The can of beans in your pantry could save a family

Posted on April 4, 2019 by comm5775

Story and photo by KOTRYNA LIEPINYTE

More than 21,833.

That’s the number of people who reported their income levels as below the poverty line from the 133,656 people who live in West Valley City.

West Valley City has a rate of poverty that is higher than in other Utah cities. “I have seen families with little kids go to bed hungry,” says resident Omar Reyes, shaking his head, “It’s wild.”

Although Reyes himself doesn’t face the issue firsthand, others do. Reyes lived next to a struggling community and researched the issues. Poverty does not necessarily connote starvation, however. Often times, poverty in the United States leads to malnutrition that  leads to higher risk of disease.

The diseases tend to be foreign to us, which then require doctor’s assistance. However, the families who deal with these illnesses don’t have the financial aid for healthcare, either. Unfortunately, these families choose to suffer in silence, compromising their life instead of facing debt they may be unable to repay.

Poverty also does not have one face. It can be seen in the most inconspicuous places, even right in front of your eyes. Poverty is overlooked in the United States because of the set stereotypes placed upon it. It’s a common misconception that a person living under the poverty line must look homeless and starving.

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Edwardo Hurtado, a student at the University of Utah, stocking up on some Otter Pops to distribute to the food banks.

Edwardo Hurtado, a student at the University of Utah, debunks this stereotype. “It’s incredibly frustrating when people think you have to look poor,” he says. “These people don’t look poor. These people just can’t afford good groceries. They can’t afford their bills and they can’t afford their healthcare.”

Hurtado stresses the importance of food drives in the community. “It’s the easiest way to help out,” he states. “Just bring cans of food.” The Utah Food Bank accepts donations year-round at most Harmon’s locations. You can also donate money directly to the food bank on the website.

Having done food drives in areas of South America, Hurtado hopes to bring the same success from the South American drives to the local communities here. “We helped a lot of families down there,” Hurtado says, “and we’re just hoping to bring the same gusto here.”

Hurtado works closely with the food drives in West Valley City, including Utah Community Action and the Community Action Program food pantry. He volunteers his time serving the residents and helps prepare emergency packets. For information on how to volunteer, call (801) 972-6661.

Gabriel Alfaro, a resident in West Valley City, thinks back on the time his family was below the poverty line. “You adapt,” he begins in his response email, “but it’s terrifying. The worst part is not knowing how long you’ll be in that grey area.”

Alfaro also helps with food drives when he can. Alfaro and his family often make care packages for their neighbors who are still living in poverty. “We know what it’s like to go to bed without food,” he writes. “And now that we don’t, we want to help our friends who still do.”

The care packages typically consist of nonperishable food items along with blankets and socks. Alfaro’s family makes and distributes about five care packages a week, first to families whom they know and then to strangers. They knock on doors and leave the packages in mailboxes or on front porches.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported in 2015 that the racial segregation around the poverty line was huge. White people below the poverty line live on the east side of the city, while minorities below the poverty line live on the west side. On the east side, 16.2 percent of those residents live below the poverty line and 32.5 percent of that poor population are minorities.

On the west side, 17.1 percent of the population is poor and 68.8 percent of that population are minorities. While the poverty rate has gone down over the years, the minority rate has increased.

“Minority is the majority in West Valley, and it’s just going to keep growing,” Alfaro says. “A big chunk of those guys live off of food stamps.”

RoadSnacks compiled a list of the top-10 poorest places in Utah for 2019, and while West Valley City dodged the list, the feeling of fear still hovers. “I couldn’t imagine living in this place of limbo where you don’t know if you’re going to get dinner or not,” Reyes says.

Hurtado’s call to action is simply looking at your pantry. “Chances are, you probably have food in there that you haven’t eaten, and don’t plan to,” he says. “When you look at that food, imagine how stoked a starving family would be to have it? Put it in your car and next time you’re at Harmons, drop it off. And hey, you just fed a family.”

Filed under: Food & Restaurants, Hispanics & Latinos(as), Nonprofits, Organizations | Leave a comment »

Why Latinx representation in leadership roles is important for the success of Latinx children

Posted on April 4, 2019 by comm5775

Story by TYSON ALDRIDGE

The importance of role models in everyday life cannot be underestimated. Children anywhere from ages 3 to 16 look for an older role model whom they can look up to and learn from. Most people can think back to when they were younger and remember who their role models were. Sometimes these role models can even help shape a young child’s future career or passion. But oftentimes for young children of Latinx descent it can be hard to find positive role models in important positions. That is why Latinx representation in leadership roles is vital for the success of Latinx children.

According to a 2011 article, “In 2008, only 28 percent of traditional college-age Hispanics were in college, up from 17 percent two decades earlier.” The importance of roles models for young Latinx youth is stressed throughout this article, and with positive role models the author thinks this could result in more Latinx students attending college, or applying for positions they may not have otherwise.

Having legislators, teachers, coaches, or athletes to look up to can help a younger generation dream bigger and truly believe that they one day can be in a prominent leadership role.

Former Utah State House Representative Rebecca Chavez-Houck says, “The reason why it’s so important is because if we are not the anomaly anymore, if we’re seen as the norm, if we’re seen as a default, that anybody can be a legislator, anybody can be a leader, that you’re not making this image in your head, ‘a leader is x, this is what HE looks like’ more often than not.”

Chavez-Houck also explained that the reason she got into politics was because she wanted to help diversify the state government. She attended an event where she saw all of the representatives from Utah and she said she was shocked by the lack of diversity that was represented. So she took it upon herself to get involved in politics and give the Latinx community of Utah a voice in the capitol. And in doing so, little girls and boys can see a Latinx leader in the government and aspire to possibly be in a leadership role someday.

Cherise Tolbert, who works for latpro.com, said in a 2018 article that “cultural, ethnic, and gender-related barriers are too easily accepted as part of one’s identity. One could assume that without role models, Latina women cannot become nonprofit leaders. I think a young latina woman who sees an executive board member, whose contributions inspire and command respect, will want to follow the board member’s footsteps.”

Erlinda J. Martinez, the current president of Santa Ana College in Southern California,  said in an email, “It is very important that we have role models in every profession; that students see teachers like themselves, that defendants see attorneys and judges like themselves , etc.” With the number of the Latinx population growing in the United States, it is vital to have representation in leadership roles. Martinez added, “If children and students see themselves in others it becomes easier to believe that they too can become anything they want!”

Martinez explained how having positive role models can make a drastic difference in the future. She said, “Once there are role models in professional/leadership positions it leads to decision making that is in keeping with valuing diversity and inclusion.” This is essentially where a domino effect would take place. “More Latinos become educated. More Latinos are hired or promoted. The justice system changes. The education system changes. The economics changes, etc.,” Martinez said.

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David Ibarra is in the process of running for mayor. Photo by Tyson Aldridge.

David Ibarra, a current candidate for Salt Lake City mayor, said in a phone interview, “It’s important for all parts of our community to participate and to be represented. The Latino community is going to be the majority community shortly in America.” Ibarra stressed the importance of Latinxs getting out and supporting their candidate to ensure that they are represented at all levels.

Being a role model can be a very tough road, but the story you get along the way can be inspiring. This held true when Ibarra said, “Anytime that a Latino breaks through it is an example that it is possible for anyone. I was brought up in foster homes, and have been a dishwasher at a restaurant. Ten years later I owned the restaurant through hard work and perseverance.”

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Dave Ibarra poses in front of his “Let’s think Big” poster. Photo courtesy of the Dave Ibarra for Mayor campaign.

The biggest thing stressed through all the interviews was vision. Being able to see yourself in a leadership role because the person in that role is like you. Ibarra said, “I share my story only for the benefit of the youth that if it can happen to me, then it can happen to you. It breaks through the glass and makes them believe that it is possible. Latinx in politics is huge because not only can I think I can do it, I know I can.”

Positive Latinx role models are vital for the future. Having Latinx leadership will give kids a higher bar to aim for. It can help give them the mindset that they can be in an important position. “We pursue what we see,” Rebecca Chavez-Houck said. “And if children do not see people that look like them that have their experiences, that have their perspective that represent their communities, then they don’t see that as an opportunity for themselves.”

Filed under: Education, Hispanics & Latinos(as), Immigrants & Refugees, Politics | Leave a comment »

Enhancing Utah’s mental health awareness among Latino(x) community

Posted on April 4, 2019 by comm5775

Story and photos by BRIANNA WINN

According to MentalHealth.gov, mental health is our emotional, psychological and social well-being. From childhood to adolescence, mental health affects how we think, feel and act. It affects every single human being.

Some factors that contribute to mental health are biological factors, life experiences and whether there is family history of mental health problems.

When people have positive mental health, they are able to realize their full potential, cope with the stresses of life, work productively and be a contributing member to society or their community, according to MentalHealth.gov.

The Latino Behavioral Health Services program is a nonprofit organization located at 3471 S. West Temple in Salt Lake City. This program is working to minimize the disparities Latinos are facing with regards to mental health in Utah.

According to the website, LBHS is a peer-run organization. It is used to enhance mental health awareness and the well-being of people with mental illness, their caregivers and loved ones through support, education, empowerment and facilitation of resources and services.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) says common mental health disorders among Latinos are generalized anxiety disorder, major depression, post traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism.

Latinos are less likely to seek mental health treatment, according to NAMI. It cites many reasons for this, including lack of information and a misunderstanding about mental health, privacy concerns, language barriers, lack of health insurance, misdiagnosis, legal status, natural medicine and home remedies, and faith and spirituality

According to the Census Bureau, one of Utah’s most underserved populations is the Latino population. Between 2007 to 2011, 22.5 percent of Hispanics living in Utah were below the poverty line compared to the overall population.

Margarita Geraldo, a parent at LBHS teaching families about mental illness, said, “Depression is a mental illness. This illuminated my relationship with my daughter and taught me how to treat me daughter.” Geraldo’s daughter suffers from depression.

Unfortunately, Latinos face disparities that make it difficult for them to receive quality treatment.

Poverty and wage gaps are also contributing factors to mental health problems.

The Utah Department of Health, and Center for Multicultural Health report found that major depression in Hispanics is almost twice that of all Utahns.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Latino youths attempt suicide at rates that are 8.2 percent higher than their white non-Hispanic peers.

Leticia Frias, cofounder of LBHS, said, “I have a child, a son, who is 22 years old. He is one of the things that motivated me the most to be here.”

She added, “The first thing I learned is how to be a better leader, how to have sympathy and understanding for people in the community.”

LBHS was created to change these statistics mentioned above, and the lives of the Latinos they represent.

While raising awareness about mental illness, staff strive to increase the number of Latinos in Utah who are maintaining recovery from mental illness.

LBHS also strives to empower Latinos in recovery to give back to their community and impact the mental health system in Utah to be more culturally and linguistically responsive.

Teresa Molina, a co-ounder of LBHS, has been in peer recovery since 1989. She became a clinician and researcher as part of her recovery process. She volunteers as an instructor at LBHS.

“When people have the opportunity to contribute, to be looked at as the solution rather than the problem, people will flourish and find solutions,” Molina said.

LBHS began in 2011 by community residents and was later founded in 2013 and given nonprofit status shortly after. It has grown with the support of their strong partners, one of the being the University of Utah. They currently serve over 600 Latinos annually, according to their website.

“Latino behavioral health services is an effort from the community to build its own structure and organization base so people can take turns, creating a body that exists and survives all the waves that people have in their lives,” Molina said.

The staff and all people involved in the program including teachers, therapists, and administrators, have been affected by both mental illness and minority status.

“The solutions are within the people. It’s almost like throwing a rock in the lake, you can’t stop the ripples,” Molina said.

LBHS states on the website, “We provide them with training, new skills, and opportunities to teach or engage in outreach. In this way our programs are sustainable and build capacity into families and communities. Through this process, we seek to increase knowledge about mental illness in the community, reduce stigma, and empower people to create change.”

By partnering with existing agencies, this organization hopes to bring diagnosis, treatment, information, and intervention for substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental illness to everyone in the community.

If you or someone you know is dealing with mental health issues, you can find contact information by calling the National Treatment Referral Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357).

 

 

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Filed under: Health & Fitness, Hispanics & Latinos(as), Mental Health, Nonprofits | Leave a comment »

Pride, success and accomplishments: Three Hispanic influencers share their stories

Posted on April 3, 2019 by comm5775

Story and photos by LINA SONG

The Hispanic community is not only continuing to grow across the United States but also making many accomplishments that shape the community for the better. A former member of the Utah State House of Representatives and two students attending the University of Utah share their thoughts about the achievements they built for their community in Utah. The three members of the Hispanic community have contributed their talents, dedication, and success to improve and make a change.

Rebecca Chavez-Houck

Rebecca Chavez-Houck, a former member of the Utah State House of Representatives, explains her journey of breaking the stereotypes imposed on Hispanic woman. 

Chavez-Houck’s journey started after she graduated from the University of Utah in 1982 and worked for a small newspaper firm in Wyoming. After working there, she moved back to Utah and started working in public relations. As she was getting into politics, she realized that the legislature did not represent the community in Utah.

In order to represent the Hispanic community, Chavez-Houck was elected to become one of the member in the Utah State House. By being a woman in a male-dominated industry, she was able to break the public’s notion of a representative being a white male. Chavez-Houck discussed the Latin phrase “Vox Populi,” which means the “voice of the people.” She always remembered this phrase when she was working as a member of the House.

“I was the conduit to make change and to be that voice,” Chavez-Houck said proudly. “We were there to be the voices of the people.”

The influence of her parents helped her realize the importance of education and supporting one another within a community. By using her journalist side through being an observer and by understanding her views and being self-critical, Chavez-Houck accomplished to accentuate the Hispanic community’s strengths.

Neida Munguia

Neida Munguia, a sophomore at the University of Utah, was born in Salt Lake City but was raised in New Jersey. Munguia’s parents are from Michoacán in Mexico. Munguia grew up in a very diverse community. She returned to Utah for high school. During those years, she was the head of multiple Latin clubs. Munguia was most active in the club Latinos In Action and continues to participate to this day.

“Since LIA took off in Utah, I was able to help our sister programs in Florida, Texas, Idaho, and California take off as a resource appointed by LIA.” Munguia said.

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Munguia believes that her community has flourished and enriched the United States which brings a sense of familiarity.

Munguia discussed the events that she started while she was in high school. The first event was the “Dia de Los Muertos” dance, which was created in order to portray the beauty of celebration for the day of the dead in Mexico. Another event was the implementation of day care for parents with young children during school events. They included providing translation services and offering tutoring to the parents. Through these achievements, Munguia wants to show and remind students within her community that they are capable of great things. By carrying out her passion, she built stronger ties and helped her organization and the community move forward for the better.

“The fact that as a community we slowly see the importance of education is a success beyond our wildest dreams,” Munguia said. “My whole purpose of starting the festivals, dances, and after-school activities was to empower my students.”

Jesus Jimenez-Vivanco

Jesus Jimenez-Vivanco, a freshman at the U, grew up in West Valley City, Utah. He is the first in his family to graduate high school and attend university.

Jimenez-Vivanco believes the biggest accomplishment his community has made is speaking up and breaking certain stereotypes. He gives the example of himself and his friends attending university and studying diverse subjects. Jimenez-Vivanco also said he feels prideful that his father works for the construction department and helped build many of the buildings at the U.

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Jimenez-Vivanco said many people view the Hispanic community negatively but in reality people work hard and are generous to others.

By realizing the importance of education, Jimenez-Vivanco always reminds his younger sisters to appreciate their education and fight for what is right. He believes that by influencing his sisters, other people within the community will pass on their moral beliefs and values. Jimenez-Vivanco said he hopes that he will be able to show the strengths of his community by being honest and hard working.

“Many Hispanics rise up in politics here (Utah), whether it’s immigration, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights and many more. They speak up and fight for what’s right,” Jimenez-Vivanco said. “I am giving a good name for my community by helping others and taking my skills to the next level — something that everyone should do, not just people in one community, but all of them to make the world a better place.” 

 

Filed under: Education, Hispanics & Latinos(as), Immigrants & Refugees, Politics | Leave a comment »

Making a difference: The Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Posted on April 3, 2019 by comm5775

Story and photo by TYSON ALDRIDGE

The Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (UHCC) located on 1635 S. Redwood Road can be an effective tool for businesses and business owners to achieve success. According to the UHCC website, it was founded in 1991 and serves as an advocate for the Hispanic business community in Utah. UHCC recognizes that the Hispanic community in Utah is large and that it is also a very vital part of the state. The Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was formed with the idea of diversity in commerce in mind.

UHCC does everything it can to ensure that its members are being recognized by the community. According to the UHCC website, being a member of UHCC has many benefits, including free advertising, training on financing programs, and free professional development workshops. In addition, to help businesses and business owners, UHCC offers a number of networking opportunities, community involvement, and much more.

UHCC bridges the gap between government and business owners. One of the biggest advantages to being a member is receiving legislative updates from UHCC. These updates can help businesses understand new laws and legislation that may have been confusing. According to a 2017 Utah Business article, UHCC helped secure a deal with the Utah legislature that aimed to promote trade between Mexico and the state of Utah. The chamber got this deal done with the Hispanic business community of Utah in mind and to reaffirm the strong relationship between the United States and Mexico.

By being an advocate for businesses and entrepreneurs, business owners can focus on their work, rather than dealing with legislation themselves. Alex Guzman, president and CEO of UHCC, says, “Hispanic businesses and business owners need to learn how to pay taxes and file taxes. Our Business Academy that is every 10 weeks, is a great tool to teach the Hispanic community on how to run a business.” The Business Academy, which is free to members, teaches planning, marketing, communication, hiring, customer service, and more.

After completion of the course, one should be able to manage their business more efficiently. The Business Academy isn’t the only class offered by UHCC. It offers several other professional development workshops throughout the year. These are an effective tool to learn the essentials of business and to improve one’s overall savviness as a business person.

UHCC is very important to the Hispanic community. Guzman told KSL in 2019, “In Utah, Latinos make up the largest immigration population at 17 percent. In the state of Utah, it’s very easy, simple and friendly to be a business owner.” Guzman added, “There are a little bit more than 15,000 business owners that label themselves as Hispanic at the Utah Department of Commerce.”

Businesses that are members of the UHCC see many benefits after joining. Ana Bullard, senior loan officer for Rock Mortgage Lending on 596 W. 750 South, said in an email that “the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has benefited a number of my clients. Their resources supporting businesses are vast. In addition to providing networking opportunities, the UHCC encourages community engagement and conducts professional development workshops. They educate business owners with information that can help them obtain grants and support growing their businesses. UHCC helps expand members’ talents, experience and opportunities.”

UHCC not only helps businesses achieve financial success, according to the UHCC website, but also helps businesses reach a larger audience by giving them advertising and marketing opportunities through its site and radio. By handling advertising, UHCC enables owners to focus on growing their business. Advertising can be very expensive and hard to navigate.

Socials are another tool that UHCC offers its members. According to the website, these socials are a way for businesses to network and meet other professionals who have the same goals in mind for their business.

There are many opportunities to expand your reach and the popularity of your business. When asked about why companies would want to join UHCC, Nicole Garcia of Madmarli Realty said through email, “I joined because of their multitude of networking opportunities and they also advertise their members on the site and radio.”

Bullard says, “The Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a valuable resource to anyone in the Hispanic community looking for business training/assistance, information and networking opportunities. The training UHCC conducts assists attendees through sales and business coaching, marketing, networking opportunities and more. No matter what type of business you have, UHCC can provide useful and relevant skills training and resources.”

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The benefits of joining UHCC are endless, and all members truly feel wanted. The UHCC’s mission statement is, “To provide leadership, opportunities for economic growth, professional development and community involvement for our members.”

Filed under: Business, Hispanics & Latinos(as), Legal Aid, Organizations, Politics, Small Business, Utah's Economy | Leave a comment »

How Latinos in Action is inspiring youth who are Latinx to find success and overcome challenges like high dropout rates, youth suicide, and more

Posted on April 3, 2019 by comm5775

Story, photo, and graphics by MEGAN CHRISTINE

“Our work is transformative. It allows kids to see that they don’t need a diploma to make a difference today or to be a leader today,” said Jose Enriquez, founder and CEO of Latinos in Action.

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Jose Enriquez, founder and CEO of Latinos in Action.

Latinos in Action, or LIA, offers an asset-based approach to assist students who are Latinx graduate and succeed after they leave high school. It is offered as a class that students can take throughout middle school, junior high, and high school. Its end goal is to “empower Latino youth to lead and strengthen their communities through college and career readiness.”

# of LIA schools

The number of schools with LIA classes has increased from one in 2001 to 200 in 2019. 

Enriquez founded LIA in 2001. He began the first LIA class at Timpview High School in Provo, Utah. Since then, it has grown significantly and there are LIA classes offered in eight different states.

Enriquez said he created LIA because there is a “glaring need for it.” According to an article by NBC News, the Hispanic high school graduation rate is at an all-time high, but Latinxs still have the highest dropout rate of any group in the U.S. LIA students have a graduation rate of 98 percent.

The graduation rate of students who are Hispanic in the U.S. is 77.8 percent.
The graduation rate of students in the LIA classes is 98 percent.

The four pillars of LIA, the things the curriculum focuses on, are personal assets, excellence in education, service, and leadership. Enriquez created these pillars based off of things that helped him through high school.

“They were the little things that made a big difference. I want the same thing for Latino youth. A place where they can shine, develop, and lead without fear,” Enriquez said.

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The LIA classes have a 30/40/30 makeup.

The LIA classes have a 30/40/30 makeup. This means that 30 percent are students who are doing well in school, students who take AP and honors classes and have a high GPA, and 40 percent are students who are “going through the motions” and have about a 2.0 GPA. The remaining 30 percent are the students who are learning English as their second language.

“When you put them together it’s magical. They begin to learn from each other and understand that they can do more together,” Enriquez said.

One of the four pillars of LIA is personal assets. The reason he included this is because Enriquez says that a lot of youth are increasingly worried about finding employment and housing. He also said that young people are being “sucked into a social media pit” where they are constantly comparing themselves to others.

“Youth are trying to find themselves in this world of heightened social media, heightened instant gratification, heightened pressure. You see this in the number of those with anxiety, depression, and suicides that are occurring in the younger group rather than the older,” Enriquez said.

Utah has the sixth-highest suicide rate in the U.S. with 22.7 per 100,000, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2017. Suicide is the leading cause of death for Utah youth ages 10 to 17.

Suicide rates in the U.S.

The highest suicide rates in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report in 2017.

“Even those who are affluent are going through these things, because depression doesn’t have a ZIP code,” Enriquez said. The personal assets pillar focuses on giving youth their confidence back. “This is why it’s important to have that social-emotional component, we’re going to give them the skillsets to be ready.”

Another one of the four pillars of LIA is service. One class will spend about 100 hours at a local elementary school tutoring young children who are learning how to read.

Ivan Cardenas, current regional program manager at LIA, used to be a teacher for the LIA class. He said his personal favorite part of the program is the tutoring piece.

“It creates this bond between the tutor and the student. He or she is seen as a role model, as an example for this child,” Cardenas said.

This act of service can be a pivotal moment for some LIA students, because some did not grow up with the culture of reading. “It’s a discovering moment for them. Many of them decide then that they want to teach. They discover a passion for it,” Cardenas said.

Tutoring these children can help LIA students foster a sense of a belonging in their community. Children have accessible role models to look up. Also, the teachers and administrators at the elementary schools get to see the LIA students in a different light. Cardenas said “they see these Hispanic kids as productive members of society. They’re doing something, they’re contributing, they’re translating. It’s just an amazing time of discovery for all.”

Students who are Latinx can face unique challenges while in school. Cardenas said there are “stereotypes these kids get in the hallways at school. That’s very real, and lately has been more evident unfortunately, due to the negative comments we hear in the media from our top leaders.”

Ashley Castaneda, 20, is a second-year student at the University of Utah. She took the LIA class while she was a student at Granger High School in West Valley City. She credits her experience with the program to her success now.

Castaneda noted that it is important to have a space where you feel comfortable and connected to your peers. She said that in her class, her teacher helped her and her peers embrace and take pride in their culture. They did activities related to Hispanic culture, like performing dances in front of the school. They were taught about role models in their community.

“That was my favorite part,” she said. “Even though it was helping us towards college, it also helped us embrace our culture.”

Castaneda takes pride in where she came from. She received more money than she needed in scholarships when she began college, so every year she goes back to the LIA class at Granger High to offer her excess money to them in the form of a scholarship.

“The whole point is to show people that sometimes we need to go back to our own communities,” Castaneda said. “A lot of students who are Latinx go to college and just forget where they came from, and that’s not what I want to happen. I want people to go back, remember where they came from, and use that to empower others.”

 

Resources are available, including the 24-Hour National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The SafeUT app is a “statewide service that provides real-time crisis intervention to youth through texting and a confidential tip program – right from your smartphone.”

Filed under: Education, Hispanics & Latinos(as), Nonprofits | Leave a comment »

Kids need more Latinx role models in Utah, and here’s why

Posted on April 3, 2019 by comm5775

Story and photo by KRISTEN LAW

Kids pursue what they see. This is what former Utah State House Representative Rebecca Chavez-Houck said in an interview. She said that kids are inspired by the role models in their lives.

The most impactful thing from a study released in January 2018 by Education and Employers reveals that over 36 percent of kids place their career hopes based on people they know. Lack of diversity and lack of authentic and encouraging mentorships were two major issues that stunt a child’s dreams for their future, the report said.

Jennifer Mayer-Glenn, director of Family and School Collaboration in the Salt Lake City School District, creates opportunities to help build the capacity of school staff and create welcoming environments for culture in the Salt Lake schools. 

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East High is one of the five high schools in the Salt Lake City School District.

Mayer-Glenn says that although there are a few Latino teachers, diversity could be better in the Salt Lake City School District. “Even if a student of color has one teacher of color through their entire career, that makes a huge difference in them feeling connected to the institution,” Mayer-Glenn said. Additionally, she said it can be hard for students who don’t see themselves in their history books. “If they can’t see themselves, it is hard for them to relate.”

Mayer-Glenn said it’s important that Latino kids see other Latino doctors, lawyers, leaders, business owners, and politicians because then they see themselves and say, “I see me and I can be that person.” The hope behind this is to encourage all kinds of kids to pursue all kinds of careers to help all kinds of people.

Recently, Mayer-Glenn said she took a trip to the doctor’s office. Upon arriving she was delighted to see that the medical assistant there was Latina. “We need more Latina doctors,” Mayer-Glenn said. Excited about this, she decided to encourage the assistant by stopping to talk with her about her career goals and aspirations. 

Cecilia Rollett is a wife and mother, originally from Veracruz, Mexico. “It was hard at first to adjust to living in America because of the language.” She recalled a difficult moment with this when she was first pregnant, only a year after being in Utah and still not knowing the language. She had to work through her doctor appointments during her pregnancy sometimes without her English-speaking husband or an interpreter.

Rollett has now been in Utah for five years and speaks English fluently as her second language. Those interactions she had with doctors during a very vulnerable time in her life encouraged her to be a translator and counselor working with Spanish-speaking clients at the Pregnancy Resource Center.

Thinking of her own experiences, Rollett said, “Whether or not they know English, these women need these resources. I had [my husband] who is American, but some of these women, it’s just them.”

Mayer-Glenn said, “It’s about developing relationships with people.” Trusting in those authentic relationships and then encouraging other people to invest in those same kinds of impactful relationships. Mayer-Glenn calls this her “heart work.” “Having those individual relationships where people trust you and push you and encourage you I think is really important [in a child’s life],” she said.

Teachers and mentors play a large role. Mayer-Glenn recalls an impactful moment in her own life where a mentor, Archie Archuleta, an icon of activism in Utah, encouraged her to push herself toward her potential. “I’ll never forget Archie [telling] me ‘it’s your turn, you’ve earned it,’ like go forward and do this work because you’re ready.”

The most impact Mayer-Glenn has felt being on the other end of this was when she was an assistant principal at Glendale Middle School. This is where she felt she had more of a direct influence because she interacted with the kids every day.

“They would come to my office and sometimes they would just need a pat on the back and be told ‘you’re going to be OK.’ And also challenging them and really pushing them saying ‘you have the right and you can be who you want to be’ and show them ‘these are the things you are going to have to do in order to get there.’” It was those individual relationships that she believes really had an impact.

Filed under: Education, Hispanics & Latinos(as), Immigrants & Refugees, Medicine | Leave a comment »

Is Latinx the new norm?

Posted on April 3, 2019 by comm5775

Navigating the landscape of inclusive speech in 2019

Story and images by JUSTIN TROMBETTI

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Culture is in a constant state of evolution, ebbing and flowing between ideas and advancements that slowly ingrain themselves into what we call the status quo. Language is very much a part of this reality.

Language develops naturally for functional purposes, but perhaps more importantly is how and why it bends to the emotional side of humanity. The term Latinx, first searched on Google in 2004 and seeing a huge trend spike in 2015, is one of the latest examples of this.

Its percolation to the surface of our cultural dialogue has been driven by the ever-loudening voices of ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, allies, and their opposition alike. If every generation sees its own push for civil rights and inclusivity, this development could well be a leading indicator of the next one, if not a lagging indicator of the last.

A recent poll revealed that over 20 percent of Latinx millennials identify as LGBTQIA+, and as the Latinx population as a whole continues to grow, the relevance of the conversation would seem to be self-evident.

But what do the most direct stakeholders think of the term, or how to approach inclusivity as a whole? How do allies approach the debate delicately, and how does the advent of broader opinions on political correctness influence it all?

Unpacking these paradigm shifts is a challenging undertaking in its own right, but it becomes especially difficult when there is overwhelming consistency in the discomfort of sharing these types of opinions on record.

Some sources interviewed for this story cited our fragile socio-political climate, public opinion of the media, and a rise in intolerance and hate crimes as sources for this discomfort.

A gender-fluid individual who uses the pronoun they and asked not to be identified on record for many of the reasons noted above, said about inclusivity, “Latin is just a generally more appropriate term.

“It’s a completely a gender [sic] term that does not create a notable difference when used in conjunction with words like Latina and Latino.”

They shared a strong sentiment against the use of the term Latinx, however. While many believe its adoption is a step toward more inclusive language, the source describes it as isolating.

“[It’s] as though the x itself identifies you as other,” they said.

Their dissension with other popular opinions of the term elucidates an important reality of these types of discussions. While part of a cohort of non gender-conforming Latinx individuals, that doesn’t mean that everyone feels the same about certain language.

Others see Latinx as the next step in reaching real, palpable inclusivity. Some went as far as to say they found the development to be unnecessary, or even an outright bastardization of their native tongue.

In trying to make sense of sensitive and complex issues, it’s often best to understand the history behind them. Ed Muñoz, an associate professor of ethnic studies and sociology at the University of Utah, helped to do just that.

To Muñoz, this is the latest iteration of a cyclical occurrence. He’s paid close attention over many decades to the dissection and emergence of terms like Chicano, Latin (and the o/a appendage that was eventually added), Hispanic, and the use of nationality-based language.

The ultimate goal of finding a “pan-ethnic term” for a group sharing a variety of underlying struggles may seem a straightforward idea, but it is often anything but in reality. Muñoz explained that within the Latinx community, issues of class, skin color, gender struggle, and more have fueled these debates.

He recalled that many Latinx feminists who were instrumental in the struggle for gender equality found the degendering of the language exclusive, the development of slang like “Highspanic,” and time periods where certain phrases implied privilege.

The adoption of anti-PC beliefs, though, still have yet to be unpacked. The perceived over-sensitivity of the modern generations, which has grown more and more prevalent in American culture especially, exists within the conversation still. Muñoz believes this to be a systemic issue, a combination of “the internalization of racism and ethnic self-hatred” that has been perpetuated for decades, even centuries.

As he was not unironically sitting in a coffee shop called Mestizo (a term which refers to a man of mixed race), he pondered a question posed to him that the other sources for this story had earlier tried working through: How does a non-ethnic person with no practical horse in this race go about being a decent ally?

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Mestizo Coffeehouse, where Ed Muñoz spoke to Voices of Utah, is nestled within a small apartment complex in a diversity-rich area of downtown Salt Lake City.

“I’m still learning to be a good ally,” he responded with a subtle hint of calm acceptance. He explained that while some may lack ethnic context, he lacks some context too as a cisgendered male. At face value, it seems more convoluting than it does helpful, but as the conversation continued, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that there’s no right answer here.

Rebecca Chavez-Houck made a statement during a Voices of Utah press pool that seemed to further cement this idea. The former journalist and Utah state representative stated that she thought one of the biggest issues facing the Latinx community was the monolithic narrative so many hold about them.

That is, there’s no such thing as a blanket belief, opinion, or characteristic that applies to Hispanics. Further, Chavez-Houck said she believes that all too often the Latinx community is perceived to be defined by deficits and struggle, rather than the many strengths and positive qualities unique to them.

She asserts, “We’re a much more complex community than that.”

So what does it all mean for the future of Latinx and inclusive language? It’s often easy to assume that some kind of objectively correct answer exists out there, whatever it might be. With that mentality, though, we might be asking the wrong question entirely.

No single approach or word choice would have been “most right” to a majority of the individuals who were interviewed. The common denominator among them was not a preference or philosophy, but rather an investment in the dialogue and the impact that it has on them.

Latinx could be here to stay, or it could be in today and out tomorrow, but the conversation will persist regardless. The best thing any of us can do may well be to just listen to it.

 

Filed under: Arts, Entertainment, Culture, Hispanics & Latinos(as), Immigrants & Refugees, LGBTQ | Leave a comment »

La Quinceañera: A girl’s coming-of-age celebration is a rite of passage

Posted on April 3, 2019 by comm5775

Story and photos by SARAH SAIDYKHAN

It could be said that most people have at least one tradition or celebration they carry with them throughout their lives. Weddings, family reunions, bar mitzvahs, cultural holidays, coming-of-age celebrations and more. These traditions become a safety net; a way to keep focus in a sometimes crazy world. No matter where you live, it can be important to keep traditions alive.

In Latino communities, one of the many traditions is the Fiesta de quince años or the quinceañera. When a young Latina girl turns 15, she is celebrated with a party unlike any other event in her life. According to an article in the Journal of New York Folklore, this birthday is a rite of passage.

For young Latino men though, there are no special coming-of-age celebrations. Alejandro Garcia, human resource director at the Marriott City Center in Salt Lake City, said he remembers back to when he asked his mom, “When do I get my quinceañera?” Garcia said his mom chuckled and explained, “It’s just for girls.”

In a quinceañera, the girls are honored through this special celebration and then introduced back into their communities as young women. This event is a milestone in Hispanic culture, but not all young girls feel they need to have such a lavish party.

La Bella Piastra

La Bella Piastra

Mercy Garcia, who works at La Bella Piastra on Gallivan Plaza, said, “I chose to have a quinceañera, but my sister decided not to have one. She is very shy and didn’t want all the attention this type of celebration brings.” Garcia said she loved her quinceañera and wants to carry on the tradition.

Before the young Latina girl turns 15, she is given a choice as to what she wants for her special day. The girl’s parents could throw her a birthday party extravaganza or almost anything else she would like to do. If she chooses the party, the only issue is finding a space big enough to hold the possible hundreds of guests — families, friends, neighbors and more — who will join in the celebration.

The quinceañera ceremony today typically has six main parts to it with dancing and meals throughout the event. According to Bella Ballroom, first is the formal entry where the young girl makes her grand entrance. Second, one or both of the parents or godparents make a toast to the birthday girl. Next is the first dance, usually a waltz danced with the girl’s father. The events move on throughout the celebration with a group dance for the immediate family and then the preferred song and dance, which is going to be a favorite of the birthday girl. Last is the final dance, often a waltz. Some families also choose to add other components to the ceremony depending on local traditions and desires of the birthday girl.

According to one published history of the quinceañera, the tradition has changed over the years. Before the 20th century, girls were considered for marriage once they turned 15 and potential suitors would give gifts to the girl’s family as dowry. This is when the idea of a quinceañera started — a small party to celebrate the transition into womanhood. While mingling with family and friends, the young girl would be able to meet and visit comfortably with these potential suitors.

In preparation for the girl’s birthday, Q by DaVinci, a company that specializes in quinceañera dresses, said the women in the community would pull together and plan the event. They would spend time teaching the girl the responsibilities she would need to know, like cooking, cleaning, laundering and even details about childbearing. Then, these older women would bestow upon this new young woman their inspirations to help her throughout life.

During the Chicano Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, more Latino families were traveling into and around the United States. As they moved around, their traditions were carried and shared with others. Over time, the quinceañera changed into a celebration that young girls experience today — elaborately themed attire, ballgowns, home-cooked or catered feasts, plentiful drinks, delicious cakes along with family, friends and lots of dancing.

You Are InvitedSalt Lake City resident Emily Thompson recently attended her first quinceañera and said, “When I walked into the room, the decorations were as extravagant as any wedding I had ever been to. The girl’s dress was beautiful and almost matched Cinderella’s ballgown.” Thompson said the event was mostly in Spanish. Even though she’s learning the language, she said it was a little too difficult for her to fully follow. But she said, “I couldn’t control my tears when they did a portrayal of the daughter growing into adulthood.” Thompson said it reminded her of being both a young woman and also being a mother of two young women. “This moment touched my heart and helped me understand the entire meaning of the event.” With watery eyes, Thompson smiled and said, “This celebration was about the love for their daughter.”

Ermy Jaco, who also works in the hotel industry, said she prefers the quinceañera over a larger wedding celebration later on, due to the special traditions. “The surprise dance, the changing of the shoes and the last toy,” Jaco said, “these are all part of the special change into womanhood.”

In the book, Once Upon a Quinceañera: Coming of Age in the USA. Julia Alvarez writes about the traditions of the shoes and the last toy as symbols of leaving childhood and entering womanhood. The shoe ceremony allows the young girl to go from wearing flat, dress shoes to wearing heels. Because girls are wearing heels much younger than 15 nowadays, Alvarez said this is now done for symbolism.

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Eventos Reception Center

The last toy is meant to signify the last doll the young girl will receive. Alvarez also explains the clothing on the doll should match the quinceañera and during the ceremony, the girl will usually cradle the doll to symbolize the end of her childhood. In addition, the doll may represent the child that she herself could be having in the not-too-distant future.

But what happens when the birthday girl decides she doesn’t want this huge celebration? “A lot of girls are deciding not to have a quinceañera and are choosing things like a new car,” Jaco said. “My daughter chose the new car.” Jaco said girls today have different priorities and need different things. “And at 15 they’re definitely not looking for a suitor!”

Now, not all girls want a new car. Blogger Grecia Hernandez writes on Quinceañera, an online party-planning resource, that some girls just want something different. They might choose a VIP dinner at their favorite restaurant with their best friends or a girls-only weekend. Some will choose to visit a theme park or even take a family vacation instead. Hernandez said, “A quinceañera is not about spending tons of money but more about celebrating such a special moment in your life, your coming of age [party].”

The last step after the ceremony, according to the Joyful Event Store, is when the parents give thanks to the young girl for being beautiful. They also thank God for bringing her to them. The girl then acknowledges her parents for everything they do and for giving her the party and then tells the guests she appreciates their presence.

It doesn’t matter what theme the girl chooses for her party or if she even wants to be honored with this celebration. A quinceañera is about celebrating the young girl as she grows into womanhood.

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Eventos — Hours

Planning for this special event takes time. Multiple event centers in Utah specialize in catering and hosting quinceañeras, including Eventos Reception Center, Arcoiris Reception Center, Villa Magnolia Eventos or the Colonial Reception Center. Event coordinators understand the importance of this celebration and work hard to make the day memorable for the birthday girl, her family and the friends who have come to celebrate her.

Filed under: Arts, Entertainment, Culture, Hispanics & Latinos(as), Student-Journalists | Leave a comment »

MEChA High School Conference at the University of Utah

Posted on April 3, 2019 by comm5775

Story and photos by IASIA BEH

Several hundred Latinx high school students came to the University of Utah on Feb. 27, 2019, for the 24th annual Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán, or M.E.Ch.A, High School Conference. The conference consisted of workshops, a keynote and lunch.

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A high school student receives information from university groups at the M.E.Ch.A. High School Conference.

The students all had varying reasons for attending the conference. One student came to fulfill hours for his Latinos in Action club. Others came to learn about college. Some came to learn about how undocumented students can get funding and help for school.

There was a sense of excitement all around the conference. Students were rapidly chatting each other up and approaching students from other high schools. It was often hard for the presenters to get the students’ attention as they were getting to know other students who were like them.

Conferences like this, for many students, are a break from the whiteness and racism of the schools they attend, especially for students who are undocumented. About 10 Latinx Taylorsville sophomores and juniors engaged in a group discussion after the workshop “Erasure of African Roots in México.” One sophomore named Juan said the reason some DACA students might not know their options for after high school is “because most of the time they are scared to speak up about it so they don’t know what to do when they graduate high school.”

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Students attend an “Erasure of African Roots in México” workshop on Feb. 27, 2019.

The students were adamant that the current political climate is the reason that many students are afraid to speak up. The president was elected when they were in junior high school.

How has that affected the students and their ability to enjoy school?

“It has affected us in, like, that we get attacked either by the teachers or the students that they make racial jokes,”  Juan said.   

Their teachers would make jokes?

“There were a lot of teachers that would like, say racial jokes in our classes that we had in ninth grade,” he clarified.

Another sophomore, Marissa, who went to Eisenhower Junior High with Juan, said that her friend had a poor experience with her science teacher. A white student had lost a paper and the teacher believed that she had completed the assignment and gave her full credit. Her friend, who is Latina, lost the same paper. However, she was not believed and was accused of not really losing her paper.

This wasn’t the only Latinx student who had this issue with this teacher. Other students commented that they felt like he would glare at them and otherwise make them feel uncomfortable.

“He was like that. He did really bad things to all of us Latinos,” another sophomore, Andrew, said.

“He would try to keep it low-key,” Marissa said.

“He would even give us dirty looks!” Juan added.

They then talked about how they went to the administration about the situation, and how they found a safe place to talk about it: Latinos in Action (LIA). They said that other students had had similar incidents with other teachers and it helped to hear about them from peers. However, they mentioned that some teachers were not supporting the existence of LIA.

“There were a lot of teachers that didn’t support that program at Eisenhower just because we were Latinos and we weren’t the [student body officers] who were white kids,” Juan said.   

While these students’ stories are anecdotal, they are far from unusual. The university has been taking strides to overcome these obstacles that students of color may face when they get to the U, including offering high school conferences that bring underrepresented students to campus.

Martha Hernandez, who gave the “Erasure of African Roots in México” workshop, said these conferences are important because students have the opportunity to see themselves reflected in college students. 

M.E.Ch.A. provides a “space where they can celebrate their cultural identities and have a space on campus where they can do that,” Hernandez said. “And also for them to know there is a community on campus for them.”

 

Filed under: Education, Hispanics & Latinos(as), Immigrants & Refugees, Nonprofits, Organizations, Politics | Leave a comment »

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