Residents who desire to get involved in activities and issues that affect and engage Latinos, with major impact, now may consider a revived venue.
The second Tuesday of the month, 6 p.m. at downtown’s Delta College center, is set for sessions of the Saginaw branch of the statewide LLEAD, Latino Leaders for Enhancement of Advocacy and Development.
Participants had been idled by COVID-19, so the purpose of the April 13 session was to begin putting together a new agenda.
County Clerk Vanessa Guerra and Saginaw LLEAD’s Angelo Kapp volunteered to chair the brainstorming among a gathering of 20, and so far the growing list includes health care for seniors, infant mortality, rental housing costs, overall poverty and child nutrition. Cultural and educational activities also are on the to-do agenda.
As moderator, Guerra pretty much kept her opinions to herself, focusing mainly on the process.
One of her points is to work on the big picture, and at the same time to zero in on Hispanics. For one of many examples, take part in an overall action plan on teen concerns but also focus on specific concerns for Latino teens.
Another priority, she said, would be to keep more specific statistics on Latinos, who too often are lumped with other minorities in an exclusive white/non-white format. Comparative specifics are needed to demonstrate disparities as a key to obtaining grant funding.
Infant mortality serves as one example of a need to learn more. High rates are widely publicized regarding African Americans in poverty, but what are the findings for Latinos in similar hardship?
The most recent statewide figures, per 1,000, are White 4.1, Hispanic 7.3, Black 14.5. These are babies who died at birth or within a year. Black and Latino rates were higher in past generations, and so some improvement has taken place.
At the same time, many ideas went beyond numbers. Regardless of stats, language barriers in pediatric care still exist, participants noted.
Another form of fact-finding that reflects LLEAD’s purpose, both statewide and in Saginaw, would be to assemble a more thorough “where-to-call” directory of public and faith-based assistance for those in need.
The region’s service agencies have reached the point of making “2-1-1” the universal last-ditch place for aid, similar to 911 for police/fire. Still, for Bobby DeLeon, this has not eased the number of family emergencies that come his way at the Mexican American Council. If more people would know about resources that already exist, he suggests, this would reduce heartbreaks from “not knowing where to go” earlier.
A coming-soon example of informing the people is “Chances, Choices & Change” Latino Health Fair, 1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at Success Academy (former OIC), Third and Tuscola.
The MAC Center recently has been awarded a $500,000 share of the City Council’s $52 million federal ARPA grant, but this money mainly is restricted to programming for children and for upgrading the historic old bishop’s home across from Hoyt Park. DeLeon informed the group that the half-million already is serving as seed money in pursuit of other grant funds, including cultural, with expanded multi-purpose uses.
Daniel Soza III, a statewide LEAD founder, carries memories of his elders’ involvement in Mexican-American baseball and softball leagues at Hoyt Park and elsewhere that began to grow untold years ago, after World War II.
He aims to maintain the history, and when the Great Lakes Loons came to Midland, he saw opportunity. He has built a partnership that this summer will result in a trio of Latino Nights at the ballpark. This would be not simply to go to games, but with a connection to help spark a local Latino leagues rebuild, for both children and adults. Loons’ support will go beyond community support funds, with player/child connections, both at Hoyt Park and “up north”, at Dow Diamond.
Soza’s point, in the LLEAD spirit, is to look for opportunities and then take action.
Another point is that Latinos for Advocacy does not aim to supplant longtime groups such as the G.I. Forum, Union Civica or MAC, but rather to serve as a unifying source.
At the same time, Soza joined in discussions on how to find more supporters and activists, and also how to keep them in the fold and interested. Consensus was reached to emphasize that while new volunteers may wish to enlist, they also will be encouraged to pursue activities of their interest, such as Soza with baseball.
“What is your passion?” asked Christiana Malacara, a marketing specialist who helped to open the proceedings. “How can we help you get something done?”
The next-second Thursday session is at 6 o’clock on May 11 at Delta downtown.
