By TENIEL SABIN, Federal Way’s Hispanic Community Liaison

What are the biggest issues facing the Hispanic community?

This question was asked to a forum of Hispanic Community Leaders at the recent Latino Community Fund Summit in Renton. Hispanic leaders, business owners and advocates from all over the state gathered to discuss strategies for the advancement of the Hispanic community.

The panel, which consisted of representatives from education, business, government and non-profit sectors, responded that the main issues are poverty, education and lack of leadership. The following are the issues, their causes and some solutions offered.

Poverty:

About 30 percent of Latinos grow up in low-income households. These families survive on living wage jobs that are prone to displacement; therefore they don’t have access to health care and other benefits for their families. There is also limited affordable housing. The need is much greater than what is available. Poverty is also linked to education.

“Income affects stress of families and their ability to go to schools to learn,” said Peter Bloch Garcia, chairman of the Latino Community Fund.

In order to serve the Hispanic community better, private foundations should begin funding more Hispanic non-profits. Public agencies should also adjust so they are able to better serve people in Spanish. The Latino community itself should also give back, said Mike Sotelo, a business owner and chairman of the Washington State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Once a family is financially stable, the family has a responsibility to help those who are also trying to make a better life. “It is up to us to make it happen,” he said.

Education:

As of 2007, 17.6 percent of the student population in Federal Way is Hispanic. That is more than Auburn, Kent, Renton, Tacoma and Seattle school districts. These students will be a great asset to their community if they become tomorrow’s professionals. They could be the Hispanic community’s future leaders. Unfortunately, in Washington state, Hispanic students have a 54 percent graduation rate. Only 15 percent of these graduates decide to pursue higher education.

Frances Contreras, assistant professor at the University of Washington College of Education, suggests that schools are not doing enough to engage Hispanic families. “Most families feel they are an afterthought. Schools know they do not speak the language, but yet nothing is sent home in Spanish,” Contreras said. This causes many families to feel unwelcome to school events and activities.

She suggests that colleges should be held more accountable to recruit a more diverse student body. Teachers must also be more equipped to work with the diverse populations in our schools. This means teacher trainings in diversity at the local schools and at the university level in teacher education programs. These students also need access to programs like Running Start that offer opportunities to get college credit while in high school.

“If parents feel more welcomed, they will get engaged. We will then see more students succeed and more students in college,” Contreras said.

Under-representation in government:

In the American system, it is expected that each citizen participate in some level of government. This could be as simple as the PTA or getting involved at the city and state level. In general, there is a lack of Hispanic representation on all levels of government.

Uriel Iñiguez, executive director of the Washington Commission on Hispanic Affairs, spoke to this matter at the summit. “Every community has issues, but what we do about them is what matters. A lack of involvement from the community is usually the biggest reason for most of these issues,” Iñiguez said.

Iñiguez also suggested that most Hispanics do not participate in government because their own experiences have not been positive. They may have been exploited and have learned that government is not to be trusted.

Ultimately, when decisions are made, those not at the table will be ignored. On every level, Hispanics should be encouraged and recruited to participate in positions of leadership. By explaining the process and having mentors that support them, Hispanics can gradually step up to be better leaders in their community.

Those that attended the Latino Community Fund Summit left with an action plan: A to-do list of what each of us can do to encourage the advancement of the Hispanic community.

In Federal Way, there are more than 9,000 Hispanic residents; in Washington State, almost half a million. There is a great need to resolve these issues, which requires the participation and support of all members of our community.

Teniel Sabin is the Hispanic Community Liaison for Federal Way. Call (253) 835-2613 in English or (253) 835-2606 in Spanish. E-mail teniel.sabin@cityoffederalway.com.