Present: Michelle Christensen, Zandra Garcia, Lindsey Redman, Amy Crook, Chad McGehee, Toni Leal, Beth Busching, Gilda Madrid, and Carla Raynor.

 

Introductions made February Minutes/March Agenda approved.

 

 

Website: Things are going well. Our tech team member Jacque has been entering the Action Group Minutes along with upcoming events. If you would like your events listed on our site, please send them to Jacque Norris at jacquen@bengordoncenter.org. You can also view all the Action Group Meeting Minutes including LAG on the website.

Hispanic 4-H Club update – John: Not present to report. 

Free Screenings at Hospital – Beth: Kishwaukee Hospital will do a “Know Your Numbers” screening on June 5, from 7:30-10:30 am at the Conexion Comunidad. They will take up to 50 people for this session. This includes a fasting blood draw. Pre-registration is required.  They are still working on the registration process. Fliers are to be displayed within the Health Department and throughout the community. The Health Department Session is on April 6, from 7:30-10:30am with the same requirements. If follow up is needed those seen may go Community Care in the old Monsanto Building. There will be translators available at both sites. Beth Busching stated a need for extra translators. Amy Crook suggested those who work with the School District, may be available to help.

The Future Is Ours – Lindsey reported that they canceled the prescheduled dance. The Latina Career Night will be on March 10, 2010 at the Latino District Center. They are encouraging the girls to bring family and friends. Jessica, Lindsey’s assistant is working on getting the presenters booked and organized. So far, they have a Police Officer, a Beautician, and a Professor from NIU. This event will be a combination of both the Huntley and CRMS Latina Girls Club. On February 2, 2010 they started at HMS with all 10 sessions with great success thus far. They have grouped the sixth and seventh grade girls together due to timing and size. Amy Crook mentioned that $500.00 is available through the district for something such as this. Receipts, is all that is needed. There will be stations of those who presented for the girls to gather more information. The girls will have a grid form that they need marked as they go through these stations. Once completed, they will turn in for a chance to win a prize.

Dream Act: Students Yasmeen Villasenor and Hugo Jacobo spoke last month about this program, which is through the Latino Resource Center at NIU. The organization is student-driven and works to increase awareness and supports the DREAM Act Bill among the NIU community. They have started a scholarship fund for high school seniors, transfer students, or those already attending NIU for the 2010-2011 school year. The scholarship is open to everyone. It will consist of a two question essay with a due date of April 1, 2010. They will award two scholarships in the amounts of $500 each. However, they have a goal to raise $5,000.00 through various fundraisers to increase the two scholarship amounts to $2500.00 each. Zandra began discussion to donate the amount allotted to the Latino Action Group, which is $500.00. A motion made is to donate $500.00 to the Dream Act for this purpose. It was seconded, motion passed. 

 

H1N1 Clinic Conexion Comunidad: Bette Chilton will hold a clinic at the Conexion Comunidad for the H1N1 vaccination on March 11, 2010 from the hours of 6:00 – 8:00pm. It is free to the public and is as a walk-in basis. Gilda pointed out mistakes in the Spanish translated fliers that went out. It was discussed the importance of sending properly translated materials out as not to offend the Hispanic population.

 

Enough is Enough from Violence Prevention Group: The Violence Prevention Action Group is working with EIE “These Hands Don’t Hurt” Campaign to help stop societal violence within our community. EIE started after the shooting incident at Virginia Tech. It has spread through the country and has currently taken home at NIU. DCP/SAFE, through their Social Norm program, will go into the eight schools in which they serve to help implement this campaign. They will do lunchroom intercepts informing the students of this campaign, ask them to sign a “These Hands Don’t Hurt” pledge then sign their name to a hand that will be displayed at the Sycamore Courthouse for the Hands Around the Courthouse event and at the Field House at NIU for the EIE walk-a-thon event. EIE is having a week long event from April 5-9, 2010. Two main events are a keynote speaker from Cease Fire in Chicago on Monday, April 5, 2010 at the Carl Sandburg Auditorium and the Umbrellas for Peace March on Thursday, April 8 at 6:00. All are welcome to attend. For further information on Enough is Enough, please visit www.EnoughisEnoughcampaign.org.

Newspaper Announcement for LAG meetings: Zandra shared with group the information that will go into the newspaper advertising our meeting date and time in hopes to entice others to join.

Email list update: Zandra passed out an email list for members to update if needed.

 

Cooperative Extension: No one present to report.

 

Health Subcommittee Report: No one present to report.

    Kishwaukee Hospital: No report.

 

    DeKalb Health Dept: No report.

 

City, County, or Community: No report.

Higher Education: Kishwaukee College: The Open House date has changed from April 14 to April 15, 2010 from the hours of 5:00 – 8:00 pm for the Hispanic Community. There will be information on financial aid, hear from staff and faculty of a variety of different departments. Childcare will be available. Carla will email a flier to us for distribution. Persons may make an appointment for further information if needed. A Spanish presentation will be offered. All information given in paper format will be in English. Due to the time of this event, they will serve pizza.

 

 Zandra inquired about offering a presentation for parents/students on how to fill out the financial forms. She feels there is a need for this in the community. Gilda would be willing to work with the DeKalb and Sycamore School Districts, as well as with Kish and NIU to present this as a workshop. Kish counselors could also be available. Zandra will coordinate the information and work with Gilda to set a date.

 

On March 30, 2010, Kish College is offering an “Adults Exploring Education Workshop” in the Conference Center, Room A-247 from the hours of 4:45 – 7:30pm.  Limited childcare provided and pre-registration is required. Dinner and college tour is included. Flier is attached.

 

    DeKalb: Rich LeBron, school Dean, gave the first ever ESL Transition Night Presentation for the Hispanic 8^th grade students at the DeKalb High School. He spoke of the rules and of classes that can be taken. Only five families participated. They hope the word will spread through these five families and more will attend the next event date. They would like to hold the next one at the Conexion Comunidad. This is an evening event so next time they will provide food to those attending.

Law Enforcement: No one present to report.

 

Housing:  No one present to report.

 

Domestic Violence: No one present to report.  

 

Child Care: No one present to report.

 

Workforce: No one present to report.

 

Conexion Comunidad: No report.

 

Michelle Christensen

Recorder