DREAM CITY 2020: Unity, education part of Latino dream

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the 22nd in a series of columns about the future of the Pikes Peak region written by community leaders and visionaries. It's part of the ongoing community initiative Dream City: Vision 2020. Share your vision at dreamcity2020.com.

Most of the Dream City visions discussed so far have dealt with infrastructure needs such as buildings, roads, highways, mass transit, potential employers and jobs, expanded opportunities in the arts, culture and higher education, world-class athletic and Olympic facilities, etc.

All of this is wonderful and needed for the entire community. However, it's now time to focus on sectors of the community whose needs are often not seriously considered, such as the African-American and Hispanic communities.

Let's look at the Hispanic community in particular.

In spite of the fact that we have a Hispanic mayor and a few other prominent Latinos, and even if Latinos are the largest ethnic minority group in the area, the Hispanic/Latino community is politically weak and relatively disenfranchised.

There are presently more than 78,000 Latinos in El Paso County, about 13 percent of the population. By 2020 the number will have increased to about 25 percent of the total population, reflecting trends in the state as a whole.

This is significant, and could signal a move toward greater participation in the life of the community. But some things will have to change, both in and out of the Hispanic community, for the group to reach a far higher level of accomplishment and participation.

The truth is that in spite of some improvements, Latinos are overrepresented in the ranks of the low-income, the high school dropouts, the imprisoned and the unskilled and unemployed. In contrast, Latinos are underrepresented among college graduates, professionals, business owners and entrepreneurs, elected and appointed officials, and other categories that signal success in society.

If we are to live up to our Dream City goals, we must foster greater inclusivity and greater economic, political and social success for all people in Colorado Springs. To make this happen, we need to bring into the mainstream an especially large group like the Latinos.

This means that Hispanic goals should be an essential part of the general set of goals, something that any large constituency has the right to ask for. This is not the case right now, and it is completely inexcusable. If we don't make a real effort to improve the condition of Latinos, this very big group of people will not join the Dream City, and we can't let that happen.

What is the main goal for the Hispanic community? The answer to that question is, "To join the mainstream."

But how do we do this?

The answer is not difficult or particularly complex. But first, let me list some important things that need to happen inside the Hispanic community.

1. We need to stop bickering among ourselves and start cooperating. This cannot be overemphasized. Disunity has been a problem.

2. Hispanic leadership organizations need to be revitalized and supported by our community. We need many new people to come in and take the lead in community self-improvement. Apathy is no longer an option.

3. Our leaders need to look back and extend a helping hand to those still struggling. We cannot turn our backs on those still behind because we feel that "we have gotten our piece of the pie." Individual self-interest needs to work with communal self-interest, especially in business and entrepreneurial development.

If we can do these three things, then we can legitimately ask others for the help that we deserve. What kind of help would this be?

As part of the Pikes Peak region, Latinos interact with everybody. But we need to interact at a higher level, in a more organic and integrated way. In other words, we need to move to the center from the margins. But we can't do that unless the larger community helps us. Here's a list of a few things that need to happen in order to bring about a greater measure of Hispanic success.

1. Reduce the Hispanic school dropout/push-out rate by implementing cultural diversity education in all of our schools. By 2020 it is entirely possible that the majority in our urban school districts will be Hispanic, as is the case in Denver and Pueblo. We must absolutely be prepared for this demographic change.

2. Enhance the level of opportunity in the trades for Hispanic workers. Many thousands are presently trapped on the lowest rungs of the economic ladder and cannot assume their rightful place among the ranks of skilled workers. This means job training and more job training.

3. Open up the colleges and universities for thousands of young Latinos who need student aid and in-state tuition to prepare themselves for careers, especially in the teaching profession.

4. Establish city- and county-sponsored citizen boards, such as a human relations commission, which would advise elected officials and advocate on behalf of disenfranchised communities.

5. Latinos are overwhelmingly U.S.-born, full-fledged American citizens, and the majority speak English as their first language. In terms of immigration, by the year 2020, the current waves of Latino immigration will have subsided. We won't have people coming in such large numbers, but if we don't integrate the immigrants who are here now, we will consign them to a "permanent state of immigration," even to the second or third generation. We can envision the year 2020 to be a time when we will fully accept Latino immigrants.

6. Teach tolerance and appreciation for diversity. These terms are not clichés - they mean something - and every one of us must live the principles they embody.

If we do these things, and others, we can realistically contemplate our community life in 2020 as one of much greater harmony and peace, with far less poverty, homelessness, crime and social failure.