Conclusions and Recommendations

For the most part, there is congruence between the perspectives of outsiders and insiders on the important issues facing the Latino community. However, their perspectives diverge in terms of the issues' causes, their consequences, and the best way to address the challenges they present.

Upon reflection, it is not surprising that insiders and outsiders sometimes have conflicting views on the causes and consequences of community concerns. Latinos who have come to the Fuquay-Varina area in the past five to ten years are survivors, because for many of them, their journey was not easy. Many consider their country of origin as home, especially since their families reside there, and they talk about returning to live there someday. Most Latinos come to North Carolina for the expressed purpose of increasing their income so that they can improve their lives and those of their families back home. This very specific motivation for moving to the area often takes precedence over all other aspects of many Latinos' lives and may limit their ability and willingness to invest in contributing to the community of Fuquay-Varina.

However, through community interviews and focus groups, it became evident that a number of Latinos are deciding to make a home in the U.S. As one outsider put it, "Many have chosen to live here and want to make it their home…we're in the cusp of a community being built here." Latinos who are making long-term plans to stay in the U.S. are the ones who will be the most likely to dedicate time and energy to organizing activities and services for the Latino community of Fuquay-Varina. Uniting Communities Toward Change has Latino members that have begun to fill such roles and might help others take on similar roles. Others who are here for a shorter period of time can still be important contributors to building this community.

Most service providers and non-Latino community members have never had to endure the physical and emotional pain experienced by many immigrants. Furthermore, most outsiders have never had to experience the daily challenges of communicating in an unfamiliar language. Set in this context, it is easy to see that misunderstanding between groups can occur. Service agencies and the town government need to make special efforts to establish opportunities for dialogue with recently immigrated Latinos so that understanding of immigrant issues can be increased.

The level of agreement between insiders' and outsiders' perspectives of priority needs for the Latino community is encouraging because it shows the potential for improving community life in Fuquay-Varina. Priorities for change in the Latino community must be discussed and prioritized with the input of community members from all groups, as well as service providers. In this respect, the new committee Uniting Communities Toward Change is positioned to begin making strides.

This committee made connections with service providers and community-based organizations in Fuquay-Varina through the planning and carrying out of the community forum. Influential organizations such as the Citizens Against Drugs, Pine Acres Community Center, Fuquay-Varina Athletic Association, Fuquay Youth Initiative, the Early Learning Center, and the SRC, have expressed a desire to reach out to Latinos. The team recommends that these groups work in partnership with Uniting Communities Toward Change to establish concrete actions that can meet the needs of the Latino community while simultaneously promoting their integration into the community at large.

Specific recommendations for these partnerships include:

• Uniting Communities Toward Change committee meetings, as well as at meetings between this committee and other groups, would continue to benefit from conducting meetings in English and Spanish. Perhaps bilingual staff at the SRC can assist in this matter.

• Meetings could be held between representatives from the SRC, the DMV, and Uniting Communities Toward Change to talk about potential ways to improve communication between DMV staff and Latinos.

• Fuquay-Varina Athletic Association can coordinate with Uniting Communities Toward Change and St. Bernadette Catholic Church to organize opportunities for Latino kids to participate in team sports, creating strategies to overcome transportation and cost barriers.

• Pine Acres Community Center and Fuquay Youth Initiative, both offering after-school programs and tutorials for late elementary or middle school-aged children, might involve Uniting Communities Toward Change in determining and overcoming the barriers to Latino youth participation, such as transportation and language barriers.

• There is an expressed need for ESL classes on the weekends, especially Sundays, when most Latinos are not working and can attend. Volunteers from the Fuquay-Varina community at large could be sought out to teach ESL.

• Organizations such as the Early Learning Center and Fuquay Youth Initiative could hire Spanish-speaking staff or volunteers. Perhaps Uniting Communities Toward Change can help to identify potential candidates.

• The SRC and the town of Fuquay-Varina could support the work of Uniting Communities Toward Change by providing meeting space and assisting with contacting service providers who may be able to provide information or share technical assistance on particular matters.

• In their aim to help newly arrived Latinos become familiar with local services, Uniting Communities Toward Change might consider setting up informational sessions every few months for Latino immigrants (to provide information on the DMV, housing, and establishing credit).

Additionally, there is a general need for more bilingual staff at public service agencies and for the advertising of services via various Spanish language communication channels, such as Spanish language radio and newspapers. Other suggestions for the community are to hold a town-wide Latino culture day to promote cross-cultural understanding and appreciation and to discuss the possibility of establishing a Latino/Hispanic Center as a centralized location for meeting the needs of Latinos in the area.

Fuquay-Varina is a town experiencing change, trying to balance its past with its future. While the Latino community faces many challenges, it also carries with it many assets such as a strong sense of family and culture, a desire for change, and an ability to come together to address difficult issues. Concentrating on developing centralized leadership within the Latino community and working in partnership with well-established community groups will help to ensure the successful development of the Latino community within the greater community of Fuquay-Varina.

Community Forum Report

References