Friday, November 3rd, 2000
Day 8
Today's Contact Person: Susan Sell-612.823.5901 or jhsell@wavefront.com
WebReporter/Photographer-Edie Kalweit
| Schedule of Activities | |
 Youth at schools with
new host family 9:00 am: Arrive at SJA 9:30 am: Centro Culturo Chicano,
1915 Chicago Avenue, Mpls 612.874.1412 11 am: Holy Rosary Church and Food
Shelf, 2424 18th Ave. S Mpls. Lunch in St. Paul Visit to 10,000 Villages Shop 2-3 pm: Visit to Oficina Legal, 179
E. Robie St. St. Paul Supper with host families 8 pm: Cabaret in SJA Gym |
 |
We started the day at Centro Culturo Chicano,
located at 1915 Chicago Ave., Mpls. This organization has been
in existence for over 25 years, starting in north Minneapolis,
and since then moving to two locations on the south side.
Provided here are services to minority communities, mostly
Latino. They describe themselves as a friendly "starting place"
for people in need. Help is initiated in housing, health, food,
language and day care. Physicians are on duty-limited hours
during the week as well as nurse practitioners to care for
children and post-natal mothers.
We sat in the most beautifully painted
conference room, the walls brightly painted by a Mexican
artist, "Trujillo", who resides in Minneapolis. In this room,
the "law of the land" is communicated to families relocated
here who may be naive to our cultural customs. An example they
gave was one concerning an older sibling(say 6 years old)
caring for a baby. In our social service system they may see
that parent as abusive or negligent in leaving a baby with one
so young. So children are not taken from the ones who love
them, this center teaches these transplanted human beings "the
ropes" in our society. They are taught English as a second
language, health, legal information, housing advocacy and
provided with food or childcare as needed. All of these
services are either provided without charge or for minimal
charge. Bread, for example donated by a bakery in Brooklyn
Park, sat in one corner on a table in the clinic waiting
room.
Our second stop was to Holy Rosary Catholic
Church, located at 2424 18th Ave. in Minneapolis. Sister Martha
greeted us, (as well as everyone else crossing the threshold),
and extended the hospitality of donuts and coffee. A Friday
morning sewing class was in progress, as well as people coming
in from outside taking advantage of gratis bread, donated by
Good Harvest Bakery, and clothing donated by other angels.
Like Centro Culturo Chicano, one noticed much
camaraderie among the participants. Holy Rosary feeds 400
people every day of the workweek, (with the help of 30 other
parishes preparing food). Over the course of a year, they also
help about four hundred families obtain furniture. One walked
away feeling that this was a "safe haven" to those in both
physical and emotional need.
Our last stop today was to "Oficina Legal"
located at 179 Robie St., St. Paul. Oficina Legal is an
immigration rights advocacy organization and a recipient of an
SJA Justice Fund award. One of our SCC's also volunteers with
the office. John Keller, attorney at law and excellent Spanish
communicator (native Minnesotan), spent an hour with us sharing
legal and political issues dealt with by this office. Again, it
was apparent John was passionate litigating on behalf of the
Latino community, not employed here for personal gain.
Refreshing to say the least! It reminded me that we often
forget that there are many fine lawyers in this land acting on
behalf of humankind.
