersion and learn about the background of immigrants
coming to our state; and the development of plans of work by participants
in the travel seminar to develop community-based programs to address
needs of Spanish-speaking immigrants upon their return.
Annual
Objectives and Outcomes
Objective 1.
To bring together University expertise in the Hispanic culture
to share research findings and applications for Mexican immigrants.
Outcome - 50 professionals will increase their understanding
of current issues in working with Mexican immigrant populations
through participation in the research presentations.
Objective 2.
To increase staff awareness of Mexico's culture and diversity
through an immersion experience in Mexico and thereby improve
programming for new immigrants.
Outcome - Twenty staff will participate in the six day
(plus two days of travel) Mexico travel seminar. Upon their return,
staff will develop and implement specific program plans related
to Mexican immigrants in their communities.
Evidence
of Need
Iowa demographics are changing rapidly. In the last ten years,
Hispanic residents in our metro counties have increased by 140%,
while, in our non-metro counties, we have seen an increase of
170%. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 74.2% of Hispanics
in our state identify Mexico as their country of origin. Although
Families Extension contacts with minority clientele have increased
in the last few years, contacts with this population relative
to the potential are less than desired. Families Extension staff
feel they are not well prepared to work with culturally diverse
individuals; they are open and receptive to learning about cultural
groups. Preferred ways of learning about diversity are workshops
and travel; deterrents to learning are lack of time and lack of
financial resources. Of 78 Families Extension staff, the majority
are white females, few have traveled out of US borders, and only
five speak "a little" Spanish.
Overview
of Immersion Experience
-
Wednesday, January 29 - February 5, 2003, year 1 Mexico Family
Study Seminar
- Wednesday,
January 28 - February 4, 2004, year 2 Mexico
Family Study Seminar
-
Thursday, January 27- February 3, 2005, year 3 Mexico Family Study Seminar
The group will spend 6 days (plus 2 days traveling) in Oaxaca
and surrounding area, becoming acquainted with history, culture,
and family observations. Special events will include visiting
with families and observing preparation for Candelaria Festival.
Other villages to be visited include Teotitlan del Valle, Ocotlan,
San Martin Tilcajete, San Bartolo Coyotepec, and Santo Tomas
Jalieza. Issues of family economics and cooperation, education,
parenting, dependent care, foods and nutrition, arts and aesthetics,
clothing, health, and community participation will be included.
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