From: Lanya Shapiro [mailto:lanyashapiro@earthlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2005 6:42 AM
To: cclark@duke.edu
Cc: ypolanco@email.unc.edu; mujeresorg@yahoo.com
Subject: Fw: City slashes El Centro Hispano's funding from $34,000 to $5,000. Urgent need for letters to pressure City Council to continue funding of critical work

Charlotte,

I just got back late Tuesday night from El Salvador. You'll be glad to know that Banks is having lots of fun, despite a *brief* bout with tummy trouble. I think Rob overestimated the number who've gotten sick -- I say less than half!

Anyway, they're doing great and beginning to do some meaningful reflection on the cultural differences and social issues -- notably the ways in which they, as a minority group in El Salvador, are treated differently than Latin Americans here in North Carolina. There are some tremendously valuable learnings in progress, and I wish I could have stayed to be part of the ongoing discussions!! But I'm now in DC for a conference (http://www.ourfuture.org/projects/national_conference/2005/about.cfm) which is wonderful and compelling in a different way.

A request for you:

Could you please forward the message below to the parents of the students in El Salvador?

PARENTS:

El Centro Hispano's funding from the City of Durham has been drastically cut and we need help persuading City Council to restore full funding! In light of the horrific cross-burnings (which I only learned about after returning home), this seems a particularly bad move. This email is a week old, however; it's possible (but unlikely) they've done an about-face by now.

As you know, Yesenia has worked for El Centro for years -- in fact, we first met five years ago when I worked with the youth group, JLA (Jovenes Lideres en Accion) on a health education project. She was still in high school when she joined the staff.

I've seen El Centro play an incredibly vital role in the community and I plan to attend the City Council meeting on Monday evening to speak in their support. It would be wonderful to see some of you there. For those who can make that meeting, I can't think of a more meaningful way to thank the people of La Isla -- many of whom, like Yesenia, have family living in Durham -- for the hospitality they've shown to your children. If your kids were home, I bet they'd all show up! For those who can't make it, please call the City Council members, or send an email if you're pressed for time.

Thanks for passing this along!

-- Lanya

Lanya Shapiro, MSW, MPH

1217 Clarendon St.

Durham, NC 27705

www.getTraction.org

-----Forwarded Message-----

From: Paul Savery <psavery@nc.rr.com>

Sent: May 26, 2005 5:41 PM

To:

Subject: Fw: City slashes El Centro Hispano's funding from $44,000 to $5,000. Urgent need for letters to pressure City of Durham to continue funding of El Centro critical work

This week Durham's El Centro Hispano's was notified that it would be funded at $5,000 rather than the $33,900 it received from

the City of Durham, last year.

ECH plans to appeal at City Council chambers Monday, June 6. However City Council members must receive emails, calls and/or letters about the unacceptability of such cuts BEFORE Monday's City council meeting, June 6, 7pm. ECH also needs your presence and support that evening.

ECH drafted a letter which I send here. We ask that you send it to City Council members at the addresses provided ASAP. If you care to tailor your particular letter, all the better.

Dear _________,

My name is _____________ and I am a supporter of El Centro Hispano. I am writing to urge you to fully fund the non-city agency funding request of El Centro Hispano. Funding at a level of $5,000 will simply deprive us this year from partnering with the City in reducing gang violence, connecting Hispanics with decent housing, promoting recreational opportunities and reducing crime.

During the last seven years El Centro Hispano has partnered with the City of Durham in addressing the needs of over 25,000 Hispanics that today call Durham their home. El Centro Hispano's proposal addresses critical needs in areas where City staff needs the support and "cultural Intelligence" provided to the City by our organization.

El Centro Hispano has met and in many cases exceeded all administrative and outcome expectations during the last fiscal year. Additionally we have continuously worked in collaboration with various City Departments to ensure full access and utilization of City Services by the Latino community. Our plan builds and adds on the capacity of City staff to address the needs of our community in a very cost-effective manner.

El Centro Hispano currently serves not only Hispanic families, but all immigrant families in Durham. Our members come from over 32 countries and are of different races, ethnic backgrounds and often speak other indigenous languages besides Spanish. El Centro therefore serves a tremendously diverse community. The committee's request to serve the larger Durham community ignores the size of the immigrant community and its special needs. By partnering with El Centro Hispano, the City is able to maintain good relationships with our community and provide critical services such as the victim assistance services of the HOIST Program of the Durham Police Department for which El Centro provides free office space. Additionally El Centro Hispano actively collaborates with Durham Parks & Recreation, Human Relations Department, Office of Economic Development, Durham Housing Department and with the Durham Police Department.

Please support our efforts to expand our city's ability to offer constructive alternatives to Hispanic people in this community. Lack of support from the City would effectively deprive thousands of our people from a meaningful connection with the City Services.

Thank you for your work for all of Durham's citizens.

Sincerely,

SEND TO:

Mayor Bill Bell

Phone: (919) 560-4333 ext. 269

Fax: (919) 560-4801

bbell@ci.durham.nc.us

Mayor Pro Tem Cora Cole-McFadden

Phone: (919) 560-4396 or 477-2484

Fax: (919) 560- 4801

ccole-mcfadden@ci.durham.nc.us

John Best

jpbestjr@aol.com

Phone: (919) 560-4396

Fax: (919) 560-4801

Eugene Brown

Phone: (919) 560-4396 ext. 404

Fax: (919) 560-4801

ebrown@ci.durham.nc.us

Diane Catotti

Phone: (919) 560-4396 ext. 401

Fax: (919) 560-4801

diane.catotti@durhamnc.gov

Howard Clement

Phone: (919) 560-4396

Fax: (919) 560-4801

hclement@ci.durham.nc.us

Thomas Stith

Phone: (919) 560-4396

Fax: (919) 560- 4801

tstith@ci.durham.nc.us