Northwood News ♦ October 2008

Revisiting the Question of Latino Inclusion

By Cait James

In the last edition of the Northwood News, I wrote a piece raising the question of whether the Northwood-Four Corners Civic Association (NFCCA) could be more inclusive.  I pointed out that, in my limited experience with the civic association, it had struck me that the membership of the association did not seem as diverse as the people who make up the neighborhood.  I raised the idea of trying to attract a more diverse membership.  Since one of the largest racial/cultural groups in this neighborhood is Latino, I pointed out that one possible means to becoming more inclusive would be to publish the neighborhood newsletter in both English and Spanish or have simultaneous translation to Spanish at NFCCA meetings.  I published my phone number and email address in hopes of getting some sense of whether there was any interest in the neighborhood in such ideas.

I did get some responses — exactly four — and all expressed the same point of view.  [See links to responses received by the editor and president below.]  Those who responded were civil but very opposed to the idea of making the NFCCA bilingual.  These four people believe that bilingualism is not a desirable goal for our civic association because they feel that using two languages would discourage those with limited English from learning the language.  Some said they believe that some immigrants choose not to learn English and isolate themselves by choosing not to assimilate, which makes it difficult for them to get ahead.  They believe that the NFCCA would be enabling this problem if it became bilingual.

When I received these messages (by email and phone) I simply noted the opinions but did not respond.  I truly wanted to hear how people felt about the ideas in my article.  However, the truth of the matter is, I felt saddened by these responses.  I felt saddened by the lack of understanding of the situation of many immigrants expressed by these views.  I felt saddened by a lack of willingness to try something different.  I felt saddened that I did not hear from anyone who is supportive.

What particularly concerned me was the conception expressed by the people who contacted me that most people with limited English “choose” not to learn English.  In my experience as a teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), there are many immigrants who are working so hard (in many cases at more than one job while trying to raise a family) that they do not have very much time for study.  And then there are some who do carve out significant amounts of time to study the language but for whom learning a new language does not come easily and who still struggle to read a simple flyer or fill out a form after years of part-time study.  Such folks, I imagine, might be grateful when a neighbor or a neighborhood organization reaches out to them in their own language, the language in which they can function fluently.

In addition, my personal inspiration is also celebration.  I firmly believe that bi- or multilingualism is an asset to individuals, to organizations, or to nations and can be used to celebrate multiculturalism.  In my personal vision, I would love to be a part of a civic association that celebrates the diversity of its members by reaching out in more than one language.  I would love to be a part of a civic organization that is a place where I could meet folks that I might not normally cross paths with in my daily routine with, but with whom I might soon find things in common because of the shared experience of where we live.  (I realize that many in the neighborhood have such opportunities through activities at Forest Knolls Elementary School.  However, there are many others here whose children do not attend Forest Knolls, whose children have moved on from Forest Knolls, or who do not have children who do not have such a meeting place.)

I have talked in-person to a number of people who are sympathetic to the idea of making the organization more inclusive.  Clearly bilingualism is not the only means to this end, and certainly it is not the way this community is interested in going at this point.  I love the potential of a community organization like ours, and I hope we can find ways to grow and change as the neighborhood does.  I’m sure there are many out there with better ideas than the ones I have put forth so far.  I hope the idea of becoming more inclusive will not die, and I am happy to continue the conversation with anyone who is interested.   ■

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