Program focuses on immigrant outreach

Peter Loach grew up in the Charlottesville area, and in his younger days there weren’t many Hispanics around.

He left the area, and was gone for some 20 years. He spent Much of that time in Latin America. When he returned to his hometown, Loach noticed a difference.

“When I came back, I thought, jeez, there are a lot of Hispanic people here,” he said last week.

Loach, deputy director of operations for the Piedmont Housing Alliance, was among a group of people and other organizations who noticed a problem: The growing Hispanic population needed help making its way through a culture that was alien to many of them.

So, in May 2005, the Piedmont Housing Alliance held a meeting with leaders of the Hispanic community to explore a way to help them.

That meeting led to Creciendo Juntos, or Growing Together. It is a resource for Hispanics, and other non-English-speaking residents, which helps them in crucial areas:

l finding community resources and services;

l gaining information on legal rights and laws; and

l discovering benefits provided by the community.

The Hispanic population has increased from 3,217 in 2000 to 4,821 last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The area’s job opportunities — service industry, construction and agriculture — are a big draw for Hispanics, according to the Creciendo Juntos Web site.

And it appears that the Hispanic population continues to grow.

John Freeman, assistant director of Albemarle County’s social services department, has seen it.

“There has been a decided growth” in the Hispanic population, he said. “We have taken numerous steps to improve access” for them.

Between Jan. 1 and May 31, some 325 non-English speakers have visited Albemarle social services for help or information, Freeman said. Eighty percent of them were Hispanics.

“That’s a fairly significant number,” he said of the visits.

Last year, Albemarle and Charlottesville pitched in to help Creciendo Juntos, donating $25,000. Otherwise, there is a lot of volunteer time that keeps the program running, Loach said.

Since the program began, more than 100 individuals and organizations have taken part in the regular meetings, workshops and events, Loach said.

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday at the Albemarle County Office Building on Fifth Street Extended. It will focus on what the Boys & Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Girl Scouts offer. It is free and will run from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

The Creciendo Juntos Web site continues to grow in popularity, Loach said, noting that more than 3,000 visit it each month.

He expects that, like the Hispanic community itself, Creciendo Juntos also will grow.

“There’s a lot of interest out there.”