Strategies forStrategies for Engaging Latino/Hispanic Engaging Latino/Hispanic

AudiencesAudiences

Cintia AguilarCintia Aguilar Extension Latino Affairs FacilitatorExtension Latino Affairs Facilitator

North Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State University

Frida BonaparteFrida BonaparteCross Cultural CommunicatorCross Cultural CommunicatorMississippi State UniversityMississippi State University

Dr.Dr. Andrew BehnkeAndrew BehnkeProfessor and Extension SpecialistProfessor and Extension Specialist

North Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State University

Outside of the Box…Outside of the Box…

““When reaching out to new When reaching out to new audiences, we must take the audiences, we must take the time to fully understand the time to fully understand the dynamics involved and be dynamics involved and be prepared to set aside egos and prepared to set aside egos and traditional ideas. ‘The way traditional ideas. ‘The way we've always done it’ does not we've always done it’ does not mean that's the way it always mean that's the way it always should be done” should be done” (Bairstow, Berry & Driscoll, (Bairstow, Berry & Driscoll, 2002).2002).

Communicating Across Communicating Across CulturesCultures

Listen to ideas, viewpoints and Listen to ideas, viewpoints and experiencesexperiences

Respect for othersRespect for others Don’t judgeDon’t judge Be open mindedBe open minded Focus on relationshipsFocus on relationships Build trustBuild trust

Who are Who are Latinos/Hispanics?Latinos/Hispanics?

Commonalities and DiversityCommonalities and Diversity

Not all Latinos fit into one Not all Latinos fit into one category: birth country, category: birth country, language skills,family history, language skills,family history, immigration status, immigration status, acculturation, generation acculturation, generation status,etc.status,etc.

Which Countries Do Which Countries Do Latinos/Hispanics Come From?Latinos/Hispanics Come From?

Caribbean Caribbean Central AmericaCentral America South AmericaSouth America North AmericaNorth America

1.1. Antigua & BarbudaAntigua & Barbuda2.2. ArubaAruba3.3. BahamasBahamas4.4. BarbadosBarbados5.5. Cayman IslandsCayman Islands6.6. CubaCuba7.7. DominicaDominica8.8. Dominican RepublicDominican Republic9.9. GrenadaGrenada10.10.GuadeloupeGuadeloupe11.11.HaitiHaiti12.12.JamaicaJamaica13.13.MartiniqueMartinique14.14.Puerto RicoPuerto Rico15.15.St. Kitts & NevisSt. Kitts & Nevis16.16.St. LuciaSt. Lucia17.17.St. Vincent and the St. Vincent and the GrenadinesGrenadines18.18.Trinidad & TobagoTrinidad & Tobago19.19.Turks & Caicos IslandsTurks & Caicos Islands20.20.Virgin IslandsVirgin Islands

1.1.BelizeBelize2.2.Costa RicaCosta Rica3.3.El SalvadorEl Salvador4.4.GuatemalaGuatemala5.5.HondurasHonduras6.6.NicaraguaNicaragua7.7.PanamaPanama

1.1.ArgentinaArgentina2.2.BoliviaBolivia3.3.BrazilBrazil4.4.ChileChile5.5.ColombiaColombia6.6.EcuadorEcuador7.7.French French GuianaGuiana8.8.GuyanaGuyana9.9.ParaguayParaguay10.10.PeruPeru11.11.SurinameSuriname12.12.UruguayUruguay13.13.VenezuelaVenezuela

1.1.MexicoMexico

Latinos or Hispanics?Latinos or Hispanics?

• Difficult to be politically correctDifficult to be politically correct• Each country/person might have own Each country/person might have own

preferencepreference• Identify by country of originIdentify by country of origin• Latinos: Latinos: Language originLanguage origin..• Hispanics:Hispanics:Geographic origin.Geographic origin.

• In U.S.In U.S. the term Hispanic was introduced as a the term Hispanic was introduced as a ““census categorycensus category” ” by the Nixon administration in by the Nixon administration in 1970 to identify people with Spanish heritage. It 1970 to identify people with Spanish heritage. It has been used as the “official” government term.has been used as the “official” government term.

ChallengesChallenges What are some of the Challenges of

you’ve faced in working with this population?

Understanding the Understanding the Latino/Hispanic CultureLatino/Hispanic Culture

Relationships: PersonalismoRelationships: Personalismo

Personal relationships are Personal relationships are more important than more important than institutional relationshipsinstitutional relationships

Trust is placed in individuals, Trust is placed in individuals, not in institutionsnot in institutions

Preference for collaborative Preference for collaborative rather that competitive rather that competitive activities.activities.

EtiquetteEtiquette

Firm handshake, hug and light kissFirm handshake, hug and light kiss Use of titles of respect before first Use of titles of respect before first

names (Don and Doña)names (Don and Doña) More relax and flexible about timeMore relax and flexible about time

Don’t stress about planning and focus Don’t stress about planning and focus on day to day concernson day to day concerns

Religion is very importantReligion is very important ““SSíí Dios quiere” Dios quiere”

HolidaysHolidays

Language and Language and CommunicationCommunication

Respeto/humildad is shown by Respeto/humildad is shown by listening when a person is talking, listening when a person is talking, by following his/her advice.by following his/her advice. Respect for authority and elderlyRespect for authority and elderly

Personal Space - AffectionPersonal Space - Affection Tap on the shoulderTap on the shoulder

Listen to what they want to say Listen to what they want to say even if it not related to the task.even if it not related to the task. Don’t feel you have to answer all their Don’t feel you have to answer all their

questions or resolve their needs.questions or resolve their needs.

Language and Language and CommunicationCommunication

Individuals may not give you a Individuals may not give you a direct/ straight answerdirect/ straight answer Tend to elaborate a lot in Tend to elaborate a lot in

responses to questionsresponses to questions Some Hispanics don’t take Some Hispanics don’t take

criticism well; they react as if it is criticism well; they react as if it is directed at them rather than the directed at them rather than the action performedaction performed Hard to say “No” - avoid Hard to say “No” - avoid

confrontationconfrontation

Family Values / Family Values / FamilismoFamilismo

Family: most important social unitFamily: most important social unit Machismo: father as head of the Machismo: father as head of the

family (dominant figure)family (dominant figure) Marianismo: place of mother in Marianismo: place of mother in

the homethe home Moral responsibility: help other Moral responsibility: help other

members of the familymembers of the family Family ties: very strongFamily ties: very strong Families gather togetherFamilies gather together

Family Values…cont’dFamily Values…cont’d

Hispanics who immigrate to Hispanics who immigrate to U.S. may lose the support U.S. may lose the support provided by the extended provided by the extended family.family. This can at times cause a shift This can at times cause a shift

in gender roles and a change in in gender roles and a change in roles of parents and children.roles of parents and children.

Connecting with the HispanicConnecting with the HispanicCommunity and Building TrustCommunity and Building Trust

Slow processSlow process Listening and observingListening and observing Attending fiestas, eventsAttending fiestas, events Talking with members of the Talking with members of the

communitycommunityKnowing their concernsKnowing their concernsKnowing their differencesKnowing their differencesKnowing their skillsKnowing their skills

How Do We Get Started?How Do We Get Started? Establish a presence in the Establish a presence in the

Hispanic communityHispanic community AttendAttend cultural events in your cultural events in your

community, such as festivals and soccer community, such as festivals and soccer tournamentstournaments

DevelopDevelop personal connections with personal connections with Hispanic community leader: Hispanic Hispanic community leader: Hispanic organizations/ churches/ schools/ organizations/ churches/ schools/ directors/ restaurantsdirectors/ restaurants

Learn about the community and Learn about the community and context in which people live, and context in which people live, and get to know people as individualsget to know people as individuals

Building Community Building Community PartnershipsPartnerships

Involve Hispanics in the Planning Involve Hispanics in the Planning - “funds of knowledge”- “funds of knowledge”Brainstorm as a groupBrainstorm as a groupThink what talents and abilities do Think what talents and abilities do

we lack to serve Hispanics?we lack to serve Hispanics?

RecruitingRecruiting

““Latinos are not looking for a Latinos are not looking for a handout but for a handshake”handout but for a handshake”

Personally extend invitations through visits or phone calls. Use (Spanish) radio spots to announce the meeting and/or program.

RecruitingRecruiting

Do presentations or hold Do presentations or hold information meetings at information meetings at churches, other community churches, other community organizations’ meetings, school organizations’ meetings, school parents’ nights:parents’ nights: Introduce your organization’s Introduce your organization’s

mission and goals and how they mission and goals and how they benefit families. benefit families. They may have They may have never heard of Cooperative never heard of Cooperative Extension. Extension.

““Word of mouth” better than Word of mouth” better than flyersflyers

Engaging ProgramsEngaging Programs

Choose the topics based on Choose the topics based on their intereststheir interests

Consult the group about best Consult the group about best time to meet time to meet Be flexibleBe flexibleEvenings and weekends Evenings and weekends

might be best.might be best.Remember Remember ffúútbol (soccer), tbol (soccer),

telenovelas,telenovelas, local events, local events, religious festivals, etc.religious festivals, etc.

Make things less FormalMake things less FormalFun activities: role plays, hands-Fun activities: role plays, hands-

on activities, drama, video, use on activities, drama, video, use of personal history, culturally of personal history, culturally relevant materials.relevant materials.

Find out the Spanish literacy Find out the Spanish literacy level and English proficiency level and English proficiency level of the families you are level of the families you are working with.working with.

Engaging ProgramsEngaging Programs

Engaging ProgramsEngaging Programs

Allow Allow them to interactthem to interact Make a comfortable Make a comfortable

environmentenvironment Written material a supporting Written material a supporting

playerplayer Extend the invitation to all Extend the invitation to all

family members. Appeal to family members. Appeal to parents parents andand to children to children If possible provide childcare.

Hang signs in Spanish Hang signs in Spanish leading to the meeting room, leading to the meeting room, restrooms, and other needed restrooms, and other needed facilities.facilities.

Serve food and/or snacks.Serve food and/or snacks. Offer door prizes. Offer door prizes. Consider transportation Consider transportation

needs. If possible, provide needs. If possible, provide transportation options.transportation options.

Engaging ProgramsEngaging Programs

Engaging ProgramsEngaging Programs

Use Spanish DVD’s instead of Use Spanish DVD’s instead of lecturinglecturing

If you need an interpreter, look If you need an interpreter, look for a bilingual volunteer known for a bilingual volunteer known by the community.by the community.

If you don’t speak Spanish, try If you don’t speak Spanish, try to learn and use common to learn and use common phrases.phrases.

Remember…Remember…

Do not get discouraged if Do not get discouraged if outcomes are not what you outcomes are not what you expected, try again! expected, try again! Building trust is a process that Building trust is a process that

takes timetakes time

Make a firm commitmentMake a firm commitment Employ bilingual outreach staffEmploy bilingual outreach staff Emphasize relationships over Emphasize relationships over

taskstasks Create a welcoming Extension Create a welcoming Extension

officeoffice Involve youth and familiesInvolve youth and families Offer separate volunteer trainingOffer separate volunteer training Work with community partnersWork with community partners

Remember…Remember…

Feel free to email us for more Feel free to email us for more information or a copy of information or a copy of these slidesthese slides

Any Questions?Any Questions?

¡ Gracias y Buena Suerte!