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Immigrants in the greater
Washington area who are struggling to adjust to their adopted
country are finding a variety of institutions and individuals eager to
reach out to them. We’ll introduce you to Jose Vanegas, an independent
TV producer, who is the executive director of an organization that works
with Latino youth to help steer them away from violence
and gangs.
Barrios Unidos, or United Neighbourhoods, of Northern Virginia is part
of a country-wide network that reaches out to young people, particularly
the children of immigrants from Latin America, and tries to provide
positive alternatives to violent or illegal activity.
Right now I'm working with at-risk youth.. er.. Barrios Unidos, and
we have a variety of services for kids from eight to twelve to teens in
high school who might ha..might have the possibility of getting into
trouble, gangs, ..er.. problems at home, things like that, we have
prevention, intervention, and other alternative programs for
them.
Forty-year-old Jose
Vanegas says his organization tries to give young people a
positive view of themselves, and an alternative to gangs and
the street as a source of status, respect and a sense of
accomplishment. It provides courses, mentors, and role
models to encourage young people to achieve their
full potential, and it stages fun events like dances and
cultural festivals. The young people are expected to
participate in the committees planning and organizing all
these activities. Barrios Unidos hopes this will lead to
bonding, and develop self-respect and a sense of
community.
I've been able to establish a leadership group of.. er.
Latino high school students. They have a lot of issues.. er..
they have a lot of issues at home, at school, but I notice
that they are lacking.. er.. not only guidance but also
the.. the lack of participation in their community.
So I was able to tell them that.. y’know.. I would like to
do activities with them, once a month, one social and one
community service. And the first thing that we did was ..er..
we made food for the day labourers, and they helped me give
out the food..er..for the day labourers. And I told
them, when you give out the food I want you to talk to one
person and find out where they’re coming from, what's going
on with them, why they're here. And they did, and they found
it very beneficial.
Northern Virginia is home to many immigrants from Latin
America who have no full-time jobs, but gather each
morning on busy street corners or in vacant lots, waiting
for employers to pick them up for whatever work they have
for them that day. These day labourers take jobs that
American workers often disdain: they lay brick and tile,
they paint, they dig, they haul, they clean,
they cut down trees and rake leaves, they build, they
demolish; whatever comes their way. Jose Vanegas's
involvement in the Hispanic community actually began with an
interest in the problems of day labourers.
I started working with the Hispanic community of
Virginia, and part of my work was.. er.. working with the
day labourers. Y’know, I saw their needs, that they don't
really have… erm.. too many people they can trust or
talk to, … erm… they're very marginalized, so when… when I
started talking to them they saw me as their friend, so that
kind of enticed me to start to work with them as much as
possible. |
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Jose Vanegas immigrated to
the United States from Colombia with his parents when he was 10 years
old. He says he grew up in a relatively stable environment. His
father had a catering business, his mother, a nurse in Colombia, became
an accountant in America. He studied radio and TV production in college,
and now free-lances, producing everything from documentaries to wedding
films to commercials for local businesses. But he admits he once lived a
lifestyle much like that of the troubled young people he's now
trying to help.
I had my trials and tribulations, you know, I had my.. my ups and
downs, substance abuse.. er.. here and there, treatment,.. er.. knowing
what it’s like to be, y’know, treated for something that is an
illness but people look at it as something criminal. Erm… so I had
some experiences that have shown me what it's like, erm… so based on
those experiences I have learned how to deal with people who have those
same issues.
Most of Jose Vanegas's professional activity, like his community
service, is bilingual, and based in the Latino community. Tied as he is
to his Hispanic roots, Mr. Vanegas tries to instil in the young
people with whom he works a similar respect for their cultural heritage.
I tell people that you gotta*, you gotta always see the whole
picture, and take the best of.. of.. of.. everything, you know.
Latino culture is unique. You take the best of both worlds, put them
together, and it's.. it’s.. it’s like dynamite. So.. yeah.. that's what
I tell people. Everybody, every culture, every race, everybody has
something to contribute.
Jose Vanegas believes he practices what he preaches, and that in his own
life he brings together the Hispanic and the American worlds. And he
considers himself fortunate to be able to do something positive
for both Latinos and the broader community through his work with United
Neighbourhoods - Barrios Unidos. |
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