News (Noticias) Tagged ‘mecklenburg county’

North Carolina businesses are missing out on billions in revenue from minority customers, according to a set of studies presented to a Charlotte Chamber audience Wednesday.

James Johnson, the studies’ co-author and an entrepreneurship professor at UNC Chapel Hill, told a crowd of about 100 people that state and local businesses are not meeting the needs of the state’s Hispanic and black consumers, who spent $1.1 billion and $5.2 billion respectively in other states instead of in North Carolina in 2004.”*

Mecklenburg County commissioner Dan Ramirez said he promised voters he wouldn’t use his elected position to discuss personal issues.

But he broke from that stance this week to publicly criticize fellow Republican Bill James for comments made last month in which James compared illegal immigrants to prostitutes and drug dealers.

Ramirez said James managed to insult the entire immigrant community, including those in the country legally.”*

A Mecklenburg County commissioner issues some strong statements about illegal immigrants.

Tonight, some in the Latino community say he has gone too far.

Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James says he’s not backing down after what he said about immigrants last week.”*

A Brazilian woman, held in the Mecklenburg County jail since Friday on an immigration violation, is not being allowed to provide breast milk for her son, who is less than 2 months old.

Ezequiel Oliveira, who is helping care for the woman’s two children, said he spent hours at the jail Monday trying to get a breast pump to 29-year-old Danielle Ferreira. He said Ferreira’s baby, Samuel, is crying incessantly and keeps spitting up baby formula.

“We give him formula and put in the pacifier but he is crying day and night, day and night, all the time,” Oliveira said.

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Una mujer brasileña, detenida en la cárcel de Mecklenburg desde el viernes por una violación migratoria, está prohibida de extraer leche materna para su bebé de menos de dos meses.

Ezequiel Oliveira, quien está ayudando cuidar por los dos hijos de la mujer, dijo que pasó varias horas en la cárcel el lunes tratando de entregarle a Danielle Ferreira, 29, una bomba de pecho. Oliveira dijo que el niño, Samuel, llora sin parar y sigue rechazando la leche de fórmula.

“Le damos fórmula y el chupete, pero llora día y noche, día y noche, todo el tiempo”, dijo Oliveira.
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“With Mecklenburg County, N.C., continuing to see an Hispanic population growth, CMPD officers say there’s a need for even more bilingual officers.

“We do need a lot more,” said Officer Rafael Hernandez Saturday while patrolling a lowrider car show at the Metrolina Expo on Statesville Road.

Hernandez estimates there are about 30 Spanish-speaking officers on the force. He said bilingual officers are especially important at predominantly latino events like Saturday’s car show.”

“As the nation’s population continues to become more diverse, hundreds of libraries will bring children, books, languages and cultures together for national El de los niños/El dí de los libros Childrens Day/Book Day, also known as Dí, on April 30. Dí celebrates the importance of advocating literacy for every child, regardless of linguistic and cultural background. Target is the official 2007 national sponsor of Dí.

Library use is up nationwide among all types of library users, continuing a decade-long trend. In 2006 almost 1.8 billion visitors checked out more than 2 billion items. The development of multilingual library collections and programs for families continues to increase, and Internet literacy programs for those who speak languages other than English are becoming more prevalent.

Libraries across the country will showcase their various multicultural programs and services through Dí celebrations. Dí events will support literacy and bridge cultures through bilingual book displays and story hours; family literacy fairs; bilingual writing projects and programs that will encourage parents to inspire their children to read.

“Dí will provide children and families with an opportunity to explore new worlds,” said Kathleen Horning, president, Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association. “Libraries are the perfect family destination, offering parents and children an opportunity to explore the world through multicultural book collections, diverse cultural programs and free access to the Web.”

As hundreds of celebrations are underway, eight Dí Super Sites will host a series of special programs and services sponsored by Target. Dí Super Sites include a variety of communities who have a proven track record for producing outstanding Dí celebrations for their communities.

“Target recognizes that reading is a foundation for lifelong learning, so we’re excited to be a part of this year’s Dí festivities,” said Laysha Ward, vice president, community relations, Target. “Together with ALSC and the Super Site libraries, we are committed to supporting this cultural celebration and keeping children engaged in reading year round.”

Dí 2007 Super Sites include El Paso (Texas) Public Library, Hennepin County (Minn.) Library, Public Library of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County (N.C.), Queens (N.Y.) Public Library, Riverside County (Calif.) Library System, Broward County (Fla.) Library System, Providence (R.I.) Public Library, and Phoenix (Ariz.) Public Library. Local Target employees will volunteer at Super Site locations across the country.

Dí honors children, their languages and culture; encourages reading and literacy; and promotes library collections and programs that reflect the country’s changing populations. For multicultural book lists and tips on how to encourage children to read, please visit the Dí Web site at www.ala.org/dia.

ALSC is the national center for Dí. Through a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, ALSC is working with other national organizations, such as REFORMA: the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, to initiate communication and education efforts that promote Dí to families across the United States.

About The Association for Library Service to Children
The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) develops and supports the profession of children’s librarianship by enabling and encouraging its practitioners to provide the best library service to our nation’s children. ALSC provides leadership to the profession and public on behalf of high quality library services that support children in becoming lifelong learners.

About Target
Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,487 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today’s best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives back more than $3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.

About The American Library Association
The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 64,000 members. Its mission is to promote the highest quality library and information services and public access to information. “

“he chief of schools in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County said the Pledge of Allegiance will be recited only in English at graduation ceremonies and other school events.

The decision by School Superintendent Peter Gorman came after a student said the pledge in Spanish last week at a midyear graduation.”

“The inmate is hardly standing, hardly conscious. He barely fills a T-shirt designed to hug him. Overdose, the sheriff’s deputies say.

He was brought into Mecklenburg County Jail this weekday morning on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Like all suspects, he was asked two questions. Were you born in the U.S.? Are you a U.S. citizen?”

“Aura Maria Posse, a radio producer in Charlotte, said while the program was a good one, for many of her listeners it seemed to be an action rooted in politics. Posse added that the Hispanic community does not “have a lot of community leaders, and it’s an afraid community.”

Many listeners called in to complain that the program was unfairly targeting Hispanics, many of whom could face deportation for only minor crimes.”

“Local and federal authorities have identified more than 900 illegal immigrants detained in Mecklenburg County jails since a new federal program began there in April.

Of the 930 illegal immigrants identified by Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s deputies, almost half _ about 450 _ would have been released had law enforcement not taken the time to identify the inmates, officials said. At least 128 have already been deported.”

“Mecklenburg County has one of North Carolina’s fastest growing Hispanic populations and most people feel the increase is mainly a result of illegal immigration. Monday, federal and local authorities say they’ve reached a milestone in punishing illegal immigrants who commit crimes in the community.

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office announced that nearly than 1,000 criminal illegal aliens have been or will be deported. So far 128 of that 1,000 have been forced to leave the country.”

“Mecklenburg County commissioners Tuesday asked the sheriff to check the immigration status of participants in the county’s DWI treatment court and determine whether the program is serving illegal immigrants.

Board members also unanimously asked County Manager Harry Jones to investigate the issue, together with an advisory group of city, county and criminal justice officials, and report back to the board.”

“Concerned about these numbers, Esquivel made a video urging doctors and nurses to screen for the disease. She asked Gary Black, health communication specialist at the Mecklenburg Health Department, to help with the project.

The video will be distributed to hospitals and clinics throughout Mecklenburg County in upcoming months.

“We’re missing opportunities to screen folks,” Black said. “They’re getting sicker and sicker and they’re showing up in the ER with symptoms corresponding to the AIDS disease.”"

“It’s known by the not-so-glamorous name of “the 287(g) program,” but Mecklenburg County Sheriff Jim Pendergraph said a database system connecting his office with the Office of Homeland Security is helping deal with the problem of illegal immigrants who break the law.

Pendergraph said a computer system that went into operation May 1 in Mecklenburg has resulted in more than 550 illegal immigrants charged with crimes in Mecklenburg County being sent to an Atlanta immigration court for probable deportation.”

“As elsewhere in the United States, law enforcement officers did not check the immigration status of people they came into contact with, and in the vast majority of cases, a run-in with the law carried little threat of deportation.

But that accommodation for the burgeoning illegal population ended abruptly in April, when the Mecklenburg County sheriff’s office began to enforce immigration law, placing more than 100 people a month into deportation proceedings. Some of them had been charged with violent crimes, others with traffic infractions.”

“In a move sure to enliven the fall campaign season, Mecklenburg County commissioners tonight will revive a hot-button debate on proposals to crack down on illegal immigrants and companies that hire them.

At least two of the board’s three Republican members said Monday they will ask the commission to take up two proposals tabled last fall. One would deny some county services to illegal immigrants; the other would deny county contracts to employers found to hire undocumented workers.”

“A pair of North Carolina towns are weighing whether to join dozens of cities across the country proposing to make English the official language.

Mint Hill, in Mecklenburg County, and Landis, a town in Rowan County, are reviewing making clear that English is the dominant language.

Mint Hill’s proposal also would punish businesses that employ, rent to or provide goods and social services to illegal immigrants. A proposal in Landis would require that all written or spoken government business must be in English _ even if it means people bring their own interpreter.”

“The Charlotte area’s Hispanic population shot up dramatically over the past five years, with double-digit percentage increases in every county, according to Census estimates released today — a trend that continues to change the face of North Carolina.

Mecklenburg County saw a jump of almost 60 percent — or about 26,600 people — and the Hispanic population in several surrounding counties grew even more quickly.”

“The UNC Charlotte Urban Institute (UI) completed its Mecklenburg County Latino Community Needs Assessment, a research report commissioned by the Latin American Coalition and funded by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The UI study found that of the 66,000 Latino populations living in Mecklenburg County, 12,800 of those are U.S. born.”

“Under the program — one of only six of its kind in the country — 10 sheriff’s deputies will undergo four weeks of training to become certified federal immigration officers.

Beginning this spring, they will check the immigration status of every person charged with a crime and processed through Mecklenburg County jail, using a federal database that contains photographs, fingerprints and other information.”

“CHARLOTTE – The first systematic investigation of the challenges faced by Mecklenburg’s growing Hispanic community and the county’s ability to address them is being conducted by UNC Charlotte’s Urban Institute, the Latin American Coalition, and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation through a Community Partners Program.

The number of Latinos in Mecklenburg County has jumped 614 percent since 1990, according to the U.S. Census, making Charlotte the third fastest-growing Hispanic community in the nation, currently home to more than 66,000 Latinos (8.7 percent of the total population).”

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