Sunday, February 22, 2009

Mexican Enough??



I'm currently reading Mexican Enough by Stephanie Elizondo Griest which is part travel journal, part soul searching testimonial of the author's Mexican heritage.  In the southwestern US, there are generations of Latinos who never actually lived in Mexico, but yet identify with being Mexican.  When the U.S. plays Mexico in soccer, we don't know who to cheer for.  When Oscar de la Hoya fights, we don't know if we should be wearing a Mexican flag or an American one (although I think De la Hoya solved this by creating a U.S/Mexico tapestry).  With the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo at the end of the Mexican War, the border dividing the U.S. and Mexico shifted with the stroke of a pen.  Hence, the now infamous saying:  "I never crossed the border, the border crossed me."

In the southwest, most don't grapple with the issue of being biracial like Elizondo Griest.  We grapple with being bilingual and bicultural.  There is an entire generation of 30+ Latinos in the southwest that speak little or no Spanish at all.  The reasons for monolingual, English-speaking Latinos range from acculturation to American culture to sheltered family upbringings.  With all of the discrimination our parents faced (my dad always says that he had the Spanish 'beaten out of him' in school) there was little incentive for parents to subject their children to the same discrimination to preserve our native language.  

Culturally, I feel incredibly connected to my Mexican roots.  The food, the traditions, the dichos of our ancestors are pillars of life in the southwest.  However, there is a dire condition with our second and third generation Latinos:  The loss of language.  I can run down the list of my Latino high school and college friends and only a very small percentage of them speak Spanish.  Of those that actually speak the language, most learned Spanish in high school and/or college courses--not at home.  When asked if I'm fluent in Spanish, I always say that I am functionally fluent.  In other words, I can order food in a restaurant, ask where the bathroom is and engage in real basic conversation with native speakers.  

Losing the native language is troubling.  It feels like something is missing.  I find it particularly troubling when engaging in conversation with native-speaking youth.  When conducting a recent focus group with Latino youth, I had a young person ask me about my ethnicity.  I replied, Mexican-American.  He looked at me with a blank expression and said:  Then how come you struggle to speak Spanish? (He was critiquing my Barney Fife delivery of a research question in Spanish).  

This is something that many southwest Latinos struggle with as a result of Manifest Destiny. Our land was highly-valued, but our language and culture were not (It took almost 65 years for New Mexico to achieve statehood after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo). 

So, we ask ourselves regularly:  Am I Mexican Enough



     

Friday, February 20, 2009

Our Shifting Values

Looks like the President's call to service is resonating with America's youth.  According to the Seattle PI, applications for volunteer organizations like Teach for America have seen a significant increase from the previous year.  According to the report, Teach for America saw a 50 percent increase in applications from one year to the next.  

The downturn in the economy along with the President's commitment to volunteerism are two factors that are driving young people to choose the nonprofit sector as an alternative to a career in corporate America.  

I think we are starting to see a fundamental shift in values to more of a community-centered, as opposed to an individual-centered focus in the job market.  This shift can be attributed, in part, to the economic conditions we are facing.  However, it also signals a cultural shift at the federal policy level with the rise of a community organizer to the executive branch of government.  We can see tangible results already from our federal government that service to the community is a a value that will remain constant throughout Obama's presidency.   

    

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

People are a Strange Species!


After facilitating a series of partnerships sessions I come to one resounding conclusion:  People are a strange species!  No matter how committed individuals are to a common goal, if relationships are not sound, true collaboration likely will never happen.  

One of the problems I encounter with relative frequency is that people will air out their interpersonal issues in a group space rather than confronting these issues one-on-one in a private space.  I find myself constantly managing these types of conflicts in facilitation sessions.  I think this happens because people will hold onto pent up frustrations and feel more confident airing them out in a group space.  I'm convinced most people do not like dealing with conflict one-on-one or directly with the person contributing to their angst.  

So, how do you resolve these types of interpersonal issues in a group space?  Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question.  One thing I try to do is set group norms at the beginning of the meeting.  I'll typically write:  "Confront issues, not people."  Dealing with issues and not the people contributing to them is a necessary step to mitigating conflict.  Once issues become personal, defense mechanisms kick in and the focus of the real issue becomes a moot point. 

A second strategy I use is to utilize meeting breaks to talk things out with individuals who are either unhappy with another individual or unhappy with the process.  People want the acknowledgement that their concerns are heard.  When appropriate, I try to set-up time offline where interpersonal conflicts can be worked out in a smaller, safer space.  Often times this little step can get our facilitation session back on track.  

These two strategies have worked for me in the past.  Now, do they always work?  Absolutely not.  People are a strange species.  Sometimes I walk away from facilitation thinking:  "I would much rather work with at-risk youth (I don't really like the term "at-risk") than at-risk adults!" In youth development work, adults tend to get in the way to real progress more than youth do. However, you need passionate, caring adults to be role models for our young people. 

Even though people--specifically adults--can be a strange species, simple facilitation strategies such as setting group norms and addressing concerns during breaks can help keep a session on track.  


Frank Mirabal is the Founder and President of Contigo Research, Policy & Strategy, a national consulting firm that focuses on issues impacting the Latino community.

 

           

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Valentine's Day Ideas

I don't know about you, but a box of chocolates for Valentine's Day shows little creativity. After the initial sugar rush, I begin to wonder who I could give the remaining 99 treats to.  His and hers massages?  Done that.  Roses?  Nice for about a week and then they die.  So, I'm thinking what would be something creative to give that special someone on Valentine's Day that would have a lasting impact?  Here are a few ideas I came up with:  

Investing in others.  One of the best ways to fight poverty worldwide is investing in microenterprise.  Organizations like the Grameen Foundation and Kiva connect social investors with global entrepreneurs.  Microfinancing helps support income generating businesses that can lift families out of poverty and become self-sustaining.  

Give of yourself.  Your significant other probably has a cause that he/she is passionate about.  Show how much you care by lending your time and talent to support a social cause in your community.  Whether you volunteer at a local food bank, a school, a community-based organization or an after school program, your contribution will uplift others and endear you even further to that special someone.

Release your inner philanthropist.  Celebrate the holiday by hosting a dinner or cocktail party for close friends and family.  The catch is invited guests must make a charitable contribution to a specific cause.  You get to spend valuable time with loved ones while contributing to a greater good. 

Make Valentine's Day MEANINGFUL and MEMORABLE.  Invest in others; give of yourself and release your inner philanthropist.  

   

  

   

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

The Economic Benefits of Volunteerism


Frank Mirabal is the Founder and President of Contigo Research, Policy & Strategy, a national consulting firm that focuses on issues impacting the Latino community.

President Obama's economic stimulus plan is dominating the headlines this week.  As part of the plan, approximately $200 million is targeted to support service and volunteerism initiatives. The question you may be asking yourself is: "Why is a significant chunk of taxpayer money earmarked for volunteerism programs given the current economic climate?"  Aside from the obvious benefits dedicated volunteers provide to our communities, volunteerism can also be a driver for greater economic mobility.  Here are a few reasons why Americans should support service as a strategy for greater economic mobility:

Educational Incentives.  Volunteerism programs, such as AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA provide education awards in exchange for a minimum of one year of service to the community. The correlation between educational attainment and income are well documented. Furthermore, one of the major barriers to young people attending college is money. Conversely, education awards provide necessary financial support to students in need.     

Expanded Networks.  Service and volunteerism programs allow young people to expand their social and professional networks.  This is particularly relevant for minority groups, such as Latinos who are highly concentrated in low-wage, low-skill jobs.  To illustrate this point, when I needed a job to pay my college tuition, I turned to my father to see if he had any connections to help me out.  A lifelong meat cutter, his social and professional networks were limited, so I ended up working for minimum wage at a meat packing plant.  Volunteerism strategies, such as service-learning and internships allow young people to connect with professionals that provide valuable academic and career mentorship.  By connecting with career professionals, young people can increase their social and professional capital.   

Career Tool Kit.  Strong volunteerism programs cultivate our future workforce through training and professional development.  Volunteers develop critical thinking, teamwork, problem solving and other transferable skills that extend well-beyond their term of service. Targeted skill development is essential in achieving greater economic mobility, specifically for underrepresented groups.  

Pipeline to Jobs.  Volunteerism allows employers to audition potential employees at little to no cost.  It provides cost savings to the employer and allows volunteers to explore career interests while gaining valuable on-the-job experience. 

With all the economic benefits of service and volunteerism, the real question becomes:  "Why only $200 million?"