Officials needed everyone to be prepared

89% of Hispanic students never left

The Tennessean reports here that most of the 90 Hispanic students (both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens) who fled Robertson County schools in the wake of January immigration raids are back and have taken federally mandated No Child Left Behind tests:

When at least 90 Hispanic students disappeared from Robertson County classrooms last winter, school administrators worried.

If the children, about 11 percent of the total Hispanic student body, didn't come back right away, they'd be too far behind to succeed on spring achievement tests. School leaders didn't know if they would turn up the day before the tests, unprepared but counting toward countywide performance anyway.

In the high-stakes world of the federal No Child Left Behind law, every group of students needs to pass.

The fears weren't realized. Most of the students, who left over fears of immigration raids, came back in time to get ready.

The improvement in scores over last year's performance was enough to earn the county "improving" status

The original story about the disappearance of the students, who represented about 11% of the overall Hispanic student body in the county, is here.

Labels: education, english, immigrants, justice, statistics

Yesterday, the State of Tennessee welcomed Volkswagen to the growing list of major automobile manufacturers located here (Saturn and Nissan also have major operations in the state), as the German automaker announced that it will locate one of its manufacturing operations in Chattanooga (story here).

To communicate the cementing of the bond between Tennessee and the German company, a backdrop offering a welcome in the German language appeared behind Governor Phil Bredesen of Tennessee and Stefan Jacoby of Volkswagen Group of America.

As said here by Nashvillian elderj in 2006:

To greet Koreans in Korean as a non-Korean is always a sure fire way to elicit surprise and a bit of cultural cool points. It doesn’t matter how much I mangle the pronunciation or use the improper honorific or fail to conjugate the verb, it never fails to please at some level.

Trying to speak someone’s language is a sign of respect... It indicates that you value them, or at least care enough to recognize that they are not altogether like you, and that this is a good thing.

Photo by Chattanooga Times Free Press

Labels: business, english, spanish

100 volunteers needed for Nashville Adult Literacy Council alone

Somali student: four years to speak English proficiently, even more to read and write

"They say almost universally if I knew English other doors would open"

Janell Ross of the Tennessean reported here on the time it takes for a student to learn English, and on the need for teachers:

LaWanna Shelton, the director of Metro schools' English as a Second Language programs, said people don't learn languages simply because they are surrounded by them.

"How many people studied a foreign language in high school, or high school and college?" Shelton said. "How many have been on those Spanish immersion trips to Mexico for two weeks? How many can speak that language, I mean, really speak that language, read it, write it? Well, that should give people some idea how difficult, how individual, how much of a process it really is."
...
Fadumo Siyke, a native of Somalia ... said it took four years to speak proficient English in most settings, but she still couldn't read or write the language. When she took her citizenship exam for the first time in January, she passed the oral section but failed the written test.
...
When [Renata] Soto's agency [Conexion Americas] surveys Latinos in the Nashville area, one answer appears repeatedly.

"People don't talk about a better-paying job, sometimes they don't even talk about papers," she said. "They say almost universally if I knew English other doors would open."
...
[T]he Nashville Adult Literacy Council, which also works with U.S.-born adults who cannot read, is in need of nearly 100 volunteers willing to work one-on-one with foreign-language speakers or adults who want to learn to read.

Photo by Pete Zivkov. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Labels: education, english

This is one of the most frequently asked questions of HispanicNashville.com: Are there Spanish conversation groups in Nashville?

The answer is, yes.

There are at least three Spanish conversation groups in Nashville. For more information, see the summaries and the links to each program below:

Charlemos Spanish

Charlemos Spanish, a conversation group for all ages, meets at the Palette Gallery 'n' Café (2119 Belcourt Ave. in Hillsboro Village) the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. There is no cost to attend or join. Each meeting begins with a presentation, in Spanish, by a guest speaker. For more about speakers, see our Program Speakers page. For a schedule of upcoming meetings, visit the Sister Cities Calendar. Please contact Elizabeth Worrell Braswell (elizworrell@comcast.net) for more information.

Nashville Spanish Language Meetup Group

Bienvenidos, amigos! If you're interested in the Spanish language and Latin culture, come to our meetups and get to know other folks with the same interests. We come from many different Latin American countries, Spain, and of course the U.S. With weekly meetups, regular salsa parties (with our own DJs), and the occasional movie or other activity, there are plenty of opportunities to practice your dusty old high school Spanish. Don't be shy! Come hang out with us. Questions? Send us an email. Everybody welcome.

Conexion Americas' Conversemos Language Exchange Program

Sign up for the Conversemos Language Exchange Program! We have openings available for English speakers who need to improve their ability to communicate in Spanish (particularly conversation skills). Volunteer language mentors are willing to help you with Spanish, while you help them practice and improve their English.

Illustration of multilingual conversation by Markus Koljonen. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Labels: english, events, faq, spanish

"Nothing in their life to look forward to ... until now"

From Mick Antanaitis, in the Belmont Church "Plog":

Triqui Indians in the state of Oaxaca have the reputation of being an ornery, reclusive, emotionally explosive, and, even violent, people. They fight. They fight with each other—other Triqui clans, villages, and political parties. They fight with other indigenous tribes. They fight with the police and the authorities. They fight with machetes, knives, arson fires, and guns. Just a few weeks ago, two young female Triqui political activists were killed nearby in cold blood. Many other killings are long unsolved. No one talks to outsiders. There is no need. They take care of their own business in their own ways.

“Outsiders” and their influences are generally not tolerated for long. It is not just Christian missionaries who have been run out of their areas, but all kinds of “outsiders.” The gospel has not penetrated very far into the Triqui culture—not from a lack of great trying on the part of some heroic missionaries from all kinds of places and over a long period of time. But it has been tough for the gospel to find the fertile soil that we know exists somewhere among the Triqui people.

However, something new, and incredible, is afoot. At least these 20-25 Triquis are defying the conventional notion that the Triquis will likely remain unresponsive to the message of God found in the Bible for all people. When asked why they come 45 minutes before the 8:00 start time, the elderly couple who arrive first say that for so many, many years they had nothing in their lives that they looked forward to—nothing. But now, they can’t wait for Sunday morning to come. They start thinking about and preparing for the journey on Friday. They can’t wait to fellowship with the others, to enjoy a hot breakfast together provided by their parent Mixteco Indian congregation, to sing songs in their Triqui language, to have the Bible read aloud in Triqui, to have the word taught and explained, to have a safe place to encounter Jesus, to meet other members of the family of God who speak Mixteco, Spanish, and, today, English.

From InTheseTimes.com:

For centuries, the small Triqui indigenous region — a 300 square-mile green oasis situated in the middle of the dry and eroded indigenous Mixteca region of western Oaxaca — has been known for endemic violence. The Triquis resisted Spanish colonial incursions and, in 1823, were the first indigenous people to rise up against the independent Mexican state, successfully beating back an attempt to evict them from their land.

After the Triquis were victorious in defending their territory in two wars — one in 1823, the other in 1843 — the Mexican government decided to shift its approach from direct, armed confrontation to a divide-and-conquer strategy, says Francisco L — pez Bárcenas, a Mixtec indigenous lawyer, historian and author of the forthcoming, San Juan Copala: Political Domination and Popular Resistance.

From the late 19th century to the present, internal divisions in the Triqui region, fomented by the state government, have led to cycles of political killings and massacres.

Labels: english, faith, mexico, spain, spanish

Familiar, fear-favoring English Forced is back

English Forced is the idea that it is a good idea to prevent foreign languages from being used by government officials, supposedly because it forces internationals to learn English. In reality, there are a variety of reasons folks support English Forced, some of them (but not all of them) being foolish or sinister, or both. Among the factions in favor of it: those who think that hearing foreign languages is "forcing" those languages on them (see here), those who have a generally negative attitude toward people who are different in any way (see here), those who make the mistaken assumption that speaking in another language is an indication of legal status (see here), and those who even scare 287(g)-wielding Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall "to death" (his words).

The movement is now aiming for a Nashville comeback after its 2007 defeat. The Nashville City Paper editorialized here against the whole idea, even offering tips to the opposition. Kay Brooks criticized Nashville Mayor Karl Dean for saying that he is troubled by certain language in the proposed amendment to the Metro Charter (see here) (hat tip: Kleinheider). The Enclave's Mike Byrd takes the City Paper to task for its article about the English Forced campaign that left unchallenged the spokesman's arguments that (1) English Forced helps immigrants learn English, and (2) being married to a Japanese woman insulates him from charges of "being either prejudiced toward Hispanics or from whipping up the uglier fringes of the racist right to go to the polls in November." (Hat tip: Kleinheider again).

I chimed in later, responding to Kay Brooks in the comments section below her post:

The tone of your post implies that we are in a new American era of "handing out rights," but the USA has a long tradition of balancing competing rights and goals. Some rights and goals are simply greater than English-related or immigration-related goals. If Nashville's mayor can tell in advance that an argument that "English trumps everything" is a loser, I'd say it's not such a bad thing that we have a lawyer as a mayor.

Just ask yourself, what "right" is the charter amendment trying to take away? If the focus of the amendment's ire is that Metro communicates in other languages at times, how does that create a "right"? Such a practice may reflect - but not create - long-standing Constitutional rights related to access to justice, for example, in which case Mayor Dean is correct to see in advance that we'd lose a fight to take away such rights. Or, a Metro department might use other languages simply to enhance its ability to fulfill its mission - seeing better results when using certain foreign languages in communications. Again, that choice by Metro does not create any rights on the part of the user; if anything, it is a convenience to the government and a courtesy to the recipient. So the "rights" language is either Constitutionally unopposable in certain circumstances, or it is a straw man, and in either case Mayor Dean is wise to be troubled by the proximity of such sloppy drafting to our city's charter.

If you see this issue through the eyes of Metro departments, at stake is their power to individually determine whether additional languages will better allow them to implement their missions. Micromanaging those departments by putting an English mandate over the entire city will handicap Metro (and thus all of us, if Metro's goals are our goals) and not just our city's international residents. In an English Forced world, this predetermination of priorities would win the day without any weighing of the costs and benefits in each situation. (And if the charter amendment doesn't make this change, what real practical effect is it supposed to have?) As I've said before, Metro currently implements a variety of multi-lingual communication strategies on topics including legal rights, a child's first day of school, domestic violence, recycling, rape victim resources, financial counseling, Homework Hotline, recidivism-reducing DUI education, pet ownership tips, access to health care, and tornado siren instructions - and none of the agencies responsible for those communications have been quoted in any of the articles on the English Forced movement.

By the way, when you comment about citizenship and English proficiency, why the exclusive focus on citizens? There are more people here than just citizens. Foreign spouses can move here years before they are eligible for citizenship.

Finally, you imply that multiple languages in this country is also a new thing that could cost us dearly ("wait until he sees the bill for this new right.") Germantown in Nashville had German-language church services, schools, and newspapers for decades. At the Centennial Exposition for which Nashville's Centennial Park was created, Nashville's German newspapers were rightly lauded as one of the best methods of integrating new German immigrants, because through communications in their mother tongue they could learn about current events even while they were still uncomfortable in English. It wasn't until WWI, cowered by fear of their fellow Americans' anti-German fervor, when the German-Americans scrubbed the German language out of Germantown.

If Dean prefers to maintain our city's welcoming tradition instead of yielding to a movement tinged with fear (or worse), maybe our mayor with the law degree studied a little history, too.

Labels: english, immigrants, justice

Torres: son of Peruvian immigrants, 3.9 GPA at Austin Peay, Purple Heart and Bronze Star

Espaillat: came to Maury County from Dominican Republic, honors at Spring Hill HS, enlisted week before 9/11

This Memorial Day, the Hispanic Nashville Notebook remembers two Hispanic servicemen who came to Tennessee before their names were added to the lists of the fallen:

Army Lt. Richard Torres was the first Austin Peay ROTC graduate killed in combat since the school began the program in 1971. ... Torres grew up in Passaic, New Jersey, the son of Peruvian immigrants Dora and Gulian Torres, and during his childhood he discovered his interest in military service. ... The Rev. Antonio Rodriguez, pastor at Holy Trinity Church, performed the liturgy in both English and Spanish for those who had traveled from Tennessee, Texas and Peru to pay their final respects. ... entered the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., where Torres got a three-year scholarship and maintained a 3.9 grade-point average. ... "His dream was to retire in the military and get his master's and teach at West Point. He said he wasn't going to stop until he got his doctorate. He said, 'Watch, one day, I'll be the president of the United States.' " ... Richard Torres was posthumously honored with a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star

Air Force Senior Airman Pedro I. Espaillat Jr. came to Maury County in 1993 with his mother and two brothers from the Dominican Republic. His father, an assembly worker at Saturn Corp., had arrived about three years earlier. ... a 2001 honors graduate at Spring Hill High School ... chose to enlist ... one week before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Labels: dominican republic, english, faith, immigrants, peru, spanish

Contribution by Cesar A. Muedas

The Tennessean reports today on the award and ceremony as reproduced below.

Three Nashville-area public school principals were among 18 in Tennessee whom an education-focused organization recognized this week for excellence.
In a ceremony Monday at the state Capitol, the Education Consumers Foundation honored principals whom it called "the best of the best" in advancing students academically. Among them are:
• Mary Lou Del Rio of Paragon Mills Elementary in Metro Nashville.
• Brian Bass of Fairview Middle School in Williamson County.
• Johnny Chandler of Dickson Middle School in Dickson County.
The winners were selected from the more than 1,300 public elementary and middle schools statewide, based on year-to-year gains in reading and math. Schools whose students make the greatest annual achievement gains earn the highest value-added scores.

Mrs. Mary Lou Del Rio, an educator with more than 30 years of experience, is the wife of Mr. Luis del Rio, a retired coach, bilingual interpreter, and a prominent Cuban-American in the advisory board of COPLA (Comite de Padres Latinos, the council of Hispanic parents with children in Metro schools).

Labels: cuba, education, english, spanish

This Tennessean article contains its own roundup of Cinco de Mayo events at Agave Tequila Lounge, Lot 7, Sam's Place Sports Bar and Grill, The French Quarter Cafe, Lime, and Alleycat Lounge.

Then there's these other events:

The Fiesta Belmont on May 3, which the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* is sponsoring:

FIESTA BELMONT is a one day event that will be held at the campus of Belmont University on Saturday May 3 from 11 AM to 7 PM. This family oriented event will have food stands as well as LIVE MUSIC interpreted by several of our most prominent Hispanic performers including Belmont Salsa All-Stars, San Rafael Band, Ocho Treinta, Carlos Negron & Trabuko as well as our local Mexican Folkloric Dance Group. There will be games for children and most of all a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends and celebrate together our Cinco de Mayo.

There is a Cinco de Mayo Fair running now through Sunday May 4 at the Nashville Fairgrounds.

The Middle TN Hispanic Democrats (MTHD) are hosting a Cinco de Mayo Celebration and Fundraiser ($25 donation appreciated) on May 5 at 5:30pm. Contact info@mtnhd.org for details.

The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* sent more details about the French Quarter event listed in the Tennessean article above:

Every year on the fifth of May, party-goers look for the most unique venues to commemorate Mexican heritage and pride with festive music, décor, and drinks. This year, Nashvillians are in for a treat when Cerrito takes the stage at the French Quarter Café at 7:30 PM for his celebratory Spanish-English performance, and they can feel great about supporting the event as all proceeds from tickets will be donated to the "Make A Wish Foundation" in the hopes of fulfilling the dreams of terminally ill children.

"Cinco de Mayo is such a great time of year to show appreciation for Spanish-influenced music, and we are really looking forward to putting on a great show," says Cerrito.

"We are so delighted to celebrate Cinco De Mayo with Cerrito, and help grant a wish in the process.

Events like this are a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness and support for wish kids in the 38 counties that we serve," says Michelle Rosen with Make a Wish Foundation of Middle Tennessee.Make a Wish will have a child on-site that will personally benefit from the donations and share the story behind their wish.

Cerrito became immersed in the Spanish-English music scene while performing for years with legendary flamenco guitarist Charo. Cerrito then moved on to San Antonio, TX where he headlined his own show at the Arneson River Theatre on the river performing traditional country music (in English and Spanish) in front of ravenous audiences who seemed to want more. Cerrito found his place in the Country Music scene.

Cerrito's interest and success in learning to translate traditional country music to the Spanish language opened doors to a number of opportunities. Renowned Nashville producer Byron Gallimore approached Cerrito with the request to translate Tim McGraw's hit record "Re-fried Dreams," and the Country Music Association, Nashville, solicited him to perform on stage at the first "Fiesta Nashville" show--Fan Fair 2001.

Fans are guaranteed an evening full of entertainment, some culture, as well as some great prizes for their donation at the door!

For more information, please visit
www.cerritomusic.com

Labels: country music, english, events, spanish

Born in Sacramento

Mexican-American family

Grew up hearing Spanish and answering in English

Eric Volz, the immigrant from Nashville to Nicaragua who was cleared of a murder conviction in that Central American country in a case that is still not over, told a group of Belmont University students about the Hispanic portions of his autobiography in the context of a media ethics lecture.

Excerpts from the Tennessean:

Volz was born and raised in Sacramento and considers himself a Californian. He was 13 when his father, a musician, decided to move to Nashville to pursue a musical career.

Growing up, family members spoke to Volz in Spanish and he would answer in English.

His Mexican grandfather was the catalyst for his immersion.

"It was because of him that I really learned the language," Volz said in Spanish. "I learned about the culture, how to read it, write it and talk with the accent."

Volz's Mexican-American family lived in border towns. His mother, Maggie Anthony, was raised in Nogales, Ariz.

He went to several high schools and remained interested in Latin America and added another hobby — photography. He went to school at the University of California, San Diego, and majored in Latin American cultural studies.

Photo source: Friends of Eric Volz

Labels: english, immigrants, mexico, nicaragua, spanish

Judge John Rich: "About half my friends were Spanish kids - Mexican kids - and their first language was Spanish"

The Canadian Press is one of many international sources to report the newly minted Latin/country crossover star that is Julio Iglesias, Jr., who earned that title with his win of the Nashville-based reality show "Gone Country." Airing on CMT, the show featured an American-Idol-style showdown of various non-country artists taking a stab at country music, including Iglesias, Jr. On his way to victory, the Madrid-born, Miami-raised crooner stopped by Manuel's Nashville shop to pick up some bona fide country duds (episode info here).

Judge John Rich of Big & Rich said in his blog that he picked Iglesias because of his "X Factor" with both male and female fans, but also because of the missing Hispanic element in modern country music:

I think, that Julio Iglesias Jr. brings an element to country music that does not exist -- and that being the Spanish-English element. I remember growing up in Texas and hearing Johnny Rodriguez on my radio station, and about half my friends were Spanish kids -- Mexican kids -- and their first language was Spanish. They were all my buddies. I remember Johnny Rodriguez turning them on to country music. They liked it, but it wasn't something they completely related to until they saw Johnny Rodriguez.

Well, I think, it's been 30 years since that, and I think it's time we pay attention to that audience again. I see Spanish-speaking people coming to Big & Rich shows by the hundreds and thousands, depending on the part of the country that we're in, and right now, there's nobody in our format speaking to that audience.

Big & Rich have included bilingual Spanish/English raps on at least one album before, and Hispanic artists have done fairly well on at least other country music reality show - see John Arthur Martinez' second place finish and Melanie Torres' top-ten spot on Nashville Star. The country music industry has commissioned reports and engaging in soul-searching and head-scratching about what Hispanic interest in country music could mean for the business.

Julio Iglesias, Jr.'s winning Gone Country video performance, which includes bilingual English/Spanish lyrics, is here.

Labels: arts, business, country music, english, immigrants, mexico, spain, spanish

Same number as June 2006

English learners are 2.1% of public school students statewide

Language acquisition in Metro is twice as fast as in other districts

This article in the Tennessean reports that "a quarter of the entire state's non-English-speaking students are in Metro," which is the same number reported here by the Nashville City Paper in 2006. The latest figures reported on the Hispanic Nashville Notebook are that 2.1% of Tennesssee public school students are new to English. Hispanic students, not all of whom are immigrants or English-learners, make up 3.2% of the student body state-wide.

Middle Tennessee has had great success with its transitional English classes for students, with a graduation rate to mainstream classes that is double what is found in other school districts, according to this 2006 report in the Hispanic Nashville Notebook.

Photo by Judy Baxter. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Labels: education, english, statistics

The Hispanic Nashville Notebook hosts a job site called the Workbook, but it is not the only Hispanic or bilingual employment listing in Middle Tennessee.

Franklin's Latin Market Communications circulates a monthly job listing in the bilingual paper Que Pasa and also makes the list available by e-mail. Many (but not all) of the Que Pasa jobs require bilingual language skills or are otherwise more attractive to the Hispanic job-seeker than opportunities in the general job market. For more information on the Que Pasa job listings, contact Eva Melo at eva@latinmarketcommunications.com

The January 2008 Que Pasa jobs are below, including a $60k/year Hispanic Liaison position in Smyrna:

HISPANIC LIAISON:
Location-Smyrna, TN. Salary-$60K/year plus bonus and benefits. Requirements- Must be bilingual (Spanish). College degree and some experience preferred. Job description- The position will act as a liason between a mutil-billion dollar OEM and a provider of premium transportation logistics. The liason will work on sight at the OEM and coordinate expedited global transportation activity with a heavy emphasis in the Mexican market. Respond to- David Quin at dsquin@gmail.com

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Nashville, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) Manage current grants and coordinate efforts to diversify the organization' s funding base. Writing proposals, preparing reports to grantors, developing the membership, and identifying new sources of funding. Work with the Events Specialist to plan fundraising events, with the Operations Director to provide budgets and financial reports to grantors, and with the State Director and Board to develop an annual fundraising strategy and long-term fundraising plan. Occasional evening and weekend hours. Immigrants and refugees are strongly encouraged to apply. Bachelor's degree required. Salary plus benefits. To apply send a cover letter, résumé and writing sample to Sara Jane Saliba at sara@tnimmigrant.org.

NURSING SUPERVISOR
Siloam Family Health Center, a faith-based, Christ-centered health clinic. Work with the Medical Director to manage the day-to-day coordination of patient care including intake, triage, patient education, patient flow, onsite diagnostics, offsite referrals, and coordinating clinical programs and compliance with federal regulations. This position will supervise staff and volunteer nurses, medical assistants, and other clinicians. Must have strong computer skills and able to work flexible hours and have a current state of Tennessee RN License, and CPR Certification. Three to five years of supervisory or management experience and a four year college degree in nursing is preferred. Please submit a copy of your resume and a cover letter to: Attention: Human Resources, Siloam Family Health Center , 820 Gale Lane, Nashville, TN 37204, Fax: 615-577-4010. Website: www.siloamhealth.org

BILINGUAL RN CARE COORDINATOR
Healthways. Franklin. Requires current RN license in the state the CEC resides and a minimum 2-3 years recent clinical experience. Case management, health plan, home health and/or telephonic nursing experience are a plus; diabetes, cardiac, ESRD, COPD and/or asthma clinical experience desired. Computer competency within a Windows environment is necessary; Bilingual Spanish/English skills highly desired! (615) 885-4500

MEMBER SERVICES COORDINATOR
The Center for Nonprofit Management (CNM) is seeking qualified applicants for a Member Services Coordinator. The Center for Nonprofit Management is a nonprofit organization with a mission to create and sustain nonprofit excellence. Applicants need a Bachelor's degree, one year's experience preferably in an administrative role, strong administrative and organizational skills with a high attention to detail and exceptional customer service skills. Salary Range: $25,000 to $30,000, Contact Information and Procedure: Please submit resume and cover letter indicating position applied for by email, fax, or mail; Marissa Benchea, CNM 44 Vantage Way, Suite 230, Nashville, TN 37228, marissa@cnm.org, fax: 615-259-0400 No phone calls please

GOLD STAR COMMUNICATIONS-
Cellular Phone Sales & Phone Cards is looking for a bilingual customer service rep. Locaated at 904 Murfreesboro Pike, Candidates call George Hanna (615) 481-4865.

DOMINGUES INSURANCE (an Allstate Insurance Agency)
is looking for a bilingual candidates. Please call 615-834-8420 and ask for Valmar.

CRICKET COMMUNICATIONS.
If you enjoy selling and providing outstanding customer service, Cricket Communications is the place for you. We are accepting applications for Retail Service Representatives for our retail stores in this city. We offer competitive pay; performance-based bonuses; free mobile phone and service; paid time off; and advancement opportunities. High school diploma or GED required. Strong interpersonal skills. Proficient use of PC computer programs and keyboard skills. Looking for bilingual skills in Spanish. Tuition Assistance Flexible Spending Accounts. We are proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing. TO APPLY FOR THIS JOB? Go to www.mycricket.com for more information.

BILINGUAL RECEPTIONIST
Needed for Dental Office. Must be dedicated, honest, good attitude and work ethic, punctual, and able to multi- task. Competitive pay in a great work environment. Please send resume to carlos226@comcast.net or call (615) 419-9960. Alternate phone: (615) 642-0623"

MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST
Provide a point of contact for patients through appointment scheduling and act as a focal point of communication between patients, doctors, nurses, other clinic staff and community partners. Must have a high school diploma, and one or more years experience working in medical office setting or clinical environment. This individual must be fluent in Spanish and expected to work one Saturday a month. Please submit a copy of your resume and a cover letter to: Attention: Human Resources, Siloam Family Health Center , 820 Gale Lane, Nashville, TN 37204, Fax: 615-577-4010. Website: www.siloamhealth.org

HOUSE CLEANER
Experienced housecleaning employees, must have a vehicle, must speak some English, start right away, part time to full time, Kristine Donahue 615-440-2083

BANQUETS
Coffee Break Server 1 FT (flexible schedule) Able to lift 20 lbs. ABC card needed. Must be able to be a server as well as coffee breaks. Call 615-321-1908, Apply in person Mon, Wedns. Or Friday between 10AM -3PM, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville.

ENGINEERING
(Maintenance Engineer I 1 FT (3 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.) General knowledge of all maintenance tasks and previous customer service skills are required. Must be able to read, write, and speak English fluently. Mechanical, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing skills required. Previous hotel experience preferred. Call 615-321-1908, Apply in person Mon, Wedns. Or Friday between 10AM -3PM, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville.

STEWARDING
Crosswinds Cafeteria Attendant 1 PT (9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.) Must be able to lift 30 lbs. Must have some knowledge of the Health department sanitation procedure. Must have some cooking experience, and be able to take directions from a supervisor. Call 615-321-1908, Apply in person Mon, Wedns. Or Friday between 10AM -3PM, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville.

ROOM SERVICE
Room Service Server 1 FT 2 p.m. - 12 a.m. Good customer service, communication, and organizational skills required. Must be able to stand for a long period of time and lift up to 50lbs. Some room service experience helpful. ABC card. Call 615-321-1908, Apply in person Mon, Wedns. Or Friday between 10AM -3PM, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville.

HOUSEKEEPING
Executive Housekeeper 1 FT (flexible schedule) Thorough knowledge of all matters relating to the proper administration and operation of Hospitality Housekeeping operations. Five to seven years of progressive management experience in large, fast paced, hotel housekeeping environment with at least three years as Executive Housekeeper. Ability to develop and maintain effective operating and control processes designed to attain maximum operating efficiency while ensuring adherence to established guest satisfaction criteria. Effective management, leadership, organizational, communication skills, and the ability to develop a strong and positive work environment. Experienced in Microsoft Office Programs Call 615-321-1908, Apply in person Mon, Wedns. Or Friday between 10AM -3PM, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville.

ROOM ATTENDANT
6 FT (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) 1 FT (2:30 p.m. -11 p.m.) Must be able to stand, walk, and bend for long periods of time, and lift up to 25lbs. Great customer service skills required. Room cleaning experience preferred. Must be able to work weekends and holidays. Call 615-321-1908, Apply in person Mon, Wedns. Or Friday between 10AM -3PM, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville.

TURNDOWN ATTENDANT
3 PT (5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.) Must be able to stand, walk, and bend for long periods of time, and lift up to 25 lbs. Great customer service skills required. Must be able to work weekends and holidays. Call 615-321-1908, Apply in person Mon, Wedns. Or Friday between 10AM -3PM, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville.

ACCOUNTING
Night Audit, 1 FT (11 p.m. - 7 a.m.). Previous Front Desk or Audit experience required. Must have excellent communication, computer, and customer service skills. An ability to pay close attention to detail is also required. Must be able to work weekends and holidays. Call 615-321-1908, Apply in person Mon, Wedns. Or Friday between 10AM -3PM, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
TIRRC is seeking a Director of Development to manage its current grants and coordinate efforts to diversify the organization' s funding base. The Director of Development will be responsible for writing proposals, preparing reports to grantors, developing the membership, and identifying new sources of funding, particularly among individual and corporate donors. In addition, he/she will work with the Events Specialist to plan fundraising events, with the Operations Director to provide budgets and financial reports to grantors, and with the State Director and Board to develop an annual fundraising strategy and long-term fundraising plan. This position will be based in Nashville and will require occasional evening and weekend hours. Immigrants and refugees are strongly encouraged to apply. Bachelor's degree required. Salary Negotiable, plus health benefits. send a cover letter, résumé and writing sample to Sara Jane Saliba at sara@tnimmigrant. org

EXPERIENCED HOUSEKEEPING EMPLOYEES
Must have a vehicle. Must speak some English. Start right away. Part time to full-time. Kristine 615-440-2083.

CENSUS TAKERS (TEMPORARY)
The City of Franklin has approximately 30 vacancies for Census Takers to assist with the 2008 Franklin Special Census by going door-to-door to survey Franklin residents who have not returned their census cards. Census questions are limited to name, age & race. 18 years of age, availability of car, with proof of insurance, ability to communicate with the public, ability to record data accurately & available for work in all parts of the city. $14.00/hr. Work in March & last approximately 4 weeks. Monday through Thursday from approximately 4:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.; Weekend hours will vary, depending on the progress of the census, most shifts will be on Saturday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Obtain application online at www.franklin- gov.com or from HR Dept, City of Franklin, PO Box 305, 109 3rd Ave S, Franklin, TN 37065, phone 615/791-3216, fax 615/791-3297, e-mail tracyh@franklin-gov.com.

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGER
Nashville-based company; extensive international travel, will require at least a bilingual candidate (if not more than two languages); high priority on candidates who can communicate in South America as well as Asia. Requires experience in supply chain and importation; four-year degree; Six Sigma certification. Contact Harriet, 615-591-6511, hsawyer@sawyersearch.com

LIVE IN NANNY/HOUSEKEEPER
on 65 acre property in Nashville area. May bring a family member to live with you. Call Kristy at 210- 2303. Must speak some English

ARBORIST
The City of Franklin Parks Department has a vacancy for Arborist. This position is responsible for the long-term care & management of City trees. Duties, generally, include developing, administering & monitoring programs & policies to insure industry compliance with City's tree & landscape ordinance; planning, etc. applying for grants; & supervising public tree plantings. Degree in arboriculture, horticulture, forestry, or landscaping architecture with certification as an Arborist or Horticulturist preferred; supplemented by five (5) year previous experience in tree planting & maintenance and/or training involving supervision. Valid DL required. Obtain application online at www.franklin- gov.com or from HR Dept, City of Franklin, PO Box 305, 109 3rd Ave S, Franklin, TN 37065, tel. 615/791-3216, e-mail tracyh@franklin-gov.com. EOE/ Drug-free Workplace

METER READER
The City of Franklin Water Department has a vacancy for a Meter Reader. Responsibilities generally include reading water meters to determine water usage; rechecking readings to ensure usage recorded is accurate; turning on water for newly established accounts; terminating water service to closed accounts; interrupting water service to overdue accounts. HS diploma (or GED equivalent) required with 1-2 years general maintenance experience (or related). $13.50/hr, plus excellent benefits. Obtain application online at www.franklin-gov.com or from HR Department, City of Franklin, P.O. Box 305, 109 3rd Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37065, tel. 615/791-3216, fax 615-791-3297, e-mail tracyh@franklin-gov.com.

ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY
The City of Franklin Engineering Department has a vacancy for Administrative Secretary. Responsibilities, generally, include answering multi- line telephone, dealing with public and responding to routine questions, complaints or requests for service; performing numerous secretarial duties in support of the department staff; performing general word processing assignments; etc. May be required to attend an occasional night meeting to assist with minute-taking. HS diploma or GED supplemented by vocational/technical training in PC operations (MS Word, Excel, Access) with minimum 3 yrs previous experience or training involving secretarial/clerical work (or related). $14.13 hr, plus excellent benefits. Obtain application online at www.franklin-gov.com or from HR Department, City of Franklin, PO Box 305, 109 3rd Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37065, tel. 615/791-3216, e-mail tracyh@franklin-gov.com.

FINANCIAL ANALYST
The City of Franklin has a vacancy for Financial Analyst. Major responsibilities are performing budget and financial analysis and reviews to enhance completeness and accuracy of performance measures; performing a variety of accounting tasks, which may include posting financial data, balancing accounts, tracking fund activity, and maintaining financial ledgers;, etc. Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration with minimum of one year previous accounting and/or financial experience or HS Diploma with minimum five years accounting and/ or financial experience (government experience preferred). Must be experienced with Microsoft Office software applications, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook. Obtain application online at www.franklin- gov.com or from HR Department, City of Franklin, PO Box 305, 109 3rd Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37065, tel. 615/791-3216, e-mail tracyh@franklin-gov.com.

PUBLIC SAFETY APPLICATIONS MANAGER
The City of Franklin MIT Department has a vacancy for Public Safety Applications manager. Duties, generally, include having knowledge of and sharing expertise with designated departments on Public Safety applications: Minimum 3-5 years of systems experience in MS Applications. A.S./B.S. in Computer Science or Professional Certification, MS training (MCSE) and GIS also preferred. Technical knowledge/skills should include Crystal Reports, MS Office Suite, MS Project, MS SQL Report Writer, Database and SQL familiarity. Communication, analytical and problem-solving skills required. Valid TN DL required. Obtain application online at ww.franklin-gov.com or from HR Department, City of Franklin, PO Box 305, 109 3rd Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37065, tel. 615/791-3216, e-mail tracyh@franklin-gov.com.

RN, ALIVE HOSPICE
Current TN nursing license, BSN preferred. 2 yrs exp. required. EOE. Apply online at www.alivehospice.org.

LPN, ALIVE HOSPICE
Current TN LPN license required. Minimum two years direct patient care nursing experience in Hospice, Oncology or Home Health. EOE. Apply online at www.alivehospice.org.

CNT , ALIVE HOSPICE
High school diploma or GED, minimum of one year direct patient care or related experience. TN CNT certificate, current CPR certificate. EOE. Apply online at www.alivehospice.org.

CLAIM TRAINEE
Nashville,TN. Allstate. Full time. Bilingual candidates encouraged to apply. Our ideal candidate has a four year college degree, excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as strong computer skills. Candidates should possess the ability to manage relationships in a fast paced environment, while demonstrating persistence and problem solving skills. http://www.allstate.com/careers.aspx

BILINGUAL FINANCIAL
We are in need of Bilingual applicants to fill Customer service and branch Managers positions. Great place to work, above average pay, great benefits, great room for advancement. Must pass a Drug test and submit to a background check. Positions opens throughout Nashville and surrounding areas. Those interested may apply directly at any of our seventeen locations or online. To obtain a directory of store locations and or apply on line please visit our web site at www.advancefinancialinc.com.

Bilingual CSR I, General Care
Full-Time Employee | Pay: $11.55 - $13.80/hour, T- mobile, Six months to one year Customer Service experience, Fluent in both Spanish and English, Call center and wireless experience a plus, High School Diploma or GED, Demonstrated competency in Windows, Keyboarding proficiency and use of automated systems, Stellar verbal and written communication skills, Strong problem solving skills, Ability to thrive in a lively working environment and multi-task, The flexibility to work weekends and other varied shifts as assigned. 615) 255-2798

PROBATION OFFICER
Supervising English and Spanish speaking probationers. Legal knowledge preferred: Computer experience required. Must pass criminal background check. Full time with benefits. Application available at 1320 W. Main St. Room 109, Franklin, TN.

BILINGUAL MEDICAL ASSISTANTS, LPNS AND MEDICAL OFFICE SPECIALISTS
Centennial Pediatrics for all locations. www.centpeds.com. Fax 615-620-5140 or jobinfo@centpeds.com.

BILINGUAL PRESCHOOL TEACHER
Active Learning Center is now hiring bilingual preschool teachers. Looking for someone with experience in early childhood. Call Chris 615-944-2350 or e-mail activelcnt@bellsouth.net

BILINGUAL COUNSELORS
Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee. Needed for the Tennessee Helpline, which serves domestic violence victims and parents. Part Time and Volunteer Daytime and PRN shifts available. Bachelor's degree in social services, education, nursing, early childhood or related field required, or equivalent experience. MUST be fluent in both English and Spanish. PCAT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Fax resume to 615-383-6089 or email to Melissa.Sanchez@pcat.org

Que Pasa job listing reproduced with permission.

Labels: business, education, english, health, immigrants, justice, spanish

Information about ESOL classes, Vol State degrees and programs, local community groups

Refreshments, movies, entertainment for children

From Volunteer State Community College:

Hispanic Family Night at Vol State puts the spotlight on education

Education is a lifelong pursuit that can benefit everyone in the family. Volunteer State Community College is holding an evening especially designed for Hispanic families. The Hispanic Family Education Night will help answer questions about everything from college degree programs to English classes. It will be held on Tuesday, February 19 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on the Vol State campus in Gallatin.

“There are high school students who are ready for college, and perhaps adults who want to go back to school or improve their English skills,” said Eric Melcher, Communications Coordinator at Vol State. “We’ll have several of the college offices on hand, including Admissions and Advising. We’ll have bilingual staff available for advising and translating in Spanish.”

“We’re seeing a growing need for information about the college in Spanish and English,” said Volunteer State Advisor-Counselor Terry Bubb. “We know that many Hispanic families have members who have different English skill levels. This event will have something for everyone. We’ll have information about our ESOL classes, for people who want to improve their English skills, and also information about our degrees and programs for those whose English is already at the college level.”

ESOL stands for English for Speakers of Other Languages. The classes provide a stepping stone for Spanish speaking people to build their skills in conversation, writing and reading.

Families will be able to see the support services Volunteer State has for students, including the award-winning NewSkills Center, which provides help with developmental needs in areas, such as math, reading and writing. The Language Center, with resources for people who speak foreign languages, will be part of the campus tour. The TRIO Student Support Services program will also be represented. It provides a wide array of help for first-generation college students, those with low family incomes, or those with certain disabilities.

The Sumner Hispanic Alliance will have information about events and opportunities for the Hispanic community. Local community groups, who provide educational support in a number of different areas, will also be on hand at the event.

“It’s not just for people who want to go to Vol State,” said Melcher. “We’re trying to provide resources to help families get more information about higher education. It can get complicated and it helps to talk to someone, one-on-one and in a relaxed atmosphere.”

Refreshments will be served and there will be movies and fun to keep the kids entertained, so parents can have time to ask questions. Everyone is invited to attend. The Hispanic Family Education Night will run from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and people can stop by whenever it’s convenient. It will be held on Tuesday, February 19 at the Thigpen Library on the Vol State campus at 1480 Nashville Pike in Gallatin. For more information call 615-230-3570 or in Spanish 615-230-4846.

Photo: Vol State instructors (left to right) Ruth McKinzie, Karen Hutson and Cindy Chanin answer questions at the 2007 Vol State Hispanic Family Night. Source: Volunteer State Community College. Used with permission.

Labels: education, english, events, spanish

Carrie Ferguson-Weir, an entrepreneur, mother, and former newspaper reporter, writes the Nashville-based online diary Bilingual in the Boonies. Channeling her Cuban heritage, Ferguson-Weir writes about topics as diverse as her approach to speaking Spanish with her little girl (see "How we do the Spanish thing") and running her Los Pollitos Dicen clothing line (see "Hen House").

Here is how Ferguson-Weir describes herself on her profile at bilingualintheboonies.com:

I am a former newspaper reporter who now hangs with her bilingual-in-the-making chiquitica, when I am not selling my line of Spanish children's T-shirts. I live in Tennessee, far from the Cuban-American homeland that is Miami, so for Spanish comfort I stalk Latina moms at the park, grocery store and gym. I often dream of pastelitos and old men in crisp guayaberas. Me llamo Carrie.

There are other Hispanic bloggers in Nashville; one who immediately comes to mind is Mack of Coyote Chronicles, who is coincidentally rumored to have some big news out today (keep an eye out at MusicCityBloggers.com to see if the rumors are true). If you know of any Latin-blooded locals with an online presence, let us know in the comments below or contact the editor.

Both Bilingual in the Boonies and Coyote Chronicles are written in English.

Photo: Carrie Ferguson-Weir, used with permission.

Labels: business, cuba, english, spanish

The Tennessean reports here that Metro Public Schools director Pedro Garcia may be under consideration for the top job at the San Diego Unified School District. His Spanish-speaking skills are considered to be a plus for the job.

From the Tennessean:

A source who has spoken to Garcia on the subject confirmed Tuesday he was in the running to become the next school superintendent of the 133,000-student San Diego Unified School District. Garcia has refused to comment, offering only, "I intend to be here until June 30, 2010."
...
Garcia ... has the power to walk away with 120 days' written notice.

School board members in San Diego aren't confirming that Garcia, who taught in San Diego in the 1970s, is a finalist for the job....

The most officials will say is that they're looking for a new superintendent, and, according to the district's Web site, someone who can speak Spanish and is a risk taker is a plus. Garcia meets both criteria.

Labels: education, english, spanish

Hispanic Middle Tennesseans recognized for home ownership, business development and bilingual skills

From Vanderbilt News Service:

Programs promoting home ownership, business development and bilingual skills within the Middle Tennessee Hispanic community will be recognized Dec. 10 during Conexión Américas’ “Celebration of Achievements” at Vanderbilt University. The Center for the Americas at Vanderbilt will sponsor and host the event, which will take place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the university’s Buttrick Hall.

The Center for the Americas and Conexión Américas, a Nashville nonprofit organization that promotes the integration of Hispanic families into the community, will recognize families who have bought houses through its Puertas Abiertas/Open Doors home ownership program as well as individuals enrolled in Conversemos – a Spanish/English language exchange program.

“Hispanic families value home ownership because it represents a solid commitment to their integration into the community,” said Renata Soto, executive director of Conexión Américas. “Participants in the program are required to save toward their down payment and attend a home-buying class that gives them the tools to build their credit and become savvy about their future investments,” Soto said.

The Spanish/English Language Exchange Program pairs two individuals – one who speaks Spanish and the other English – so that they can help each other improve their foreign language skills. The program also fosters intercultural exchange between Tennesseans and Hispanic immigrants. “There is a myth going around that Hispanics coming to our city don’t want to learn English. This is absolutely not true,” Soto said.

“In working with the Latino immigrant community every day, we witness that one of its top priorities is to learn the language. They understand that this is of great importance to their success in building a life in this country.” Soto also said that a growing number of Tennesseans who realize the competitive advantage of bilingual skills and the importance of becoming familiar with Hispanic American cultures are interested in learning Spanish. This helps build bridges between the non-Hispanic local communities and their Hispanic neighbors.

“The Language Exchange Program, in particular, has forged close links between Nashville’s growing Hispanic-American community and Vanderbilt’s students and faculty,” said Vera M. Kutzinski, the Martha Rivers Ingram Professor of English and Comparative Literature and director of the Center for the Americas. This program is possible thanks to Vanderbilt student and Nashville professional volunteers who are interested in improving their ability to speak Spanish and are committed to helping newcomers improve their language skills.

Soto emphasized that speaking the language is a crucial step in the integration of Hispanic families into Tennessee, while starting a business and owning a home are crucial to fulfilling their goals. “We are thankful to have recipients of numerous grants and awards, including the 2007 Bank of America Community Award, and sponsorship of our programs and events,” she said. “The Nashville community and corporations that support us have been very generous with us, and this event is recognition of where their support is going – helping these families take one more step toward their integration and building their American dream.”

The Center for the Americas is an institute devoted to collaborative, interdisciplinary research for the benefit of the Americas. It brings together a variety of scholars and innovators to investigate the cultural, economic and political interactions among the countries and territories of the Western Hemisphere and between the region and other parts of the world. Using its research, the center develops and helps sustain lasting partnerships that solve problems of importance to the Americas. In the process, the center reshapes ways in which the academy conducts research, evaluates research results and trains future generations of scholars. For more information on the Center for the Americas, visit www.Vanderbilt.edu/americas or call 615-343-2818.

Editor’s note: The “Celebration of Achievements” is by invitation only, but media are welcome to attend. Please email maitane@conamericas.com to RSVP

Labels: business, education, english, events, spanish

Constitutional question raised

In its November 22 issue, the Nashville Scene reported here that certain court interpreters are giving more than just translations to non-English-speaking defendants in Davidson County Sessions Court. According to the Scene, in some cases they are practicing law without a license and in the process giving harmful legal advice. Local attorney Sean Lewis filed a case raising Constitutional concerns, in which it was alleged that the interpreter told a defendant to plead guilty.

Attorney Jerry Gonzalez wrote this letter to the editor in the next issue citing other examples of the behavior, the Supreme Court rule against it, and what response he has been given when bringing it to judges' attention.

Deputy public defender Laura Dykes is quoted by the Scene as saying, "We do have some translators who like to tell people what the law is":

According to the filing, Quinteros arrived in court the next day and was appointed a public defender and interpreter. Unfortunately, when it came time for Quinteros to register his plea, his lawyer “sat on a bench in the courtroom while [Quinteros] was advised by the interpreter to plead guilty.”

Also, Quinteros was not informed that he “had the option of pleading ‘not guilty’ ” and that he “would not have pleaded guilty had he known he had such an option.”

In another strange twist, the filing says the courtroom was closed to the English-speaking public. Immigration attorneys say closing a courtroom to English speakers is highly irregular.

Quinteros’ new, privately hired attorney, Sean Lewis, filed the petition last month claiming his client had been denied his constitutional rights during the hearing. Lewis refused comment on the matter, which is in the process of being scheduled for a hearing before a judge.

...

[Deputy public defender] Dykes was generally complimentary of the work that courthouse translators do. “They really are just trying to help the lawyers move cases,” she says. She also points out that translators sometimes overstep their bounds. “We do have some translators who like to tell people what the law is,” Dykes says. “They think that they’re helping.”

Excerpts from Attorney Gonzalez's letter:

The lack of professionalism is still far too prevalent in my experience, which includes watching interpreters render legal advice in the hallway, speak with parties aside from their interpreter duties, and act more like courtroom deputies than interpreters (see also the ethical rule prohibiting even the appearance of bias). I wrote a General Sessions judge once about a person presenting himself as a “certified” interpreter when, in fact, he had failed even the English language exam repeatedly and was not certified by the Administrative Office of the Courts. I never received a response, and although that interpreter no longer interprets in General Sessions courts as far as I am aware, he apparently was promoted and now works at the Criminal Court level as a staff member.

Related stories:
10.10.06: City Paper praises court interpreter role
12.23.03: Courts may worsen interpreter shortage with new pay ceiling
09.13.07: Ceja Enterprises enjoined from offering legal services
03.01.07: Legal bureaucracies and lawyer impersonators trap ordinary expatriates
06.13.05: Lawyer impersonators prey on Hispanic consumers
03.29.05: Notario abuse law unenforced
07.15.04: Nashville Scene profiles Jerry Gonzalez

Photo by Brooke Novak. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Labels: english, justice, spanish

The Nashville City Paper reports here that a free bilingual magazine called "eSpanglish" will appear soon in Middle Tennessee businesses like Kroger supermarkets. The City Paper does not mention Que Pasa, another bilingual magazine that was to be distributed in Kroger stores (story here).

Excerpts from the City Paper article:

A new magazine eSpanglish will be launched this month by recently formed company eSpanglish Magazine LLC.

The partners include Gloria Bishop and Lynne Caples, who will serve the magazine as editor and co-editor, respectively, as well as Elisa Hinger and Huey Newberry. Investments from two silent partners contributed to initial funding. All articles will be printed in English and in Spanish.

eSpanglish will start out as a free publication, Bishop said, with the printing of 15,000 issues to be distributed at outlets including Kroger grocery stores and public libraries. It will initially be printed every other month, though Bishop said intentions are to scale up to a monthly.

...

In addition to local stalwart La Noticia — that is edited and published by Hispanic Area Chamber of Commerce head Yuri Cunza and distributes 7,000 to 10,000 issues bi-weekly — at least six newspapers currently exist in Middle Tennessee. At least one more paper and one magazine are in development, according to Bishop, though the eSpanglish team says their publication is the area’s only bilingual magazine.

Labels: business, english, spanish

Guest Post by Sean Braisted

For those of you who decided not to sit through the Democratic debate this Sunday (I was one of those who did not) there was a key moment during the debate where there was near unanimous agreement on an issue; whether or not English should be the "official" language of the United States.

Sen. Mike Gravel, the obligatory rube of the debates, was the only one to raise his hand in support of English as the "official" language. Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton rose in defense of inclusion:



What is funny is that I would be shocked if one person in the GOP debate would raise their hand in opposition to such a move. The differences between the two parties on who welcomes immigrants to the United States, and who spurns them couldn't have been clearer this Sunday. Look for this same question to be asked this coming Tuesday, and look for a disturbingly different result.

Labels: english

Mack at Coyote Chronicles visited a Middle Tennessee tamale kitchen and found treasure in the time spent with his neighbors:

Through the goodness of the Gods, I met an angel in the grocery store. Her and her mother were buying groceries, and from their selections I just knew momma was a first rate cook. I engaged them, and soon we agreed on a price for home-made tamales. (my current tamale connect is reliable, but the product has been sub-standard of late) So, yesterday, I arrived at their home with a good friend of mine in tow. The area of town that they live in isn’t particularly nice. It is mere steps from the railroad tracks, and this road is chock full of renters so many of the houses and yards are in a constant state of dis-repair. We knocked on the door, and Maria opened it, smiled broadly and invited us into the kitchen, where her mother and Aunt were just removing tamales from a large pot on the stove. There was food everywhere. The sights and smells were at once familiar and comforting. I was in my mother’s house again. There were four children present, sitting in chairs by the open back door, and speaking a beautiful mixture of Spanish and English, drawing or coloring and laughing most of the time. Their girls had their jet black hair brushed and braided and they had shiny things holding it in place. Their faces were scrubbed clean, their clothes pressed. The house was orderly and chaotic at the same time. The women smiled at us and made us sit at the table, and sample the tamales. Alicia took hers, freshly “shucked”, and sprinkled it with chopped lettuce, then ladled some fresh salsa over it and handed it to my friend. She warned that it was “hot.” I though she meant “stove hot,” but no, as my friend soon discovered, she meant hot in the way that hot can hit your stomach, then work it’s way back up through your lungs and ultimately engulfs you in a perfect capsicum laden cloud, causing your metabolism to accelerate, sets your heart to racing, and ends with you wiping your brow on your shirtsleeve. That kind of hot. Perfect. As I was enjoying this dish, I was struck by those faces over by the door. Each of them had the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. Large, oval and it may sound corny, but I saw the whole world in them. The oldest was born in Mexico, but came here when she was one yr old. Her brother and sisters were born here in the States. I was glad that my friend Andy was there, but I so wanted Kleinheider to be there as well. I wanted him to see this family. I wanted him to taste this food, I wanted him to gaze at these children, and then, I wanted him to explain to me what would be gained by him “walking them back over the border.” The preservation of the rule of law? Unjust laws are, and have been challenged throughout this Nation’s history. It’s intrinsic to the American experience. Welcoming and celebrating the presence of these people seems intrinsic to the Christian experience. I so want to challenge Adam to accompany me to this home, talk to this family, share a meal, and learn about what its like to live in the shadows...

Full story here

Photo by Steve Bridger

Labels: english, food, immigrants, mexico, spanish

The Tennessean reported here on the practice of notaries impersonating lawyers and preying on Hispanic consumers, ruining their victim's legal and financial lives. The lure of using notaries for legal work stems from the use of the term "notario" in Spanish-speak