The Tennessean dispatched a group of journalists to open a window into the lives of the Hispanic men, women, and children of Nashville. Two articles by Danica Wright Booth covered especially overarching topics: The Top 10 Things Hispanic Nashville Wants the Rest of Us to Know and A Tour of Hispanic Nashville with the Director of Conexion Americas.
Some of the other highlights of the series:
Health Care Hispanic patients welcomed by bilingual staff at Saint Thomas health clinic on Edmonson Pike, which provides health care to the undocumented. Story by Lea Ann Overstreet.
Education St. Cecilia and St. Edwards schools invite Hispanic newcomers to Catholic education. Story by Pam Sherborne.
Sports Caribbean passion for baseball brings four Hispanic players to Sounds roster. Story by Andy Humbles.
Business Entreprenuerial spirit follows immigrants to Nashville, where both challenges and opportunities of U.S. business system await. Story by Pam Sherborne.
Education Metro Schools Director Pedro Garcia forms Spanish-speaking parents advocacy group. Story by Suzanne Normand Blackwood.
Fashion Hispanic wedding shop entrepreneur does steady business beyond Hispanic consumers. Story by Danica Wright Booth.
Education Puerto Rican professor starts Hispanic cultural center at Austin Peay. Story by Danica Wright Booth.
Education Nashville churches offer transition with English classes and cultural education. Story by Jeannine F. Hunter.
Education Metro School statistics: 8,150 of 71,800 Metro students in grades K-12 are Hispanic (up from 508 of 70,200 ten years ago); 77% of Hispanic 3rd, 5th, and 8th graders scored proficient in advanced in mathematics, up from 71% in 2004 and 65% in 2003 (for high-schoolers, the number was 65% in 2005, 59% in 2004, and 48% in 2003; 76% of Hispanic 3rd, 5th, and 8th graders scored proficient in reading/language, up from 69% in 2004 and 63% in 2003 (for high-schoolers, the number was 86% in 2005, 79% in 2004, and 86% in 2003). Story by Pam Sherborne.
Business Venezuelan UT Martin grad returns to Tennessee. Story by Danica Wright Booth.
Safety
Manuel Fonseca becomes second Hispanic captain to be promoted to district chief in the Nashville Fire Department.
Note: Due to the comprehensiveness of this Tennessean series, this story will remain at the top of HispanicNashville.com longer than the typical one-day period.