What made St. Joseph College create a program called “Latino Community Practice?”
Latinos in Connecticut are experiencing deep health disparities and educational disparities. At the same time, our state is suffering critical shortages of bilingual professionals in health, law, education, and nearly every field. We created a graduate program – and next year we will have an undergraduate program – to enrich career opportunities for bilingual professionals while also contributing to workforce development needs.
Is this program targeted at Latino professionals or all professionals working with Latinos?
We welcome students of every ethnicity who have a commitment to serving Latino communities and who have bilingual conversational fluency, in other words, who can carry on a conversation in Spanish and English.
What sort of cultural knowledge has to be achieved in order for students to be successful?
There is tremendous cultural diversity and also linguistic diversity among Latinos who emigrated from different countries at different times. Our students learn bilingual communications and social marketing skills to help non-profit organizations reach out to particular populations. For example, how do you inform new immigrant groups about community resources if they do not read Spanish or English? How do you communicate with Latino homeless veterans if you don’t know where to find them?
Do programs like this really stem the tide of problems or is success measured by individual accomplishments?
There is no limit to the meaning of higher education or community education, such as the bilingual social marketing that our students are learning to do. All graduates will provide two years of Latino community service after completing the program, and they will guide their organizations and professions in improving services to Latino populations. The potential impact is huge!
Is there a practical benefit for students getting this certificate? Does it lead to higher paychecks or is it just satisfaction for a job well done?
Students will enrich career advancement opportunities as well as educational advancement opportunities. They will have the only professional credential that demonstrates bilingual proficiency and specialized cultural knowledge and skills. Although many current students plan to go on to earn Master’s degrees, they are gratified by the immediate benefits they see in their work. As one student told me, “Although I am a Latina myself, and although I have been working in the Latino community for many years, I have a new understanding of my clients.”
