June Comments for a Cause - La Luz Hispana

It is the first of the month and time to report my Comments for a Cause results for the previous month and announce the new month's cause!  So first thing, in the month of May I had 44 comments which equals a $22 contribution to Team Red, White & Blue.  I'm happy to support such a great veteran's organization that has personally helped members of my family transition back into civilian life.

Now onto June's cause!  I'm proud to be donating $0.50 for every comment during the month of June to La Luz Hispana.  I have talked about my community's diversity before and I wanted to show my support and pride for my community by highlighting an organization that is helping our Hispanic population in so many ways, La Luz Hispana.  Here is some information on this center provided by Sister Carmen Hernandez:

A brief history of La Luz Hispana

La Luz Hispana is a center for the Hispanic people, sponsored by the Sisters of the Presentation of Dubuque, Iowa, is located in downtown Hampton, and serves not only Hampton, but all of Franklin County, and the surrounding area.  It is a result of over four years of study and experience working with and meeting the Hispanics of the area.  The Hispanic people requested the center, wanted to have a place where they could safely meet, learn English and other necessary skills, and capitalize on their own cultural values and gifts.

Sisters Carmen and Maura hit the streets of Hampton to locate the Hispanics, to acquaint themselves with the service agencies of the area, and to find a location for the center. 

At the end of 2012, a retired lawyer and his wife offered to refurbish their building, according to the needs of the new project.  The ribbon cutting ceremony took place on March 27, 2013 and the inauguration the following month on April 12.

La Luz Hispana's mission is to offer a welcoming spirit and supportive services to all, especially the Hispanic community.

Programs offered

Since opening their doors in March 2013, La Luz Hispana has successfully offered a variety of programs and services that have helped foster relationships, celebrate strengths and personal gifts and educate the many Hispanics who have visited the center.  Some of the programs offered include: container gardening, English as a Second Language (ESL), computer education, Spanish for English speakers, Zumba, crocheting, rosary and scarf making, greeting card creation, health and beauty, immigration, healthy cooking, nutrition, math tutoring and Exito en el Norte which focused on finances, banking, renting an apartment and/or house, starting a new business, personal rights and furthering education. While these are only a few of the programs initiated, La Luz Hispana continues to have hopes and dreams to begin other new services and programs.

The Sisters and volunteers provide transportation and interpretation services at the court house, banks, police stations, dentists, and insurance agencies.  They assist many families to navigate the social service systems, and help to fill out forms for assistance programs.

So lets be sure to Comment for a Cause a lot this month to support this great organization that is helping and supporting so many families and individuals in Franklin County!  I am so proud that my community provides these resources and support to our community members.  My community is what it is today by us taking advantage of our diversity and helping all of our citizens strive.  Thank you to Sisters Carmen and Maura and all of the volunteers for all they do to help La Luz Hispana serve so many people.

If you are from Franklin County, what do you love the most about La Luz Hispana and our community?  If you are not from my local community, what other services do you see that are needed for communities with a growing diversity?

Taking Advantage of Diversity

This morning on the Today Show there was a segment on Ottumwa, Iowa (roughly 175 miles south-east from me) that caught my attention.  The Immigration Nation segment talked about how the Hispanic population in Ottumwa has helped revive the town.

This news piece made me think of my own community of Franklin County.  I think our Hispanic population makes our community unique, and I'd like to see the citizens of Franklin County to take pride and ownership of this diversity advantage.

Franklin County's Hispanic population started in the 1940's, as Ferris Nursery in Hampton hired a migrant workforce.  Eventually this migrant workforce decided to make Franklin County their home.  Over the decades through present day, more family members have come to the area and have established roots due to the availability of shelter, food and employment (reasons why anyone comes and stays in a place).  

• Franklin County has affordable housing; many Hispanic families have bought and fixed up houses in the community to create homes for their families.  
• Franklin County also is home to traditional and Hispanic restaurants and grocery stores.  
• Franklin County has a rich agriculture sector and strong entrepreneurship spirit that have created many job opportunities.

So what does Franklin County, 

and other areas of the Heartland with similar demographics, 

need to do to continue to benefit from our community's diversity? 

I know that our small community is surviving and thriving due to our Hispanic population.  Because of this diversity, I have amenities locally that you wouldn't see in other areas of similar population, and I want to keep and further develop those services.  

I'd like to create something to create awareness or understanding within the community to enhance cooperation and support between all of the community's members.

This has been something on my mind for a long time (and who would of thought that the Today Show would of encouraged me to take some action....).  As you can probably see, I don't know exactly what I should do but I want to do something.  What are your thoughts and ideas?  Do you live in a community with a similar make-up?

Farm Friday

This week on the farm we have been busy delivery grain to the ethanol plant, loading hogs and finalizing seed sales for our Channel Bio seed dealership.  A few years ago we started a seed dealership with My Farmer's parents.  The seed dealership gives us an opportunity to create more diversity in our farming operation, as well as it is a way to stay on top of new traits and developments coming down the pipeline.  An added bonus to having the seed dealership that we didn't necessarily think would happen when we started is that we have really enjoyed getting to know other farmers from across the county by being customers of ours.