Growth in Latino Growth in Latino PopulationPopulation

Gain of 200% +

100.0 to 199.9

57.9 to 99.9

0.0 to 57.8

-0.1to -10Loss of 10% +

Objectives

• SERA-37: Southern Extension Research Activity

brings together land-grant faculty:

1. to work collaboratively in understanding the challenges and opportunities associated with Latinos in the South;

2. to strengthen the research, Extension outreach, and public policy work being done with Latinos in our region’s land-grant university system; and

3. to advance educational programs and technical assistance to meet the diverse needs of our growing Latino population.

Leadership• SERA-37 Chair (outgoing):

– Andrew Behnke, NC Cooperative Extension/NC State University

• Chair-Elect (incoming Co-Chairs):– Kathleen Tajeu, Auburn University

– Stacey McCullough, University of Arkansas

• Secretary: – Roberto Gallardo, Mississippi State University (incoming)

– Julia Storm, NC State University (outgoing)

• Administrative Advisors:– SRDC: Bo Beaulieu, Director and Professor, Southern Rural Development Center &

Mississippi State University

– Research: Reuben Moore, Associate Director, Mississippi State University Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station

– CSREES: Sally W. Maggard, National Program Leader for Centers for Rural Development, USDA-CSREES

Members

• Oklahoma• Puerto Rico• South Carolina• Tennessee• Texas• Virginia

11 other states

90 listserve members

• Alabama• Arkansas• Florida• Georgia• Kentucky• Louisiana• Mississippi• North Carolina

• Researching how Cooperative Extension is working with Latinos in the South, barriers, needs for education and programming

• Interdisciplinary, Collaborative Research – Demography– Family Issues– Farmworkers– Dropout– Parenting– Community

Development

Research

Activities• Website Development [www.sera37.wordpress.com]

• Monica Rosas, Mississippi State University, Andrew Behnke, NC State University

• Webinar Series• Cesar Asuaje, University of Florida Extension, Andrew Behnke, NCSU

• Resource Inventory• Ron Cox, Oklahoma State University

• Jean Hall Dwyer, Alabama A&M State University

• Bridging the Cultural Divide Training• Cintia Aguilar, NC State University

• Stacey McCullough, University of Arkansas

• Survey of Extension Needs/Interests• Andrew Behnke, Maria Navarro, Harry Crissy, Bo Beaulieu, et al

• Immersion Project• Julia Storm, North Carolina State University

• Entrepreneurship Interest Group• Zola Moon & Stacey McCullough, University of Arkansas

October 14 & 15, 2008Raleigh, NC

What Made It Possible?

• Identified partners with same goal• Killing two birds with one stone• NC Cooperative Extension training grant

+

SERA-37 training initiative

=

Stronger Bridge

Session’s Topics

• Immigration overview• Latinos/Hispanics in NC• Understanding demographic

trends and related issues in the Southern States

• Understanding Personal Perspectives, Biases & Assumptions

• Legal issues 101 • Strategies for Engaging

Latino/Hispanic audiences

• Show & Tell – Successful Latino/Hispanic programs in Extension

• Working together to build inclusive communities

• Partnering with other North Carolina agencies/programs

• Networking with North Carolina agencies & partners

• Planning Your Program (facilitate session)

Conference EvaluationNumber of responses: 57 Number attending: 91 Percent responding: 63%

• How involved have you been in delivering educational programs or technical assistance activities to Hispanic/Latino audiences in your state or county over the last 12 months?

28% (16) Very involved

16% ( 9) Somewhat involved

37% (21) Slightly involved

19% (11) Not involved at all

Conference Evaluation

• How would you respond to the following statements as a

result of your participation in this training program?

Conference Evaluation

• Which of the following statements best represents your view as a result of your participation in this training program?

 

70% Plan to expand work targeted to Hispanic/Latino audiences over the next 12 months.

23% Interested in delivering programs to Hispanic/Latino audiences, but I need more time or training before I feel comfortable doing so.

0 Do not plan to launch any programs targeted to Hispanic/Latino audiences over the next 12 months.

11% Uncertain about plans to expand my work to Hispanic/Latino audiences over the next year.

Conference Evaluation

• What specific elements have you incorporated in the Plan of Work that you developed during this training conference?

28% Offer “Train-the-Trainer” events in my state, multi-county or county area

56% Deliver educational programs and/or technical assistance activities directly to Hispanic/Latino audiences

51% Provide information, Extension programs, and/or technical assistance to communities in my state/county being impacted by the growth of Hispanic/Latino populations

67% Offer input/advice to my Extension colleagues who may be interested in enhancing their activities with Hispanic/Latino audiences

Six Month Impact Survey May 2009

Survey respondents: 44 : Number attending: 91 Percent responding: 49%

Six Month Impact Survey May 2009

Six Month Impact Survey May 2009

Six Month Impact Survey May 2009

Survey of Extension Needs/Interests

45 Question Survey Administered Spring 2009

1) Demographics

2) Perceived characteristics of the Latino community in the Extension educator’s geographic area of work

3) Attitudes of the Extension educator regarding Extension’s responsibility with the Latino community

4) Self-perceived knowledge, skills, and comfort regarding work with the Latinos

Sample:

• 2,600 extension educators received the survey

• 1,065 extension educators completed it

• 982 were usable data

• 52% Extension Agents

• 17 % County Extension Directors

• 32 % worked in extension for less than 5 yrs

• 29 % worked in extension for 20 plus yrs

• Results from 12 southern states, submittedJournal of Extension

Results:

• Most respondents:– Feel ill-prepared to serve the growing Latino

population in their community – Do not fully understand the population or their needs– Feel less than effective serving Latino clients– Are willing to learn Spanish, access resources, and

strive to provide more effective programming– Are limited by their Cooperative Extension office’s

lack of resources, funding, and programming. – Felt language barrier is the biggest obstacle

Results:

• Most respondents:– Felt extension educators are unfamiliar with key

leaders and members of their local Latino communities

– Were unfamiliar with the Spanish-language services offered by other agencies

– Felt Latinos were hesitant to accept services from members of other ethnic groups

Latino Domestic Immersion

Cultural Competency Curriculum

Julia Storm, Immersion Project LeaderNC State University, NC Cooperative Extension

Cambio de ColoresJune 2011

Immersion Team• Alabama

– Kathleen Tajeu

• Georgia– Sharon Gibson

– Laurie Cantrell

– Maria Navarro

• Mississippi– Roberto Gallardo

– Rachel Welborn

• North Carolina– Cintia Aguilar

– Andrew Behnke

– Julia Storm

– Melissa Edwards Smith

– Jayne McBurney

• South Carolina– Harry Crissy

Curriculum Development Based On• Experience

• International models (NC CIU, UGA, others)

• Literature Review– Pre-service Teacher models (domestic)

– Health/social service provider models (international & domestic)

• Survey– Attitudes, interests of Extension educators in 13 states

• Community Partner input

Community Partners• NC Latino Coalition

• ALPES

• El Pueblo

• First Baptist Ministerio en Espanol - Garner

• Centro Para Familias Hispanas Catholic Social Services - Diocese of Raleigh

• NC , County Health & Human Services

• NC Prevent Child Abuse

• El Centro Hispano

• AMEXCAN

• City of Raleigh (police, community services)

• NC Governor’s Office for Hispanic/Latino Affairs

• Voces Unidas

• Community banking , business

• Migrant Education

• Wake County Public Schools

• NC College Foundation

• Mexican Consulate

• Institute for Mexicans Abroad

• NCSU Diversity, Education and International programs

• Telamon

• Episcopal Farmworker Ministry

• Latin American Women’s Club and Mental Health Association in NC

ALPES

Domestic Immersion Curriculum Global Context – Local Action

• Distance learning: – immigration, cultural issues

• Experiential learning: – 8-day domestic immersion in

Latino community in NC

• Practical application: – Mentored, local community-based

program development in collaboration with Latino partner

• Alabama– Katrina Mitchell, County Coordinator (4-H/Rural Dev.)

– Josine Walter, 4-H/Youth Development Regional Agent

• Georgia– Felicia Marable-Williams, EFNEP/Family and

Consumer Sciences Agent

– Grantly Ricketts, Agriculture Agent

• Mississippi– Scott Cagle, County Extension Director, Agriculture

• North Carolina– Cliff Ruth, Area Horticulture Agent

– Amy Lynn Albertson, Horticulture Agent

– Laura Byrd, 4-H/Youth Development Agent

– Phyllis Smith, Family and Consumer Science Agent

• South Carolina– Ben Boyles, Regional Economic &

Community Development Agent

Phase 1: Distance Learning

• Fall 2010: Webinars: self-assessment, immigration and cultural issues

• January – February 2011: Study Group: – discussion of stories of risks, reasons, outcomes of

immigration (film, books)

– community assessment

Phase 2: Immersion in Latino Community in NC

Life of New Immigrant: Finding Services, Support

Mexican Consulate

Latino Credit Union“We realized that our members had an average education level of seventh grade, and were accustomed to an all-cash economy typical of Latin America – they come with mistrust.”

Alejandro Sánchez,Director of Organizational Development

School EnrollmentHealth Referrals

Law Enforcement

Non-Profit Organizations

www.elpueblo.org

Que Pasa: Spanish Language Media

www. QuePassMedia.com

• Buying power

• Community service

• Page 4 “News You Can Use”

Rural Realities: Greene County Health Care

Stories of Struggle and Success

Mujeras Sin Fronteras,

NC Farmworker Project

Successful County Extension Programs

Camp Style AccommodationsEvening Reflection Sessions

Cultural Exchange Event

Weekend with Host Families

Heading Home to Make a Difference in Their Communities

Phase 3: Community-Based Team Project in Home State: April – December 2011

• April – June 2011: Teams revisit community assessment; develop program plan with community partners

• July – December 2011: State teams develop & deliver a program with local Latino community partners

Evaluation• Mixed methods (quantitative, qualitative)

• Participants– Partners matrix– CCSAQ (modified Portland State U. instrument)– Guided reflection journal/discussion– Program improvement and project impact surveys

• Host Family focus group

• Community Partner focus group

Preliminary EvaluationParticipant comments

• Eye-opening, life-changing

• Exceeded expectations

• Inspiring; new appreciation for challenges immigrants face and determination, hard-work, and joy in life

• Recognized cultural differences, but also similarities as human beings

• Realized that Latinos feel invisible

Host Family Follow-up

Host Family Comments• Would serve as host again and would

recommend it to others

• Would like longer host family stay

• Compensation was enough for most; some needed more (high gas prices)

• Felt recognized and valued as human beings

• Deeply appreciated getting to know Americans that are kind and interested in Latino culture and treat them with respect

Latino Domestic Immersion ProgramFunding and Process Lessons Learned

• Funding– $5,000 Farm Foundation

– $5,000 NCSU EEED Just-In-Time

– $13,600 in matching from 5 state Extension systems

• Initial planning support!

Southeast Extension professionals experience Latino immersion in North Carolina

http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/news-center/

No international borders were crossed, but a recent journey across cultures was an eye-opening and life-changing experience for a group of Extension professionals. A spirit of “bienvenidos” permeated the week, as North Carolina’s Latino community welcomed Extension participants from five southern states for a new professional development program.

Next Steps