Illinois
   
1. What are 3-5 Hispanic program directions your state is pursuing?
 
  • Extended Family and Nutrition Programs
    • Robin Orr, Program Coordinator, Expanded Foods and Nutrition Education Program, raorr@extension.uiuc.edu, has been the lead producer of materials in Spanish among the University of Illinois Extension’s programs. She is committed to produce almost all her written and audio-visual materials in English and Spanish.
    • Willene Buffet, Unit Leader, Cook/Chicago North, buffettw@mail.aces.uiuc.edu, offers a great range of programs to Hispanic agencies and Hispanic families as well. She distributes information through newsletters and fact sheets. Information is disseminated at libraries, health fairs, community fairs, cable access, and grocery stores. During the summer the Family and Nutrition Program provides food demonstrations at food centers such as WIC, which serves predominantly Afro-Americans and Hispanics. This program is called Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program. Urban Gardeners, Cook County Jail and Ag High School produced vegetables for this program.
  • Radio Programs
    • Ben Mueller, Extension Specialist-Community Development, bmueller@uiuc.edu, is producing “Nuevos Horizontes (New Horizons)” a weekly Spanish radio program on CD. Radio programs focus on community development and family and nutrition programs. New Horizons has its own web site (www.nuevoshorizontes.org) and is also posted on www.RadioSource.net. CD’s are distributed to radio stations, Extension offices and agencies working with Hispanics.
    • Gonzalo Escobar, Extension Educator—Prevention Educator, escobarg@mail.aces.uiuc.edu, is producing “Si Se Puede (Yes, It can be done)” a weekly Spanish radio program. Radio programs focus on youth development and prevention programs. This program is a cooperative project with the University of Loyola in Chicago 88.7 FM (WLUB) and also is posted on the Internet (www.wlub.org). Escobar teaches radio interviewing skills to high school students and he is currently working on a project on gentrification involving teens from the East Village Youth Program in West Town, Chicago.
  • Horticulture in Spanish
    Jim Schuster, Extension Educator- Horticulture, schuster@extension.uiuc.edu, offers workshops on ground maintenance, problems with perennial flowers and other topics related to Integrated Pest Management in English and Spanish. He is also producing     materials on horticulture in English and Spanish that are being posted on the Internet.
  • Small Business
    Darlene Knipe, Extension Educator, Small Business Management, dknipe@extension.uiuc.edu, is currently translating “Going Solo,” a small business management curriculum, into Spanish. Darlene is training small business managers, including Hispanics.
  • Prevention Programs
    Gonzalo Escobar, Extension Educator—Prevention Educator, escobarg@mail.aces.uiuc.edu, is heavily involved in Spanish youth prevention programs in Chicago, where about 75 percent of Hispanics in Illinois are living. He focuses on parenting skills, discipline and behavior management, self-esteem, and your family and building positive relationships with your children.
2. What in-services have occurred in your state regarding Latino outreach?
 
  • German Cutz, Extension Specialist- Spanish Language Programming, cutzg@mail.aces.uiuc.edu, has been talking to Extension staff about “Approaching Hispanic Audiences” and “How to work with new audiences.” He has participated in round-tables with Extension unit leaders. He has made presentations at regional meetings and at Extension conferences as well.
  • Ben Mueller, bmueller@uiuc.edu, planned and developed a workshop “Building Community with Immigrants and Newcomers: Challenges and Opportunities for Rural Communities,” which involved Extension staff and organizations working with Hispanics.
3. What coalitions currently exist and who are the organizational contacts?
 

Extension is partnering with the following organizations working with Hispanics in Illinois.

  • Winnebago County, IL. La Voz Latina. It is a Hispanic Resource Development Center and the primary service provider to the Hispanic community. Marcos Lainez, (815) 965-5784.
  • Decatur, IL. Hispanic Outreach Rehabilitation Program. Marbella Marsh, (217) 420-4817.
  • Lake County, IL. Mano a Mano. It is a Family Resource Center for Hispanics. Maru Tomusiak, (847) 201-1521.
  • Wellington, IL. Hoopeston Migrant Head Start. Joan E. Moser, (815) 984-3706.
  • University Park, IL. Hispanic Opportunity Program Enhancement. José Reyes, (708) 534-6972.
  • Chicago, IL. Accion Chicago. It offers small “micro loans” to emerging and growing businesses and serves a large number of Hispanics. Leroy Pacheco, (773) 376-9004.
  • Centro San Bonifacio. 1332 North Greenville, Chicago. This organization provides health care to Hispanics. Lori Ramos, (773) 252-9098.
  • Latino Youth/Heart to Heart. 2200 South Marshall Boulevard. This organization works on issues such as child abuse. Maria Espejel, (773) 277-0400 ext. 246.
  • Highland School. 828 Willow Drive. Chicago Heights. The school works with Hispanic parents on topics such as sexual education and how to discipline teenagers. Olga Calgaro, (708) 756-0008.
  • East Village Youth Programs. 1943 West Division, Chicago. Jeanne Balanda, (773) 489-9098.
  • Latino Coalition for Champaign County 1203 West Nevada, Urbana. Giraldo Rosales, (217)333-4950.
4. What training and development exists?
 
  • German Cutz, Extension Specialist-Spanish Language Programming, cutzg@mail.aces.uiuc.edu, is developing curricula for professional development opportunities focusing on interpersonal communication skills. He is currently teaching Spanish to a group of 10 Extension staff going to Panama, Central America.
  • German Cutz, cutzg@mail.aces.uiuc.edu, and Gonzalo Escobar, escobarg@mail.aces.uiuc.edu, produced a two-and-a-half hour audio program “Spanish in Action” for Extension staff. This program is for beginners and is expected to be released in April 2001.
  • Jane Scherer, Extension Specialist-Urban Programming, schererj@mail.aces.uiuc.edu, and German Cutz, Extension Specialist-Spanish Language Programming, cutzg@mail.aces.uiuc.edu, developed three promotional brochures in English and Spanish for Extension staff, Hispanic agencies or agencies working with Hispanics, and Hispanic families.

5. Who in your state is interested in being a resource to others in the state, as well as those interested in providing consulting services in other states?
 
6. Who is the first point of contact in the state? Who's doing what?
 
  • German Cutz, Extension Specialist, cutzg@mail.aces.uiuc.edu. He provides information about Extension programs to Spanish-speaking audiences. He conducts needs assessments on Hispanic concerns at community, county and state levels. He teaches staff and volunteers about Hispanic culture and Extension programs. He plans workshops and makes public presentations related to educational programs for Hispanics. He establishes agreements to collaborate or exchange programs, materials or other resources between the University of Illinois Extension and other organizations. He produces written or audio-visual educational material in Spanish. He assists in the recruitment of staff and volunteers to work with Hispanic audiences.
  • Ben Mueller, Extension Specialist—Community Development, bmueller@uiuc.edu, produces radio programs in Spanish. He produces CDs in Spanish on health and cultural topics as well as current issues that are relevant to Hispanic audiences. He plans and conducts community surveys for communities experiencing an increase in Hispanic immigrants and delivers community workshops on immigration issues. Ben has developed a series of workshops for parents of early childhood and K-12 students on a wide variety of topics. Ben has translated selected portions of his curriculum on conflict resolution into Spanish. He plans and carries out workshops for city government, agencies working with Hispanics, and organizations working with Hispanic families.
  • Gonzalo Escobar, Extension Educator—Prevention Educator, escobarg@mail.aces.uiuc.edu, produces radio programs in Spanish. He teaches in Spanish computer software, radio production, journalism, parenting skills, and behavior management.
  • Pablo Kalnay, Extension Educator—Integrated Pest Management, kalnayp@mail.aces.uiuc.edu, is producing programs related to pesticide application training for farm migrant workers.

7. In what communities do you have good programs going? Please provide names, addresses, and contact information.
 
  • La Voz Latina. Winnebago County. Marcos Lainez, (815) 965-5784.
  • Hispanic Outreach Rehabilitation Program. 151 N. Main St. Decatur, IL. Marbella Marsh, (217) 420-4817.
  • Hispanic Opportunity Program Enhancement. University Park, Governors State University. José Reyes, (708) 534-6972.
  • Centro San Bonifacio. 1332 North Greenville, Chicago. Lori Ramos, (773) 252-9098.
  • Latino Youth/Heart to Heart. 2200 South Marshall Boulevard. Maria Espejel, (773) 277-0400 ext. 246.
  • Highland School. 828 Willow Drive. Chicago Heights. Olga Calgaro, (708) 756-0008.
  • East Village Youth Programs. 1943 West Division, Chicago. Jeanne Balanda, (773) 489-9098.
  • Latino Coalition for Champaign County 1203 West Nevada, Urbana. Giraldo Rosales, (217) 333-4950.
 
Inventory home page
Conference home page
 
North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
Iowa State University
(515) 294-8321, jstewart@iastate.edu