2008 Woodie Awards
City reaches out to booming hispanic population
Elise Sommerfeldt
Issue date: 7/4/07 Section: News
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The Hispanic population in Whitewater is growing, and several community organizations are working to accommodate the culture.
Whitewater has 873 Hispanics or Latinos, 703 of them being of Mexican decent, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.
The city's ethnically diverse population is welcomed by the Police Department, community leaders and religious groups, although some said this welcome is long overdue.
The city has offered conversational Spanish language classes to city employees to increase communication.
Jorge Islas-Martinez is the president of what some would call a 'Hispanic Organization' called Sigma America.
Martinez labeled his group as a community organization and said "Every person is welcome: Anglos, Hispanics, everyone. Sigma is the Greek symbol for unity, it's not a Latino or Hispanic symbol."
The group's mission is to promote culture, assistance and education. Its main goal is to see Whitewater reach a cohesive state between whites and Mexican-Americans.
Sigma America, which has about 60 participating members, has organized some positive events to help the community.
Last December, Sigma America cleaned up Main Street and collected 230 bags of leaves. They plan to hold the event again later this year.
Martinez and Sigma America are responsible for changing some discriminatory laws that our local police were enforcing.
Whitewater Chief of Police James Coan said the law enforcement officials have tweaked rules to avoid discrimination against Hispanics.
"In the past we've asked people for their Social Security numbers when we write tickets in case wages need to be garnished," Coan said. "The Mexican population have misinterpreted that as a hunt for illegal immigrants."
The allegations were false and the police department no longer asks for Social Security numbers.
The police department has also translated brochures to Spanish and hired Spanish-speaking officers of Hispanic decent.
Whitewater has 873 Hispanics or Latinos, 703 of them being of Mexican decent, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.
The city's ethnically diverse population is welcomed by the Police Department, community leaders and religious groups, although some said this welcome is long overdue.
The city has offered conversational Spanish language classes to city employees to increase communication.
Jorge Islas-Martinez is the president of what some would call a 'Hispanic Organization' called Sigma America.
Martinez labeled his group as a community organization and said "Every person is welcome: Anglos, Hispanics, everyone. Sigma is the Greek symbol for unity, it's not a Latino or Hispanic symbol."
The group's mission is to promote culture, assistance and education. Its main goal is to see Whitewater reach a cohesive state between whites and Mexican-Americans.
Sigma America, which has about 60 participating members, has organized some positive events to help the community.
Last December, Sigma America cleaned up Main Street and collected 230 bags of leaves. They plan to hold the event again later this year.
Martinez and Sigma America are responsible for changing some discriminatory laws that our local police were enforcing.
Whitewater Chief of Police James Coan said the law enforcement officials have tweaked rules to avoid discrimination against Hispanics.
"In the past we've asked people for their Social Security numbers when we write tickets in case wages need to be garnished," Coan said. "The Mexican population have misinterpreted that as a hunt for illegal immigrants."
The allegations were false and the police department no longer asks for Social Security numbers.
The police department has also translated brochures to Spanish and hired Spanish-speaking officers of Hispanic decent.
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