Community Conversations Auroras aim to shape the future

[crazybird]

Community Conversations
Aurorans aim to shape bright future for their city

March 31, 2008
By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com
It wasn't well-publicized. Few people heard about it. But last Wednesday, a group of 16 people got together to talk (in two languages) about the future of Aurora.

Ranging from an 18-year-old Hispanic high school student to a 60-year-old African-American minister, most of them affiliated with Family Focus, the group hashed out potential solutions to the issues they felt Aurora will face in the future.

» Click to enlarge image Fourth-grade teacher Venus Zook hugs Jaunita Wells (with back to camera) after the East Aurora School District referendum question to increase the tax rate failed.
(Beacon News File Photo)

Up for discussion
Topics considered at the Community Conversation forum:

• Civic involvement/immigration

• Economic competitiveness

• Education

• Environmental health

• Housing

• Public health and safety

• Reinvestment and infill

• Transportation accessibility and efficiency

• Water supply

They were brought together by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, in collaboration with Family Focus and other Aurora institutions, to provide data for an upcoming comprehensive plan that will take the region through the year 2040.

But what they actually provided was an honest, engaging mix of viewpoints, one that lived up to the event's name -- Community Conversations. Here's a brief look at the three hottest topics of conversation.

Education

Selected as the most important topic, the education conversation centered on the East Aurora School District.

The Rev. Marcus Lee, representing the Fox Valley Christian Ministerial Alliance, noted the high dropout rate at East Aurora High School and the reluctance of East Side residents to shoulder more tax burden -- the district has fronted two failed referendums in recent elections.

Jesus Diaz, a 25-year-old graduate of East Aurora High School, said that education and family go hand in hand, and East Side parents often have less time to devote to their children -- many work two jobs, and can't spend time helping with homework.

And Sonia Sanchez, an 18-year-old East High student, said that students need a dose of pride in their schools. Also, she said, groups like Family Focus provide mentoring programs that should be publicized more.

Many suggested a return to a two-track system, where students who show ability in trades like carpentry or electrical work could enter a vocational program, which wouldn't make them feel like they had failed academically.

Civic Involvement and Immigration

This topic brought out the most discussion, beginning with the general topic of immigration before morphing into a talk about how to further integrate different cultures. While some said that integration is a national issue, Therese Michels said Aurora "can't wait for the nation," and suggested creative solutions in our own community is what's needed.

Jen Del Debbio, who works with the Near South East Neighbors group, told a story about a neighbor who started a gardening club. Through that, she said, the Hispanic population of her neighborhood has been brought together with other cultures, and the bond is stronger.

Many spoke about the language barrier and cultural differences preventing further integration of the Hispanic population -- which makes up a majority of the near East Side.

Eliud Flores, a 20-year-old East High grad, said the way to get the Hispanic population on board is to attract them through their churches and grocery stores. Printing fliers in Spanish and distributing them to Hispanic churches and stores, he said, would get more members of that community interested in what's going on outside their neighborhoods.

Economic Competitiveness

This topic fed back into the other two, with many talking about the importance of education to the city's economy and discussing ways to build up Hispanic businesses. Fernando Chapa, director of the Latino Community Engagement Council, noted that companies would look to the state of the city's school districts before deciding whether to locate in Aurora.

And again, the idea of trade schools or vocational tracks at local high schools was suggested as a way of pumping up the Aurora work force. Michels said that the city should look for companies that would use Aurora workers, not bring along their own work force.



http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beac ... 1.article#

[lccat]

"This topic fed back into the other two, with many talking about the importance of education to the city's economy and discussing ways to build up Hispanic businesses. Fernando Chapa, director of the Latino Community Engagement Council, noted that companies would look to the state of the city's school districts before deciding whether to locate in Aurora.

And again, the idea of trade schools or vocational tracks at local high schools was suggested as a way of pumping up the Aurora work force. Michels said that the city should look for companies that would use Aurora workers, not bring along their own work force. "



Why NOT the ILLEGALS already have our education systems bending over backward to make certain the ILLEGALS are qualified for ALL United States Jobs.

[crazybird]

Many spoke about the language barrier and cultural differences preventing further integration of the Hispanic population -- which makes up a majority of the near East Side.

Eliud Flores, a 20-year-old East High grad, said the way to get the Hispanic population on board is to attract them through their churches and grocery stores. Printing fliers in Spanish and distributing them to Hispanic churches and stores, he said, would get more members of that community interested in what's going on outside their neighborhoods.

It's always about catering to them....never any push for them to make an effort. Hispanic churches, hispanic stores......Print everything in Spanish......how about English classes!!!!!! What about the REST of the people there?

[lccat]

Many spoke about the language barrier and cultural differences preventing further integration of the Hispanic population -- which makes up a majority of the near East Side.

Eliud Flores, a 20-year-old East High grad, said the way to get the Hispanic population on board is to attract them through their churches and grocery stores. Printing fliers in Spanish and distributing them to Hispanic churches and stores, he said, would get more members of that community interested in what's going on outside their neighborhoods.

It's always about catering to them....never any push for them to make an effort. Hispanic churches, hispanic stores......Print everything in Spanish......how about English classes!!!!!! What about the REST of the people there?

EASY, just learn spanish the way you are suppose to learn spanish!

The problem may be, sorry I know you have seen this before but it works for this article.

The ILLEGALS in the our Texas School System are so illiterate that “ourâ€