We (as of 10/24/04) had 5 migrant workers that came to learn English after UMM's Spanish Club's weekly Sunday meeting @7pm-8pm. One of them told me that they plan to bring more next week (11/7/04). There are about 60+ total migrant workers working at both dairy farms (12 miles southwest of Morris close to Alberta and the other 10 miles south of Morris close to Hancock). Below is the report:
"Hi Steve and Ashley,
I personally thought tonight's first official class went well! I counted a total of 8-9 UMM Students/Tutors present in the beginning-started @8pm after the Spanish Club's regular get-togehter -(1 left at 8:30p and the second teacher left at 8:45p, but a new person-Mariela from Argentina came in to help for awhile) teaming together to teach 5 total "migrant" student (1 of 5 is Leo "the recruiter-the only non-Mexican" from Honduras, who has previously been here).
2 of the 5 students took the test-one did the Math and 1 did the English; however, both couldn't read it in Enlgish. Lisa and I ended up reading it (english and spanish), which they knew most or all of the answers.
I'll come in sometime this week at your office to show you the paper work. We told the UMM Students of the optional ESL class at the High School on Wednesdays if they wanted to help with you; however the "migrant" students/workers CANNOT attend Wednesdays. They will do their best to come on Sundays.
Thanks Ashley for helping recruit the UMM Student-teachers/tutors. One of them (Garret) has experienced teaching Enlish to Spanish-speaking elementary students in Argentina, who personally would like to add some of his own personal teaching techniques. Mariela (from Argentina) has previously taught this ESL class when it was around with Community Ed through the Assumption Catholic Church w/Father Lucho from Peru. We have a good group here!
Buenos Noches (9:40p)
Sal:)
P.S. Class recorded time 7:15p-9:30p for Sunday,
October 24th
Yesterday (Thursday, November 4th 2004), I had the opportunity to learn more about the backgound of local migrant workers from Mexico.
Family
I had a long 1+ hour chat with Refugio, who showed me some pictures of working (e.g. cleaning the foot) with cows and his 2 year old son. He is working very hard to support his family (wife and son) back in Mexico (east of Guadalajara).
I then asked the "popular question" of how many siblings he has, which one is expected to always hear an outstanding number. Refugio told me has 3 brothers (one is Saul, who also works at the dairy farm) and 2 sisters.
Traveling Work Experience
Refugio has the the privilege to work in various parts of the United States. One is Napa, California-where he told me this place has a large condensed population of Mexicans working in the farms. He told me that he enjoyed working outside in the beautiful weather. The other is in Johnson City(far north eastern side), Tennesee, where he worked in the tobacco fields. The other is in the midwest area-Chicago, which he washed dishes. He not only had the variety of geographic experience, but also the variety of work.
Other Stories:
While "interviewing" Refugio, I talked with another migrant worker (forgot name), who was quieter. He hasn't been in America as long as Refugio, which he just got here in the last week of September this year (only 2+ months). He told me has no kids, but a big family (6+ siblings).
A month ago when I chatted with the others, I learned that they get into the music culture back in Mexico. They showed me a variety (rap too) of music CD's in Spanish, which they played some of them for me.
They shared about their trips to Wilmar (1 hour southweast of Morris) and Montevideo (1 hour southwest) to visit other migrant workers. Leonardo once told me he went to help a guy who is stuggling with alcohol issues. As I write this, I can remember similar stories. Just yesterday, a co-worker of mine told me she met several of them at the local bar. She too was asked to teach English to them. Another story was 2 summers ago when a migrant worker contacted me by phone (I gave them my "business" card after they went to visit a friend's garage sale) asking me to help bail him out of jail. He got caught drinking and driving!
Avenamar is a college graduate, who is from the city/ciudad of Victoria [map] (north of Tampico), Tamaulipas. He is currently on his second year at the West Dairy Farm, which he was asked/invited to come back becuase of his high education. With his high education, he has a high level managerial position.
Tulio is from Saltillo (map of Saltillo), Coahuila State
Nicolas is from Tula,
Tamaulipas
Sergio just arrived today (Sunday, March 6th 2005), who took a plane from Monterey to Atlanta to Minneapolis. He works as a veteranarian in a ranch around the Coahulia
western area. He was introduced to me and Garret after the weekly Spanish Club at the University by Tulio and Nicolas Silva.
It's been almost over a month since having at least one migrant worker to come to class, so I went to help Steve at the M.A.H.S. on Wednesday, February 2nd of 2005. Suprisingly, one of them showed up! His name is Jose Arguelles, who has been coming here off and on. Jose is from Panuco [map], Vera Cruz (south west of Tampico). Wednesday, May 4th-He showed me his Instituto Federal Electoral card.
Osbaldo (met on Wed. March 28th of 2007) is from Aldama, Tamuaulipas
Miguel is from Tacambaro (located 2 hours southwest of the capitol) Michoacan
Keeping in touch with them regularly each week
One of the challenges is talking to them by phone, so I decided to come-up with a conversation piece:
"Hola___(name)____, como estas? Como fue trabajo?...Vienes a classes anoche-Domingo? Tienes tu un paseo? Llame cuando tu no tienes un paseo or unas preguntas tambien?
Dairy Farm Terminology
The migrant workers has been asking the tutors and me many terminology of the Dairy Farm field, so I decided to do some research:
Meeting the Needs of Migrant Workers in our Community
I was part of a community workshop that used the local migrant workers as an example of meeting their needs. This workshop came to reality as a challenge in applying what we learned. Below is a website that was developed from this...
Current Issues on "Illegal Immigrants"
I'm not sure who I teach ESL to are legal or illegal, but I just know that they have documents to work here. I decided to do some re"search" on this issues..
Want to learn English or about the community of Morris?
Come on Sundays at 7p to the University of Minnesota Morris
or the
Morris Area High School at 5:30p-8pm-anytime
Call Salvador Monteagudo, Morris Literacy Project (English as a Second Language Classes) Coordinator at 320.585.5573 or cell phone 651.338.2929
Tutors and students always needed spontaneously throughout the week
or
¿Aprender la necesidad inglés o acerca de la comunidad de Morris?
Venga los domingos en 7p a la Universidad de Minnesota Morris
o el
La Preparatoria del Area de Morris en 5:30p-8pm-anytime
Llame Salvador Monteagudo, Proyecto de capacidad de leer y escribir de Morris (inglés como una Clases de segunda Lengua) Coordinador en 651.338.2929 de 320.585.5573 o teléfono celular
Los tutores y los estudiantes siempre necesitaron espontáneamente a través de la semana
ESL Materials (Liberal Arts: English)
-Software
-Training
Alexandria's Literacy Project's Katy Mohbair came to Morris Area High School on Wednesday, November 17th of 2004 to teach 7 UMM Students from the Spanish Club. They are volunteering to teach ESL to local migrant workers.
Notes: (money smart, etc...)
"...will speak at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, in Edson Auditorium of the UMM Student Center. An attorney, Chavez is the oldest son of Cesar Chavez and Helen Chavez. He has dedicated his career to carrying on his father's legacy through public interest work. Cesar Chavez, for whom a UMM campus street is named, was instrumental in the development of the National Farm Workers Association. This event is free and open to the public."-UMM Relations
Related Resources:
"El orador de tónica Fernando Chavez hablará en 7:30 de la tarde. El martes, el 29 de marzo, en la Sala de Edson del Centro de Estudiante de UMM. Un abogado, Chavez es el hijo más viejo de Cesar Chavez y Helen Chavez. El ha dedicado su carrera a continúa su legado de padre por el trabajo público del interés. Cesar Chavez, para quien una calle de campus de UMM se denomina, era instrumental en el desarrollo de la Asociación Nacional de Trabajadores de Granja. Este acontecimiento es libre y abierto al público"-en espanol
Churches
-Outreach
This past Sunday (September 14th of 2008), I was invited by a friend (Eric B.) to his local church (Morris Evangelical Free Church) prayer gathering (at the "old" former "Hancock E-Free Church building"-they wanted to have it a location close to the people they are praying to "reach out" too) to "reach-out" to Latino: local migrant workers (mostly Mexican). We started with worship, shares from "guest speakers", prayer (Praise-"thank you God for...", Repentance-"forgive me/us for..", Ask-"we ask for..."), and fellowship (with snacks!) as a group.
Shares:
-Pastor Bob from Iowa
He shared about the challenges (e.g. Some "Anglos" don't want anything to deal with the "Latino" community) of "Latino" and "Anglo" churches working together. They realized it's hard to just have one service for both the "Latino" and "Anglo" community residents. From past "trials", they hope to have separate sermons, worship, etc.. and then "come together" during children ministry (e.g. Sunday School) and/or "fellowship" gatherings.
-Ben Green from Wilmar E-Free Church, who helps with the Spanish Ministry.
He shared about a church he helped started reaching out to the "Latino" community of Wilmar. I'm not if it was Ben or Bob that shared this, but there is a "generational" difference amongst the "Latino" community. For example, there are "Hispanic-ethnic" churches that have services only in Spanish, but their "kids" (the next-generation) get "Americanized". They prefer going to an "all-English" service, which they sometimes don't attend. Thus, this particular "generation" needs to be reached too in a different way!
Related Sites:
Churches Should Stay Segregated, from wordpress.com (blog)
"..No I totally agree with what you’re saying. I’ll write more on this later but I do believe there is a LOT of value in interacting with someone unlike you and who comes from a different culture than you and still being able to worship God together. I think that is great. That is a great biblical value.
At the same time I do see the issue as much more complicated than: “The bible says diversity therefore multiethnic churches are the biblical ideal.” I see the value in multi-ethnic churches as an expression of diversity, but I also see the value of mono-ethnic churches as a expression of the same diversity. .."
Fellowship:
I had a great time meeting many folks (worked with at past "Picnic in the Park", Pastor Marlin-sp?, other community-related activities, and Nester-"Columbian-American"-husband of a student I've taught ESL too in the past; shared his personal testimony on our drive to Hancock) at this prayer gathering (will be the second Sunday of very month now on). It was awesome to see many hearts to "reach out to the Latino community (migrant workers).
After the "informal"meeting, I e-mailed Pastor Marlin more information on the "Morris Literacy Project: ESL Classes serve as a Coordinator). Inviting his church to serve as a volunteer. I told him that our local church (Morris Community Church) had this prayer outreach topic just last Sunday-what a "coincidence"!
I feel many churches in Morris or Stevens County are figuring out ways to "reach out to our fellow neighbors"-a mandate of the "Great CoMission"! They just need to be equipped, which I hope and pray to be used in this area. I feel "one" church congregation can't do it all by themselves. In which we "need" to be a county-community-wide outreach group as a "whole".
Legal
Organizations
Centro Campesino
Contact Information:
104 1/2 W Broadway St Apt 206,
Owatonna, MN 55060
Ph: 507-446-9599
*referred from Nfwm
Resources
Stories
Health
Opticians
Organizations
Resources
Stories
-Health
Work Conditions
-Tobacco
Maps
Stories of "others"
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