Northfield News shows interest in the Latino Enterprise Center

Posted by Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin on March 22, 2007

I was very happy to see the article in the Northfield News today written by reporter Clarice Grabau titled Latino Enterprise Center aims to integrate community.

I will check into translating it for our Spanish speaking audience, but meanwhile, you can read it below. For more Northfield News articles, you can obtain an on-line subscription, just click on the link above.

By CLARICE GRABAU

NORTHFIELD – What will Northfield look like 20 years from now? In a recent presentation to the Lions Club, resident Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin painted a picture of a bustling, vibrant town, where Latino children, who are today in first or second grade, will be city councilors, school board members, bankers and business owners.

A new Latino Enterprise Center, the brainchild of Haslett-Marroquin, is seeking to “tap into the entrepreneurial skills and spirit of Latinos in Northfield, and to create the foundation necessary for a comprehensive integration of Latinos into the community.”

The purpose of the center is to help area Latinos, estimated to be 5 to 8 percent of Northfield’s population, better integrate into the existing framework of the community, have their voice heard, and work with existing organizations to advance job placement, open a business, or obtain training or education, Haslett-Marroquin said.

It is possible, he says, in part, because Northfield is a nurturing community with a long list of service organizations in place. The goal of the LEC is not to create new organizations but to better utilize those in existence such as the Northfield Enterprise Center, the YMCA, the Northfield Community Action Center, even private business consultants who donate their time, all of whom have recently come together to offer input and services.

“Latinos also have resources of their own,” points out Haslett-Marroquin, “so we help them dig into their own bag. Some have expertise, like computer skills which can help other Latinos. Others may have knowledge in areas such as gardening or farming.”

Progress is becoming more evident, says city Welcome Center Coordinator Marj Evans-de-Carpio.

“Compared to seven years ago, the Latino population today is more settled. More families are living with both parents and the children, whereas seven years ago, a lot of young men were forced to leave their families behind in Mexico. With this stability, good things are happening: more youth are graduating, going on to post-secondary education, and taking on leadership roles in the community,” she said. “Adults are taking advantage of training opportunities and beginning to advance in the workforce. A few have jumped into home ownership.

If those who have the head and heart to go into business are connected with the necessary resources and knowledge to succeed, it will be a benefit to them and to the greater community as new businesses bring new money into the economy.”

“Integration can be seen from two main lenses,” explains Haslett-Marroquin, “civic and economic.” With Evans-de-Carpio heading the civic portion, Haslett-Marroquin says his focus will be on the economic aspects, working through the LEC.

“The LEC emphasizes entrepreneurship because in order to be effective, this needs to come from the people, not the city,” he said.

On Jan. 31, the Northfield Enterprise Center became the fiscal agent for the LEC and is providing office space at their location, 207 W. Third. There are no regularly scheduled meetings of LEC principals yet, but Haslett-Marroquin is meeting frequently with Latinos and other community members, and plans are underway for a founding meeting to bring together “all Latinos interested in business development in Northfield.” The meeting will be held at the Northfield School of Arts and Technology.

“Latinos can use the LEC as a place to bring their ideas for initial exploration,” Haslett-Marroquin said. If they speak English, both the NEC and LEC can work in partnership to provide networking in several areas. A computer recovery program to refurbish used computers, job searching, training, technical assistance and lending are areas being explored both locally and with assistance from organizations such as the Latino Economic Development Center in Minneapolis.

As of yet, there are no established criteria for people to use the LEC.

“All we ask is that people who want to work with the LEC are either Latinos themselves or work with Latinos and believe they can help them move up the economic ladder by working with us,” Haslett-Marroquin said.

Future LEC project ideas include a youth farm project that teaches project management by raising black turtle beans on 10 acres already secured; a parents’ garden to involve parents of high school youth in growing vegetables to improve their diet and increase involvement with their children (an acre with water access has been reserved); a Northfield farmers market project to establish a Latino presence at the market by selling products from the above projects; and a Latino farming enterprise project that will conduct farm tours involving local Latinos interested in farming. The objective is to secure 100 tillable acres for interested agricultural entrepreneurs.

The LEC is technically possible because of fiscal sponsorship and in-kind support from the NEC and because of the Main Street Project in Minneapolis in the form of a part-time salary for Haslett-Marroquin. NEC sponsorship allows for tax-deductible donations to be made to the LEC. For more information go to www.latinoenterprisecenter.org.