Cambio de Colores (2004 : 3rd : St. Louis, Mo.)
Permanent URI for this collection
This collection includes the proceedings of the 4th annual conference, three of the papers presented at the conference (included in the proceedings), one presentation summary (included in the proceedings), and slides from a breakout session (submitted separately).
Conference details
- Name: Cambio de Colores : Latinos in Missouri : Gateway to a New Community : Proceedings of the 3rd Annual Conference
- Proceeding editors: Stephen Jeanetta and Corinne Valdivia
- Dates: March 10-12, 2004
- Place: St. Louis, Missouri
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item New Latino Farmers in the Midwest: The Case of Southwest Michigan(Cambio Center, 2007) Marinez, Juan; Garcia, Victor; Cambio de Colores (3rd : 2004 : St. Louis, Mo.)Our paper is, "New Latino Farmers in the U.S. Heartland: An Example of a Growing Trend in U.S.Agriculture." It is a change that is affecting the economic well-being, social, and cultural arena of rural America. We will address the major findings of our USDA-funded study on the how Tejano farmworkers and Mexican immigrants from Chicago are becoming small farmers in southwestern Michigan. The study is based on a qualitative survey conducted in Van Buren County with 30 out of 32 Latino farmers in the county. Specifically, we will discuss how these farmers are using their social capital to enter the farming business. We will show that they use very little government assistance and provide the reasons for this practice. Our presentation will also demonstrate that Latinos, in general, are becoming new farmers across the United States, challenging the myth that they are only farmworkers.Item Livelihoods, Vulnerabilities, and Opportunities in Rural Missouri(Cambio Center, 2007) Dozi, Pedro Valentim, 1972-; Valdivia, Corinne B.; Cambio de Colores (3rd : 2004 : St. Louis, Mo.)The issue of immigration, since the beginning of time, has never been an easy one. Countries have struggled with the integration of newcomers, and the U.S. is not an exception. In this country, 80 percent of immigrants are "people of color"; 75 percent of these are of Spanish-speaking origin. Unlike the past, when immigrants (Latinos or Spanish-speaking) tended to favor metropolitan areas, this time around settlement patterns have been widely dispersed throughout the hinterland of the U.S. Therefore, small farming towns observe a booming immigrant population looking to fulfill its "American Dream." However, economic integration into these new communities has not been easy for the newcomers. Causal elements have been creating vulnerability to economic success, including the local law enforcement agencies, newcomers' low educational background, and LEP (Cambio de Colores, 2002). A majority of Latinos have been pulled into the rural areas where large agricultural operations exist. They are in many cases first-generation Hispanics trying to escape harsh, new immigration laws (Patriot Act), seeking refuge into these places; these new laws have also been providing cover for new employers to exploit these immigrants. Additionally, factors such as immigrant's social and cultural capital and racial profiling have helped stereotype--in many instances and many places---Latinos as people highly susceptible to law breaking, thus disturbing the normal balance of a given society where they are present (Cambio, 2002). Up to date, this situation has affected the ability of these people to acquire tangible assets necessary to smooth their income and consumption and to cope--let alone start asset building that could come in handy for their resilience in these areas. The aim of the present project is to study the economic causes that contribute to the vulnerability of Latino newcomers in rural Missouri and how they are affecting communities and families in rural Missouri, which might lead to an elaboration of a framework that will allow researchers and policymakers to identify strategies that could help these immigrants adapt successfully to their new home environments. This presentation will address work in progress looking at the diversity of Latinos in rural Missouri and how language acquisition, education, and experience impact on income generation. Data from the 1990 and 2000 Census are used. Regression analysis measures how economic, employment, education, and language skills of Latinos in rural Missouri impact income generation. A discussion of additional factors affecting livelihoods and how these will be integrated into the analysis will follow.Item The Effects of Increasing Hispanic Presence on Cultural and Educational Interaction in Monett, Mo.(Cambio Center, 2007) Abidogun, Jamaine; Cambio de Colores (3rd : 2004 : St. Louis, Mo.)Item Listening to Latino Business Owners(Cambio Center, 2007) Richtermeyer, Gwen; Cambio de Colores (3rd : 2004 : St. Louis, Mo.)My study, Listening to Latino Business Owners, confirms the varied needs of Latino business owners for business assistance in the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The findings identify problem areas for which services are needed to increase the likelihood of Latino businesses? success and growth. In addition, barriers which prevent Latinos and Latinas from taking full advantage of business-learning opportunities that are available were found to include: a lack of comfort with the various structures of doing business, few service providers who speak Spanish, unclear expectations for various learning formats, and technology access. In addition, I explore the issue of trust as it relates to Latino business owners and service providers who are not Latino. Findings suggest that experts may move too quickly to providing advice, counsel, and problem solving, thus alienating Latinos. I also explore feelings of discrimination and prejudice against Latinos and how Latino business owners handle these issues. Finally, I recommend six new opportunities to meet current needs of Latino business owners which include a focus on the duality of community and company, family business and its unique needs within this particular culture, and appropriate programming that addresses the problems encountered starting a business, later in operations, and during business growth.Item Review of Demographic Trends Among the Missouri Latino Population and Discussion of Future Information Needs(Cambio Center, 2004) Elder, Bill, 1948-; Cambio de Colores (3rd : 2004 : St. Louis, Mo.)This OSEDA presentation sets the context for a discussion about change and well-being of Latinos in Missouri as well as discusses key themes, issues and information needs. Topics include health access, education and population change.