Volume2 A Historical Account of Their Settlement 1990-2009 Co-editors: OSHENWC4 OLLEGE Bee e weer eeeeeeeneses Peeee erweeeeeeeeeese ee CENTER FOR INTERCULTURAL TEACHING AND LEARNING © Goshen College, 2011 Illustrations: © ImageZoo Illustration/Veer Photography: Axel Hernandez, One Studios Design: Jane Norton, Creative Solutions Volume2 Latinos in North Central Indiana: A Historical Account of Their Settlement 1990-2009 Maya Parson Josefa Palacios Juan Carlos Guzman Co-editors: J. Roberto Reyes Juan Carlos Guzman Second in a series of three research reports produced by the Institute for Latino Educational Achievement at the Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning March 2011 y4 GOSHEN WZCOLLEGE AS. Sp TA eee Perec crccsoeecesones CENTER FOR INTERCULTURAL TEACHING AND LEARNING 1700 South Main Street, Goshen, IN 46526 (800) 348-7422 ¢ www.goshen.edu Produced in collaboration with: I] UNIVERSITY OF Institute for Latino Studies 230 McKenna Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556 (866) 460-5586 e latinostudies.nd.edu Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning Since 1968 Goshen College has been a leader in international and experiential learning through our Study-Service Term. Building on this experience and responding to the cultural and demographic changes that have taken place in north central Indiana in recent years, Goshen College launched the Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning (CITL). The focus of CITL is to examine the intersection of cultural beliefs and practices to advancements in teaching and learning. As part of this process, CITL is examining the curricular and co-curricular experience of Latino students on campus as well as the social, economic and educational factors that influence their transition to College. With the publication of this work, CITL is leading the way not only in identifying the educational needs of Latino students in our region, but also in identifying where further research may be needed and its implications for future policy and program interventions. To this end, we are very thankful to have had the opportunity to begin this important work with the support and collaboration of a remarkable team of scholars from the Institute for Latino Studies (ILS) at the University of Notre Dame. Their level of expertise and passion in studying the Latino experience in the Midwest was instrumental in making this project a success. Therefore, we look to the future with excitement, knowing that this study lays an important foundation in the understanding of the social and educational experiences of Latino immigrant youth in Indiana. ; GL ames Brenneman President Goshen College il Latinos in North Central Indiana Institute for Latino Studies Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies (ILS) has a long history of working with other institutes and centers to better understand national socioeconomic trends affecting Latinos. Our collaboration with Goshen College’s Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning (CITL) has grown out of our mutual desire to make an impact on the local level. Over the last two decades, Latinos have increasingly been settling in smaller urban centers across the Midwest, and by partnering with CITL, we have been able to study in depth local communities that have been a part of this trend. Latinos are making a vital contribution to the local culture and economy, but Latinos here still face many challenges, including an economy in transition, and a school system that too often fails to see its students graduate. These challenges are not unique to the area, and they can only be met with meaningful responses by more fully understanding both the communities at hand, and the greater context in which they exist. ILS is proud of our collaboration with CITL. We feel our relationship gives both our organizations the opportunity to learn more about our communities and to explore ways we can improve their wellbeing. We are hopeful that by continuing our relationship, we can help to deliver real improvements to the local area and provide a blueprint for others seeking to better integrate and strengthen their own communities. Gilberto Cardenas Assistant Provost, Julian Samora Chair in Latino Studies Director, Institute for Latino Studies University of Notre Dame Volume 2: A Historical Account of Their Settlement, 1990—2009 111 Acknowledgments (A p= This publication was made possible by a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. Leary: ENDOWMENT SaleNvGes We want to take this opportunity thank the many people who contributed to the success of this study. We would like to thank, first of all, Lilly Endowment Inc. for their generous financial support that led to the formation of CITL at Goshen College. We would also like to thank the CITL staff (Dr. Rebecca Hernandez, Dr. Ross Peterson-Veatch, Rocio Diaz, and Dr. Anita Stalter, VP for Academic Affairs, Academic Dean) and our faculty research fellows (Dr. Lynda Nyce, Dr. Jerrell Ross Richer) for their advice and support throughout the research and writing process as well as our Goshen College student research fellows (Ben Knoll, Morgan Kraybill, Maria Meyer-Byler, Sara Alvarez, Daisy Gaspar, Leah Yoder, Daniel Moya, and Charlotte Barnett) for their assistance and hard work in many aspects of the project. Thanks also to the following officials in the school districts studied: South Bend Community School Corporation: Mr. James Kapsa, Superintendent and Ms. Maritza Robles, Director of Bilingual Education; Elkhart Community Schools: Mr. Mark T. Mow, Superintendent and Dr. John R. Hill, Director of Curriculum and Instruction; West Noble School Corporation: Dr. Dennis VanDuyne, Superintendent; Goshen Community Schools: Dr. Bruce Stahly, Superintendent and Dr. Diane Woodworth, Deputy Superintendent. Also, we would want to take this opportunity to thank the countless number of leaders in our community that were instrumental in helping us develop this study. Among them we would like to specially thank Mr. Jimmer Prieto and Ms. Zulma Prieto, Mr. Miguel Millan, Mr. Isrrael Mujica, Mr. Gilberto Perez, Ms. Araceli Lepe, and Rev. Jose Luis Gutierrez from Goshen, Ms. Liliana Quintero from the Hispanic Latino Health Coalition of Elkhart County, Ms. Rebecca Ruvalcaba from La Casa de Amistad in South Bend, and Ms. Margarita White from Noble County Community Foundation in Ligonier. Their support was an invaluable gift to the development of this effort. Finally, thanks to our colleagues at the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame (Dr. Karen Richman, Tracy Grimm, Maria Awal, Dr. Andrew Deliyannides, Josefa Palacios, and Allert Brown-Gort) for their contributions throughout the development of the research project. Latinos in North Central Indiana About the Project The goal of this study is to help Goshen College grow in its capacity to address the educational needs of all students of color in our region. One of the initial research projects of Goshen College’s Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning (CITL) was to conduct a community study that explores the presence and experience of Latinos living in North Central Indiana. The study was conducted in collaboration with the Institute for Latino Studies (ILS) at the University of Notre Dame. The study examined three critical areas of the experience of Latinos in North Central Indiana. The first component of the study examines the demographic and economic context by delineating the recent surge of the Latino population since the early 1990s in three counties of North Central Indiana: St. Joseph, Noble, and Elkhart. The second component of the study provides a historical account of the settlement and adjustment experience of Latinos of four representative cities within these counties: South Bend, Elkhart, Goshen, and Ligonier. Through the use of interviews of key informants and archival material this component aims to tell a more personal story of the settlement experiences of Latinos to this area. The third component of the study provides an assessment of the educational experiences of Latino high school students and their families in South Bend, Elkhart, Goshen, and Ligonier. Through the use of focus groups and interviews, this component aims to study how the educational systems in North Central Indiana are experienced by Latino immigrant students, Latino parents, and school administrators. Through this project CITL and ILS strive to provide community leaders, students, educators, and policymakers a more comprehensive understanding of the social, economic, historical, and educational factors affecting Latinos in North Central Indiana and the implications for access to higher education in the years to come. Ls Ag, P> fuk} J. Roberto Reyes Juan Carlos Guzman Project Co-editor Project Co-editor Director of Research Director of Research Center for Intercultural Institute for Latino Studies Teaching and Learning University of Notre Dame Goshen College Volume 2: A Historical Account of Their Settlement, 1990—2009 , R Eg Ti R C Te,SthS aye I Vit, sh SnL, OI A a A t u Y SRE a rcRNa cpoitveaae n dlinscameemnlen we na aE eme og c e e T e SO . a BteA.Ug Mes Contents VNCHE(EILGUSO T 3.2 ER See a A ng arc renee Seana 3 CODD HOU «56 tis5 ede ae elena ae ee i) EPORITE 3 cys 2g 13 CIATED bosa contsch ce aeabpc eehe e RO pee a Ceg a aa a 21 SHSUED . oTeec note ale fe cee oe ieee eae oo 2] SUTUIETR s uly cu Snir En ec 39 ANNEMUI RA MIETIOUOIOSY of 2 caer tc ein wa eee tale ce nes 3] Appendix B: Interview Questionnaires ....................0000ceeeee 38 BOON UEIAUUIDES ie tae nee, Sse Ss oa. See ee 42 Volume 2: A Historical Account of Their Settlement, 1990—2009