Latino Focus Group
Feedback
Latino Focus Group
Communication
Unity Council Report
Feedback
Across both focus groups , participants wanted to see more inclusive and widespread communication on public resources and services . Though they acknowledge that the city is doing more to connect with its Latino residents ( like the focus groups ), but participants wanted to see communication on Spanish TV nightly news , Spanish morning radio , and translators at town halls . Participants also wanted to see more focus groups conducted with more granular sectors of the Latino community .
• “ There are programs out there , especially after the pandemic that have been accessible to individuals . The only thing is that , how are they accessible … It was so difficult to find anything in Spanish on the [ City ] website … I believe the only thing I was able to find is the public library provides all these workshops and bilingual Classes for Arlington residents , but I feel like there needs to be more like if there ’ s a town hall , there needs to be a translator .”
Public Resources
Throughout the focus groups , greater access to public resources was something that the participants wanted to see in the future . These resources include technology , healthcare , transportation , language services , child and senior care , immigration assistance , and affordable housing .
Technology
• “ A challenge that we have is access to Internet and you know those hot spots . I know that they have been very active in trying to provide hotspots for the families that don ’ t have access to Internet but then even when you do provide that to them , then it ’ s how do you connect it and following the directions , even when you provide the directions in Spanish . It ’ s still challenging It ’ s just that they ’ re not familiar , you know with connecting that way … that ’ s another thing that has been very problematic and a huge challenge and making sure that our kids that are at home that are limited resources that have access to education is access to Internet … technology and so seeing our parents struggle right now with … even knowing how to create an email account , and then remembering the password to the account , and then checking your email account . At that very basic level . And so , you know , going from face to face to virtual online instruction has been a tremendous challenge … and we ’ ve had to help our parents , one-on-one , including typing .”
Healthcare
• “ The Hispanic population to not sugarcoat it we ’ re dying like dogs from diabetes and from healthcare insufficiency and unnecessary the health care system . It ’ s just such a complex answer but healthcare , I ’ d say is the major problem among the Middle to older age population . And it ’ s an access issue , right . Because if you are , you ’ re on undocumented individual , but there are some charity clinics and community clinics that exists out there so It ’ s an access issue , but it ’ s also a cultural issue oftentimes we [ Latinos ] wait until something bad happens to go to take care of our health . So It ’ s multifaceted right . I don ’ t think the city can necessarily solve all the problems through policy . We ’ ve got to have boots on the ground , boots on the On TV people in the community and among our own family . So for that generation , I ’ d say healthcare is the major issue . And that also stems from lower socio-economic status . Are you going to focus on your health when you ’ re sending money to your country of origin and Maintaining your family here and your kids are going to school ?”
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