Concurrent Session 4: Community Decision-making
Extension Resources for Integrating Immigrant Populations into Rural Communities
| Speakers: | Mary
Simon Leuci Stephen
Jeanetta Steve
Padgitt |
During the past decade after many years of emigration of residents, particularly young adults, and seeing populations become older, many Midwest rural communities are now experiencing a significant immigration of Spanish speaking populations that is transforming many Midwest communities. Initially, employment was typically in agriculture production and processing and seasonal. Over time, patterns have changed and many are establishing permanent residency and working in a broad range of occupations. In some instances, the impact has been modest, while in others, it has been major and transforming. Community response has varied from open and welcoming to animosity and hostility. Changes in communities present opportunities and challenges for Extension. The NCRCRD Spanish Speaking Populations Committee has been a forum for North Central Region CD staff to share initiatives and resources. We have been developing an inventory of CD Programs offered by Extension staff in our region. The inventory includes resources to assist new residents with issues related to coping with a new culture and integrating into their new communities, programs for existing residents helping them understand the culture of new residents and the dynamics of the demographic change. Finally, it will list professional development activities for Extension professionals. In this workshop we will engage participants in a dialog about their work with Spanish speaking communities, how is immigration being characterized in different parts of the country, what has been the extension response and what kind of support would better enable us to better serve this population. This dialog will help us shape a broader picture of the how immigration is changing communities across the country and help us shape our collective extension response. PowerPoint Presentation (PDF format, 576 kb) Handout (PDF format, 24 kb) |
|
For more information about the conference, contact the conference co-chairs: Jeri Marxman, jmarxman@uiuc.edu , (217) 244-2850 or John Burton, burtonj@unce.unr.edu, (775) 784-7070.
For questions, comments or concerns about the 2005 NACDEP Conference Web site, contact khetland@iastate.edu.
