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©2010 The Chicano Latino Affairs Council. All rights reserved.

Fall 2007

E-Newsletter Contents

Cover Story- Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Director's Column- CLAC's New Look and Direction

From the Capitol: Legislative Affairs

Un Orgullo Minnesotano- A Closer Look at Luz Maria Frias

Community Notes

Un Sabor Latino

¡El Minnesotano! E-Newsletter, Fall 2007

Cover Story

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

As many of you might already know, September 15th marks the independence of many of the Central American countries, as well as Mexico (on September 16th). What you might not know are the tremendous legislative efforts which brought these dates into mainstream American consciousness in large part through the tremendous civil efforts U.S. Latinos throughout the 1960s.  During the 90th congressional session, Congress passed public law 90-498. It was signed into law September 17, 1968 by President Gerald R. Ford and the most significant portion of the document reads:

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that the President is hereby authorized and requested to issue annually a proclamation designating the week including September 15 and 16 as "National Hispanic Heritage Week" and calling upon the people of the United States, especially the educational community, to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

In observing established national custom, Governor Pawlenty has proclaimed September 15 through October 15 as Hispanic Heritage month in the great state of Minnesota.  Let us all take a moment to validate the tremendous contributions of Minnesotanos (Latino Minnesotans) to the social, cultural and economic strengths of our great state. Minnesotanos can feel proud of the institutions and accomplishments from which we contribute to the economic and cultural wealth of Minnesota in a relatively short span of years.

The Minneapolis Foundation estimates the number of Minnesotanos to be near 174,000 in 2004. Economic contributions of the Latino demographic run from professional occupations (Latinos have a presence in professional real estate, technology, architecture and law) to contributions in agriculture, meat-packing, and dairy throughout the state. On this last theme, check out Jean Hopfensperger's excellent article on the Star Tribune.

Minnesotanos are the most geographically dispersed ethnic group in the state. We are evenly distributed throughout the state, from Centro Cultural in Moorhead, to RAICES in Willmar, to many grassroots and non-profit organizations who quietly serve, educate and train Minnesotanos every day here in the Twin Cities. And of course, who can forget the three Latinos elected to the state legislature? (A wonderful Minnesota first!)

Best of all, we are a young, blooming population. Our age demographic has breathed new life into greater Minnesota schools and economy. At least three school districts in greater Minnesota already report a majority Latino elementary school population. Minnesotanos are also a growing segment of the housing market and earnest contributors to the Minnesota economy. For example, the Minneapolis Foundation estimates the economic contribution of south-central Minnesotanos to be near $25 million for the local economy. The 1,000+ Latino business registered in the state gross more than $200 million in sales!  Here in the Twin Cities, the last few years have seen remarkable revival to Minneapolis' East Lake Street with over 200 registered Latino businesses.

Minnesota is a state which has only recently entered into the mainstream Latino map.  While Latinos from Texas have historically populated St. Paul and parts of the Red River Valley in northwestern Minnesota, the last 30 years have brought many new, hard-working Minnesotanos into the Minnesota community.  Almost all of these new clusters are around 17 cities throughout the state map. Our job in CLAC is to visit every one of them, get to know each of the communities, its contributions, heroes and challenges, and then offer the best recommendations we can to the Legislature.  In Hispanic Heritage Month, let's hear it for Minnesota's Latino heroes!

In future issues, let us keep you updated on our continuing findings in our community visits.  We'll also feature a guest articles from Latino community and legislature leaders.  So pass these E-newsletters to your friends and family, or send us an email and we will happily add you to our distribution list.  We wish everybody a happy, cheerful Hispanic Heritage Month.  May the warmth and flavor of Latino family and cooking be experienced throughout our great state.

Director's Column

CLAC's New Look and Direction
¡Saludos de CLAC!

Since early 2007, the CLAC Board of Directors and staff continue to engage in an organizational redevelopment project that will help guide the council toward effective and operational excellence at the state Capitol and among Minnesota’s Latino community. The project focuses on a range of work processes from board governance and staffing to legislative affairs and civic engagement statewide. In essence, the objective of the project is to bring awareness to the Latino community and general public of CLAC’s existence and charter to serve and represent Latinos at the state-level.  Additionally, the project includes a new image for the council to commemorate its 30th anniversary in 2008. CLAC staff wanted a new logo that embodied the Latino community and the mosaic concept emerged.  Also new to the council is the website and the ¡El Minnesotano! E-Newsletter. 

The CLAC Operational Excellence Project was contracted through and led by Business Partners Plus, Inc. The project design focuses on three key areas: operations, development, and engagement. Each area focuses on the council's strategic planning efforts in working with the Latino community and state legislators. Ultimately, this planning led up to the 2008-2009 Biennium Calendar and Action Plan. Both the calendar and action plan are designed to effectively intercept the Minnesota legislative cycle. Through this alignment, CLAC will be able to serve its charter and nine legislative goals. 
 
Another highlight of the project includes CLAC's civic engagement process. In recent history, CLAC had not visited or held community forums statewide. This summer 2007, CLAC launched a pilot series of community visits in Worthington, Willmar, and Moorhead. During these visits, CLAC staff met with city and county elected officials, local Latino leaders, and school administrators to discuss issues that face Latinos in the community. In addition to the visit, CLAC would host a town hall-like community forum to "capture the Latino voice." The forum was designed to inform that community of CLAC and its work, and to provide a platform for Latinos, Latino organizations, or those who serve Latinos to share areas of concern with staff. Some of the critical issues or problems that Latinos face in these communites are affordable housing, education (academic achievement), and workforce development.  On another note, our meetings with city mayors and leaders emphasized the economic strength that Latinos bring to the community: business development and workforce.
 
Lastly, the council project allowed some time for design creativity. Earlier this spring 2007, CLAC officially adopted the mosaic-design as the council's new logo. The mosaic-logo illustrates singular pieces of shapes and shades individually fitting togehter. This symbol aims to capture the different backgrounds of Latino ancestry in Minnesota, while at the same time recognizing a common Latino heritage of all Minnesotanos. Another development is the council's new website. The new website was redeveloped to help engage readers, better inform the public of CLAC's ongoing work, and connect Latinos to resources in the metro area and rural and greater Minnesota.      
 
For more information on CLAC's work and current initiatives, please visit the CLAC website.

From the Capitol: Legislative Affairs

CLAC at the Capitol
By: Rosa Tock, Legislative Director
 
Besides monitoring the 2007 Legislative Session and providing a summary of the most important bills enacted and their impact on the Latino population, CLAC continues its legislative work during the interim session. Among its main activities this summer, the council attended a hearing with other minority councils before the State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Committee chaired by Senator Ann H. Rest, on July 17, 2007. CLAC had a valuable opportunity to present its history, mission, and renewed strategic plan. The council explained its purpose to reposition itself in the Latino community, both in the rural and urban areas and hear the concerns and needs among its target population. CLAC presented its new logo and website and learned more about the functions and priority areas of the other councils established by Minnesota Statutes to advise the state's Governor and the Legislature on the nature of issues confronting minorities in the state.
 
During the hearing, CLAC received information about the initiatives of the Minnesota Statehood Sesquicentennial Commission to celebrate Minnesota's 150th anniversary as the 32nd state in the United States of America. Jane Leonard, Executive Director of the Commission, informed about the availability of micro-grantsto communities and organizations proposing a project meaningful to local residents as a way to build connections between the local community and the state as a whole. These connections may be historic, current, or looking to the future. Put in the words of the Commission, "The Sesquicentennial is a unique opportunity to celebrate Minnesota as a connected community of locally diverse people, places, and culture."
 
Minorities in Minnesota comprise 9 percent of the total population. Latinos are the fastest growing minority in the state, predicted to rise from 3.6 percent currently (189,912 persons) to 6 percent (or 406,700 persons) in year 2030.
 
 
Legislative Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020
CLAC also learned about the Legislative Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020 that held its first meeting on June 27, 2007. The main goal of this bipartisan commission chaired by Senator John Marty and co-chaired by House Representative Carlos Mariani, is to identify public policy strategies to eliminate poverty by 2020, recommend short-term policy changes to end childhood poverty and to eliminate racial disparities of poverty. A final report is due to the Legislature by Dec. 15, 2008. An interim report is scheduled to be available for the 2008 Legislature. CLAC will follow closely the preliminary findings of the commission and we will keep you informed.
 
Based on information provided by the Commission, the last time Minnesota made a comprehensive attempt to tackle poverty was in 1986-87 when Governor Perpich established a Governor's Commission on Poverty, charged with developing short-term recommendations and long-term strategies to eliminate poverty in Minnesota by the year 2000.  The final report published in April 1987 gave momentum to several policy initiatives including wage subsidies, increased minimum wage, sliding fee health insurance, and sliding fee child care assistance. Inside the report are the seed for the Minnesota Family Investment Plan (MFIP), Minnesota's early efforts to reform welfare, emphasizing personal responsibility, and anti-poverty work incentives.
   
Minnesota has one of the lowest poverty rates in the country.  According to a 2005 American Community Survey (ACS), 9.2 percent of Minnesotans live below the federal poverty guideline, the eight-lowest mark in the country. However, the situation is different when we take a closer look at the populations of color. Based on the ACS, while 7.2 percent of poor people are white, Asian represent 17 percent; Latinos 21 percent; American Indian 26 percent, and African American 33 percent.
 
To learn more about the Commission, click here
Here are the dates and locations of the listening sessions scheduled around the state by the Commission:
 
- Sept. 27-28: Northeast Minnesota (Duluth, Iron Range Areas)
- Oct. 5: Southeast Minnesota (Rochester, Winona)
- Oct. 10: Southeast Minnesota (Albert Lea, Faribault)
- Oct. 25-26: Northwest Minnesota (Bemidji, Moorhead)
- Nov 8: Metro Area (St. Paul/Minneapolis
- Nov 14: Central Minnesota (Willmar, Long Prairie, Granite Falls)
- Nov. 29: Central Minnesota (St. Cloud Brainerd)
- Dec. 6: Metro Area (Twin Cities Suburbs)
- Jan. 10, 2008: Southwest Minnesorta (Worthington, Mankato)
 
 
Did you know?

• As of 2005, it was estimated that Latino residents made up 3.6 percent of the total population in Minnesota, compared to 14.8 percent in the U.S. The Latino population in the state is projected to rise to 6 percent in 2030, of from 143,000 to more than 405,000 persons. Latinos are the fastest minority growing population.
• It is estimated that 6.3 percent of Minnesotan population is foreign born, compared to 12.4 percent in the nation. The foreign born population with Latin American origins accounts for 27.4 percent.
• In 2000, almost 60 percent of Latinos in the state were U.S. born citizens. Another 8 percent were naturalized citizens.
• As of 2005, 79.4 percent of Latinos were in the labor force in Minnesota, and 71.5 percent were employed.
• In 2002, the nearly 1.6 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the U.S. generated nearly $222 billion in revenue, up 19 percent from 1997. In Minnesota, the same year, the Hispanic-owned firms totaled 3,984 (almost 1 percent of total businesses in the state).

As a part of our mandate to advise the governor and the legislature, keep the public at large informed about Latino trends in the state, and impact policy, CLAC has updated a series of indicators in its five major focus topics. To learn more about some facts regarding the socio economic situation of the Latino population in Minnesota, click on the following links:
 
Education
Healthcare
Housing
Economic Development
Immigration

Un Orgullo Minnesotano

A Closer Look at Luz María Frías

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A first-generation Latina from neighboring Chicago, it did not take Luz María long before she knew she wanted to serve those that needed help and give back to the community.  In a recent interview, Luz María recalls that at the age of 11 she would assist "vecinos" or neighbors and Latino passer-byes who would come to her father's shop looking for "la guera."  People in the neighborhood knew of Luz María and would come to the shop for translation and interpretation assistance in Spanish.
 
"After my parents made sure that I would be safe, I would accompany individuals or families to offices or job locations to interpret for interviews, government benefits, or job applications" Frías continued.  "Additionally, I would compose business letters and consumer collection matters for my father's repair shop and my
mother would type the documents."
 
Certainly, there is no doubt that these experiences helped shape her character and will to become a public servant.  According to Frías, Winston Churchill's quote is her driving force in public service: "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
 
After completing degrees in law and public policy from the University of Iowa, Luz María came to Minnesota in 1988 to work at the state Legislature in the Minnesota House of Representatives as a research consultant.  During her tenure at the Legislature, her work included research on public policy, policy analysis, and drafting legislation and testimony for legislators on issues, such as the death penalty and the assault rifle ban.  While her work at the Capitol played an integral role in transforming public policy, Luz María's desire was to work and impact the Latino community. 
 
"In an effort to better serve the community, I began to explore where gaps existed in the legal system for Latinos," Frías continued.  "There were bilingual and cultural competency barriers that Latinos faced and I wanted to help change that." 
 
For the next eight years, Luz María would then serve as Chief Legal Officer at Centro Legal, a St. Paul non-profit community law office.  While at Centro Legal, it was evident that Luz María's job scope would change from research-base to operational.  At the time, Centro Legal had only three staff attorneys working in two units: immigration and family law.  Luz María also had a caseload.  She represented clients in the courtroom that ranged from housing and car contracts to consumer law and disability benefit appeals cases.  One particular area of law that concerned Luz María was disability benefit appeals.  
 
"Clearly, there were so many language barriers for Latinos during medical evaluations," Frías stated.  "These evaluations were not bilingual or culturally competent and that hindered most of my clients from securing benefits that they were rightfully entitled to receive." 
 
Frías' evaluation and finding of these language and cultural barriers helped her sevral cases on behalf of Latino families in need.
 
When Luz María left Centro Legal in 1999, she had added capacity and work processes to the organizational structure of the law office and a budget composition that was four times larger than when she inherited it.  She implemented a framework that included other layers, such as paralegals, law clerks, receptionists, an office manager, a bookkeeper, and 8 staff attorneys.  
 
Other areas within the legal community that Luz María has influenced were as a founding member of the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association where she served as the first Latina president, four years after it was formed.  In June 2008, Frías will serve as president of the Minnesota Women Lawyer's Association and become the state's first Latina to serve in this capacity since the organization was established over 35 years ago.  
 
Today, you can find Luz María at city hall in St. Paul where she serves as external affairs director for the Honorable Mayor Chris Coleman. There she serves as an advisor to the mayor within the areas of public safety, health, immigration and closing the disparities in the achievement gap. 

In addition, Luz María works on special projects such as the establishment of a full service center for victims of domestic violence, as well as fosters key relationships with the philanthropic community for the mayor's major initiatives which include the Central Corridor light rail transit project.  As the interview concluded, it was evident that Luz María's passion is building Latino leadership in Minnesota. 
 
When asked about the challenges that confront the Latino community in Minnesota today, Luz María paused.  "Latinos can be more active in all sectors of society," she stated.  "We need to engage the mainstream so that we become visible and a part of the decision-making process.  I hope that through my work I am able to provide other Latinos with access to leadership opportunities."  That is one way we can make an impact and work together as a community.

Help us congratulate Luz María Frías for being this edition's Un Orgullo Minnesotano!  Luz María is also being honored with the 2007 Ohtli Award on September 15, 2007 by the 46th Consulate of Mexico, St. Paul, Minnesota. 

Community Notes

Chicano Latino Affairs Council Concludes
Summer Community Visit Pilot Program
By: Oscar Echandi, Community Liaison
                            
This summer saw the implementation of a new strategic direction in how CLAC collects the authentic voice of the Latino community in Minnesota. Based on the Minnesota state demographer's analysis and identification of the 17 largest Latino communities in Minnesota, CLAC has set out to visit all over the period of the two-year legislative biennium. The summer of 2007 saw the three kick-off visits of our pilot program to the Latino communities in Worthington (June 21-22), Willmar (July 19 - 20) and Moorhead (August 9-10).
              
While all community meetings enable us to talk with city and school officials, each of the three communities visited this summer had unique characteristics. During our visit to Worthington, we toured Swift & Company's pork processing plant, which is also the largest Latino employer in Worthington. Additionally, we met with Sharon Johnson of the Nobles County Integration Center. Sharon informed us that Worthington was enjoying the largest incoming Latino class in history at 51 percent of all new students. The most significant event of our visit to Worthington came during our community forum, which gathered city officials, educational leaders and concerned constituents around the table in a frank discussion about the Worthington Latino community contributions and needs. From this community forum, we were informed of a substantive housing shortage for Worthington Latinos, a theme which would echo throughout all Latino communities visited over the summer.
               
In Willmar, a beautiful city in the heart of central Minnesota, we were delighted to find a Latino community actively contributing to the region's growth and economic development. Our community visit included a heartfelt welcome from Mayor Lester Hietke (who is very proud of the Willmar Latino community) and several meetings with educational and community leaders. The city of Willmar also boasts the West Central Integration Collaborative under the leadership of Idalia (Charly) Leuze. Charly's work includes ESL education and culturally competent resources for the large Central American and Mexican Willmar Latino community. In Willmar, we were also introduced to Maria Diaz, a dedicated community leader working for RAICES (roots) of rural Latinos. RAICES itself is a program of a larger four-state Northwest Area Foundation project. During the community forum, Willmar Latinos urged for more resources to be allocated for adequate housing along with competent bilingual/bicultural instruction in the school system.
               
Lastly, the CLAC team headed to Moorhead and the historic Red River Valley area. In this visit, we were greeted by a Latino community which is overwhelmingly Texan-American, descendants of the migrant generation which kept Midwestern agriculture strong in the period following World War II. Moorhead Latinos enjoy a unique combined history bridging Minnesota and Texas.  Additionally CLAC found that the Moorhead area colleges were working hard to attract and retain Latino students. However, like Worthington and Willmar, Moorhead area Latinos experience strong challenges in finding adequate home ownership opportunities.
               
In these three visits CLAC has worked hard to establish relationships and contacts from which to continue offering the best possible recommendations to the state Legislature presented in our biennial report. It has been a real joy to discover the richness of "la voz Latina" (the Latino voice) in all its diversity and color here in Minnesota. Next month CLAC is planning visits to the cities of Austin and St. Cloud. I'll have the summaries of those visits in the next E-newsletter. Stay tuned!
 
Girl Scout Troop Sparks Latina Leadership 
On an extraordinary note, CLAC would like to salute the efforts of Latina Girl Scouts. As more Latino step up to the challenge of leadership in our community CLAC would like to recognize the work done by Lorena Martinez on behalf of troop 6218, Girl Scout Council of St. Croix Valley. As the mother of young Gaby Martinez, Lorena responded to the declining Girl Scout numbers through her own recruitment efforts. Impressed by her efforts, Lorena was selected for leadership training at Lakamaga Adult Education Conference in 2006. Today as a committed Girl Scout leader, Lorena's Troop boasts a membership of 54 registered girls. Felicidades Lorena!
 
The Latina Girl Scout Leadership also attended a conference at the University of Minnesota entitled: "Mujeres Activas en letras y Cambio Social" (MALCS) on August 8, 2007. The aim of the conference was to build leadership, motivate educational achievement and build pride for Latino heritage. Click here for more information.  

Un Sabor Latino

Mint Chicken  (Pollo con Yerbabuena)

This is one of the favorite dishes that we share as a family. Spiced just right, the mint gives the chicken a lovely flavor. Try it with a little peanut sauce on the side for an even more flavorful dinner idea.

Ingredients:
   * 1 chicken cut into pieces
   * 1 cup of orange juice
   * 1 tablespoon of grated orange peel
   * 1/2 cup of mint leaves
   * 1/4 cup of sugar
   *  5 tablespoons of vinegar
   *  oil
   *  salt

Instructions:
1. Chop up the mint finely and let it soak in the sugar, orange juice and
orange peel gratings.

2. Wash and dry the pieces of chicken. Salt them and fry them until golden.
Drain off the excess grease.

3. Boil the vinegar for a few seconds and add the orange juice mixture.

4. Pour the sauce over the chicken and cook until tender. Serve hot.

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