1994 Latino Community Headlines

1994 Latino Headlines

Researched & Compiled by Milenio Associates, LLC

Population Shift Changing City's Schools Hispanics Are

Largest Group

Source: Providence Journal/Evening Bulletin January 4, 1994

The rush of white families to the suburbs and the arrival of thousands of Latin American immigrants have made Hispanics the largest ethnic group in the city's public schools.

Hispanics now account for 34.6 percent of Providence students, compared with 29 percent for white students, 24.6 percent for black students and 11.1 percent for Asians.

Until last year, when Hispanics first took the lead, white students had been the largest single group.

Providence now joins Central Falls, which has a 46 percent Hispanic enrollment, as the only Rhode Island school districts where a minority group prevails, according to the state Department of Education. Just a decade ago, the Providence school system's racial and ethnic kaleidoscope reflected a much different picture: Fifty-four percent of the students were white, 25.5 percent were black, 12.5 percent were Hispanic and 8 percent were Asian.

Now, Hispanics are the dominant group at 14 of the city's 31 schools, and overwhelmingly so at some of the biggest ones.

At the largest high school, Central, on the outskirts of downtown, the 928 Hispanic students nearly outnumber those from all other groups combined. At the largest elementary school, Gilbert Stuart, in the West End, about 6 out of every 10 students are Hispanic.

The growth in Hispanic enrollment mirrors population changes citywide. In 1980, the Hispanic population was 9,071, or 5 percent of the total, according to the Census.

In 1990, Hispanics accounted for 24,982, or 15.5 percent, of the city's 160,728 residents. Most of the new residents are immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Puerto Rico who have settled in poor and working-class neighborhoods in South Providence, Elmwood, the West End and Olneyville.

The number of white residents in the city fell by 11 percent between 1980 and 1990, from 127,320 to 112,404, Census figures show. But the surge in Hispanics and other minorities boosted the overall population by 2 percent, to 160,728.

Hispanics can be white or nonwhite, but they are listed as Hispanic if they check off that designation on Census or school enrollment forms. In the schools, the booming Hispanic enrollment has yet to translate into changes in the racial and ethnic makeup of the power structure.

None of the top School Department administrators is Hispanic, and only 1 of the 31 principals is - John S. Hernandez of Oliver Hazard Perry Middle School, on the west side.

Asked how many administrators speak Spanish, Supt. Arthur Zarrella said, "I can count them on one hand minus two fingers. It's a definite problem."

The nine School Board members include four whites, three blacks and one Southeast Asian. The lone Hispanic, Roberto Gonzalez, is leaving to fill a vacancy on the city Housing Court.

"My feeling is that we should have at least three School Board members who are Hispanic," Gonzalez said.

In addition, Hispanic students seldom see a Hispanic person standing in front of them in the classroom. Of the city's 1,300 teachers, 3.5 percent are Hispanic.

Gonzalez Sworn In As Housing Court Judge

*A Big Crowd Turns Out As He Becomes The First Hispanic Judge In

Rhode Island.

Source: Providence Journal/Evening Bulletin Jan 11, 1994

PROVIDENCE --- Roberto Gonzalez, who served 15 years as a member of the School Board, was sworn in yesterday as a Housing Court judge, becoming the first judge of Hispanic descent in the state's history. Gonzalez resigned from the School Board in November after Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. announced his nomination to the judgeship that was vacated by Robyn Y. Davis, who resigned in October. Cianci administered the oath of office to Gonzalez at a City Hall ceremony that was attended by a large crowd, "much larger than we expected," said the new judge's son, Roberto Gonzalez Jr. "We were expecting only a few family members, but the room was almost overflowing. There were a lot of Hispanic people."

Cianci announced the appointment on Nov. 19, the 500th anniversary of the founding of Puerto Rico.

A son of Puerto Rican immigrants, Gonzalez was born in New York City and was a teenager when the family moved to Providence. He graduated from Central High School and Rhode Island College, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in 1975 and a master of arts in counseling in 1978. He received his law degree in 1986 from the New England School of Law.

Elected to the Constitutional Convention in 1985, Gonzalez was the first person of Hispanic heritage to be elected to public office in Rhode Island. In 1990, he was appointed to the Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs, and a year later was named to the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education.



Hispanics Seek To Turn Numbers Into Political Clout

Source: Providence Journal. Providence February 15, 1994

When Ismael A. "Quimo" Garcia left the impoverished Dominican Republic for Providence 29 years ago, culture shock hit him like a blast of cold air. He couldn't communicate with people because hardly anyone spoke Spanish. The supermarkets didn't carry the food he was familiar with, such as plantains or rice and gandules. There were no Spanish clubs where he could meet other Hispanics.

If it hadn't been for his friend Tony Rosario, a Puerto Rican who had moved to Providence a few years earlier, Garcia would have been pretty lonely. It took him a year to save enough money from his job at the Little and Co. jewelry factory on Eddy Street in Providence to send for his wife and children.

Garcia's experience was typical of the first wave of Hispanic immigrants. Today, though, his experience is rarely repeated.

Garcia is surrounded by Hispanics. They live next door. They own the businesses on Broad Street a block from his house. Their children form a majority in many of the city's public schools.

Now, say community leaders, it's time for the next step - political power.

According to the 1990 Census, Hispanics now constitute the largest minority group in Rhode Island. They are concentrated in Providence, Central Falls and Pawtucket, although there are small groups in just about every Rhode Island community.

The Census put the number of Hispanics in Rhode Island at 43,932, compared with 18,906 in 1980. Blacks form the second largest minority, at 37,986. In Massachusetts, there are 275,859 Hispanics.

But the numbers don't translate into political clout. Community leaders say that's because although Hispanics are classified by governments and agencies as one group, they come from 19 countries, with distinct cultures and political traditions that range from democracy to communism.

That diversity has made it difficult for Hispanics to form a cohesive group with one agenda.

Hispanic leaders acknowledge that to wield political clout here, they must stick together and find common goals. It will take time, they say, because they are fairly recent immigrants.

"What we have to do is forget our personal differences and national differences and see ourselves as a group with a common language and a common interest in the betterment of our people," says Dr. Pablo Rodriguez, a Puerto Rican who came to the United States in 1977 and now is medical director of Planned Parenthood in Rhode Island. "Once we put aside our differences, power should be easy to obtain."

He foresees Hispanic elected officials in the next few years. But first, he says, Hispanics must get in the habit of voting.

"All a politician needs to do is look at voter registration and how many people voted," Rodriguez says. "That and letters sent by constituents is what moves politicians. Until we have the numbers and let them know our opinion, they won't take us seriously."

Antonio Vega, a native of Chile who is now editor of Shoreline en Espanol, a Spanish-language newspaper out of Pawtucket that prints 10,000 copies weekly, said Hispanics must adopt a grass-roots approach to get people involved in the political process.

"Latinos always think they will be returning to their country, so they do not participate," Vega said. "We must get the message that we are in the

United States now and it's time to pay attention to politics here. Door-to-door visits and registration drives will help increase the numbers."

Vega said Rep. Anastasia Williams was elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives from Providence because Hispanics from diverse countries united to work on her campaign, then went door to door to garner votes. They joined with the black community to elect her.

Williams, a Panamanian, was the first Hispanic woman elected to the General Assembly.

Williams says the process of uniting diverse people is moving slowly.

"It's a slow process but I see the groups communicating," she says. "There are more open round tables."

Ricardo Patino, a Colombian who settled in Central Falls and is active in the Hispanic community, says Hispanics are making some inroads. After Williams' election, Hispanics from several countries formed the Economic Development for Latino Wellbeing Committee, with the objective of creating a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The chamber would help Hispanic business owners pool together to get affordable health plans and insurance, among other things.

"We are starting to learn that if we work together it doesn't matter where we are from, we are all Latinos," Patino said.

But Olga Nogera Barillas, a Guatemalan and assistant coordinator of community relations for the state Department of Human Services, says Latinos who come to the United States have basic needs to fulfill before they can think of participating in the political process.

"Politics is not a priority," Nogera says. "They don't care who is on the council. They care about putting food



on the table, getting jobs, finding housing. What they are interested in is the priest and the church where they can get food, spiritual needs and where they can meet some people from their country.

"Don't think Latinos are not political," she says. "They vote in their countries, but when they get here there is a big language barrier."

Nogera says that people who come from repressive countries may not vote in this country out of fear. For example, Guatemalans, who make up the fourth-largest group of Hispanics in Rhode Island, fled to the United States to escape a situation that in many cases threatened their lives.

"Here we are a quiet people," Nogera says. "We don't get too involved. We have seen too many things."

As has been the case with immigrant groups that preceded the Hispanics, full integration into politics may be the work of the younger generation.

Central High School seniors Nancy Cepeda and Marilyn Rodriguez, both Dominicans, say their generation will make inroads for Latinos. Cepeda, 18, plans to go to college to be a teacher. Rodriguez wants to be the first Latina state trooper.

"Latinos are going to school," Cepeda said. "We want the jobs that other people have had for a long time. Our generation will make a difference." * *

Hispanics in Rhode Island

Here is the Census breakdown of Rhode Island's largest Hispanic groups.

*BRISTOL: 397 Hispanics, including 31 Mexicans, 75 Puerto Ricans, 59 Dominicans, 8 Colombians.

*CENTRAL FALLS: 5,115 Hispanics, including 91 Mexicans,

1,509 Puerto Ricans, 248 Dominicans, 543 Guatemalans, 2,241 Colombians.

*CRANSTON: 1,749 Hispanics, including 40 Mexicans, 469 Puerto Ricans, 491 Dominicans, 45 Guatemalans, 141 Colombians.

*EAST PROVIDENCE: 893 Hispanics, including 98 Mexicans, 232 Puerto Ricans, 38 Dominicans, 6 Guatemalans, 45 Colombians.

*HOPKINTON: 52 Hispanics, all Puerto Ricans.

*LINCOLN: 122 Hispanics, including 27 Puerto Ricans, 27 Dominicans, 26 Colombians.

*NEW SHOREHAM: 5 Hispanics, including 4 Puerto Ricans.

*NEWPORT: 755 Hispanics, including 110 Mexicans, 303 Puerto Ricans, 38 Dominicans, 48 Guatemalans, 39 Colombians.

*NORTH PROVIDENCE: 561 Hispanics, including 35 Mexicans, 38 Puerto Ricans, 196 Colombians.

*PAWTUCKET: 4,939 Hispanics, including 254 Mexicans, 1,343 Puerto Ricans, 181 Dominicans, 336 Guatemalans, 1,684 Colombians.

*PROVIDENCE: 23,734 Hispanics, including 738 Mexicans, 6,479 Puerto Ricans, 7,973 Dominicans, 2,991 Guatemalans, 591 Colombians.

*WARWICK: 618 Hispanics, including 102 Mexicans, 137 Puerto Ricans, 124 Dominicans.

*WESTERLY: 196 Hispanics, including 46 Mexicans, 41 Puerto Ricans.

*WOONSOCKET: 1,153 Hispanics, including 79 Mexicans, 873 Puerto Ricans, 18 Colombians.

Hispanic Coordinator Requested To Link

Community, Government

*The Blackstone Valley Hispanic Political Committee Wants The City

To Create The New Position.

Source: Providence Journal/Evening Bulletin May 26, 1994

CENTRAL FALLS --- Latinos make up 40 to 50 percent of the city's population, but there are few in the Police and Fire Departments and in City Hall. The Blackstone Valley Hispanic Political Committee says it is time the administration hired a Hispanic coordinator to help bridge the gap between the Hispanic community and the city government.

At the group's request, the City Council Tuesday night asked Mayor Thomas Lazieh to consider adding money for a Hispanic coordinator to his proposed $12.6 million budget.

The Hispanic coodinator is paid $21,000 in Pawtucket, so the council estimated that about $21,000 would be needed for a full-time employee or $10,000 for a part-time worker.

Ramon Vigo, a member of the political committee, said the group is looking for someone who can help coordinate Latino social, cultural and political events and keep the Latino community informed about the administration. The coordinator would stay abreast of what is happening in the Latino community and bring concerns or requests to the administration. For example, Latinos have long decried the absence of Latinos on the Police and Fire Departments. They would like to devise a program to get Latino officers hired.

The coordinator would also help Spanish-speaking residents who come to City Hall seeking information.



Mail Ballots To Decide 2 Council Races

Source: Providence Journal/Evening Bulletin Sep 14, 1994

In Ward 10, Councilman John Rollins clung to a narrow 4-vote lead over challenger Luis Aponte, with 18 mail ballots still outstanding. Aponte hopes to become the city's first Hispanic council member by defeating Rollins, who is black and was first elected in 1986. According to unofficial Journal-Bulletin returns, Rollins had 374 votes to Aponte's 370. For Rollins, it left him narrowly ahead of his opponent, forced to await the counting of mail ballots.

"I feel confident," Rollins said. "I know what I've done throughout the last eight years, and I know that God knows what I've been doing. No matter what the count may be, if God wants me to be here, then I'll be here.

"I'm confident I'll have the numbers to win. I don't care if it's one vote."

Even so, the 56-year-old Rollins conceded that victory was not yet certain.

"I learned in sports that on any given day, the top team can be beaten," he said. "I go out there to win, and if it's in the cards, you win. If it's not, you don't. I'm leaving it to the man upstairs."

Aponte, a 31-year-old community activist who now coordinates programs for the California-based Center for Third World Organizing, was at a political event last night and could not be reached for comment.

Do You Speak Another Language?

Source: Providence Journal/Evening Bulletin Nov 30, 1994

PROVIDENCE --- Do you speak another language? If not, you might just say, "No." But if you're a candidate for the School Board and don't, the last thing you would tell a group of parents, school officials and politicians would be "no." Bilingualism was redefined last night at a public forum for the nine School Board nominees when they were asked if they spoke another language and how they would relate to students whose native language is not English.

Donna Capoverde said her work as an adult-literacy tutor "is almost the same as trying to teach another language," adding that the jewelry company of which she is treasurer, Little and Company, employs many non-English speakers. Deborah Johnson, the only black nominee, said she is "bi-English." Black students, she said, "don't always speak the language that majority teachers speak." Donald Singewald said he has "a real feeling for the bilingual issue" and noted that as district manager for the Social Security Administration in Fall River, Mass., he deals with a large Portuguese-speaking population.

Dr. James Crowley said he speaks German and Spanish, but allowed that those skills are "very rusty." Julia Steiny said she lived in South America and spoke Spanish, but later conceded her speaking ability is "not great."

Robert Bucci made no claims to - or denials of - bilingualism but said, "I think it's more of a mindset of empathy." Two candidates have used other languages: Rose Antonelli, who said she translated Armenian when she worked at Mt. Pleasant High School, and Juan Francisco, who noted, in his heavy Spanish accent, that he has taught English-as-a-second-language.

(The ninth candidate, Olga Noguera, who is active with Hispanic groups, did not attend because she was at a conference in Washington, D.C.)

Christina Abuelo Elegida Como Directora Entrante Y Sucesora

De Jose Gonzalez

Source: Providence Journal/Evening Bulletin Dec 1, 1994

Para saber lo que hace Christina Abuelo, la Directora Provisional Entrante del Centro de Politica y Defensa Hispana, en un dia tipico, solo hay que mirar el monton de papeles que cubre su escritorio. La joven de 25 años de edad, pasa sus dias organizando el sistema de manejo de finanzas de CHisPA, lidiando con casos de discriminacion, desarrollando un curriculo para un nuevo programa de liderato, y escribiendo un directorio de servicios sociales hispanos.

Esas solo son algunas de las cosas en que ella ha estado trabajando en el mes y medio desde que fue elegida como directora entrante y sucesora de Jose Gonzalez, quien dejo el puesto para dedicarse de lleno a sus estudios avanzados en la Universidad de Harvard. Antes de eso ella trabajaba en desarrollo y planificacion de programas para CHisPA.

Abuelo, mejicoamericana, asistia a la Universidad de Brown y estudiaba ciencias politicas. Todavia era estudiante cuando empezo a trabajar con Progreso Latino en Central Falls como maestra de ingles en 1992. Empezo a escribir concesiones financieras para la agencia y se familiarizo con los programas sociales de las agencias latinas. "Alli fue donde me dio la fiebre de trabajo con las agencias de servicios sociales hispanos," dice Abuelo. "A mi me gusto este tipo de trabajo."

En 1992 la agencia cambio su nombre de Centro de Servicios Sociales Hispanos a Centro de Politica y Defensa Hispana y tambien cambio su mision para servir al pueblo latino. Esta agencia no lucrativa dejo de ser una agencia de servicios sociales para convertirse en una organizacion que provee respaldo, ofrece consejo y organiza programas educativos para grupos e individuos que trabajan con los latinos en el estado.



Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor, Your Huddled Masses Yearning To Breathe Free


According to recent polls, more than two-thirds of us believe we should stem the tide, now at its highest level since early in the century. In California, Proposition 187, denying all non-emergency services to illegal aliens, was approved by 59% of the voters in the last election. The anti-immigrant argument is that they bring us a host of troubles: Some are too lazy to work and just want to live on welfare. Others work too hard for too little, spoiling it for the rest of us. They are clannish, hostile, uneducated; they don't learn our language and they demand special treatment in our schools. Some of them come here to sell drugs. A lot of them stash away everything they earn here, legally or otherwise, then move back home to spend it. Those on the other side say these stereotypes are largely false: America has always been enriched by immigration - and not just in the cultural sense. They cite studies showing that immigrants, legal or not, are a net plus for the economy: Illegals pay taxes, too, yet cost relatively little because they use few public services.

"THE FIRST TIME I met my father was the time he came to pick us up to come to the United States," remembers Andres Idarraga, whose father had left Colombia to work in America when Andres was still an infant. "I was only like five or six, you know? He came and it was like, 'Who's this guy?' " Andres laughs. His father, Aigeniro Idarraga, joins in heartily. They are seated in the small apartment Aigeniro shares with his brother Jose, just off Mineral Spring Avenue in Pawtucket. Aigeniro and Andres's mother, Maria, are separated; Maria lives with one of her sisters in Central Falls. Andres, who was naturalized in January, lived with her for a time; now he is staying with his father and uncle.

Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. Appointed Three New

Members Yesterday - Two Of Them Hispanic - To Replace

Three Incumbents


The School Board is about to lose one of its most energetic and outspoken members but instead will have a membership whose racial and ethnic composition reflects the student population.

Making the broadest changes in the School Board in years, Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. appointed three new members yesterday - two of them Hispanic - to replace three incumbents, including Julia Steiny, a frequent critic of the teachers union and vocal supporter of school reform.

Taking office next month for three year terms are:

*Robert S. Bucci, a researcher at the McCormack Institute at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.

*Juan Francisco, an administrator at the University of Rhode Island.

*Olga M. Noguera, assistant coordinator of community relations for the state Department of Human Services.

Gone are Rose Antonelli and Steiny, who both sought another three-year term, and Vice Chairwoman Mary Batastini, who is voluntarily leaving the board after two terms. The addition of Francisco and Noguera brings to three the number of Hispanics on the nine-member board and the number of minorities to six.

"I think we have a well-rounded School Board now," Cianci said. He had sought to make the board reflect the student population, which is about 71 percent minority and more than a third Hispanic.

Miriam X. Torres, A Former Aide To Mayor Vincent A.

Cianci Jr., Has Been Named The City's New Affirmative

Action Officer Copyright Providence Journal/Evening Bulletin

Dec 26, 1994 PROVIDENCE --- Miriam X. Torres, a former aide to Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr., has been named the city's new affirmative action officer. Torres was the acting officer since Gwendolyn Andrade Aponte resigned in October; Torres took over on a permanent basis last month.

Unlike many job openings, the affirmative action post was not advertised within City Hall nor at community agencies to attract minority candidates. The city's affirmative-action plan calls for the mayor to disseminate information about job opportunities to the news media and "agencies with large minority, female and handicapped audiences."

Personnel Director Kathleen Moretti said, "It's not unusual from a personnel perspective to have someone become permanent who has been working on an acting basis. We had someone who was very capable."

Moretti said that the job opening had not been posted when Aponte became affirmative-action officer, in late 1990 at the end of Joseph R. Paolino Jr.'s tenure as mayor. Aponte resigned after Moretti would not give her an unpaid leave to work for Myrth York's campaign for governor. Moretti said she could not afford to leave the position vacant.

Torres, 27, had been an aide in Cianci's citizens assistance office and was liaison to Hispanic communities. A native of the Dominican Republic who is fluent in Spanish, Torres planned and initiated a multi-language telephone line in the Police and Fire Departments, investigated discrimination complaints and helped the city recruit minority and women job applicants.

1994 Latino Community Headlines

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