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Arte Sana is proud to announce it just has surpassed the 10,000 mark of persons reached through bilingual training and presentations on sexual assault issues.

 

Also, today there are just 40 days until the

Nuestras Voces National Bilingual Sexual Assault Conference and only
9 days remain until the Regular Rate registration ends!  

 

 

calaca

Art by Rosa Corrales-Ortiz

 

In this newsletter:

Latin@ Victims of Domestic Terrorism 10 Yrs. after 9/11 

Arte Sana Passes 10,000 Mark 

Nuestras Voces Presenter Showcase 

Latin@ Victim Advocacy Efforts in Spanish 1976-2011 

Nuestras Voces Registration 

Hotel Reservations 

Día de los muertos Cultural Event  

New Arte Sana Board Members 

Nuestras Voces Co-Sponsors 

Join Arte Sana on FaceBook 

Sin Fronteras CorazonLatin@ Victims of   latin_victims 

Domestic Terrorism  

10 Years After 9/11

Laura Zárate, Founding Executive Director (September 2011)

  

Ten years ago on September 11, 2001, I prepared an all-day training in Spanish on sexual assault issues in the Texas-Mexico border city of Weslaco. Upon news of the horrific terrorist attacks, a decision was made to continue with the training.  Before we began the promotoras, community health workers who live and work in some of the poorest counties in the U.S. asked: "Señora, can we form a circle and pray for las víctimas y sus familias?"  

   

As we celebrate "Hispanic Heritage Month" (September 15 - October 15) it is important to consider where a community that is 50.5 million strong, and projected to reach 132.8 million by 2050 (U.S. Census Bureau) actually stands within the victim advocacy and prevention contexts. Who could have anticipated the incredible anti-immigrant = anti-Mexican backlash that so many have suffered after the terrorist attacks? At least 16 state legislatures introduced SB 1070 copycat bills, and hundreds of anti-immigrant bills were proposed during the last legislative session. Many of these proposals affect all Latin@s in some way regardless of immigration status for they foment an environment of fear and hostility. The anti-immigrant backlash has stagnated meaningful crime victim outreach efforts and has promoted victim-blaming policies that have led to the destruction of countless Latin@ families (Mexican families in particular). Because victim services are not offered in a vacuum it is very likely that generations of "English Only" political environments have led to the ongoing lack of bilingual and bicultural staff and Latin@ victim/survivor outreach. In 2010, 80% of the victim assistance websites in the 16 states with half a million or more Hispanics/Latin@s did not include one word in Spanish. With a growing Spanish-speaking population (35 million) how can Spanish language access limitations within victim assistance agencies, state coalitions, and national organizations (especially those with million-dollar budgets) be justified?       

  

The cases of Miriam Mendiola-Martinez and other pregnant immigrants detained in Arizona who have been chained, shackled, or otherwise restrained during delivery to "prevent escape," the case of Delmy Palencia, mother and New Orleans Civil Rights leader who fell victim to the Secure Communities Program after she locked her husband out of the house following a domestic argument, and the 16 detained Latinas, all survivors of sexual and/or domestic violence represented by the Southern Coalition for Social Justice in North Carolina -- are just some examples of the ongoing institutional violence against Latin@s. In 2010, the Sexual Assault Among Latinas Study (SALAS) revealed that while one in six Latinas are victims of sexual violence and they also suffer re-victimization and/or poly-victimization, only 3.3 percent utilize victim services.  

 

In July of this year, the Obama Administration announced a new strategy against "transnational organized crime groups" that pose a threat to national security. A closer look at whom has actually been deported within this year alone, reveals that Latin@s -- though not posing a national threat at all -- have been the primary targets of deportation measures. 

  

According to data obtained by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), of the 175,089 Deportation Proceedings held in the entire United States from January 2011 - July 2011, 136,005 (78%) involved residents of 18 Latin American countries and none of these were classified as having been charged with either a "National Security Charge" or a "Terrorism Charge."

 

Of the 90,472 Mexican citizens involved in deportation hearings across the U.S. during this period, 76,401 (84%) were charged with "Entry Without Inspection," "Other Immigration Charges," or "Other."

 

2,373 (2.62%) were charged with "Aggravated Felony."

 

While many victim advocates and law enforcement officers have expressed concerns that the "Secure Communities" and similar programs actually promote insecure and distrusting communities; their concerns have been overshadowed by politically-charged sound bites that promote the alienation and demonization of immigrants, including immigrant victims of crime. Many law enforcement officials actually support "Sanctuary Cities," since these environments tend to foster immigrant crime victim cooperation with police (Austin, TX example).   

 
As a Latina-led victim advocacy and bilingual training agency (with an annual statewide grant budget of $33,983) that has focused on the Texas-Mexico Border, we are especially aware of the incredible challenges our hermanas face trying to meet the needs of survivors. In November, the Nuestras Voces National Bilingual Sexual Assault Conference will offer workshops by those in the trenches who have implemented unique outreach and engagement strategies for including all Latin@s (recent immigrants as well as first-fourth generation) as agents of change to promote safer communities and prevent domestic terrorism.  

 

Deportation Data Source: the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC). 

New User App Provides Up-To-Date Information on Deportation Proceedings.

To obtain annual state-by-state, court-by-court, hearing office-by-hearing office and nationality-by-nationality information about these deportation filings in the decade before and after 9/11 go to http://trac.syr.edu/phptools/immigration/charges/charges.php

 

Related references:

Public Safety on ICE:

How Do You Police a Community That Won't Talk to You?

http://amvoice.3cdn.net/669182cf0231bbf4d6_kdm6bnsbj.pdf 

Bills Modeled After Arizona's SB 1070 Spread Through States

http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/03/sb_1070_copycat_bills.html 

Final Report: Sexual Assault Among Latinas (SALAS) Study 

https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/230445.pdf

Spanish-speaking Victim Access Report

http://www.arte-sana.com/state_span_vict_advocacy/spanish-speaking_victim_access.htm

Profile America Facts for Features: Hispanic Heritage Month 2011: Sept. 15 - Oct. 15 http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb11-ff18.html     

passes_markARTE SANA PASSES 10,000 MARK

Since its inception in 2001, Arte Sana has worked to eliminate language access barriers for Spanish speakers through workshops, community pláticas, four national conferences including one border conference, and four bilingual Girl Empowerment Festivals. We are especially proud to announce that on September 16, 2011, with a keynote session offered during the Latinos Against Domestic Violence Conference held in Irving; Arte Sana officially passed the 10,000 cumulative mark!  

 

THE NUMBERS:  

10,034 Arte Sana training cumulative total
  4,745 Were border region residents   

  3,149 Received prevention and victim rights information in Spanish

 

The following map shows Arte Sana's national and international outreach.

Arte Sana Outreach Map 

showcaseNUESTRAS VOCES PRESENTER SHOWCASE
 Estella De AndaBoder Showcase Presenter:
Estella De Anda

Estella De Anda, LCSW, has served as the Executive Director of Mujeres Unidas since 1984. She has been in the movement to end violence for over 30 years. Mujeres Unidas under her leadership has continued to grow and expand services for victims and survivors. Estella De Anda stated that her two biggest challenges over the years have been maintaining resources and increasing awareness that family violence is not just a family problem but a societal issue. Estella De Anda currently serves on the Texas Council on Family Violence Board.   

  

  

Mónica RamírezMonica Ramirez

Mónica Ramírez is the daughter and granddaughter of migrant farmworkers and has dedicated her career to eradicating workplace sexual violence and gender discrimination against farmworker and low-wage immigrant women. Mónica is an author, editor, teacher, lecturer, litigator and activist. She is the co-editor and author of selected chapters of "Representing Farmworker Women Who have Been Sexually Harassed: A Best Practices Manual" and co-author of a report called "Injustice On Our Plates: Immigrant Women in the U.S. Food Industry." She is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago and The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law.      

 


Gabby SantosGabby Santos  

Gabby Santos is the Program Coordinator for Underserved Communities for the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence (OCADSV). She has worked with survivors of violence in roles ranging from Inverness Jail support group facilitator to legal advocate for the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Her 16 years of advocacy and community education have helped promote violence-free living within various oppressed communities. Racial justice work, gender positive activism and criminal justice reform are at the heart of her passion. Santos provides leadership to the OCADSV Communities of Color Task Force, coordinates the Oregon DELTA Preparing and Raising Expectations for Prevention Project (DELTA PREP), participates in the Gender Positive Systems Advocacy Committee (GPSAC) and is a member of the Firearms and Domestic Violence Task Force.     

 

Adriana FloresAdriana Flores

Adriana Flores is the Executive Director of Latinas Unidas por un Nuevo Amanecer (L.U.N.A.), a non-profit organization based in Des Moines, Iowa committed to empowering, educating, and advocating for victims/survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Ms. Flores recently received the 2011 Leadership Fellowship through the Women of Color Policy Network at New York University. She is the Co-chair of the Women of Color Advisory Network and a member of the Multicultural Outreach Advisory Committee at Grandview University. Ms. Flores holds a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice and Human Services from Grandview University and a Master's in Public Administration with an emphasis on Executive Development from Drake University.      

 

 
timelineLatin@ Victim Advocacy Efforts in Spanish 1976-2011timeline
This timeline was drafted with input from state coalition staff, victim advocates and prevention specialists. It represents first-time efforts to eliminate language access barriers for Spanish-speaking survivors of sexual violence, as well as efforts to actively engage Latin@ communities as partners for change. For now the timeline only includes efforts within the United States and not activities offered in territories or countries in which Spanish is a primary language.

Many actions with a lasting impact were not funded but rather the product of victim rights activism. Consequently, some early pioneer efforts made possible through the activism of committed Latin@ victim advocates and allies only lasted as long as these staff and volunteers were involved. Only nine states are currently represented in this timeline that will hopefully continue to be a work-in-progress. Please send additional information regarding your state's Spanish language outreach milestones to artesanando@yahoo.com

Timeline Contributors:

 

Elisabet Balcarcel (Iowa)

Maria Busineau (Connecticut)

Nancy Hoffman (West Virginia)

Donna Greco (Pennsylvania)

 

Clara Galván-Lindstrom (Oregon)

Stephanie Mesones (California)

Sandra Molinari (Texas)

 

Gabby Santos (Oregon)

Laura Zárate (Texas)

Pamela Zeller (Minnesota)

 

 
Nuestras Voces conference image

registrationNovember 1-2, 2011

Isla Grand Beach Resort

South Padre Island, Texas


 Join Latin@ victim advocates, prevention specialists, survivors, promotoras, and allies, to promote the engagement of Latin@s as agents of change in addressing gender-based violence, and to celebrate our collective wisdom & leadership en los movimientos.
 

The conference will offer a complete Spanish language track for bilingual victim advocates wanting to develop their Spanish-language outreach and professional
training skills.  

 

More information about the conference.

Workshops and Presenters  


Register now        
Hotel Reservationshotel
Conference Hotel Be sure to make your reservation as soon as possible to receive the discounted $85 (plus tax) conference group rate. Limited rooms available.
For hotel reservations call the Isla Grand Beach Resort Hotel at: 1-800-292-7704.
Let the hotel staff know you would like to register under the "Arte Sana Group."

Hotel shuttle provided from the Valley International Airport in Harlingen, Texas to the Isla Grand Hotel by South Padre Shuttle at $40 for a round trip pass. 

Especial día de los muertos cultural eventevent  

for Nuestras Voces attendees:  

 

noche de las almas



boardBIENVENIDAS to our new Arte Sana Board Members!
Rosa Corrales-Ortiz
Rosa Corrales-Ortiz 
Pamela Zeller
Pamela Zeller 

We are so very honored to introduce Rosa Corrales-Ortiz and Pamela Zeller as our new hermanas en la lucha who will support Arte Sana's efforts.

Gracias and farewell  

to Rose Luna!  

Since Rose joined the Arte Sana journey in January 2009, we have celebrated quite a few milestones and have suffered a couple of crisis periods as well.
Arte Sana has been able to survive, and provide over a decade of non-mainstream victim advocacy and activism only through the ongoing support we have received from board members like Rose.

Learn more about all of our incredible members of the Arte sana Board of Directors who make our very existence possible.
ARTE SANA BOARD  
Nuestras Voces Co-sponsorssponsors
naesvalasfriendship of women
mujeres unidasmoving forwardnmcsa 
Join Arte Sana on FaceBookfacebook
Follow conference developments and join the bilingual conversation on Latin@ victim/survivor advocacy and prevention!