SC Commission for Minority Affairs to host the State’s First SC Hispanic/Latino Affairs Summit

The South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs will host the first South Carolina Hispanic/Latino Affairs Summit on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Midlands Technical College Airport Campus (1260 Lexington Dr., Room AC 143, West Columbia, SC 29170).

The free event will highlight the economic, social, and cultural contributions of the State of South Carolina’s Hispanic/Latino community. Community, faith-based, and thought leaders will also have an opportunity to network and share their experiences advocating for the Hispanic/Latino community.

Beaufort County School District Superintendent Dr. Frank Rodriguez will deliver the keynote address. Dr. Rodriguez served the South Florida educational community for 26 years in a variety of positions prior to starting his position as superintendent of the Beaufort County School District. At the Florida Department of Education, Dr. Rodriguez served as a secondary Social Studies teacher and a program coordinator. He was also an elementary and secondary principal, an assistant superintendent for six district departments, and an area and regional superintendent in the Palm Beach County schools.

Dr. Rodriguez earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Social Science Education from Florida State University (1993), his Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Florida Atlantic University (2000), and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University (2009).

Other speakers include Maria Yturria, Deputy Chief of Professional Development/Public Affairs Office at Richland County Sheriff’s Department; The Honorable Michèle Patrão Forsythe, Family Court Judge at Charleston Circuit 9; Ivan Segura, Director of Multicultural Affairs at SCCMA; Vanessa Gongora, Territory Director for Norsan Media; Melanie Delgado, former Infrastructure Implementation Communications Intern at The White House; and Sarai Melendez, Councilmember of the City of Walhalla.

Registration is required to attend. To reserve your ticket, visit Eventbrite.

For more information, contact the SC Commission for Minority Affairs at 803-333-9621.

SC Commission for Minority Affairs’ Hispanic/Latino Affairs Division Hosts South Carolina Latinx Student Summits

The South Carolina Latinx Student Summit is an initiative of the Commission’s Pathways for Latinos to Advance Career and Education (PLACE) Program, which is designed to collaborate efforts among educators, professionals and community organizations seeking to connect Latinx students and young professionals across the state. The ultimate goal is to foster educational development and career advancement.

PLACE creates a network of Latinx students and young professionals to learn through their shared experiences and available resources, and the activities are determined by the unique needs and goals of these individuals. PLACE provides a networking and brainstorming platform where ideas are interchanged, resources are shared, and a sense of pride and belonging is cultivated amongst South Carolina’s Latinx youth.  

For more information, contact Ivan Segura at 803-995-8518 or isegura@cma.sc.gov.

About the SC Latinx Student Summit Icon:

Designed by Dre Lopez, the icon used for the SC Latinx Student Summit is of a butterfly which symbolizes change, evolution, growth and forward movement.  “Both in the now for so many, as well as in ancient times to our many indigenous ancestors,” Lopez said. The style of drawing itself is directly inspired by Aztec drawings and carvings.

All the symbology included in the illustration have to do with movement, change, growth, evolution, and transformation. The Crescent moon represents the Flag of South Carolina, as well as the Aztec god and goddess of the moon. The icon also includes references to plants, nature, the wind, water, and life / creation, death and new beginnings. Within the plants, the main anchor for the whole piece is the state’s official tree, the Sabal palmetto. The colors add a youthful energy to the design.

SC Commission for Minority Affairs’ Hispanic/Latino Affairs Division COVID-19 Action Plan for Agricultural Workers and Latinos Living in Rural SC

The SC Commission for Minority Affairs’ Hispanic/Latino Affairs Division launched the COVID-19 Action Plan for Agricultural Workers and Latinos Living in Rural SC. This action plan calls for collaborative efforts among state agencies, organizations, services providers, and community leaders/brokers to ensure COVID-19 information, materials, testing and vaccinations effectively reach this segment of the population.

The SC Department of Employment and Workforce’s Agricultural Outreach Plan projects the agricultural workforce need for South Carolina at approximately 12,750 workers. This total includes approximately 6,300 migrant and seasonal farm workers and 6,270 H–2A visa holders. The peak season is from April to September.

The fastest growing segment of many rural communities in South Carolina is the Hispanic population. According to the US Census data, the estimated number of Latinos living in rural areas is 23,395.  There are 16 SC Counties that meet the three definitions used by the Federal Government to define Rural: Hampton, Colleton, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Orangeburg, Clarendon, Williamsburg, Marion, Dillon, Marlboro, Chesterfield, Lee, McCormick, Abbeville, Newberry, Cherokee, and Oconee.

The COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled and intensified severe and pervasive health inequities among minority communities. Agricultural workers and individuals living in rural areas face challenges and barriers in accessing health and social services. Issues of trust and immigration-related fears add stress to the already complex interactions in a health care system that is not prepared to effectively meet the language, cultural, or navigation barriers experienced by this population.

• Addressing the needs of agricultural workers and Latinos living in South Carolina during this pandemic is both a moral imperative and pragmatic strategy. Our action plan includes activities designed to ensure information, testing and vaccines reach this segment of the population despite foreseen barriers and difficulties. Our action plan is constantly adapting and includes the following activities:
• Strengthen the working relationship with the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, SC Department of Employment and Workforce, South Carolina Department of Education Migrant Education Program, SC Department of Agriculture and other state agencies entrusted with providing information and resources to agricultural workers and Latinos living in rural areas. 
• Assisting state agencies and service providers to develop culturally and linguistically appropriate materials and resources to reach out to this specific segment of our population.
• Furthering collaborative efforts with state agencies, organizations, coalitions, Latino media and individuals assisting the agricultural worker community and Latinos in rural South Carolina to foster coordinated outreach efforts and sharing of information and resources.
• Fostering the participation of faith-based leaders/organizations in all activities related to keeping this community informed and aware of services and opportunities to receive information, testing and/or vaccination.
• Establishing effective communication channels for community leaders/brokers, organizations and agencies to provide feedback regarding specific needs from the community they serve and to establish additional needed items for the action plan.
• Offering cultural sensitivity training to state agencies, service providers and organizations in working with the agricultural worker community.
• Influencing State Government and decision makers to ensure adequate materials and vaccines are available for this segment of the population.

If you are a service provider interested in joining the COVID-19 Action Plan for Agricultural Worker and Latinos Living in Rural SC, please enter your information on our COVID-19 Statewide Workgroup for Latinx and Immigrant Communities directory. Make sure to select you are providing services to farmworkers and/or in rural areas. You can also contact Ivan Segura, Program Manager for the Hispanic/Latino Affairs Division at 803-995-8518 or isegura@cma.sc.gov. En español

The SC Commission for Minority Affairs has formed a statewide working group of individuals, organizations and businesses serving the Latinx and immigrant communities in South Carolina. The purpose of the work group is to coordinate and share information and resources available across the state. The group created a Directory of Service Providers to facilitate the process of finding resources, sharing information and promoting networking.

If you, or your organization, are assisting the Latinx/immigrant community, or if you want to start helping, contact Ivan Segura at isegura@cma.sc.gov.

CMA Sessions Highlights Community Leaders on Different Topics of Interest for Minority Communities

CMA Sessions are a series of educational conversations, webinars and workshops to present information, resources and development opportunities. Presenters at the CMA Sessions include community activists, educators, social workers and experts on different areas of interest for minority communities in South Carolina. CMA Sessions are presented in English and/or Spanish, and air on Facebook. Click to view past episodes. 

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