Thread: Funding shortfall hampers El Pueblo

RALEIGH -- El Pueblo Inc., a nonprofit advocacy organization working to ensure that Latino voices are heard in the state's public policy circles, has been noticeably quieter in recent months as debate about illegal immigration has grown louder and increasingly bitter.

The Raleigh-based group, which forms an important bridge between North Carolina's rapidly growing immigrant population and the rest of the state, is retrenching after a 30 percent drop in funding, staff cuts and the May departure of its high-profile executive director, Tony Asion. Asion said he left after a rift developed with board members who wanted him to do more fundraising, a duty he thinks is theirs.

"I strongly believe in the mission of the organization and will continue to do anything I can to help," Asion said. "I just don't think it should be me at the helm."

Pablo Escobar, the treasurer on El Pueblo's board of directors, has stepped in part time to run the statewide advocacy group. Meanwhile, board members and remaining staff members are looking to grass-roots groups to fill the void on programs the Raleigh organization has stepped away from.

"El Pueblo's taking a back seat right now," he said.

El Pueblo's money woes are mirrored by other Hispanic advocacy groups rocked by a recession that has triggered a reduction in funding from foundations and other donors. In Carrboro, El Centro Latino, a community center that offered English classes, after-school child care and employment assistance, closed its doors in November.

Immigration issues

These losses come at a crucial moment in the immigration debate on the state and national levels. President Barack Obama, facing criticism from many immigrant rights groups, called for comprehensive immigration reform in a speech Thursday. An already heated debate has been fueled by the president's recent decision to send more National Guard troops to the Southwest border and the passage of a bill in Arizona this spring that requires local law enforcement to check a person's immigration status.

In North Carolina, which the 2000 U.S. Census found had the fastest-growing Hispanic population in the country, illegal immigration has also been contentious. In 2008, the Pew Hispanic Center estimated the state's illegal immigration population at 350,000. Several counties, including Mecklenburg, Wake and Alamance, joined forces with immigration enforcement agents to begin deportation proceedings against jail inmates.

State Rep. George Cleveland of Jacksonville wants to see the state get tougher on immigration. He backs a bill that would require North Carolina businesses to make sure a person is legally allowed to work in the United States before hiring them.

"Why on God's green earth should an illegal alien have the same rights as a citizen of this country?" Cleveland asked. "There's no place in my constitution that says this is supposed to be."

Formed in the mid 1990s, El Pueblo reached its funding peak in 2009 with an operating budget of $1.3 million and a staff of 15, said Escobar, the interim executive director. But with the recession, funding dropped to about $1 million this year, and the staff was slashed to 10 positions.

Filling the void are grassroots groups from around the state. On Thursday, about 40 religious leaders met as part of an ongoing dialogue the N.C. Council of Churches is holding on immigration and how it factors into faith communities.

"We talk about separation of church and state, but that doesn't mean silence," said Bishop Al Gwinn of the N.C. Conference of the United Methodist Church.

But El Pueblo's doors aren't closed, Escobar said. The group is still keeping track of the state legislature and running programs that focus on public health issues. The group is also gearing up forFiesta, an annual event celebrating Hispanic culture and heritage that's held every September at the N.C. State Fairgrounds.

"The work is still getting done," Escobar said. "Our big concern is that people's human rights are being respected."

sarah.ovaska@newsobserver.com or 919-829-4622

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/07/06/ ... z0ssjYSH4F

"Why on God's green earth should an illegal alien have the same rights as a citizen of this country?" Cleveland asked. "There's no place in my constitution that says this is supposed to be."

It's a damn shame more NC politicians won't come out with the same sentiment! We are over-run with illegals, and you know more will be coming since Bev and CO just love the illegals.

I reported a company in Smithfield that employees mostly Hispanics, they offer LOW wages for technical jobs so you know they employee illegals.... and yet nothing has been done to date.

To late we have learned when a State becomes infested with Illegal Immigrants their irrational advocacy groups showup too. The groups make unfair demands if anyone tries to enforce our laws and are a general pain in our backside.

This is good news and maybe more of these groups will disolve,for lack of funds, if more IA's lose jobs/ go home.