Minnesota

Jose Torres participated in the first Day of the Immigrant three years ago, when the event sparked work stoppages across Minnesota and sent thousands of protesters into the streets to demand immigration reform.

On Thursday, he was among hundreds of demonstrators who marched to the State Capitol for a considerably smaller event taking place as a record number of Minnesotans are being deported.

This year, immigrants’ advocates didn’t ask businesses to close or encourage workers to walk off their jobs. A climate of fear has overtaken the immigrant community, so many people are afraid to be seen in a public demonstration, Torres said.”*

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has vetoed the Legislature’s resolution urging the president and Congress to end Cuban trade and travel restrictions. Many legislators figured the nonbinding resolution was a nice way to support state farmers and business people who’d like to see some economic opportunities with a nearby nation. “*

University of Minnesota, Morris senior Simon Franco, Maracay, Aragua, and Donna Chollett, professor of anthropology, are recipients of this year’s César E. Chávez awards. The awards were presented during a campus ceremony April 23.”*

It became clear at City Hall on March 5, at the Public Safety Committee meeting, that the term “human trafficking” is the new code term for rounding up Latinos and Hispanics for deportation. This will be the work of the Homeland Security agency ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), aided by the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). This reverses a long-stated policy that the MPD would not be involved in the enforcement of immigration laws.

Serious concerns about the future relationships between the City of Minneapolis and the Latino-Hispanic community were immediately evident when Deputy Chief Val Woorsster made the announcement that the joint operations on the streets of Minneapolis were about to begin. In doing so she confirmed what I have written about on a number of occasions that the purpose of this new relationship, or alliance, was predicated upon security preparation for the National Republican Convention, September 1-4, in Minneapolis and St. Paul.”*

*From: http://www.tcdailyplanet.net
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

A new report predicts Minnesota’s Latino workforce will grow significantly by 2030.

Based on the latest census data, the report found Mexican-American owned businesses are growing faster than the state average.

The study also finds Mexican-Americans contribute an estimated $283 million in federal and state taxes.”*

*From: http://minnesota.publicradio.org
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For nearly three years since it opened on the city’s East Side, the consulate has helped to build bridges between the state’s new immigrant families and the communities in which they live, and Nathan Wolf, the consul general, has been its leader from the start.

A new foreign-service job, however, soon will take Wolf back to Mexico City, away from the Minnesota Vikings games that he’s come to love. And away from state debates over the matricula consular — the Mexican identification card that police and many private companies accept as legal, yet critics say makes life too easy for undocumented people.”*

*From: http://www.startribune.com
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The Minnesota Twins today announced their new Spanish language radio broadcast partner for 2008 is Latino Communications Network (LCN). A total of 26 broadcasts throughout the 2008 season, including Opening Day (March 31) and all Tuesday and Sunday home games, will be simulcast on both KMNV AM 1400 and KMNQ AM 1470.

The play-by-play announcer will be Alfonso Fernandez and the color analyst will be Twins legend Tony Oliva. In addition, there will be 15 minute pre- and post-game shows.

This is the seventh season the Twins have broadcast games in Spanish with an increase in the number of games each year. The 26 broadcasts this season is double last year’s 13 Spanish-language broadcasts and more than triple the 2006 total of eight. The Twins were the first professional sports team in the market to broadcast a game in Spanish.

“We are thrilled to begin a new partnership with Latino Communications Network, and look forward to providing even more Twins games to our Spanish-speaking fans,” said Patrick Klinger, vice president of marketing for the Minnesota Twins.

“We are very excited to partner with the Minnesota Twins in bringing baseball in Spanish to the Twin Cities. Latinos have a great tradition in baseball and we are looking forward to helping link the Twins with the rapidly growing Minnesota Latino community” said Alberto Monserrate, president and CEO of Latino Communications Network, which operates KMNV AM 1400 and KMNQ AM 1470.

Highlights of the Spanish broadcast schedule features games against 16 of the 20 teams the Twins face this season including the Boston Red Sox (Sun., May 11, 7:05 p.m.), New York Yankees (Sun., June 1, 1:10 p.m. and Tues., August 12, 7:10 p.m.), Washington Nationals (Tues., June 17, 7:10 p.m.) and Milwaukee Brewers (Sun., June 29, 1:10 p.m.).

For additional information and to purchase tickets to a Twins game, please visit twinsbaseball.com or call 1-800-33-TWINS.”

The Spanish Institute (http://www.spanishin.us) invites Twin Cities residents interested in learning language and culture to apply for two student scholarships. The awards cover an entire year of Spanish courses (120 hours of classes or four 10-week sessions), enabling recipients to make significant progress toward language fluency. Each scholarship is valued at $1,920. Applications must be received by April 28, 2008.

“A second language is a lifelong skill - one that we are committed to providing to adults of all backgrounds,” explains Jose Abascal, Director of the Spanish Institute. “This is our chance to give back to the local community.”

Apply by April 28, 2008: Scholarships are open to adults at any level of proficiency. Applicants must demonstrate a sense of commitment to the learning process, discuss their interest in Hispanic language and culture and describe how they plan to utilize their new skills.

Spanish Institute will select scholarship winners by random drawing from all qualified candidates. Deadline for applications is April 28, 2008 and winners will be notified in May, and be eligible to begin their study with the 10-week class session that begins the week of May 26, 2008.

Each recipient’s 120-hour award, comprised of four courses at 30 hours each, must be utilized in the small-group courses offered to the public at the Spanish Institute. All courses at the Spanish Institute utilize the “immersion” experience, where students and teachers interact and speak entirely in Spanish.

In 2007, the Scholarship Program’s inaugural year, Spanish Institute awarded scholarships to Maria Falcone of Minnetonka and Wendy McLouth of Big Lake, MN. Falcone, currently an Intermediate-level student, studied Beginner Spanish in college, with class sizes of 20-30. She appreciates the small, close-knit class sizes at the Spanish Institute. “You really feel at home here, you feel welcome,” says Falcone. “It’s relaxing, and the camaraderie with the other students is a great experience.”

To apply for a Spanish Institute scholarship, contact Jose Abascal at 952-933-9940. For a complete description of upcoming classes or to enroll, please visit www.spanishin.us or call 952-933-9940.

The Spanish Institute specializes in quality instruction of the Spanish language and offers courses and programs that reflect the cultural expression of the Spanish world. The Institute is located at the Londonderry Office Park, 5780 Lincoln Drive, Suite 160, just off the intersection of Highway 169 and Londonderry Road in Edina, Minnesota.

Contact:

Jose Abascal, Director

Spanish Institute

952-933-9940

http://www.spanishin.us”*

*From: http://www.prweb.com/printer.php?prid=740884DELETEME!
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirm that an immigration enforcement action is underway in Worthington and in Sioux Falls, S.D.

U.s. Immigration and Custom Enforcement officials will not say how many people have been arrested.

Attorney Gloria Contreras Edin with Central Legal in the Twin Cities said her group has spoken by telephone with three people detained by ICE in the Nobles County jail in Worthington.

“*

*From: http://minnesota.publicradio.org
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Buying the state pageant rights from the Miami-based national organization are Miss Minnesota Latina State Director Joyce Graciela Stellick, a teacher who also operates a business that offers interpreting services, and Larry Thompson of Hayfield, who publishes a Latino newspaper.

“I am very interested in promoting the Latina women to stay in school and continue their education,” Stellick said. “Young women need to feel like they are equal. They are just as intelligent. There’s a lot of beauty that’s not outside beauty — it is beauty within. I want the girls to feel proud of what they have accomplished so far and keep pursuing other things.”"*

*From: http://www.postbulletin.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

On a sunny Saturday afternoon in south Minneapolis, about 400 Latino immigrants and their families, students, and members of the activist community marched for immigrant rights on February 16.

Chanting “Sí se puede” and carrying banners that read “No human being is illegal” and “We are all immigrants in the struggle,” the marchers walked several blocks from the corner of Chicago and Lake to the Walker Community Church as a response to immigration proposals presented by Governor Pawlenty January 7.”*

*From: http://www.tcdailyplanet.net
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With soft-spoken intensity, local Latino musician José Carrera has touched the lives of many Minnesotans through the rhythms of his music and as a multicultural consultant and activist. Today, he is fighting one of the biggest challenges of his life.

In 2002, Carrera was diagnosed with anaplastic astrocytoma, an aggressive cancer manifested as a tumor of the supportive tissue of the brain. Through surgery and radiation, Carrera went into remission for five years. Although he has health insurance, his medical expenses exceeded his coverage—leaving him over $79,000 in debt. Through the help of friends, family and donations, he succeeded in paying off the balance and resuming his normal life. “*

*From: http://www.tcdailyplanet.net
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Eric Van Young, professor of history at the University of California, San Diego will speak Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. in Leighton Hall, room 304, on the Carleton College campus. His presentation, part of the College’s Herbert P. Lefler Lecture Series, is entitled “Tales from the Dark Side: Lucas Alamán, Conservatism, and Modernization in 19th-Century Mexico.” His appearance is free and open to the public.

Van Young is a renowned historian of colonial Mexico; in recent years his area of study has focused on Mexico’s 19th-century wars of independence. His current work, and the subject of his lecture, is Lucas Alamán, the man who is considered the father of Mexican conservatism, and a central character in the nation’s early history.”*

*From: http://apps.carleton.edu
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A bipartisan group of legislators met with business leaders, local law enforcement, and social service providers from across Senate District 11 recently to seek information and suggestions on illegal immigration issues facing the area.

“Our original goal was to hear concerns, gather information and to receive input into how the Llegislature can help in resolving some of the issues surrounding immigration and specifically, illegal immigration,” said State Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen, (R-Alexandria).”*

*From: http://www.echopress.com
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The 18-year-old Beef Quality Assurance workshop program reached a milestone last week.

Minnesota Beef Council staff offered the BQA information in both English and Spanish to 80 beef and dairy steer producers and workers.

The Morris workshop was the perfect location for the council’s first bilingual effort. The Stevens County area has about 250 Hispanic workers on dairy and beef farms, said Dave Wulf, Minnesota Beef Council director and Morris beef producer. Wulf estimates the county has 10 dairy farms, 25 cow-calf operations and 20 beef feedlots.”*

*From: http://webstar.postbulletin.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Eight Latinos filed a class-action lawsuit Monday alleging exploitation and labor violations by a Twin Cities drywall company.

The plaintiffs claim they were among a class of Latino workers who were paid below Minimum Wage, required to work overtime at a substandard rate and denied economic and health benefits. They are identified as John Does in the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court.”*

*From: http://www.kxmc.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

There is much work to be done to erase racism and provide opportunity for all. I hope Minnesotans will take time to consider Dr. King’s words and actions.” — Governor Tim Pawlenty (January 10, 2008, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Special MLK Edition

Governor Tim Pawlenty’s public praise of Dr. Martin Luther King for his compassion and contribution to the struggle for human rights is contrary to the governor’s harsh and inhumane immigration orders and policy proposals.”*

*From: http://www.tcdailyplanet.net
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Mexican people, Hispanic people were a part of life through our area during those years. 1928, ’29, ’30. ’31. Lately I came on an article from 1930. The speaker for Worthington’s Kiwanis Club on Constitution Day was Marie Luiz Cabrera, “social worker who worked for the past two years among the Mexican laborers in Nobles County beet plots.”

Cabrera told the Kiwanians, “Generally they are a hardworking, thrifty race and as a rule aim to pay their way and meet their just obligations.” She said the problem, all around, was “language barrier.” By this date, Cabrera’s comments recall Paul Newman’s line from, “Cool Hand Luke.””*

*From: http://www.dglobe.com
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The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation has named Frank Fernandez, JD, to its 13-member board of directors. The board directs the state’s largest grantmaking foundation dedicated exclusively to improving health in Minnesota and includes five community representatives.

“Frank brings great experience and passion in working with communities the foundation serves,” said Marsha Shotley, foundation president. “His understanding of the role of social and economic influences on health makes him a valuable addition to our board in guiding our work.”

Fernandez is a licensed attorney who joined Blue Cross in December 2005 as the government programs/Medicare attorney. He was promoted to vice president of government programs in August 2007. In this capacity he leads overall business operations for Blue Cross government programs including the Federal Employee Plan, Prepaid Minnesota Assistance Program (PMAP), MinnesotaCare, Medicare supplement plans and local Medicare Advantage plans. Previously Fernandez worked for health plans in Nevada and Wisconsin. He also served as executive director of the Nevada Association of Health Plans.

Born in Las Vegas, Nevada, Fernandez attended Arizona State University, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science with an emphasis in Latin American studies. He attended Hamline University School of Law and graduated in 2005. Fernandez was admitted to the Minnesota bar in October 2005.

In 2006, Fernandez was elected to the board of the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association, having previously served as its student representative. He also serves on the steering committee of Fuerza Azul, Blue Cross’ new employee resource group for Latinos.

Fernandez replaces Timothy Peterson, who retired from the board in 2007.

For more information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, visit us on the Web at http://www.bcbsmnfoundation.org or call (651) 662-3950 or toll free 1-866- 812-1593.

The Blue Cross Foundation’s purpose is to look beyond health care today for ideas that create healthier communities tomorrow. By addressing key social, economic and environmental factors that determine health — beyond genes, lifestyle and access to health care — the foundation’s work extends beyond the traditional reach of the health care system to improve community health long-term and close the health gap that affects many Minnesotans. The foundation has become the state’s largest grantmaking foundation to exclusively dedicate its assets to improving health in Minnesota, awarding more than $22 million since it was established in 1986.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota’s first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. A nonprofit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest health plan based in Minnesota, covering 2.9 million members in Minnesota and nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated companies. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago. Go to http://www.bluecrossmn.com to learn more about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
Website: http://www.bcbsmnfoundation.org/
Website: http://www.bluecrossmn.com/ “*

*From: http://sev.prnewswire.com
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Since Roxana Segura’s family moved to a mobile home park in Inver Grove Heights, she has watched the Latino population blossom at both Skyline Village and nearby Pine Bend Elementary.

The number of children from Skyline Village attending the school has doubled in the past few years, to about 70, including many students whose families speak Spanish at home.

“I don’t think that the school was kind of prepared for all these changes,” said Segura, who has two children enrolled at Pine Bend.”*

*From: http://www.startribune.com
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Federal agents will be on the stand in immigration court today, testifying about a raid that netted some 50 undocumented immigrants in Willmar last April.

Attorney Gloria Contreras-Edin of the Latino legal services group Centro Legal says the cases of four Willmar residents will be heard as well as some residents from Worthington.”*

*From: http://www.kxmc.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Recently, the Minnesota Chicano Latino Affairs Council (CLAC) issued a statement sharply at odds with the immigration plan put forth by Governor Tim Pawlenty.
CLAC is a state agency created by the Minnesota legislature in 1978. Eleven of the 15 council members are appointed by the governor, with one member coming from each congressional district and three serving at-large. Two state senators and two representatives make up the remaining four members of the council. According to its web site, “The primary mission of CLAC is to advise the governor and the state legislature on the issues of importance to Minnesota’s Chicano Latino community.” “*

*From: http://www.workdayminnesota.org
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Kris Soltvedt of Austin believes Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s plans to more effectively counter illegal immigration may do just what they are intended to do — get the immigrants to stay in their own country.

The effect of that would be devastating, she said.

“Their whole lives revolve around their community, and if it’s going to be that difficult … they will say, ‘Oh well, let’s just go home,’” said Soltvedt, a former pastor in the Hispanic community.”*

*From: http://www.postbulletin.com
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The governor issued an order that takes several steps to deal with illegal immigration without legislative agreement.

It requires state law enforcement officers to work with federal agents to enforce immigration laws. It instructs the Department of Public Safety to review photos on the state’s driver’s license database for possible fraud. And it requires any new state employees and contractors who do business with the state to verify citizenship through an Internet-based system operated by the federal government.

Pawlenty said the steps are necessary to respond to illegal immigration.”*

*From: http://minnesota.publicradio.org
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It’s an election year, and none of us is going to get out of 2008 un-pestered and un-pitched. It’s going to be a long year.

On Monday, I saw two press conferences at the Capitol and barely escaped to tell the tale. At one — a presser put on by Gov. Tim Pawlenty to scare illegal immigrants — I was strong-armed by two angry white citizens who told me I must hate white people, which would come as a shock to my mother. At the other presser, organized by supporters of Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, I was thumped on the chest by a good Christian woman and told I should accept Jesus into my heart, and had better do it soon.”*

*From: http://www.startribune.com
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