Workforce Language Services

Tacoma, Washington just hired the city’s first Hispanic community liaison, a move that many said was overdue since the Latino population has been increasing.  The new liaison was introduced at a community forum:

Sabin said people of Hispanic descent who are new to the area – including immigrants from Mexico, Central America and South America – may feel isolated. She wants to incorporate them into the larger Federal Way community. The city invited members of the Hispanic community to a luncheon at City Hall Wednesday to introduce Sabin. The response exceeded the city’s expectations with more than 100 people turning out.

One purpose of the gathering was to ask people how Sabin can serve them.

Interestingly enough, a Latino community member and advocate objected to the choice of liaison since she is white and not Latino.  He commented that she will face a struggle to understand Latino culture so as to be able to do her job well.  His comment is, in a way, extremely short-sighted and doesn’t address the fact that Hispanic culture is diverse.  Many recent immigrants from Latino countries themselves find it necessary to adjust to different cultural aspects and attitudes of those who hail from other Spanish-speaking countries. 

As a bilingual Caucasian, I have also faced the same resistence from members of the Hispanic community that the new liaison will face.  But I have found that through relationship building and communication, these barriers can be overcome and trust can be established with time. 

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