Maria Elena Leal Bowden 2011

According to the 2004, Current Population Survey thirty-five counties in the state of Georgia had at least 2,000 Hispanic or Latino individuals (Georgia Minority Health & Health Disparities Report).

24.5% Spanish-speaking households find themselves linguistically isolated. In the city of Savannah the 2000 Census estimated that the Hispanic population consisted

of 2,938 or 2.2% of the total population. This estimate does not take into consideration the greater number of Hispanic and Latinos

spread out in nearby counties in Georgia and South Carolina. The Hispanic community is still relatively "invisible", having not fully integrated itself into the social service available to low-income and minority population.

Furthermore, many of them are not yet fully assimilated into the local customs and ways of life in America.

The transient nature of the work of some of these people, particularly in agricultural and seasonal work may be a factor in where and how they permanently settle. However, many establish roots and seek a more permanent way of life.

Some have come legally to the United States to pursue professional careers or obtain higher levels of education.

Others work in landscaping, construction or in hotels, restaurants, and are trying to make their homes here and integrate themselves and their children into the American way of life.

The current system in Chatham County for the Hispanic community has several gaps on how efficiently this group integrates and uses current services offered to other ethnic groups.

First, in the past, no attempt has being made among organizations who

directly render services to the Hispanic Community to coordinate their resources and programs.

Secondly, there is no effective plan to help the Hispanic Community gain entry into these programs. Programs are gear toward the individual rather to the family which is the corner stone of the Hispanic culture. Programs are available at specific locations, making it difficult for those individuals who do not have transportation.

Finally, organizations have not adapted services to deal with cultural

and language barriers of the rapidly growing Hispanic population.

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◦ 38.9% White

◦ 57.1% African American

◦ 2.2% Hispano/Latino

◦ 55.3% White ◦ 40.5% African American ◦ 2.3% Hispano/Latino

2003, 2004 Census data

Chatham County, Georgia Savannah Population: 238,000 Population: 128,000

In order to fulfill the gaps and barriers encountered in the current system for the Hispanic community the Neighborhoods in Action/Plazas Comunitarias will help implement and achieve the following objectives:

◦ Develop a network system that provides sites where the Hispanic

Community can gather on a regular basis to learn, socialize, and engage in civic activities.

◦ Create a grass-root movement. ◦ Increase awareness and the use of services among the Hispanic

Community that are available in Chatham County. ◦ Serve as an example for integrated community outreach program

that help integrate communities that are culturally and linguistically isolated.

Management Complexes

Community

Centers

Neighborhood Associations

Churches Mobile Home

Parks

Neighborhoods in Action/Plazas Comunitarias

PC Immigration

Civil Engagement

Education Environment

Health

Culture

Neighborhood Fairs

A grass-root movement gear towards the creation of sites where:

1. The Hispanic community can

gather, socialize and develop strategies of action into a common goal.

2. Receive information and referrals to community programs that address their needs and the needs of the neighborhoods where they live.

3. Promote civic engagement and leadership to community leaders.

Low income Hispanic children, women and men living Chatham County, largely in the industrial suburbs of Port Wentworth, Pooler and Garden City.

From geographic areas such as neighborhoods,

trailer parks, churches, key locations to be identified.

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Low Income Downtown

HWY 17

Southside Midtown- Commercial area

Industrial Area of Port Wentworth

Twenty promoters (mentors, lay workers, community leaders), identified within the community and trained to mobilize, organize, coordinate and give referrals to resources within the community.

The advantages of using promoters are that they come

from the community, they are defined by their active stance within the community, and are well trained. The incorporation of community workers into any intervention is culturally appropriate, increasing the acceptability, accessibility, and compliance of the program.

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Reinforces topics

Ongoing Support

Forums presented by community organizations

Topics Include

Assess community needs

Individual contacts, as needed

Individual advocates

Liaison with other agencies

Documentation into Community info system

Health issues Social support Preventive care Community

resources Create and distribute a

calendar of events including festivities, meetings and cultural events in their neighborhoods , City of Savannah and Garden City

Promoters

Cultural Education/events Immigration Civic Engagement ID membership card

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Collect success stories and data

Learn from volunteers/community leaders; ask about their experiences and opportunities for improvement

Data collection and evaluation to show positive results programs

Recruit interested volunteers/ community leaders from local communities

Strategies to retain volunteers/community leaders

Ongoing training of volunteer/community leaders

Leverage media to get the word out

1. Coordinate leaders to hold at least one neighborhood forum in each targeted area once a month to inform residents and members of the Community Action in Neighborhoods about resources and programs to implement in their neighborhoods. 2. Organize culturally diverse events, activities and promote a clean environment. 3. Map directory and ID cards to the members of the Plazas Comunitarias to develop a relationship and a referral system with churches, social service agencies, health care centers, schools, parks, government officials, business organizations, media, etc. based in and serving our communities to measure the effectiveness of the program and the impact that could have in Chatham County. 4. Build relationships between local authorities, associations and neighborhoods.

1. Survey neighborhoods and assess the needs in three targeted

communities.

2. Develop Neighborhood Associations in the 3 most Hispanic populated areas.

3. Organize a presentation meeting to establish the presence and work of Plazas Comunitarias program in the area.

4. Form a Citizen Committee to analyze the immediate needs to

address in their neighborhood. 5. Leadership training, resource and Information trainings for community leaders and volunteers.

Phase One: Development, training and mobilization

Health Team

Community

Team

Crime Prevention

Team

Education

Team 4 Target

Neighborhood Areas

Community Programs

Crime Prevention Programs

Education Programs

Health

Programs

ACTION TEAM OUTREACH

1. Survey neighborhoods and assess the needs in every

targeted community. 2. One meeting a month in each of the selected three

targeted areas with a total of 3 meetings to implement Plazas Comunitarias at the end of the first year.

3. Train and mobilize 4 Action Teams lead by community

leaders about resources and how to apply it to their communities.

4. Host bilingual forums to inform residents about resources, services and programs in Chatham County .

5. Each of the 12 teams will develop a minimum of three projects in their own community based in Education, Health, Community Engagement and Security for their Neighborhood.

GOALS OF PLAZAS COMUNITARIAS WITHIN THE FOLLOWING 12 MONTHS:

• 12 action team leaders will work to promote awareness, prevention and involvement in Education, Financial Education, Health, Community, and Security in the three targeted neighborhoods of Chatham County to develop programs and communicate the results to appropriate constituencies.

• Publish and distribute a calendar of events including

festivities, meetings and cultural events in their neighborhoods and the City of Savannah and Garden City to promote cultural diversity and interaction between communities.

• Engage at least 1000 people to participate in community forums, to become members.

• ID. Cards to the members of Plazas Comunitarias to refer, measure and evaluate the effectiveness of the program based on the number of referrals to churches, social service agencies, schools, parks, government officials, business and public organizations, media, etc. based in and serving Chatham County.

• Website to promote Plazas Comunitarias.

EMBRACE LATINO-AMERICAN INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES BY ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. Such programming would include financial literacy, ESL, ESOL, GED, literacy for parents, afterschool programs, scholarship seminars, job training, etc. By working with: • Chatham County Schools P.T.A. • Savannah Technical College • Hispanic Outreach and Leadership at Armstrong (H.O.L.A.) • Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Savannah (P.I.B.H.S.) • Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire • Accion USA • Bank on Savannah • Hispanic American Center for Economic Development (H.A.C.E.D.) • Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Savannah • Entrepreneurial Center

CREATE AWARENESS ON HEALTH RELATED ISSUES UNDERSTANDING AND ACCESS TO BASIC HEALTH SERVICES AND LITERACY, BREAST CERVICAL AND COLON CANCER AWARENESS, CHILDHOOD OBESITY, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES, CHILD ABUSE, PRENATAL SERVICES, PEDIATRIC AND DENTAL SERVICES. By working with: • Chatham County Health Department • American Cancer Society • Breast Cancer Foundation • A.I.D.S. Awareness and Support • Savannah Cardiovascular Council • Savannah Area Behavioral Center • Gateway Community Center • Community Health Mission • Youth Futures • Medlife

HEALTH TEAM OBJECTIVES

INFORMATION, RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. Knowledge of the rights and laws in the US, resources for families in Chatham county, citizenship classes, voluntarism, emergency management, cultural awareness and diversity training, etc. • United Way of the Coastal Empire • Step Up Savannah Poverty Reduction Initiative • Hands on Savannah • Youth Futures • African American Resource Center • Savannah Chapter American Red Cross • Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) • Latin-American Consulates

COMMUNITY TEAM OBJECTIVES

IMPLEMENT A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH TO ACT AGAINST CRIME AND IMPROVE THE NEIGHBORHOODS. Working with: • Latin Outreach Officers Program • Victim Witness Assistance Program • Crime Prevention Officers • Neighborhood Watch • Crime Stoppers • Savannah Impact • Latin Consulates • Safe Shelter

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SECURITY TEAM OBJECTIVES

The voice of the Latino community wants to be heard;

to create change, to exist and not to be invisible.

Let it manifest, let it sing as the tropical birds from ancient

times, from a faraway place, where the Latin heart still

exists.

Otis Johnson Major of the City of Savannah Miriam Rittmeyer MD Director Community Health Mission Daniel Dodd Director Step Up Savannah, Inc. Step Up Savannah Ejecutive Board Community at large

Thanks for your help !!!