CJ Newsletter          November 2011  lf you do not see images, click to view this email in a browser

IN THIS ISSUE The Effects of Immigration Detention and Deportation on Children and Families Join us at December’s CJ Workshop: Understanding Immigration Issues and Moving Forward Upcoming C’ville Events for Latinos Upcoming Opportunities for Professionals Serving Latino Families Bilingual Employment Opportunities Mark Your Calendars: December 16 Posada at the Fire House! Stephen Ministry Training Seeks Bilingual Participants Be Fire Safe Poster for Offices, Classrooms, and Spanish Speaking Households Food Safety Certification Course in Spanish In the Spotlight: Natalia Palacios  Addressing Community Needs in Two Languages   In addition to offering free monthly workshops and providing community education resources through our newsletter and website, CJ’s work groups coordinate several outreach initiatives for the area’s Latino community.   We’re proud to announce that the CJ Health Promoter Work Group just completed another successful semester with nine new Lay Health Promoters graduating and going on to serve our Spanish speaking neighborhoods and migrant worker camps (view NBC’s news coverage). They will assist in the upcoming Free HIV Testing event on Saturday, December 4 and provide ongoing health care for Latino households, bridging the gap between low-income Spanish speaking families and the health care system.  CJ’s Law Enforcement Work Group has also been hard at work organizing two upcoming events: The Latino Community Dialogue with Charlottesville Police Chief Tim Longo on Thursday, December 1 is a follow up to July’s dialogue with Albemarle County Police. This is an opportunity for Latino residents to express concerns and hopes regarding the City Police Department and hear the Chief’s vision for making Charlottesville a safer place for all residents.  And on Sunday, December 4 the work group is holding a Power of Attorney Workshop in conjunction with Legal Aid Justice Center. A crucial precaution for immigrant families, granting power of attorney establishes who will have guardianship of children and control of finances in the instance that a parent is detained or deported. Both of these events will take place at the Church of the Incarnation, be conducted in English and Spanish, and provide childcare and transportation.  We hope you will share information about these great opportunities with your Latino friends and clients, and we look forward to seeing you at our December 8 workshop: Understanding Immigration Issues and Moving Forward.   Gracias,    Martha Trujillo, Chair of Creciendo Juntos

The Effects of Immigration Detention and Deportation on Children and Families    CJ’s November Workshop “Families and the Experience of Heightened Immigration Enforcement” was facilitated by CJ’s Early Childhood Work Group and brought Juan Manuel Pedroza from the Washington DC Urban Institute to present on the damaging effects of immigration raids, detention, and deportations on children, families, and communities. Over ninety area service providers attended this workshop, the third in our fall series on Immigration.  You can view the presentation, which explores many of the challenges children of deported and detained immigrants encounter and presents effective strategies communities are taking to support immigrant families who are suffering from separation, economic stress, and fear. You can also read the Urban Institute report, Facing Our Future: Children in the Aftermath of Immigration Enforcement, the Center’s research that informed this presentation.  As part of the workshop Maria, a local Latina, shared the story of her brother’s deportation and how it has affected her family and the children involved. You can read Maria’s story (in English), and view the video  of her telling this story (in Spanish).    You will also find several reports about deportations’ effects on families, as well as resources to support immigrant families in danger of being separated by detention or deportation on the Latino Parents and Children page on the CJ website.       Join us at December’s CJ Workshop: Understanding Immigration Issues and Moving Forward  During this CJ workshop we will review the central themes of our fall series on immigration including Why Don’t They Just Get Legal?, Understanding Immigration Detention, and Families and the Experience of Heightened Immigration Enforcement. This workshop will be audience driven with time for questions and discussion. We invite participants to come prepared with questions and ideas about supporting immigrant families, as well as suggestions for topics for CJ workshops in the coming year.   Together we will explore:  How can you as a service provider support your Latino and immigrant clients through immigration issues, detentions and deportations? How can the CJ network effectively push information and resources about immigration and detention to the community? What are current ways this community supports immigrant families? What else can we do? What are the next steps? Please join us for this free and interactive workshop on Thursday, December 8. 10:00-11:30am at the Albemarle County Office Building on 5th St. Ext., Room A.      Bilingual Employment Opportunities  MACAA Head Start is hiring a Bilingual Lead Family Advocate.  Teachstone is hiring an Office Assistant and a Trainer Support Coordinator (bilingual a plus but not required for both positions).  Learn more about these and other great work and volunteer opportunities on the CJ Website.     Mark Your Calendars: December 16 Posada at the Fire House!     Each December Charlottesville’s Fire Department holds wonderfully authentic Posadas as a way to enhance its relationship with area Latinos and share information about fire safety and emergency services. The non-denominational Posada is a great way for community members to learn about Latin American culture and provides Latinos an opportunity to meet and share holiday customs with local service providers. Last year over 250 residents attended this fun and festive event. Download the flyer in English and Spanish to help spread the word, and come on out to the Fire House on Ridge St. on Friday, December 16 from 6:00-8:00pm.      Mary Loose DeViney, Fire Corps director, welcomes Latinos and service providers working with them – including elementary teachers, churches, social workers and others – to join in making the Posada better than ever. Contact her at MLoose@aol.com or (434) 970-3536, or event coordinator Felipe Mendoza (bilingual) at felipemendoza@yahoo.com or (301)537-8312.   Stephen Ministry Training Seeks Bilingual Participants  In addition to language barriers, one of the obstacles to helping Latino families through life challenges is parents’ lack of health insurance and direct access to psychological help and confidential emotional support. Sometimes faith-based organizations can help. Several churches in town have teams of lay care givers, trained through a non-denominational Christian program called Stephen Ministry. Bilingual community members are encouraged to take the training, learn the skills, and then provide care to Spanish speaking families. First Presbyterian Church will be offering the next 50 hour training class in the first quarter of 2012 (tentatively scheduled for Tuesday evenings and one Saturday a month). The training, ideal for counselors, parents, children of the elderly, teachers, nurses, social workers, and community volunteers, equips lay people with skills in listening, compassion, setting boundaries, caring for the hospitalized and the dying, using community mental health resources, and more.   There will be information sessions at First Presbyterian Church, 500 Park St. on Sunday, December 4. Application packets will be available at: 8:55 a.m. with Elizabeth Norfrey in the Chapel (front of building, door closest to Maple St.); 10:10 a.m. with Alice Micklem and Rev. Kim Wells in Room 116 (lower level Education Wing in back of building); and 11:15 a.m. with Downing Miller in the Chapel. If you’d like to learn more please contact Elizabeth Norfrey at enorfrey@fpchurch.com or (434) 296-7131 x 212.      In the Spotlight: Natalia Palacios Natalia Palacios, daughter of a Colombian mother and Argentinean father, was born in Medellin, Colombia and arrived in the US when she was six years old. In the summer of 2010 Natalia moved to Charlottesville to join the faculty of UVA’s Curry School of Education.   Natalia’s involvement in the Latino community in Charlottesville began through her research with the University. Interested in understanding the cultural specific teaching that takes place between children and parents in Latino families, she has been working on a study of Latino families with children two to four years old, focusing on how language minority parents interact with their children to convey knowledge and meaning and how these interactions influence young children’s transition to formal schooling. This study led Natalia to CJ’s Early Childhood Work Group, where she has been able to bring her perspective in developmental psychology to issues impacting local Latino families.   Of her work in the community, Natalia says, “I find my job deeply rewarding because it has the potential to improve the early developmental outcomes of language minority children who may not have the early experiences and resources necessary for school readiness. On a more personal note, my experiences as a young immigrant inform my understanding of the struggles that young children face when entering schools with limited English proficiency, and the hardships that families may encounter in trying to obtain the resources necessary to allow their children to thrive.”  Natalia has played an integral role in coordinating two of this year’s CJ workshops which focused on our area’s young Latino population, and she says CJ’s mission to increase access to services for Latinos resonates with her desire to improve Latino children’s school readiness and develop their academic potential.  Food Safety Certification Course in Spanish  Virginia Cooperative Extension is offering a 16 hour “Spanish ServSafe Food Safety Manager’s Certification Course” on December 6-7 from 9:00-5:00 in Orange, VA. The course will be taught completely in Spanish, and the certification exam is given at the end of the second day. This class is for food service managers, caterers, cooks, dietary managers and others who need to know all areas of food safety (food borne illness, handling, storage, service, etc) and health department regulations.   You can register online or download a flyer and registration form in English or Spanish. For more information please contact Christine Kastan at (434) 872-4579 or cakastan@vt.edu.	Upcoming C’ville Events for Latinos:  Free HIV/AIDS Testing: Sat., 12/3 from 12:00-4:00 at the Sunshine Laundromat, 380 Greenbrier Drive. Print and share flyers in Spanish and English.    Latino Community Dialogue with Charlottesville Police Chief Tim Longo: Thursday, 12/1 from 7:00-9:00 at the Church of the Incarnation. Print and share this Spanish language flyer.  Power of Attorney Workshop for Spanish Speaking Families: Sun., 12/4 from 3:00-5:00 at the Church of the Incarnation. Print and share this Spanish language flyer.   Food Safety Certification Course in Spanish: December 6-7 from 9:00-5:00 in Orange, VA. Download flyers and registration forms in English and Spanish.  Help Portrait: Free Portraits for Families in Need. Saturday, 12/10. 11:00-5:00 at Portico Church, 201 Monticello Ave. Dowload flyers in English and Spanish.  Charlottesville Fire Department’s Annual Posada!:  Friday, 12/16 from 6:00-8:00 at the Fire House on Ridge St. Download flyers to print and share in English and Spanish.    Upcoming Opportunities for Professionals Serving Latino Families:     Understanding Immigration Issues and Moving Forward: Thursday, Dec. 8. 10:00-11:30 at the County Office Building on 5th St. Ext., Room A.     8th National Low-Income Immigrants’ Rights Conference: December 8-10 in Washington, DC.   See more upcoming events on the CJ Calendar:    Be Fire Safe Poster for Offices, Classrooms, and Spanish Speaking Households  Charlottesville Fire Department’s Chief Warner is distributing Spanish language posters about cooking safely as the winter holiday season approaches and cooking fires occur most frequently. Please share this poster with Spanish speaking households or display it in your office, classroom, or store.    The City Fire department also provides free smoke detectors for area households. If you know of a family in need of one, please call the fire department at (434) 970-3245.
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CJ Weekly Alert

No. VII

July 11, 2006

This Alert is issued by Creciendo Juntos – Growing Together.  Its purpose is to help people use and participate in the CJ website, network and related activities in support of outreach to and integration of the Latino community in Central Virginia.  

CONTENTS (July 11 – 17, 2006)

A – YOUTH HEALTH FAIR THIS SATURDAY

B – HEALTH, HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES WORKING

GROUP MEETING THIS THURSDAY

C – PLENARY ON TUESDAY, JUNE 25

D – READY FOR A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN CJ?

E -  NEW WEB PAGE:  SOUTHWOOD

F – COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

G – SUBMIT A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

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A – YOUTH HEALTH FAIR – LA FERIA JUVENIL DE SALUD

This Saturday, July 15, 2006, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., there will be a Youth Health Fair held at the Covenant Upper School (175 Hickory Street, off of 5th Street Extended, before the County building).  The fair, directed to Spanish speaking youth, is sponsored by UVA’s Children’s Hospital with help from the Southwood Boys and Girls Club.  In addition to games and a free lunch, there will be free sports physicals and other free medical services for youth.  Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  For more information contact Steven Gough at 434-293-3945.

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B – HEALTH, HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES WORKING

GROUP MEETING THIS THURSDAY

When:  THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2006, 1:30 p.m.

What:  Health, Housing and Social Services

Working Group Meeting

Agenda:  Will include updates on the October Help Fair

Location: United Way building on High St

For more info: rmm@incarnationparish.org 

Everyone interested in health, housing and social service issues are welcomed.  Minutes from past meetings are available on the CJ website.

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C– PLENARY ON TUESDAY, JUNE 25

When:  TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2006, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

What:  Plenary Session

Agenda:  Will include a Cultural Sensitivity Presentation

Location:  Albemarle County Office Building on

5th Street Extended, Room B

With few exceptions, CJ plenary sessions are scheduled through 2007 on the 4^th Thursday of each month.  Upcoming CJ meeting dates can be found at: http://www.cj-network.org/nxt_mtg.html  Minutes from past meetings are also available on the CJ website.

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D – READY TO COMMIT TO A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN CJ?

In October, CJ-GT will be sponsoring an all day strategic planning meeting to review our accomplishments and challenges to date and agree on an action plan for the medium and long term.  The goal of the workshop is to identify concrete, on-the-ground actions we can take to better integrate and support the Latino community in Central Virginia.  HOWEVER, the action plan will go no where if we lack willing people to implement it!

So, CJ-GT is looking for motivated members who can join the workshop and commit to carrying out the goals we all set together.  Space will be available for up to 20 people.

Remember, there are many ways to help the Latino community through CJ-GT:  participating on the Executive Committee, coordinating a Working Group, planning plenary sessions and related trainings, identifying and contacting local services providers with programs oriented to the Latino population, meeting with and organizing Latino leaders and community members, advising people and organizations about CJ activities and encouraging them to come to meetings, organizing the annual Help Fair, helping maintain and update the website and other administrative tasks, among many other jobs.

One of the key purposes of the strategic planning meeting is to identify persons or organizations that can take leadership roles in CJ or in other ways help CJ continue and enhance its present activities and realize new ones. If you’d like to take a more active role in CJ and participate in this meeting or recommend a participant, please contact Peter Loach at peterl@piedmonthousing.org   

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E – NEW WEB PAGE:  SOUTHWOOD

http://www.cj-network.org/southwood.html

Since CJ began in May 2005, informal meetings have been held to identify Southwood trailer park problems and initiatives that address them. Interest in Southwood, where at least 50% of the low income residents are Mexicans and Central Americans, increased in June 2006 when Habitat announced its interest in buying the park.  There is a new CJ web page with information about the trailer park and initiatives to help it.  To add resources to the page, contact lhemby@albemarle.org

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F – COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

http://www.cj-network.org/comm_ann.html

This web page disseminates announcements about events and opportunities, bilingual job vacancies, news, and other information relating to the local Latino community.

New entries include a Youth Health Fair this Saturday, applications for a Latino Leadership Program, and the upcoming visits to Richmond by the Mexican and Honduran consulates that will be issuing passports and IDs.  Other announcements include a call for nominations for the Women’s Health Virginia Health Summit, info on the October 2006 Help Fair, legal assistance for Salvadorans registering for TPS, and local interpreter trainings in September.  To submit an announcement, contact lhemby@albemarle.org

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G – SUBMIT A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

To date, more than 100 individuals/organizations have attended a CJ meeting and many more have participated in other CJ activities.  Biographical sketches of these participants are located at http://www.cj-network.org/cjintro/bios.doc  If you are not listed, please submit a bio, using the guidelines found at that link, to lhemby@albemarle.org

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This Weekly Alert was prepared by Peter Loach and Linda Hemby of the CJ-GT Executive Committee.  Individuals and organizations wishing to maximize their use of the CJ network should submit their information/announcement/request/etc. on the Friday before the Alert is circulated to:  lhemby@albemarle.org   

The Creciendo Juntos – Growing Together online clearinghouse, located at www.cj-network.org, is constantly being updated with new information and resources.  If you work for or know about services available to our Latino community that are not on the site, please contact lhemby@albemarle.org   Also welcomed are articles,  studies, and other resources about and for our local Latino population.

        CJ Newsletter          May 2011  lf you do not see images, click to view this email in a browser

IN THIS ISSUE New Census Data on Virginia’s Growing Latino Population Resources for Latinos Pursuing Higher Education Ready to Learn: A New English/Spanish Resource for Parents and Educators Upcoming C’ville Events for Latinos Join us at the CJ Roundtable! Upcoming Opportunities for Professionals Serving Latino Families Bilingual Employment Opportunities with SARA Want to Volunteer with Kids in Charlottesville this Summer? Tim Freilich Honored with UVA’s Pablo Davis Award Latino Owned Businesses Encouraged to Apply for Tayloe Murphy Resilience Award New Civics and Citizenship Toolkit -Free for Organizations Serving Immigrants DMV Requirements for Obtaining or Renewing a Driver’s License  Serving our Growing Latino Population!  Census data released this spring reveals that the Latino population in Charlottesville and Albemarle is nearing 8,000! Doubling in the city and nearly tripling in the county, this is a dramatic increase from ten years ago. Your involvement with Creciendo Juntos is all the more meaningful with the growing need for services for Spanish speaking households. Through this newsletter, and our calendar, workshops, and workgroups, we will continue to help you connect your Latino clients and friends to the services they need.  Be sure to check out the article below highlighting new data on Hispanics in Virginia. And, as always, you can go to the CJ website for more information, statistics, and resources to assist you in your work with local Latinos. Latinos in Our Area has updated, detailed information about our local Latino population and the people and organizations dedicated to serving them. If you have any questions or information to add to the website, newsletter or calendar, please write us at cj.cville@gmail.com.  Gracias,    Martha Trujillo, Chair of Creciendo Juntos

New Census Data on Virginia’s Growing Latino Population   UVA’s Weldon Cooper Center released a report this week on Hispanics in Virginia, an analysis of 2010 Census data, revealing that Latinos are the second largest and fastest growing minority group in the state. Numbering over 630,000 (almost doubling since 2000) Hispanics now represent 8% of the Virginian population. The report, which identifies Hispanic as an ethnicity, not a race, differentiates between U.S. and foreign-born Hispanics as there are significant differences between these groups. Some of the report’s findings include:  Over half of Virginia’s Latinos were born in the U.S. The median age of this group is 14, more than twenty years younger than the median age of the general population. The majority of Latinos in Virginia are U.S. citizens (either by birth or naturalization) or immigrants with legal documented presence.   Hispanic households often include more than one family; 14% of U.S. born Hispanic households and 24% of foreign-born Hispanic households contain two or more families, in contrast to only 9% of non-Hispanic households.  75% of Latinos speak Spanish at home but only 5% have no English skills; more than 50% speak only English or English very well.  Hispanic children are more likely to live in poverty. 44% of U.S. born Hispanics and 54% of foreign born Hispanics under 18 live in poverty in Virginia, compared to 31% of non-Hispanic children. Hispanics of all ages are less likely to have health insurance coverage than non-Hispanics. You can learn more about citizenship and immigration, family and personal life, education and language, employment and economic well-being, and geographic location of Hispanics living in Virginia in the report.  You can find more information and resources about Virginia’s Latinos on the CJ website and the Weldon Cooper Center’s Demographics & Workforce website.        Resources for Latinos Pursing Higher Education    CJ’s May Workshop “Pathways to Higher Education for Latinos: Opportunities, Strategies, and Limitations” featured a panel of educators and students with a variety of experiences and a common message: staying in school and pursuing a higher degree will get you where you want to go.   Across Virginia and the nation Latinos have a lower high school graduation rate and are less likely to earn a college degree than their non-Hispanic peers. Only 30% of college age Hispanics are enrolled in school, compared to 47% of non-Hispanics. In Virginia 18% of Latinos in the class of 2010 dropped out of high school, compared with 8% of the general population.   Panelists at the CJ Workshop discussed the importance of supporting Latino high school students, encouraging them to stay in school and pursue their education. A representative from Mary Baldwin College emphasized the college’s interest in students from all walks of life and their dedication to helping make college affordable and attainable, regardless of citizenship and socioeconomic status. Two Latino VCU students talked about their involvement in the Hispanic College Fund and how participating in the Hispanic Youth Institute in high school set them on the path for success. A local guidance counselor shared experiences of the struggles of local students, particularly the undocumented, and pushed the importance of helping students make their education a priority. And founder of DREAM Activist Virginia and Co-Founder of the National Immigrant Youth Alliance Isabel Castillo told her story of putting herself through college and going on to advocate for a path to citizenship for undocumented youth like herself.   You can read the notes from the discussion by clicking here, and you can find a number of resources to support Latino youth hoping to go on to college, such as scholarships, support networks, the DREAM Activist Virginia facebook page and blog, and links to Virginia colleges open to students regardless of immigration status on the CJ website.        Speaking Forward will feature an interview with Gloria Rockhold on Latinos and Access to Higher Education this Saturday, May 21 on 107.5 FM at 2:00. Be sure to tune in!    Ready to Learn, a New English/Spanish Early Childhood Resource for Parents, Educators, and Caregivers   Ready to Learn is a daily activity book (184 days) with instructions in English and Spanish. This is a pre-kindergarten tool for the 4-6 year old child and equips the caregiver/parent with a simple way to impart needed pre-kindergarten skills to their child in a fun and convenient way. All teaching/learning experiences take place during normal household routines (doing chores, fixing dinner, or going to the grocery store). Each calendar gives the parent three simple daily exercises (10-15 minute total). This is a great tool for bilingual, English, and Spanish speaking families alike. An English only version is also available.                                  You can view and print the first 30 pages for free at: http://readytolearncalendar4prek.webs.com/first30pages.htm To order (wholesale product: case of 15 cost $119.75 with free shipping) call Success Printing (203) 847-1112 or order online at: http://www.successprint.com/. Email readytolearncalendar@gmail.com with any questions.       Bilingual Employment Opportunities with SARA  Charlottesville’s Sexual Assault Resource Agency (SARA) has two open positions: a full-time Adult Advocate (Spanish proficiency strongly preferred) and a part-time Bilingual Therapist.   Learn more about these great opportunities on the CJ website.      Latino Owned Businesses in Charlottesville Encouraged to Apply for Tayloe Murphy Resilience Award.    The University of Virginia Darden School of Business and its Tayloe Murphy Center announced the opening of the second annual Tayloe Murphy Resilience Awards Competition. This competition honors and supports entrepreneurial businesses in Virginia that demonstrate sustained vitality and commitment to their communities in areas facing high unemployment, high poverty and low entrepreneurial activity. The Center will accept applications and recommendations for business entries online at www.TayloeMurphy.org  through June 30, 2011.   In an effort to strengthen our community, Creciendo Juntos would like to encourage the nomination of Latino owned businesses.    Learn more about this award on the CJ website and nominate a Latino owned business in Charlottesville at www.TayloeMurphy.org.       Want to Volunteer with Kids in Charlottesville this Summer?  Southwood Summer Arts Camp needs volunteers for the month of July and the first 2 weeks of August. The camp will include a two week collage class, a two week mural painting class, a three week Jazz/Hip Hop dance class, and 6 weeks of Readers Theater.  Volunteers can commit to the entire time or do 2 week increments. All classes will be held at the Southwood Boys and Girls Club for elementary aged children. The Albemarle County Back to School picnic at Southwood on August 16 will feature the children’s mural, collages, and dance and theater performances. Not familiar with the Southwood Community? It is a mobile home park owned by Habitat for Humanity off 5th street extended. The community has a strong Hispanic population with a 60% majority.   If you are interested, please contact Alexandra Triana at amt7f@virginia.edu for more information.    Find more volunteer opportunities on the CJ website.   New Civics and Citizenship Toolkit –Free for Organizations Serving Immigrants   U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is providing a revised edition of the Civics and Citizenship Toolkit with its latest citizenship education resources designed to help immigrants prepare for US citizenship and to help organizations offer citizenship classes: Premier collection of citizenship preparation materials (video, flash cards, and written materials) Updated with new resources and information Free to all immigrant-serving organizations USCIS has distributed thousands of Toolkits to community and faith based organizations, libraries, schools, civic and service clubs, government agencies, and other groups. One free Toolkit is available to all immigrant-serving organizations. Organizations must register to receive the revised Toolkit. For more information and to get the toolkit, go to: http://www.citizenshiptoolkit.gov/.     You can find more resources for immigrants on the CJ website.	Upcoming C’ville Events for Latinos  Charlottesville Minority Business Summit: Mon., 5/23 from 8:30-3:00 at the Omni Hotel. To register for this free event call (434) 970-3115 (Eng) or 970-3700 (Span) or sign up online. Download a Spanish language flyer here.   WIC Outreach Events in Southwood: Thurs., 5/26 and 6/23. 2:00-4:30 at the Southwood Community Center.  See more upcoming events on the CJ Calendar:      Join us at our CJ Roundtable!   CJ Roundtable: Thurs., 6/9 from 10:00-11:30, Alb. County Office Bld, 5th St. Ext.     Twice a year CJ hosts a roundtable discussion inviting area service providers and community members to come talk about the work they are doing with our area’s Latino population.   The Roundtable is a great opportunity to learn about the resources available for local Spanish speaking households and to network with other professionals who are strengthening our community through the integration and development of our Latino members.  Bring any Spanish language materials your agency has, along with your questions, stories, resume, or job postings.   CJ Workshops are free and open to the public!Email cj.cville@gmail.com with any questions. Upcoming Opportunities for Professionals Serving Latino Families:    A Review of Depression in the Latino Community: Fri., 5/20 from 9:00-11:00am, hosted by Colaborando Juntos in Richmond, VA.   Organizational Cultural Competence Training: Tues., May 31 from 9:00-4:00 in Richmond, VA. Tim Freilich Honored with UVA’s Pablo Davis Award:      The Pablo Davis Award recognizes someone that the student body feels has contributed greatly to the Hispanic/Latino community at the University of Virginia.  The recipient does not need to be affiliated with UVA directly.    This year’s recipient of the award was Tim Freilich, Legal Director of the Legal Aid Justice Center’s Immigrant Advocacy Program and member of Creciendo Juntos’ Executive Committee.  He was chosen by the leadership council of the Hispanic/Latino student body of UVA because his work in Charlottesville has contributed significantly to the quality of life of countless Hispanic/ Latino members of our community. He advocates on behalf of Latino immigrants daily and he has been a great supporter of the Latino Student Alliance at UVA in their efforts of advocating for the DREAM Act.    Congratulations to Tim for receiving this well-deserved honor!    DMV Requirements for Obtaining and Renewing a Driver’s License:   Last year the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced that it would no longer accept Work Permits as a form of identification when applying to obtain or renew a driver’s license. This has made it difficult for many non-citizen immigrants to get their driver’s licenses.  Recently, the DMV issued a document outlining the forms of identification now required for getting a license or identification card. You can click here to download this form in English or Spanish or find it on the CJ website.
Creciendo Juntos cj-network.org cj.cville@gmail.com

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A – NEW CJ CALENDAR AND NEWSLETTER COMING IN APRIL

B – LOCAL MEETINGS, EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES: MARCH 15 – 31, 2011

C – FRIDAY, MARCH 18: ADVENTURES IN TRANSLATION AT THE VIRGINIA FESTIVAL OF THE BOOK

D – TUESDAY, APRIL 12: ALBEMARLE COUNTY KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION OPEN HOUSE

E – THURSDAY, APRIL 14: CJ WORKSHOP ON EARLY CHILDHOOD AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN OUR LATINO COMMUNITY

F – C-VILLE WEEKLY ARTICLE ON MARTHA TRUJILLO

G – NEW RESOURCE ON POLICIES OF INTEREST TO VIRGINIA’S IMMIGRANTS

H – BILINGUAL OPPORTUNITIES AT THE CHARLOTTESVILLE COMMUNITY SPRING JOB FAIR

I – CHARLOTTESVILLE FESTIVAL OF CULTURES SEEKS PERFORMERS, VENDORS, VOLUNTEERS

J – SPANISH-SPEAKING THERAPIST POSITION AVAILABLE

K – UPCOMING CJ WORKSHOPS

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A – NEW CJ CALENDAR AND NEWSLETTER COMING IN APRIL

Starting in April CJ will be presenting two new communications: The CJ Calendar and the CJ Monthly Newsletter. At the start of each month you will now receive a calendar of upcoming events of interest to our Latino community and the service providers working with them; and following each month’s CJ workshop you will receive the CJ Monthly Newsletter, which will contain new resources, reports, employment opportunities, and other articles to support the important work you do with our area’s Latino population.

These two new communication pieces will take the place of the CJ Alert, delivering the information you need in a concise format and taking advantage of the enhanced features of our new website www.cj-network.org. As always, we welcome your contributions; please send any events or articles you would like included in the calendar or newsletter to cj.cville@gmail.com.

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B – LOCAL MEETINGS, EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES: MARCH 15 – 31, 2011  

Friday, March 18: Richmond Workshop on Emergency Planning in the Latino Community. Colaborando Juntos of Richmond is hosting a workshop on Emergency Planning in the Latino Community on Friday, March 18, 2011 from 8:30-11:00am at the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services, 8004 Franklin Farms Drive, Richmond, VA 23229. To register for this free event go to: http://tinyurl.com/638y4xz. Contact Cecily Rodriguez with questions at cecily.rodriguez@dbhds.virgina.gov.

Friday, March 18: CJ Mental Health Work Group 9:00-10:30 at the Women’s Initiative. If you are interested in joining this group please email eirvin@thewomensinitiative.org.

Friday, March 18: Adventures in Translation at the VA Festival of the Book. See below for details.

Saturday, March 19: 8^th Annual Cinderella’s Closet at Monticello High School, 9:00am – 2:00pm. There will be deeply discounted designer dresses, makeup, jewelry, shoes, and more for sale. For more information or a Spanish language flyer to distribute email Jackie Newton at cinderellascloset@hotmail.com.

Thursday – Friday, March 24 – 25: Virginia Latino Higher Education Network 2011 Encuentro. This event taking place in Annandale, VA will explore topics such as demographics, education and civic involvement, and discuss the under-representation of Latinos in important 21st Century fields like the STEM disciplines, nursing and the public sector. For more information and to register go to: http://www.valhen.org/Encuentro.

By March 31:  Register for Head Start, a federally funded preschool program for low income families serving children who will turn 3 or 4 years old by Sept. 30th of this year. They currently have one bilingual classroom serving children in the Southwood area with a bilingual lead teacher and family service worker.  Applications are available in Spanish at the MACAA main office at 1025 Park Street, by calling 295-3171 to request an application by mail, or online (for County Residents) at http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/Forms_Center/Departments/Social_Services/Forms/Applications/Preschool_Network_App_Pack_11-12_Spanish.pdf. Applying families must include proof of income along with the application to be considered for the program.  For assistance in Spanish call 295-3171 x3009.

By March 31:  Register for Albemarle County Bright Stars, a program that puts County at-risk preschoolers into an elementary school setting a year early to help ensure a smooth transition. Children must be 4 years old by September 30, 2010. Applying families must include proof of income along with the application to be considered for the program. Applications (English/Spanish) can be requested at Agnor-Hurt, Cale, Greer, Red Hill, Scottsville, Stone-Robinson, Stony Point, and Woodbrook elementary schools, at Albemarle Social Services, 972-4010, or online at: http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/Forms_Center/Departments/Social_Services/Forms/Applications/Preschool_Network_App_Pack_11-12_Spanish.pdf (Spanish) http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/Forms_Center/Departments/Social_Services/Forms/Applications/Preschool_Network_App_Pack_11-12_English.pdf (English).

Every Wednesday Morning: Latina Women’s Support Group. Free support group, sponsored by the Women’s Initiative, held at the Word of Faith Church, every Wednesday at 10:00 am.  Transportation and childcare is provided. For more information, contact Elizabeth Irvin at (434) 964-6472 or eirvin@thewomensinitiative.org.

For a listing of Bilingual Jobs, Bilingual Volunteer Opportunities, and Bilingual Volunteers Seeking an Opportunity to Serve, visit the COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS section of the CJ website at http://www.cj-network.org/comm_ann.html.     

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C – FRIDAY, MARCH 18: ADVENTURES IN TRANSLATION AT THE VIRGINIA FESTIVAL OF THE BOOK

Meet the Argentinean novelist Mempo Giardinelli and the translator Gustavo Pellon for a reading of An Impossible Balance and discussion of Giardinelli’s work. In Spanish and English. 4:00pm in UVA Newcomb Hall’s Commonwealth Room. For more information call (434) 924-3601 or go to: http://www.vabook.org/site11/program/details.php?eventID=26.

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D – TUESDAY, APRIL 12: ALBEMARLE COUNTY KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION OPEN HOUSE

Parents with children who will be 5 by September 30, 2011 and live in Albemarle County can register for kindergarten on April 12, from 9 am – 1 pm and from 3 – 6 pm, at the elementary school where their child will be studying. Spanish interpreters will be available at the following schools, where families can go to register their children for any county school: Cale, Agnor Hurt, Greer, and Woodbrook. 

A Spanish language flyer is attached. For help in Spanish families can call (434) 296-6517. The items that you need to bring with you to kindergarten registration include: 1) Your child’s original birth certificate or passport 2) Your current lease or mortgage statement (verifying your residence) 3) Two additional utility bills or other mail that verifies your name and your address. These bills must dated within the last 30 days.

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E –THURSDAY, APRIL 14: CJ WORKSHOP ON EARLY CHILDHOOD AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN OUR LATINO COMMUNITY

This workshop, hosted by CJ’s new Early Childhood Work Group, will explore the challenges and cultural issues surrounding language development for young Latino children in our area and strategize on ways to help them access the services they need in order to succeed. Service providers, educators, therapists, community volunteers, and anyone working with our Latino population are encouraged to attend and learn more about resources and strategies that will enable them to better serve Spanish speaking families with young children.

Presentations include:

• Dual Language Learners and the Transition to School by University of Virginia Curry School Assistant Professors Natalia Palacios, expert in early childhood development and immigrant children, and Amanda Kibler, expert in second language acquisition and bilingualism among adolescent children.   
• The Role of The Central Preschool Team for the Referral Process in the Albemarle County Public Schools by Angie Amburn, M.Ed. Early Childhood Special Educator and Pat Johnson, M.Ed., CCC-SLP.
• The Referral Process and Eligibility for Speech Therapy Services at Infant Toddler Connection by Danielle Johnson, Service Coordinator.
• A Monolingual Speech Language Pathologist Shares Experiences and Challenges Providing Speech Therapy to Bilingual Children in Charlottesville by Lori Rollins, MA, CCC-SLP from Kluge Rehabilitation Center.

Contact Maria Williams for more information at mwilliams@thearcofthepiedmont.org or (434) 997-4002 x116.

CJ workshops are free, conducted in English and open to the public. Registration, coffee and refreshments begin at 9:40am; the workshop is from 10:00am – 11:30am in Room A of the Albemarle County Office Building on 5th St Ext.

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http://www.c-ville.com/index.php?cat=141404064431134&ShowArticle_ID=12681403113373434

“Virginia immigrants share many of the same policy concerns as all other Virginians,” Tim Freilich, legal director for Legal Aid’s Immigrant Advocacy Program, told a sizable crowd last week. Freilich’s audience was a group convened by Creciendo Juntos, a network of local agencies that serve the Latino population in Charlottesville and Albemarle.

There are 630,000 Virginia residents of Hispanic origins. Of that number, according to the Pew Hispanic Center, 210,000 are unauthorized immigrants—a decrease from 325,000 in 2000. Locally, the Latino population has doubled in the past 10 years. The 2010 Census counted 2,223 Latinos in the City of Charlottesville—5.1 percent of the city population, representing a 100 percent increase since 2000. In the county, the numbers are even more staggering: 5,417 Latinos, a 260 percent increase since 2000.

This year, about 40 immigration-related bills were introduced in the General Assembly that would have affected undocumented immigrants and their families. Those bills included efforts to bar undocumented students from being admitted to public colleges, and requirements for state and local arresting officers to check the citizenship of those they take into custody. Many bills passed the House Courts of Justice Subcommittee on Immigration, but were ultimately tabled by a Senate subcommittee.

This year, says Freilich, a greater number of local immigrants advocated for their rights and trekked to Richmond to testify against some bills, or simply to make their presence felt. “We have seen more groups becoming involved,” says Freilich. “I think the reason is that, locally, more and more families are feeling the impact of our broken federal immigration system.”

The Obama Administration’s increased enforcement of national immigration laws may have created a climate of fear and distrust among area Latinos. In Fiscal Year 2010, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removed 392,000 illegal aliens nationwide—the largest total in U.S. history and a 70 percent increase from FY2008 during the Bush Administration, according to a Department of Homeland Security press release. About 195,000 of those were convicted criminals.

Federal immigration laws have had a “dramatic” impact on mixed-status families, where citizen children live with undocumented parents, says Freilich.

“Separating families in Virginia is something that, regardless of the immigration status of the individuals involved, has a very serious negative effect on all of our community,” he told his audience. “Deporting an unlawfully present head of household is bad for all of us.”

A fear of separation or deportation also threatened to disrupt local education opportunities for children of immigrants. House Bill 1775 would have required local school districts to provide the state Board of Education with the number of students enrolled in English as a Second Language classes whose parents could not provide a birth certificate. Gloria Rockhold, a community engagement manager with Albemarle schools, says that this bill would have shut down communication between parents and the schools because of fear of reporting their citizenship status.

“It would have caused the educational system to be policing the families,” she says.

“I feel as a community we are investing so much money educating these kids…and we are telling them ‘You can’t find a job, you can’t contribute back, and you can’t go to higher education,’” she says of bills targeting education. “Why would someone want to invest in the Charlottesville-Albemarle area if there is no human capital that’s actually educated enough to be able to be employed?”

The electronic bulletin CJ Alert is issued by Creciendo Juntos (CJ).  Its purpose is to help people use and participate in the CJ website, network and related activities in support of the Latino community in Charlottesville, Albemarle, and surrounding areas. Previous Alerts are located on the CJ website at http://cj-network.org/cj/cj-initiatives/cj-newsletter/.

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A – LOCAL MEETINGS, EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES: MARCH 1 – 14, 2011 

B – THURSDAY, MARCH 10: CJ WORKSHOP ON POLICIES OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO VIRGINIA’S IMMIGRANTS
C – SATURDAY, MARCH 19: 8^TH ANNUAL CINDERELLA’S BOUTIQUE AT MONTICELLO HIGH SCHOOL

D – THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, MARCH 24-25: VIRGINIA LATINO HIGHER EDUCATION NETWORK 2011 ENCUENTRO

E – NEW CJ WORKING GROUP: LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

F – BILINGUAL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

G – FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR LATINO FAMILIES THROUGH INCARNATION CHURCH

H – SELECTIVE SERVICE NOTICE FOR UNDOCUMENTED MALES & IMMIGRANT SERVICING GROUPS

I – HISPANIC YOUTH INSTITUTE: OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS

J – UPCOMING CJ WORKSHOPS

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A – LOCAL MEETINGS, EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES: MARCH 1 – 14, 2011  

By Tuesday, March 1:  Register for Charlottesville City Preschool Programs.  Charlottesville City offers preschool programs for 3 and 4 year olds.  Information about these programs and applications in Spanish and English are available at:  http://www.ccs.k12.va.us/programs/preschool.html.

Monday, March 7: CJ Health Promoter Work Group will meet at 2:00pm at SARA. If you are interested in joining this group please email Aaron Miller at child@saracville.org.

Thursday, March 10: CJ Workshop on Policies of Special Interest to Virginia’s Immigrants. See below for details.

Every Wednesday Morning: Latina Women’s Support Group. Free support group, sponsored by the Women’s Initiative, held at the Word of Faith Church, every Wednesday at 10:00 am.  Transportation and childcare is provided. For more information, contact Elizabeth Irvin at (434) 964-6472 or eirvin@thewomensinitiative.org.

For a listing of Bilingual Jobs, Bilingual Volunteer Opportunities, and Bilingual Volunteers Seeking an Opportunity to Serve, visit the COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS section of the CJ website at http://www.cj-network.org/comm_ann.html.     

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B – THURSDAY, MARCH 10: CJ WORKSHOP ON POLICIES OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO VIRGINIA’S IMMIGRANTS.

This workshop will look back at the bills considered during the 2011 General Assembly session and discuss any upcoming changes to Virginia law. Presenter Tim Freilich of Legal Aid Justice Center, will also offer an overview of other policies targeting Virginia’s immigrant communities, both on the state and federal levels. For more information contact Tim Freilich at tim@justice4all.org.

CJ workshops are free, conducted in English and open to the public. Registration, coffee and refreshments begin at 9:40am; the workshop is from 10:00am – 11:30am in Room A of the Albemarle County Office Building on 5th St Ext.

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C – SATURDAY, MARCH 19: 8^TH ANNUAL CINDERELLA’S BOUTIQUE AT MONTICELLO HIGH SCHOOL

All are welcome at this great discount prom shopping event (“Tienda La Cenicienta”) in Monticello High School’s auditorium from 9:00am – 2:00pm, Saturday, March 19^th. There will be deeply discounted designer prom and formal dresses ($25 or less), makeup, accessories, shoes, and more for sale, plus a raffle, prizes, and gifts. Vouchers for a free dress are also available for families in need. Proceeds benefit the MHS PTO and the Make a Difference Fund. For more information and a Spanish language flyer to distribute, email Jackie Newton at cinderellascloset@hotmail.com.

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D – THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, MARCH 24 – 25: VIRGINIA LATINO HIGHER EDUCATION NETWORK 2011 ENCUENTRO

Nationally recognized experts at Plenary Panels and Breakout Sessions will explore topics such as demographics, education and civic involvement, and discuss the under-representation of Latinos in important 21st Century fields like the STEM disciplines, nursing and the public sector. Join us at this year’s Encuentro for networking and fellowship and to celebrate VALHEN’s mission and its work throughout the Commonwealth! This event will take place at the Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, VA. For more information and to register go to: http://www.valhen.org/Encuentro.

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What are the experiences of local Latinos in their interactions with police and the jail? How are those interactions experienced by law enforcement? What are the expectations and hopes on both sides of those interactions?

If you are interested in forming a CJ Working Group addressing these issues, please contact Phil Storey, Attorney with the Legal Aid Justice Center’s Immigrant Advocacy Program (phil@justice4all.org; 434-284-0872). Also, please visit http://doodle.com/wcgbicdha99vycgp  and indicate your availability for a meeting at Legal Aid’s offices during the second week of March to begin defining and organizing the group.

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F – BILINGUAL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Jefferson Area CHIP seeks Family Support Worker/Parent Educator to work closely with nurse in home setting to encourage optimal health and well being for families with young children and pregnant women living in Charlottesville/Albemarle. Two years experience/education in child development, or related field required. Bilingual in Spanish required. Fulltime position starting in high 20’s with health insurance, paid sick, vacation, & holidays. EOE. Email resume and cover letter to Sarah Cooper at sarah.cooper@jachip.org by 4:00pm March 4, 2011.

Teachstone, whose mission is to improve education quality through evidence-based teaching and learning programs, is seeking a Project Manager to oversee the production of Spanish versions of select existing Teachstone products for a major client. The incumbent will be relied upon to provide leadership and effectively manage resources while enhancing the company’s reputation for customer service, quality products and fidelity at scale. This is a salaried, temporary position projected to exist for at least nine months. A minimum of 25 hours per week will be required, though a strong preference exists for someone who can commit to 40. Applicants must be fluent in Spanish and English and possess project management experience, a Bachelor’s Degree, strong leadership and communication skills and adept use of technology.  Please refer to the complete description for more details regarding qualifications and responsibilities.  http://www.teachstone.org/about-teachstone/careers/gerente-del-proyecto/.  Applicants should send their resume and a cover letter to robin.macklin@themacklingroup.com.

Blue Ridge Area Health Education Center in Harrisonburg has a new full-time Health Promoter position available.  Blue Ridge AHEC will be working with the South River Science Team to train Hispanic women and men to be lay health resource persons in our community. Promotores focus on specific health issues within the Hispanic community, providing family, friends, neighbors and co-workers with effective and culturally-appropriate health information. The program also provides a cultural bridge between Hispanic residents and health and human services providers, reducing health disparities and helping make healthy living a real possibility for all in our community. If you are interested in working with some amazing men and women from the Promotores program, please go to the JMU joblink website at:

https://joblink.jmu.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1298908717064 and type in “Health Promoter” in the General Info Key Word box.

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G – FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR LATINO FAMILIES THROUGH INCARNATION CHURCH

The Church of the Incarnation is offering Charlottesville and Albemarle service agencies an opportunity to help their Latino clients participate in the Church’s Food Assistance Program for Hispanic Families. The Incarnation food program was started two years ago to serve 11 families, since that time the number of families participating has grown to over 40 Parish families. Church of the Incarnation has expanded the Food Assistance Program to accept non-parishioner Hispanic families referred by local agencies. Attached is a pamphlet that describes the Food Assistance Program and lists the requirements that are needed to apply.  This Program is not a public Food Pantry; it is a commitment by the Church to assist a family in need for a 3 month period of time. This program is only open to Hispanic families.  It is also the desire of the Church to assist the families that are in the most need.

To refer a family, please fill out the attached brochure. For more information please contact Tom Cross, Church of the Incarnation Food Ministry Team Leader at (434) 978-7741 or TCross48@hotmail.com, or Kristen Schenk, Church of the Incarnation Coordinator of Justice and Charity, at (434) 973-4381 x 118 or kms@incarnationparish.org.

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H – SELECTIVE SERVICE NOTICE FOR UNDOCUMENTED MALES & IMMIGRANT SERVICING GROUPS
The following is the notice from Selective Service http://www.sss.gov:

“Selective Service does not collect any information which would indicate whether or not you are undocumented. You want to protect yourself for future U.S. citizenship and other government benefits and programs by registering with Selective Service. If you are a man ages 18 through 25 and living in the U.S., then you must register with Selective Service. It’s the law. According to law, a man must register with Selective Service within 30 days of his 18th birthday. Selective Service will accept late registrations but not after a man has reached age 26. You may be denied benefits or a job if you have not registered. You can register at any U.S. Post Office and do not need a social security number.”

This is not a new policy, but often men don’t realize they were required to register until they get to the Selective Service registration question on the N-400 Naturalization form. There is no specific penalty for failure to register, but it is required for US citizenship. Selective Service does not share information with immigration.

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I – HISPANIC YOUTH INSTITUTE: OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS

Are you a high school student interested in learning about college and career opportunities? The Hispanic Youth Institute inspires students like you to achieve a college education, pursue a professional career, and invest in your community as volunteers and leaders. You will participate in college and career workshops, connect with local Hispanic professionals, meet college admissions officers, interact with near-peer mentors, listen to inspirational speakers, and compete for scholarships. To apply to the program, visit www.hispanicyouth.org. 

Leaders Needed for Summer 2011 Hispanic Youth Institute Kick-Off: Do you want to make an impact that will positively affect the trajectory of the next generation of Latino Youth? If so, you should consider applying for a Hispanic Youth Institute leadership position this summer. For more information, please visit www.hispanicyouth.org/become-a-volunteer. The deadline for the application is March 15, 2011.

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J – UPCOMING CJ WORKSHOPS

Thursday, March 10: Policies of Special Interest to Virginia’s Immigrants. See above for details.

Thursday, April 14: Early Childhood and Language Development in Our Latino Community. This workshop, hosted by CJ’s new Early Childhood Work Group, will explore some of the challenges and cultural issues surrounding language development for young Latino children in our area and strategize on ways we can help them access the services they need in order to succeed. Service providers, educators, therapists, community volunteers, and anyone working with our Latino population are encouraged to attend and learn more about resources and strategies that will enable them to better serve Spanish speaking families with young children. For more information on this workshop please contact the facilitator Maria Williams at elbambutercero@hotmail.com.

Thursday, May 12: Pathways to Higher Education for Latinos: Opportunities, Strategies and Limitations. This workshop will cover the opportunities Latino students have as well as their limitations to accessing higher education, including documentation, grades, and high school graduation rates.  Participants will learn about resources and support systems for local Latino high school students hoping to go on to a community college or university. For more information contact Gloria Rockhold at grockhold@k12albemarle.org.

Thursday, June 9: CJ Roundtable. Creciendo Juntos hosts roundtables twice a year to offer local service providers, educators, non profits, faith based organizations, government agencies, and community members an opportunity to promote the Latino-oriented initiatives and services they provide or are interested in starting. Organizations and community members that offer services to Latinos or wish to expand their initiatives to the Spanish speaking population in our area should join this discussion and be prepared to give a brief description of their programs. Organizations in need of volunteers or seeking to hire a bilingual employee, and individuals in search of bilingual employment or volunteer opportunities should also attend. For more information contact the facilitator, Anna Sullivan, at annabsullivan@gmail.com. 

CJ workshops are free, conducted in English and open to the public. Registration, coffee and refreshments begin at 9:40am; the workshops are from 10:00am – 11:30am in Room A of the Albemarle County Office Building on 5th St Ext.

For information on these and many other upcoming meetings, events, and opportunities (job openings, bilingual professionals or volunteers looking for work, etc.), visit the COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS section of the CJ website:  http://cj-network.org/cj/announcements/.   

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The CJ bulletin, the Alert, is prepared by Anna Sullivan, the CJ Program Coordinator.  Individuals and organizations wishing to maximize their use of the CJ network should submit their information, announcement, request, etc. as soon as possible and no later than the Friday morning before the Alert is circulated to: cj.cville@gmail.com.
  

The Creciendo Juntos (CJ) online clearinghouse, located at www.cj-network.org, is updated weekly with new information and resources.  If you work for or know about services available to our Latino community that are not on the site, please contact cj.cville@gmail.com.  Also welcomed are articles, studies, and other resources about and for our local Latino population.

If you wish to unsubscribe from this newsletter or add a new email address to the subscription list, please send an email to cj.cville@gmail.com.   

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Martha Trujillo
Martha Trujillo, CJ Chair

mtrujillo@unitedwaytja.org

¿Yo hablo Español, y tú?

Martha Trujillo bridges the gap between the growing Latin population and the local service providers. 

Martha Trujillo adjusts her red vest, clips on the “Hablo Español” button and checks her pager. At 6:15pm on a Wednesday night, the atmosphere is calm. A few patients in wheelchairs roll through the lobby of the UVA hospital; visitors browse the hospital gift shop for some special memento and physicians hurry by. She checks her pager again. No calls. Yet.

Martha Trujillo volunteers at the UVA Hospital one night a week, where she helps Spanish-speaking patients with a quick translation of the doctor’s orders and with making a foreign environment seem more familiar. “I just listen to them and I just try to encourage them to ask if they need any help,” says Trujillo.

Every Wednesday night for four hours or so, Trujillo wanders the floors of the hospital and meets with Spanish-speaking patients that need assistance communicating with nurses and doctors and who, more generally, need a friendly voice to reassure them that not everything around them is foreign. “Buenas noches, soy Martha Trujillo. ¿Cómo está usted?”

Her hospital time is strictly on a volunteer basis, though closely related to her day job. Trujillo’s days and evenings are busy as she bridges the gap between the area’s increasing Latino population and numerous service providers. She answers phone calls, translates important legal documents, promotes health care training programs for Latino mothers, and more. But with a growing Latino population and an inadequate number of Spanish-speaking personnel, not to mention shrinking financial resources, it seems that Trujillo is effectively liaising with the Latino community on her own.

All about access

I met Trujillo in her office the day after one of her volunteer hospital shifts (I couldn’t accompany her because UVA prohibits media from shadowing volunteers due to patients’ privacy concerns). It was a good night, she told me: “I saw 13 patients.” Some were parents of newborns, an aspect of her volunteering she loves most. Trujillo happily recounted helping a new mother understand the nurse’s instructions on feeding her baby. In a foreign language, even the basics can seem incomprehensible.

“I saw another mother—her baby is going to have surgery next week and she wanted the baby to be baptized,” she said. Trujillo helped the out-of-towners locate a place to buy an appropriate dress for the baby’s baptism and, in the conversation, slipped in that if they needed any additional help, she would be the right person to ask.

“Besides the translation, sometimes, because of my job, I can answer some questions and little things,” Trujillo says. But most importantly, “I am there to respect them, to help them. … I don’t ask them about the specific things about surgery. … If they want to talk to me and tell me, I just listen.” Trujillo’s day job is Outreach Coordinator for United Way. As a volunteer, she also chairs Creciendo Juntos (CJ), a network of agencies that cater to Latinos in Charlottesville and Albemarle. Effectively, in many capacities and wearing many official titles, Trujillo is the point of reference for families that need help filing taxes, calling a cab, turning on their fuel-operated heater in their homes, placing their kids in the correct grade at school, finding a job and doing everything in between.

Resources for liaison services like Trujillo provides are shrinking and the need for local support is much greater. Peter Loach, treasurer of Creciendo Juntos and an administrator for the Piedmont Housing Alliance, wrote to the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors last year that their $12,800 support was leveraged with $105,000 worth in training hours and outreach work.

With an uncertain financial outlook for the next couple of years, initiatives like Creciendo Juntos, which helps agencies learn about the culture, needs and desires of the increasing Latino population, are struggling. Indeed, Albemarle County, where close to 6 percent of the population is Latino, axed its very modest contribution to Creciendo Juntos in 2010, and supervisors are unable to say if they’ll restore the funding, despite the fact that the Latino population continues to rise in Albemarle, as it does in the city.

A story to tell

On May 3, 1999, Martha Trujillo landed in Charlottesville. A native of Mexico City, Trujillo and her husband, Ruben, left Mexico and chose to settle in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

“We left everything. We couldn’t take anything—just our suitcase—and we came here and there was nothing,” she says, her dark eyes welling with sadness. Her husband arrived here ahead of Trujillo and their two children, Andrea and Diego.

The shock of the departure still echoes in her voice. She tells of their life in Mexico City, of trips to Acapulco, a new house, a car-free commute, a close-knit family, grandma babysitting. Still, Trujillo quickly picks herself up and plumbs the memories of her arrival. “The first night, I remember, he went to the airport and my son, after six months, he didn’t know he was his father,” she says. At that time, Diego was 23 months old. Her daughter was 10 years old. The townhouse her husband rented for them was clean, “perfect,” yet empty.

“I remember the first thing I wanted to buy was an iron, because I wanted to be able to iron clothes to look nice, but then I learned that here people don’t like to iron,” she says, laughing.

The move, undoubtedly, has changed many aspects of her life. What she did not expect, however, was a name change, too. Born Martha Amaya-Rivera, she changed her name in an immigration office where she was waiting to get her work permit. The legal application was made to the entire Trujillo family, “and then I became Martha Trujillo.”

She brushed that incident off and didn’t lose time. She got a sales job at the local T.J.Maxx, where she still works on certain evenings. It was at T.J. Maxx that she began to master the language, learning new vocabulary daily. She was offered and turned down an assistant manager position. “I wanted to work with Latino families,” she says. “I knew my Spanish would be helpful and I started looking for a job.”

In 2005, she was hired at United Way and soon got involved as an organizer with CJ, too. Now she chairs the all-volunteer organization. A youthful 43-year-old, Trujillo shoulders significant responsibilities. “She is the first point of contact for a lot of people,” says Cathy Smith Train, president United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area. “It’s not just about being a resource for people coming in the door … She has a very significant interest in making sure that they access the resources they need, but that they are aligning everything they are doing in the appropriate legal manner,” says Train.

Her position with United Way enables Trujillo to assist families one-on-one and in direct response to their needs. In a recent week, Trujillo received several calls from folks who needed help with their fuel-assistance program.

“They call me to see if I can call to see how much or when they are coming to the house,” to activate the gas. At times she is on a three-line conversation, such as when a company requires confidential information. Trujillo is experienced with the bumps and hurdles of life in the United States; she knows she provides a living example for new immigrants.

“Because I went through that situation, so I know exactly the resources that are available,” she says. “If not, I can look for that.” As an example, Trujillo’s daughter Andrea became ill and required hospitalization a short time after they moved to Charlottesville. She had to learn how to converse with the doctors and nurses. “I wanted to understand and feel confident of what the doctors were telling me about my daughter,” she says. “If my daughter will never get sick, I would never get it.” Another example: At the end of each fiscal year, Trujillo and her husband didn’t file their taxes. “In Mexico I didn’t have to worry about it,” she says, because her employer would take care of it. “I never thought about it. When I found out, and I went to pay taxes, I found out I owed a lot of money,” says Trujillo. More than $12,000. As a result of that experience, she became a certified agent with the IRS enabling her to help other people to correctly fill in every line on their tax forms. “I know how to do it and I learned how to file taxes and I now help people,” she says. “Not just filing taxes, I help them to understand why they have to pay and to be debt-free. That’s my goal.”

Loach knows Trujillo’s work in that setting. Creciendo Juntos was created in 2005 by the Piedmont Housing Alliance (PHA) and is a network of service providers that cater to area Latinos. “Martha is at the eye of the storm,” he says of her work helping hundreds and hundreds of families to ease into life in a new country. But the obvious question is why, with a growing Hispanic population, Trujillo is essentially going it alone.

Shrinking support

Facing an $11 million decline in revenue between the 2008-2009 budget and the adopted budget for Fiscal Year 2010-2011, Albemarle County supervisors cut funding for Creciendo Juntos. The $292.2 million budget did not include the $12,800 that had previously helped support CJ’s operating costs. The miniscule portion of the county’s budget meant a great deal more to CJ, which is part of the Piedmont Housing Alliance’s Latino Initiative. The city of Charlottesville maintained its $12,800 commitment; other monies come from direct fundraising and there are in-kind donations from churches, too.

“There were significant cuts all over the county and one of the mirrors that we look through was whether the function was mandated or contractual, whether it dealt with public safety or public health and anything other than that was subject to reductions or cuts,” says Ron White, director of the Albemarle County Department of Housing, which oversees PHA’s funding. “Last year, the budget was at a place that we really had to focus on funding core activities.” Those include the local SPCA, regional libraries and the jail.

Ann Mallek, chair of the Board of Supervisors, says that supervisors “rely heavily” upon the review team when making budget decisions. According to Mallek, the team spends hundreds of hours preparing and evaluating each organization’s funding proposal. “They try very hard to make judgments based upon the right facts, rather than each of us taking our favorites, which would be completely unfair,” she says. Although reductions and cuts were made “across the board,” Mallek acknowledges the work CJ is doing for the community.

“I know that it’s a group that has been very active and helpful in the community,” she says.

Cathy Smith Train, president of the local United Way, has noticed, over time, a significant increase in the number of Latino families who reach out to Trujillo for help. “Over the period of time that Martha has been here, it became very evident to, particularly the city and the county, that she could be a good resource for their residents, particularly the Latino community, who don’t always turn to government sources for support,” she says.

Fellow supervisor Ken Boyd agrees. “I know there were a number of [agencies] that weren’t approved that were approved in previous years,” he says. “We don’t interject ourselves as supervisors.” Loach is “not very optimistic” that the county will restore CJ funding. But Mallek says, “This year there is a little more confidence based upon the fact that we are moving, progressing on a level field as new businesses and new hiring happened and things start to improve.”

She adds, “The one big elephant is what the state is going to do.”

“This year we have a very unpredictable governor and legislature. They are chopping things such as support for our airports and they are saying, ‘We are going to make economic development a really big push,’ but they are completely wiping out all these other funds that contribute to economic development,” she says.

Regardless of how budgets shape up in the next few months, the question of access for Latino residents remains. While Charlottesville is home to a multitude of service providers for local residents, for newcomers with cultural and language barriers these agencies are hard to navigate and hard to find.

Access not granted

Loach calls the funding cut disappointing. “It’s a little disappointing in that Albemarle County has the most Latinos in the area and we are not talking about hundred of thousands of dollars. A little goes a long way,” he says. “It also demonstrates [the county’s] commitment to embracing newcomers and integrating the community as much as possible.”

Even with little funding, CJ’s impact has been significant, says Loach. CJ was developed to address challenges that impede the quest to serve area Latinos. Then, PHA had three main goals in mind: help service providers and nonprofits “improve their service delivery to the Latino community,” says Loach, who is also a member of the state Virginia Latino Advisory Board. In addition, CJ proposed to reach out to area Latinos to educate them about the services that are available in Charlottesville and Albemarle, how they work and how to access them. “The third goal is really to inspire the community at large to embrace diversity and celebrate diversity,” says Loach.

Since its inception, CJ has trained more than 1,500 people working in service agencies through more than 50 workshops, events and fairs. Its outreach program has touched and involved more than 3,300 Latinos and one of CJ’s programs, Lay Health Promoter, has trained numerous Latinos to assist others with health care needs. Although Trujillo is active in all the aspects of immigrant family life, she says she still has ground to gain. “I will keep learning. I think it’s just the key to succeed as a person,” she says. “I am here to help anyone and CJ is giving me the opportunity to get more access to services. I will continue.”

Although resources are shrinking, the number of Latinos in the area has been increasing. According to the recently released 2010 Census data, Albemarle County recorded 5,417 Latinos, or 5.4 percent of the total population of 98,970. That’s an increase from 2009 census numbers, which counted Latinos as 3.9 percent, or 3,707, of the total county population.

Much of the same happened in Charlottesville. In 2010, Latinos counted for 5.1 percent, or 2,223, of the total population, 43,475. In 2009, the city recorded 1,629 Latinos, or 3.86 percent of the population.

Statewide, the Hispanic population tripled between 1990 and 2006, from 152,000 to 460,000, according to a 2008 study by the Weldon Cooper Center at UVA. Interestingly, 60 percent of Hispanics in Virginia are U.S. citizens, with 47 percent being U.S.-born and 13 percent naturalized citizens. The remaining 40 percent are immigrants. In “Virginia’s Workforce Trends,” the Center reports that Hispanics have the highest labor participation rate in the Commonwealth with 79.1 percent, closely followed by Asians with 72.6 percent. Blacks’ labor participation rate is 68.4 percent and for whites it’s 67.8 percent.

Insatiable service

Given the increasing numbers, is the local Latino population well served? Loach is torn.

“The Latino population, like everyone else, works hard, goes to school, does all the things that residents in the area do. They are not here getting some special handout,” he says.

Although matters have somewhat improved, many service providers still lack adequate Spanish-speaking personnel. A couple of years back, a University of Virginia class did an experiment. Students cold-called local agencies in Spanish to receive information about services and how to access them. “The results were not uplifting in that less than half of the agencies could really handle the phone call,” says Loach. “There isn’t a lot of money out there to hire people to just be interpreters.” The good news, however, is that there are a lot more agencies that are playing catch-up and hiring bilingual staff. That’s where Trujillo comes in.

Her insatiable desire to give back has not gone unnoticed. “Martha is a leader, a person of great leadership qualities,” says Loach. “She is not just a leader who is helping Latinos, she is a leader who is helping the whole community. She is an inspiring example of how a newcomer to Virginia can bring their talent and knowledge and strengthen the entire community. We are a much stronger community because of her being here.” Marnie Allen, director for MACAA’s Hope House, who works with Trujillo to translate applications for temporary housing, agrees. “She is phenomenal. She has been through her own challenges and she has been able to really use that as inspiration and to help other people,” she says. “She is not only helping with Creciendo Juntos, but she does outreach to other venues and exposes people to what the issues are in the Latino community and tries to bridge that gap, which I think is the only way we are going to make progress.”

For Train, the increase of Latino families reaching out for services has been significant, increasing over time. “I think that’s because you start out and there is the need to build credibility with that community and [Trujillo] has done that,” she says. Community support is “robust,” says Train, but there remains some skepticism, especially when it comes to divulging personal information.

That’s one reason Trujillo urges basic English competency when she’s working with Spanish speakers new to the community. “I really encourage people to learn some English, do not be dependent on someone who speaks both languages,” she says.

“You don’t need to know the specifics, you don’t need to be literate in every single aspect of life, but on your needs. You need to focus on that.”

Nowadays, Trujillo serves on the UVA Cancer Center Community Advisory Board on health disparities and teaches Spanish to medical students at Speak! in Downtown Charlottesville. She wants to get certified in CPR and wants to give Latino women health care training. “I want to train them as health promoters, so they know about health issues, but the main thing is for them to show a path to continue their education, to be self-sufficient and to learn that women have the power to be happy,” she says.

All that, by the way, is in addition to her 9-to-5 job at United Way.

“I have no idea how she accomplishes all that she does,” says Nila Saliba of the UVA Cancer Center. “She is involved in several projects, just one of which would be daunting for someone with normal energy. She never slows down.

“She is invaluable to this community. We are just very lucky to have her.”

A few days after I talked to Trujillo at the hospital, she’s seated in a second-floor office at United Way’s High Street headquarters. She’s attentively listening to a conference call. She has been involved in United Way’s Earned Income Tax Credit program, a refundable tax credit program for working families. She jots down notes and questions. In less than five minutes a family is coming in with their tax documents. Trujillo wants to be ready. She hangs up the phone, takes a deep breath and walks downstairs.

“Buenos Días,” she says. “¿Cómo están ustedes?”

CJ Alert: February 15 – 28, 2011

The electronic bulletin CJ Alert is issued by Creciendo Juntos (CJ).  Its purpose is to help people use and participate in the CJ website, network and related activities in support of the Latino community in Charlottesville, Albemarle, and surrounding areas. Previous Alerts are located on the CJ website at http://cj-network.org/cj/cj-initiatives/cj-weekly-bulletin/.

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 A – LOCAL MEETINGS, EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES: FEBRUARY 15 – 28, 2011 

 B – WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23: “KNOW YOUR RIGHTS” BILINGUAL PRESENTATION ON IMMIGRANT RIGHTS

C – THURSDAY, MARCH 10: CJ WORKSHOP ON POLICIES OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO VIRGINIA’S IMMIGRANTS

D – FRIDAY, MARCH 18: RICHMOND WORKSHOP ON EMERGENCY PLANNING IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY

 E – REGISTER LATINO KIDS NOW FOR AREA PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS

 F – FREE ASSISTANCE FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS FILING INCOME TAXES

G – RESEARCH STUDY SEEKING LATINO YOUTH AGES 14-17

 H – GET IN SHAPE AND HAVE FUN AT LATIN DANCE AND FITNESS CLASSES

 I – IN THE NEWS: IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCES AND IMMIGRATION BILLS

 J – UPCOMING CJ WORKSHOPS 

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 A – LOCAL MEETINGS, EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES: FEBRUARY 15 – 28, 2011

 Thursdays, February 17 – March 7: Culture and Customs in the US Class. This free class will be held on Thursdays from 11:30 -1:30 at the Lorna Sundberg International Center (21 University Circle). Emphasis will be on helping participants build new vocabulary and better understand idioms. For intermediate to advanced English language learners. Free and no registration required. Contact: (434)924-7983 or intlctr@virginia.edu for more information.

Friday, February 18: CJ Mental Health Work Group. 9:00-10:30 at the Women’s Initiative. If you are interested in joining this group please email eirvin@thewomensinitiative.org.

Wednesday, February 23: “Know Your Rights” Bilingual Presentation on Immigrant Rights. See article B below. 

Tuesday, March 1: Registration deadline for Charlottesville City Preschool Programs. See article E below.

Every Wednesday Morning: Latina Women’s Support Group. Free support group, sponsored by the Women’s Initiative, held at the Word of Faith Church, every Wednesday at 10:00 am.  Transportation and childcare is provided. For more information, contact Elizabeth Irvin at (434) 964-6472 or eirvin@thewomensinitiative.org.

For a listing of Bilingual Jobs, Bilingual Volunteer Opportunities, and Bilingual Volunteers Seeking an Opportunity to Serve, visit the COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS section of the CJ website at http://www.cj-network.org/comm_ann.html.     

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 B – WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23: “KNOW YOUR RIGHTS” BILINGUAL PRESENTATION ON IMMIGRANT RIGHTS

This event is an opportunity for area Spanish speakers and those working with them to learn about the rights of undocumented and documented immigrants in the US and Virginia. Tim Freilich of Legal Aid Justice Center will be speaking at this event which is free and open to the public, and will be conducted mainly in Spanish. 4:30pm at Random Row Bookstore, 315 W. Main St. For more information contact Brandon Collins at brandoncollins@comcast.net or Tim Freilich at tim@justice4all.org

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C – THURSDAY, MARCH 10: CJ WORKSHOP ON POLICIES OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO VIRGINIA’S IMMIGRANTS.

This workshop will look back at the bills considered during the 2011 General Assembly session and discuss any upcoming changes to Virginia law.  Presenters, including nationally recognized Tim Freilich of Legal Aid Justice Center, will also offer an overview of other policies targeting Virginia’s immigrant communities, both on the state and federal levels. For more information contact the coordinator, Tim Freilich at tim@justice4all.org.

CJ workshops are free, conducted in English and open to the public. Registration, coffee and refreshments begin at 9:40am; the workshop is from 10:00am – 11:30am in Room A of the Albemarle County Office Building on 5th St Ext.

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D – FRIDAY, MARCH 18: RICHMOND WORKSHOP ON EMERGENCY PLANNING IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY

Colaborando Juntos of Richmond is hosting a workshop on Emergency Planning in the Latino Community from 8:30-11:00am at the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services, 8004 Franklin Farms Drive, Richmond, VA 23229. Speaker Karla Almendarez-Ramos, Public Affairs Assistant at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and Liaison to the Hispanic Community, will present on how planning for emergencies in the Latino community may be different from planning for emergencies in the community at large, provide tools that emergency planners can use to reach this community, and educate participants on the demographics, resources, agencies, and strategies relevant to working with Latinos in emergency situations.

Colaborando Juntos workshops are free and open to anyone interested in skill building for service providers. To register for this free event go to: http://tinyurl.com/638y4xz. For questions, contact Cecily Rodriguez at cecily.rodriguez@dbhds.virgina.gov.

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 E – REGISTER LATINO KIDS NOW FOR AREA PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS

By March 1:  Register for Charlottesville City Preschool Programs.  Charlottesville City offers preschool programs for 3 and 4 year olds.  Information about these programs and applications in Spanish and English are available at:  http://www.ccs.k12.va.us/programs/preschool.html.

By March 31:  Register for Head Start, a federally funded preschool program for low income families serving children who will turn 3 or 4 years old by Sept. 30th of this year. They currently have one bilingual classroom serving children in the Southwood area with a bilingual lead teacher and family service worker.  Applications are available in Spanish at the MACAA main office at 1025 Park Street, by calling 295-3171 to request an application by mail, or online (for County Residents) at http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/Forms_Center/Departments/Social_Services/Forms/Applications/Preschool_Network_App_Pack_11-12_Spanish.pdf. Applying families must include proof of income along with the application to be considered for the program.  For assistance in Spanish call Toby Lyons at (434) 295-3171 x3009.

By March 31:  Register for Albemarle County Bright Stars, a program that  puts County at-risk preschoolers into an elementary school setting a year early to help ensure a smooth transition. Children must be 4 years old by September 30, 2010. Applying families must include proof of income along with the application to be considered for the program. Applications (English/Spanish) can be requested at Agnor-Hurt, Cale, Greer, Red Hill, Scottsville, Stone-Robinson, Stony Point, and Woodbrook elementary schools, at Albemarle Social Services, 972-4010, or online at: http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/Forms_Center/Departments/Social_Services/Forms/Applications/Preschool_Network_App_Pack_11-12_Spanish.pdf (Spanish) http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/Forms_Center/Departments/Social_Services/Forms/Applications/Preschool_Network_App_Pack_11-12_English.pdf (English).

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F – FREE ASSISTANCE FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS FILING INCOME TAXES

United Way Tax Preparation Services

During tax season (January – April) Martha Trujillo, United Way’s Information and Referral Specialist and CJ’s Executive Chair, offers free assistance to area Spanish speakers filing state and federal income taxes. Through this service Virginia residents who do not have a Social Security Number can apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) in order to file their taxes, as well as receive help claiming the Earned Income Credit or other applicable credits and refunds. Contact Martha at mtrujillo@unitedwaytja.org or (434) 972-1703 or stop by the United Way office at 806 East High Street in Charlottesville, VA.

Washington & Lee Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic

The Lexington Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, operating out of the Washington and Lee University School of Law, provides free legal representation to low-income taxpayers who have post-filing controversies with the Internal Revenue Service. All services are free. The Clinic has a partner organization that provides translators and Spanish materials and can travel to Charlottesville to meet with clients. Call (540) 460-6606. More information is available at http://law.wlu.edu/taxclinic/.

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G – RESEARCH STUDY SEEKING LATINO YOUTH AGES 14-17

 A UVA researcher is seeking teens ages 14-17 to participate in two interviews for a research study about what it’s like for youth of different races when someone around their own age dies (excluding family members).  The study will take about 1.5-2.5 hours total, and participants will receive $20 cash for agreeing to participate.  The interviews are conducted in English.  For more information, please contact Laura S. Wheat, M.Ed., NCC, at Lw8fc@virginia.edu or (803) 524-5020.

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H – GET IN SHAPE AND HAVE FUN AT LATIN DANCE AND FITNESS CLASSES

Zumba Fitness Dance at Shergold Studio is on Mondays and Wednesdays, 6-7pm, 652 Rio Rd. West, Unit 7.  Ditch the work out join the party! Using Latin dance steps and Latin music this class will kick you. Fee: $10 drop-in, or $80 for a ten class card. Contact: (434) 975-4611, instructors@shergoldstudio.com  or go to: www.shergoldstudio.com.

Zumba Fitness at The Laughing Dragon: Puerto Rican Chris Breland provides a fun way to relieve stress, stretch, and exercise by combining Latin dance and music. Classes are only $5 and beginners are welcome! Location: The Laughing Dragon Kung Fu Studio, 3006 Berkmar Drive, Sundays from 4-5pm.  For more information contact: christinebreland@gmail.com.

Beginner Bolero at Shergold Studio is on Tuesdays at 7:00pm, 652 Rio Rd. West, Unit 7. Come learn the foundational moves of this slow Latin dance with Steve. Fee: $10 drop-in, or $32 for the month. Contact: (434) 975-4611, instructors@shergoldstudio.com or: www.shergoldstudio.com.

Charlottesville Salsa Club is on Sundays at 8:00 pm at Club R2, which is part of Rapture on the downtown mall, 303 E. Main Street. The longest continuously running Latin dance party in Virginia. Introductory dance lesson begins at 8:00pm. Latin social dancing (salsa, meringue, bachata, cha cha) is from 9:00pm to midnight. Fee: $5 (includes lesson). Contact: sundaysalsa@cvillesalsaclub.com, or http://www.cvillesalsaclub.com/Home/home.htm & http://www.facebook.com/pages/Charlottesville-VA/The-Charlottesville-Salsa-Club/47038948304?ref=ts.

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 I – IN THE NEWS: IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCES AND IMMIGRATION BILLS

Charlottesville City Council Passes Resolution Opposing Immigration Bills: Charlottesville’s regular first Monday City Council meeting in February saw dozens of people showing up to make sure that a resolution pertaining to statewide immigration legislation would pass. In the unanimous vote council expressed its “strong opposition” to a long list of bills in the Virginia General Assembly directed towards undocumented people, and stated that “Charlottesville recognizes that all people living or working in Virginia are entitled to respect and inalienable human rights regardless of residency status.” Some of the bills being opposed would deny public services, higher education, use of the Virginia Employment Commission, and drivers’ licenses to undocumented immigrants. Other bills allow Virginia police to act as federal immigration officials, sets up a system through the Department of Homeland Security to check residency status, allows police to stop anyone suspected of being here illegally, removes local oversight of federal immigration investigations, puts Virginia in charge of detaining and paying for immigrants awaiting deportation, and mandates all parents to verify residency when enrolling children in public schools. For more information contact Brandon Collins at brandoncollins@comcast.net.

Local Immigrants “Live in Fear” After Legislation Passes House: A slate of immigrant bills passed the House of Delegates last Tuesday, which has local immigrants fearing for their lives. A Charlottesville community of immigrants voiced opposition to what they’re calling a human rights violation, but those in favor say the legislation is necessary. Read the full Feb 8, 2011 Newsplex report at: http://www.newsplex.com/news/headlines/City_Council_Residents_Oppose_Anti-immigration_Legislation_115598044.html 

Why Women Who Pick and Process Your Food Face Daily Threats of Rape, Harassment and Wage Theft: Chances are, you’ve never connected your dinner to violence against women. And yet, a new report published by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) makes that link. The report, “Injustice on Our Plates: Immigrant Women in the U.S. Food Industry,” compiles the experiences of 150 immigrant women who came from Mexico or other Latin American countries to work in the food industry, both in fields and in factories, across the United States. Women, who make up nearly a quarter of U.S. farm workers, face the same indignities that immigrant men face — and then some. Read the full story at: http://www.alternet.org/story/149693/why_women_who_pick_and_process_your_food_face_daily_threats_of_rape%2C_harassment_and_wage_theft?page=entire

The Legal Aid Justice Center provides support and advocacy for low-wage immigrants in these kinds of situations. For more information go to http://www.justice4all.org/our_programs/vjc  and please attend our CJ Workshop on policies of special interest to Virginia’s Immigrants on Thursday, March 10, 2011.

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J – UPCOMING CJ WORKSHOPS

Thursday, March 10: Policies of Special Interest to Virginia’s Immigrants. See article C above for details.

Thursday, April 14: Early Childhood Development in Our Latino Community. This workshop, hosted by CJ’s new Early Childhood Work Group, will explore some of the challenges and cultural issues young Latino children in our area are facing and strategize on ways we can help them access the services they need in order to succeed. Service providers, educators, therapists, community volunteers, and anyone working with our Latino population are encouraged to attend and learn more about resources and strategies that will enable them to better serve Spanish speaking families with young children. For more information on this workshop please contact the facilitator Maria Williams at elbambutercero@hotmail.com.

Thursday, May 12: Pathways to Higher Education for Latinos: Opportunities, Strategies and Limitations. This workshop will cover the opportunities Latino students have as well as their limitations to accessing higher education, including documentation, grades, high school graduation, etc.  Participants will learn about resources and support systems for local Latino high school students hoping to go on to a community college or university. For more information contact Gloria Rockhold at grockhold@k12albemarle.org.

Thursday, June 9: CJ Roundtable. Creciendo Juntos hosts roundtables twice a year to offer local service providers, educators, non profits, faith based organizations, government agencies, and community members an opportunity to promote the Latino-oriented initiatives and services they provide or are interested in starting. Organizations and community members that offer services to Latinos or wish to expand their initiatives to the Spanish speaking population in our area should join this discussion and be prepared to give a brief description of their programs. Organizations in need of volunteers or seeking to hire a bilingual employee, and individuals in search of bilingual employment or volunteer opportunities should also attend. For more information contact the facilitator, Anna Sullivan, at annabsullivan@gmail.com. 

CJ workshops are free, conducted in English and open to the public. Registration, coffee and refreshments begin at 9:40am; the workshops are from 10:00am – 11:30am in Room A of the Albemarle County Office Building on 5th St Ext.

For information on these and many other upcoming meetings, events, and opportunities (job openings, bilingual professionals or volunteers looking for work, etc.), visit the COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS section of the CJ website:  http://cj-network.org/cj/announcements/.   

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The CJ bulletin, the Alert, is prepared by Anna Sullivan, the CJ Program Coordinator.  Individuals and organizations wishing to maximize their use of the CJ network should submit their information, announcement, request, etc. as soon as possible and no later than the Friday morning before the Alert is circulated to: cj.cville@gmail.com.
  

The Creciendo Juntos (CJ) online clearinghouse, located at www.cj-network.org, is updated weekly with new information and resources.  If you work for or know about services available to our Latino community that are not on the site, please contact cj.cville@gmail.com.  Also welcomed are articles, studies, and other resources about and for our local Latino population.

If you wish to unsubscribe from this newsletter or add a new email address to the subscription list, please send an email to cj.cville@gmail.com.   

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Martha Trujillo
Martha Trujillo, CJ Chair

mtrujillo@unitedwaytja.org