Scribe/Convener: Nancy Pinzon, Crossroads Counseling Center
Center Stage 7:00
Attendees: Mickey Moore (Boy Scouts Club), Nancy Pinzon (Crossroads Counseling), Anne Marie Mauldin, Scott Wootten (Boy Scouts Club), Steven Lambert (JMU Career Developing Academy), Milcia Rodriguez, Laura Ogden, Rachel Coffaro (Specialized Youth Services), Larry Kim (Reading Road Show), Greg Czyszczon (Crossroads Counseling), Patty Sensabaugh, Mary Ellen Chewning, Leah Rosenwasser
ISSUES/POSSIBILITIES DISCUSSED:
-Not recognizing the differences among individuals
-Language barriers
-Adult learning center as a possible source
-Boys Scouts Club offers:
- One week in the summer with a pack leader for elementary age boys.
-Soccer scouting program for 4th, 5th and 6th graders (Contact Scott Wootten)
-Transportation will be needed for children to get to the summer programs. This kind of transportation
has been normally offered by Migrant Education Support (Contact Melissa to see if they are still
offering it. if not, then find what other alternatives they might recommend).
-Get high school kids (teens) involved in helping with one of the many programs so they can be involved.
- Action: Talk to Rick Castaneda at the Harrisonburg High School – Counseling department (Nancy P.)
- More education to Hispanic parents is needed on how to interact with their children.
- Action: Crossroads is offering 5-wk Parenting workshop titled “Unidos Venceremos” (United we’ll conquer) in Spanish. April 28, May 5, 12, 19 and 26 (Nancy Pinzon will facilitate).
- Assistance is needed to help Hispanic parents overcome the stress of living under a different culture
- Action 1: the “Reading Road Show” group has a program offering the distribution of books to parents so they can improve their English. At present, the “Gus Bus” goes to different location where they park for 45-minutes allowing the community to gather and select books.
- Action 2: Mary Ellen (The Arc of Harrisonburg) offers to find and provide more books in Spanish. Mary will contact Larry Kim or Leah Rossenwasser at the Road Show, to turn over the books to them.
- Action 3: The Reading Road Show also will offer a free 5-day camp from 9am to 20pm during the 1st week of August.
-The “Specialized Youth Services of Va. Program will offer: assistance to Hispanic children who need academic help during the summer months.
Daycare will urgently be needed for school children during summer so parent can continue to work.
- Action: The Second Home daycare organization (Pat Sensabaugh) offered space for additional daycare for a reasonable fee.
- Action: The assistance and involvement of Hispanic mothers who do not work and have small children will be promoted for them to become daycare mothers during the summer months.
- Action: Promotion will be handled through announcements at church events or other places where Hispanic mothers attend.
-Stephen Lambert provided information about ways to promote the call for volunteers:
- Action 1: Announce in Channel 3.
- Action 2: Announce through Carol Quintero’s panel on 105.1 radio station (La Grande).
-More activities are needed to keep school children occupied during summer months.
- Action: Look into putting together a play involving the students. Talk to local university/college/school drama teachers to see if they can volunteer. If they would, then solicit the space from schools or other organizations.
Wrap-up:
1. By collaborating among agencies much can be accomplished.
2. By involving the individual members of the Hispanic community they will gain a sense of belonging.
3. It is important to bridge the differences by finding ways to interact with one another.
Contact Crossroads:
Greg Czyszczon
Nancy Pinzon
