Thread: Migrant festival promotes diversity

I posted this on the Home Page, partly because it is only about 20 miles from where the ALIPAC town meeting is happening tonight.

http://www.alipac.us/article-371--0-0.html

April 26,2005
Mark Lineberger
staff writer-Kinston Free Press
Topics: Illegal Immigrants, Illegal Immigration,
Students, Education, Migrants
Adjusting to life in a new country has never been easy, but free food and music can certainly help.

It might even be fun, as hundreds of Lenoir County's fastest growing community learned Sunday at the annual Migrant International Festival, sponsored by Lenoir County Public Schools at the County Livestock Arena.

The immigrant population has grown by leaps and bounds in Eastern North Carolina, and the language barrier can often lead to ignorance about what services exist in a community that could make a new arrival's life easier.

While there was singing, dancing driven by smoking brass rhythms, good eats and even a piñata to bash, festival organizers said they hoped the crowd took away something besides a full stomach.

"They come because of the music and food," said Vivian Torres, a migrant tutor with the school system. "But the important thing is that they learn what's available here."

Torres gestured to a tent where several organizations were giving out information in Spanish about what they had to offer: Everyone from 4-H to the public library was represented, the latter offering a smattering of literature, both practical and entertaining, available in Spanish.

Other services showed how they could keep immigrant families healthier, such as the Linkline telephone service offered through Lenoir Memorial Hospital.

"The phone book isn't always the best way to find what you're looking for," said Connie Schlienz, stopping to hand out informative brochures to curious browsers. "We try to simplify everything down so people can call just one number and get directed to what they need."

Despite the resources on display, some festival-goers weren't terribly impressed at the wealth of information. Six-year-old Archna Ruiz said she'd much rather look at the llamas and goats looking for attention in the petting zoo out front.

"When she saw the animals, she ran right over here and hasn't left since," said Archna's older sister, Jennifer Ruiz. "I'm from Raleigh here visiting my father and we thought this would be something good to do."

"We're working to help new students and their families get adjusted," Torres said.

"We're working to help new students and their families get adjusted," Torres said.

And working to teach them how to get as much American tax payer's money as possible along with teaching them how to use the "legal system" to get away with breaking the American Laws.

Would've been a nice occaision for a roundup.

Stop pandering to these criminals and deport them!

Aside from entering the US illegally there's the offense of assault and battery of a pinata as well.

Originally Posted by rickesteves

Would've been a nice occaision for a roundup.

It would fit in nicely with the rodeo show.
Seriously though, the 4-H club has been around for years. They aren't really handing out little booklets in spanish are they?

Well, there goes a little more of our tax dollars. No wonder our schools are in such bad shape. I think they could have better spent that money educating OUR children. Whose idea was it anyway to make it SO easy for them to tap into all of the resources of this state???

Originally Posted by Bootsie

Well, there goes a little more of our tax dollars. No wonder our schools are in such bad shape. I think they could have better spent that money educating OUR children. Whose idea was it anyway to make it SO easy for them to tap into all of the resources of this state???

the politicians that have political afterlife aspirations in the private sector is who.

Was anyone there protesting the event?

If not, could there have been?

Was the event publicized in a such manner that protestors could have gotten there and demonstrated an alternative, and concerned point of view?

How about in the future?

Originally Posted by rickesteves

Aside from entering the US illegally there's the offense of assault and battery of a pinata as well.

In light of that hilarious comment, you've got to take a look at this. Your comment reminded me of it.

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-978.html