SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report

Sections

Basic Information
Additional Info

Status: Approved

Basic Information

Project No. and Title: NCERA_OLD216 : Latinos and Immigrants in Midwestern Communities
Period Covered: 10/01/2009 to 12/01/2010
Date of Report: 02/04/2010
Annual Meeting Dates: 11/04/2009 to 11/05/2009

Vicente Aguilera - Extension of University of Illinois; Ethriam Brammer - WSU Center for Chicano-Boricua Studies; Jennifer Tello Buntin - MSU-JSRI; Aliah Carolan-Silva - Goshen College (CITL); Miguel A. Carranza - Latinos Research Initiative, U of NE-Lincoln; Jorge L. Chinea - Wayne State University; German Cutz - University of Illinois Extension; Vanessa Cruz - University of Michigan; Carmen DeRusha - Purdue University, Cooperative Ext. Ser.; Jaime Dominguez Northwestern University; Francisco A. Espinoza - Ohio State University; Jan Flora - Iowa State University; Sandra M. Gonzales - Eastern Michigan University; Alejandra Gudiño - University of Missouri; Rebecca Hernandez - Goshen College; Lorna Hernandez Jarvis - Hope College-Dept of Psychology; Pilar Horner - MSU-JSRI/Social Science; Stephen Jeanetta - University of Missouri; Joel Jennings - St Louis University; Leslie A Johnson - Program in Public Health-MSU; Jean Kayitsinga - MSU-JSRI; Jill F. Kilanowski - Case Western Reserve University; Scott Loveridge - Agricultural, Food, & Resource Econ; Sandy Magaña - UW-Madison, Chicano & Latino Studies; Juan Marinez - MSU Extension; Domingo Martinez- University of Missouri (Cambio Center); Rubém Martinez -Julian Samora Research Institute, MSU; Isabel Molina-Guzman - Latina Latino Studies, University of Illinois; Ben Mueller - University of Illinois; Candace Pollock - Ohio State University; Robert Reyes - Goshen College (CITL); Diana Rivera MSU Libraries; Refugio Rochin Retired; Alicia Rodriguez - Latina Latino Studies Program, University of Illinois; Abelardo Rodriguez - University of Idaho; Rene Rosenbaum MSU; J. S. Onesimo Sandoval - Saint Louis University; Marcelo Siles - Northern Michigan University; Laurie K. Sommers MSU; Daniel Velez-Ortiz - MSU-JSRI/Social Science; Celina Wille - MSU-Ext. MI Nutrition Network; Michael D Woods - Extension of University of Illinois

Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

This was the first organizational meeting of NCERA 216. It's objectives were as follows: 1) to create the organizational infrastructure to get the initiative's work done; 2) familiarize new and continuing participants with the initiative's objectives; 3) establish a consensus on the next steps of the initative. All of these objectives were achieved: " The leadership structure of the group was created. Participants discussed and voted on the structure of the executive board. A nine-member board was approved, which includes one co-chair from each topic group plus a Chair, a Vice-Chair, and a Communications Coordinator. " Individuals were elected to these leadership positions. The members of the Executive Board are as follows: Chair: Rubén Martinez; Vice-Chair: Carmen De Rusha; Communications Coordinator: Juan Marínez; Group Representatives: Jaime Dominguez; Joel Jennings; Alejandra Gudino; Ben Mueller; Abelardo Rodriguez. " The goals of NCERA 216 based on the proposal were presented and discussed. Attendees selected one of six thematic groups identified in the proposal to participate in long-term. " The substantive content of these thematic groups was discussed and revised. " Networks among interested scholars from across the region were established. " Plans for future activities were made, including a plan for another meeting to take place in concert with the Cambio de Colores meeting in Kansas City, MO on May 24-26, 2010.

Accomplishments

Outputs: It is too early in the initiative to have specific outputs beyond development of the organizational infrastructure to organize and promote collaborative research. Specific research projects are getting underway. Activities: Five thematic research groups were created to conduct and disseminate research on the following topics: Family involvement in educational success and strengthening families; entrepreneurship and economic development; civic engagement; building immigrant friendly communities; institutional transformations. Participants in each group have begun sharing research and working towards the development of joint research projects on these topics. A system of group communication has been created via the ANGEL network to facilitate the networking and information sharing activities of group members. The structure of the Executive Board was determined and the positions filled, providing leadership to the group and facilitating the coordination of research projects, dissemination of findings, and the planning of future meetings and activities. Milestones: Development of collaborative research projects across the region that will provide researchers and practitioners with information and best practices for improving the quality of life of immigrants and Latinos in the Midwest. Development and implementation of specific plans by thematic group. Research groups will have research projects defined in each of the five thematic areas described above and funding will be sought for them in the second year of the initiative. Researchers will develop demographic profiles of Latinos and immigrants in the 12 states and disseminate.

Impacts

Although it is too early in the initiative to assess the impacts of the initiative, the impact statements are provided here for informational purposes. Measurably greater involvement of parents in childrens education and diminished ethnic differences and differences between children of native-born and foreign-born parents in childrens academic performance where best practices for family-oriented education are implemented.
Greater household and community economic vitality, economic security, and social wellbeing in communities where Latino and immigrant entrepreneurship outreach programs are implemented.
Greater participation of Latinos and immigrants in civic life and as elected and appointed officials in communities where outreach programs for educating long term residents about the contributions of Latinos and immigrants to their communities than in comparable communities where such programs were not implemented.
Those universities where coalitions have been built to transform perspectives and structures for working with Latinos and immigrants will actually show a greater number of outreach, research, and academic programs and projects that incorporate concerns of Latinos and immigrants into their objectives and activities. Those universities will also show greater increases in enrollments of Latino and immigrant students and hiring of staff from these groups at all levels.
Bridging and bonding social capital will be greater for Latinos and immigrants in communities where family engagement and outreach programs are in place.
In communities where civic engagement programs are built around the research results regarding key institutions and Latino-led non-profit and community based organizations, there will be a higher participation rate of Latinos and immigrants in civic activities.

Publications

As of yet there are not any publications through the initiative. There are research projects underway and some professional presentations will be made at the Cambio de Colores conference in Columbia, MO in May, 2010. In additional there are some publications there are forthcoming in Latinos in the Midwest, and edited volume in press through the Michigan State University Press.

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