Latinos in America
Ed Mendez
The workshop began with a quiz, which was interesting because the participants were really into it. It was embarrassing how few questions we could answer. The answers were interesting and eye opening.
The moderators then discussed various aspects of being Latino in America. Among them-
- How Manifest Destiny created much of the U.S. at the expense of Mexico.
- Three states have banned bilingual education; California, Arizona, & Massachusetts.
- Immersion education, where monolingual speakers are mixed and taught in two languages, produces bilingual students and higher academic achievement.
- There was also a review of statistics regarding the growing Latino minority, its economic and educational status, and the growing number of hate crimes targeting Latinos.
The workshop was very interactive and engaging for everyone.
What can our church do?
- Educate children, youth, and adults about Latino history and heritage.
- Make contact and collaborate with local Latino civil rights and social justice organizations.
- Establish on-going partnerships with these organizations.
- Integrate aspects of Latino theology, spirituality, and literature into sermons, liturgy, ritual and chalice lightings.
- Be more welcoming of Latino individuals, couples, and families into our congregation and fellowships.
- Demonstrate respect for what Latinos can contribute toward building a more inclusive and beloved community.
- Provide or collaborate in providing direct services to needy Latino families, including food, clothing, legal aid, tutoring, and English language classes.
My take:
The scarcity of Latinos in our congregation certainly points out an opportunity for our church to reach out to this community. This may be especially true now as studies show that Protestant denominations are making real headway with Latinos. UU/Latino jihad anyone?
Submitted by Ed Mendez
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