80 gather for Hispanic Day

By Alexandra Rampy
Adelante Staff

About 80 people from around the state converged on Jefferson City on May 4, meeting with their General Assembly representatives and state officials to talk about the concerns of Missouri Hispanics. Access to government services in Spanish and higher education topped participants’ agendas.

Anyone could sign up to be a Hispanic Day delegate by paying a $10 registration fee. Organizers changed the event date from April 20 to May 4 so Gov. Matt Blunt could attend. They were hoping for a higher turnout and said the change might have affected attendance.

Mario Orduna, a delegate who owns and manages a translation company in St. Louis, said the media also seemed to have been thrown off by the change; only Adelante! and Red Latina covered the event. Yet the atmosphere among the lobbyists was hopeful.

“Everything I have heard has been really positive,” said event co-chair Anthony Ramirez, an attorney from St. Louis. “We went there being opposed to English-only legislation, supporting the Missouri in-state tuition for undocumented students, being for health care and being for licenses for the undocumented.”

After reading an official proclamation declaring Wednesday, May 4, 2005, Hispanic Day, Blunt said his administration was committed to doing everything it can to ensure the Hispanic population thrives.

The Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs presented its annual report to Blunt earlier and told delegates about their visit with him.

“The governor was very welcoming to us,” said Rafael Nun Marin, a member of the commission. “He is going to analyze the report. He knows the body of our community and is very aware of our growing needs.”

The health and social service committee of the Governor's Commission raised the issue of increasing bilingual certification for professionals. Delegates voiced concern over children being used as interpreters and privacy problems with non-certified interpreters.

“For me, this is very personal. I am a licensed, bilingual professional social worker,” said Ana Pizarro, a member of the commission. “We all know we need interpreters. We also need to hold medical professions accountable.”

In addition, delegates wanted to know more about access to higher education. Gregory Fitch, commissioner for higher education from Missouri's Department on Higher Education, presented the delegation the goals and visions of his department. Though he didn’t mention specific legislation, he did say that affordability was a main priority.

“The people that want to go to college should be able to go,” Fitch said. “They should have every opportunity available for them to gain a better quality of life.”

Fitch cited figures from the 2000 U.S. Census showing that more Hispanics are attending private than public institutions within Missouri. He said in the next year or two, about 25,000 students will be on the cusp of high school, mid-high school or will be entering college.

“These 25,000 kids need to have that opportunity and choice of attending college,” Fitch said.

Some of the delegates discussed increasing economic opportunities for Hispanics by supporting small businesses and creating more quality jobs. In addition to the governor and Fitch, delegates met with Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, State Auditor Claire McCaskill, Attorney General Jay Nixon and Secretary of State Robin Carnahan.