Hispanic Heritage Month

Wednesday various community groups gathered at Viterbo University to welcome Hispanic Heritage Month, speak about how their groups are resources for the Latino population in our region and to network. 

While during this same evening Republican candidates debated and lambasted immigrants seeing Immigration as a problem, we in the community are working as resources for those who have fled inhumane living conditions taking whatever jobs they can to support their families. Let us also not forget our country's political involvement in other countries's government and economic affairs which caused much of this exodus. 

Jesus Jambrina, organizer of the evening, expected three/four organizations to be present, yet some 11 community groups were represented including: AMOS Immigration TASK Force, Latin American Studies programs at both city universities, UW-L and Viterbo in addition to their student participation in G.A.T.E. (Global Awareness Through Experience) and the community's Global Partners through Gundersen Hospitals, area Catholic Charities both in La Crosse and neighboring Sparta with resources for health, food, clothing, housing, language services, legal aid, etc... the recently formed Centro Latino Community Center working to alleviate specific needs including English as a Second Language and identification of newly arrived,

Viterbo prof  puts her class to work interpreting the program candidates's mission

Viterbo University Interpreting Program (photo above), a regional program Connecting Students, Professionals and Communities to Health Careers and also a task force for Driver's ID legislation for the undocumented.

The fact is we are a nation of immigrants and we need to address these populations's issues of which the Latino population is our largest minority, not demonize the immigrant.

Maybe one day we won't have to have 'months' to specifically celebrate diversity but in the meanwhile here's a youtube video to educate the general population: I'm Latino but I am not...