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Being
Neighborly |
Two
LCS community centers in Everett, Washington are making a difference
in the lives of immigrant families, and in their communities.
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By Shawn Corkery |
Just off
the main thoroughfare connecting the city of Everett to its southern
boundary stands a nondescript house.
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Inside the living room, local Russian and Ukrainian
immigrants sit on weathered sofas and chairs, discussing the latest
parenting skills. Over in the kitchen, a volunteer tutor teaches
English to a Hispanic family. Back in the bedrooms, which have
been converted into office space, staff members go about their
daily work of answering phone calls and offering services to the
community, while trying not to bump into each other.
This is a typical day for two community centers. South
Everett Neighborhood Center (SENC) and Familias Unidas are two
of five centers Lutheran Community Services sponsors under its
umbrella of family and community support. Located around the North
Puget Sound area, each program offers its own unique outreach,
addressing the special needs found in its neighborhood.
Learning to Trust
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National Night Out events brought together
South Everett families to learn about crime prevention and community
resources, and to have fun. |
Natalia Tretiakova, a modest woman from Kyrgyzstan, immigrated
to the Northwest with her husband two and a half years ago. While
searching for a job in Everett, Natalia was referred to a SENC
staff member who offered her career guidance and insights into
American culture and bureaucracy. Natalia was so grateful for
the advice, she became a volunteer, providing other Russian and
Ukrainian immigrants with similar support. Within two years,
Natalia established a playgroup for parents with toddlers and
babies, including a lending library full of Russian-language
children’s books.
Natalia went on to start a second group called “Creative House,” which
provides families with children 9-12 years old the chance to learn
together about their new cultural environment, like how to make the
American dish called “pizza.” Cooking and art projects
are fun activities, but as Natalia explains, the real focus of the
group is to: “Provide a place to speak and socialize in Russian.
A place to share stories and share problems.”
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Make a difference
You can help celebrate the 10th
anniversary of the South Everett Neighborhood Center, and
the 5th anniversary of Familias Unidas by donating a special
gift:
- Copier
- Printer
- Vacuum
- Children’s books in English,
Spanish, Russian & Ukrainian
- Back-to-school
and arts & crafts
supplies
- Passes to local attractions (zoo,
museums, sporting events, etc.)
South Everett Neighborhood
Center:
425/355-6005
Familias Unidas: 425/513-2880
More room needed
The SENC and Familias
Unidas offices are bursting at the seams. A special volunteer
is needed to help investigate possible facility options.
If you have experience with building funds, real estate,
or fundraising, we would like to hear from you!
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The greatest benefit Natalia has seen
from the group is families opening up and becoming friends. “They
are breaking free from their fear of social reprisal, like they would
experience back in their home country.” By helping neighbors
learn to support each other, the group is slowly changing the community.
Trust is developing.
Clear Communication |
David Sanchez-Cuesta is a kind man from Mexico, with an engaging
smile. He first came to the Puget Sound area to further his education
and complete his Master’s project in Adult Education. His dream was to use his skills
to teach Latin and Hispanic immigrants.
Learning about the work of the neighborhood center, David became
a volunteer with Familias Unidas, the “sister” center
of SENC, which provides services to the growing Everett Hispanic
community. |
Russian and Ukrainian parents learn about child
development, and to share and support each other in a new community
and culture, thanks to SENC |
| David’s first volunteer effort was to encourage
Hispanic parents to become involved in PTA meetings, so their needs
could be represented. It didn’t take long for David to recognize
a roadblock. The success of immigrant children in school and the
involvement of their parents was directly related to their knowledge
of the English language. The language barrier was keeping children
from excelling academically and intimidating parents from participating
in the school system. |
Inspired by this knowledge, David began a homework club at the
local library, where children and their parents could learn together.
Encouraged by its success, David started visiting classrooms
with large numbers of Hispanic kids. By simply explaining the
lessons in Spanish, students found a new level of confidence
and began to excel academically. Opportunities to explain cultural
differences to the teachers and correct miscommunication soon
followed. |
Familias Unidas hosted a day camp, called “Paises
Magicos”, which encouraged youth to learn about Latin
Americans and their history in the U.S. through a variety of
hands-on activities. |
David noticed that with his higher education and ability to
communicate bilingually, he was not experiencing the same level
of social challenges as were the immigrant families he was supporting.
This created a barrier for himself and the center. David chose
to break through the wall by not remaining merely an advocate.
Instead, he became a heart-felt member of the neighborhood, through
identification and participation within the Hispanic and Latin
community. The result has been a greater trust and more involvement
from families at the centers.
Meeting the Need
The Everett and Mukilteo public schools recognize 42 languages
spoken by students. The school system cannot address the breadth
of the communication needs. SENC and Familias Unidas are stepping
into the gap by encouraging immigrant communities to come together
for support, and then reach out to fellow neighbors with the
assets they have received. Through word of mouth and visible
changes in people’s lives, the good
news about the two centers is spreading throughout the neighborhood. |
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