The First Step
How does a white girl from the suburbs infiltrate the Hispanic community in her own town?
I have been doing some writing about immigrants in Akron for a while, but it's been hit or miss: A mutual friend introduces me to someone who is from a different country; we talk and I learn about their journey; then I write a story about it. This serendipitous method has worked to a point, but now I'm stuck and need to do something new.
Recent census data indicates that Hispanics and Latinos have out-paced blacks as the largest minority in the country for the first time. I've noticed more Latino faces around town, but I can't seem to initiate the right conversations or contacts to get a story cooking. So I'll do something different!
Yesterday, I mailed an application to Catholic Charities Services to apply for volunteer work with their Hispanic Outreach program. This volunteer work will do several things for me--and for Akron:
1. It will allow me to reach out to members of my community who maybe haven't had all the advantages that I had as the aforementioned "white girl from the 'burbs;"
2. It will (hopefully) put me in some funny, challenging, or otherwise interesting "fish out of water" situations that I can write about;
3. It will give me an opportunity to learn more Spanish! (I'm fluent in French, but there aren't many francophone immigrants around here, aside from the few I've met from North Africa.;
4. It might inspire others to volunteer in their own communities.
So.
Once my application is received, I should get a phone call for an interview and background check. Then I can start giving back!
I plan to chronicle the entire experience right here, for the vicarious pleasure and amusement of all of you who are curious about your neighbors--and about my foray into volunteer service. I've not done much volunteer work in the past; wish me luck!
I have been doing some writing about immigrants in Akron for a while, but it's been hit or miss: A mutual friend introduces me to someone who is from a different country; we talk and I learn about their journey; then I write a story about it. This serendipitous method has worked to a point, but now I'm stuck and need to do something new.
Recent census data indicates that Hispanics and Latinos have out-paced blacks as the largest minority in the country for the first time. I've noticed more Latino faces around town, but I can't seem to initiate the right conversations or contacts to get a story cooking. So I'll do something different!
Yesterday, I mailed an application to Catholic Charities Services to apply for volunteer work with their Hispanic Outreach program. This volunteer work will do several things for me--and for Akron:
1. It will allow me to reach out to members of my community who maybe haven't had all the advantages that I had as the aforementioned "white girl from the 'burbs;"
2. It will (hopefully) put me in some funny, challenging, or otherwise interesting "fish out of water" situations that I can write about;
3. It will give me an opportunity to learn more Spanish! (I'm fluent in French, but there aren't many francophone immigrants around here, aside from the few I've met from North Africa.;
4. It might inspire others to volunteer in their own communities.
So.
Once my application is received, I should get a phone call for an interview and background check. Then I can start giving back!
I plan to chronicle the entire experience right here, for the vicarious pleasure and amusement of all of you who are curious about your neighbors--and about my foray into volunteer service. I've not done much volunteer work in the past; wish me luck!
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