LULAC Emerging Latino Communities Study.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) announced that Latinos are no longer limited to the 10 largest metropolitan areas in the country including Los Angeles and Miami. They are demonstrating new patterns of dispersal, moving from large cities into suburbs and new areas such as the mid-South.

According to Census 2000, Latinos now compose 13.3 percent of the total U.S. population. Hispanics became the fastest growing U.S. minority group increasing their numbers 67 percent nationwide from 22.4 million in 1990, to 37.4 million. The change occurred relatively rapidly and in places that had never before witnessed influxes of Latinos including Little Rock, AK, Cicero, IL and Orlando, FL, which has experienced a hypergrowth since 1980 with an 800 percent increase in the Latino population.

“The rapid Hispanic presence in these communities is re-defining the social, demographic and cultural landscape that was really not being experienced before,” said National President Hector Flores. “Although this causes some challenges, Latinos also bring with them unique assets and skills. By bringing a greater awareness of this trend, it is our hope to assess how the U.S. can facilitate an improved quality of life for all of our residents,” he added.

LULAC recognizes some of the barriers that exist when receiving communities are unprepared for the arrival of the quick influx of Hispanics in their area, many of which have not yet mastered the English language. As a result, newly arrived Latinos often face a series of challenges that can range from lack of affordable housing and limited access to health care, to teachers who are not prepared to educate students in the process of learning English as a second language (ESL). “It becomes particularly worrisome when Spanish-dominant Latinos are in need of emergency services such as 911 lines, police departments, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). We are seeing that providers often cannot communicate adequately in a time of crisis,” said Gabriela Lemus, director of policy and legislation for LULAC.

Although Latinos can experience these types of situations, there are instances when they are making a smooth transition into the community. For example, Latino residents in Little Rock, AK, the host-city of this year’s LULAC National Convention, are creating a fluid and progressive dynamic unusual in many cities. “By maintaining an ongoing dialogue and forming unique partnerships with law enforcement officials, educators, and health service providers, we have begun to share each other’s resources that really benefits all Little Rock residents, not just Latino residents,” said Shawn McGrew, Arkansas LULAC state director. The Little Rock Police Department is partnering with LULAC to assist with recruiting new police officers and 911 operators. In addition, a six-month Citizen’s Police Academy where Hispanic business owners are paired with trained police officers has seen success.

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http://www.lulac.org/advocacy/research/growingcommunities.pdf