Latino Culture and Volunteerism Frida Bonaparte Cross Cultural Communicator Mississippi State University Dr. Andrew Behnke Professor and Extension Specialist North Carolina State University Cintia Aguilar Extension Latino Affairs Facilitator North Carolina State University

Why Diversify the Volunteer Base? Enrich organizations Enrich organizations Services are more culturally appropriate Services are more culturally appropriate Bring diverse viewpoints Bring diverse viewpoints Redesign its approach to volunteer recruitment Redesign its approach to volunteer recruitment Consider cultural context Consider cultural context

Diversifying the Volunteer Base Involve the entire family Involve the entire family Latino youth volunteers Latino youth volunteers Latino 4-H adult volunteers Latino 4-H adult volunteers Latino Homemaker/FCS volunteers Latino Homemaker/FCS volunteers

Motivations for Volunteering A desire to help their community A desire to help their community An opportunity to learn skills, gain experience, and get better professional jobs An opportunity to learn skills, gain experience, and get better professional jobs A chance to meet new people and to be personally challenged A chance to meet new people and to be personally challenged A way to share their cultural traditions with youth or with members of the community. A way to share their cultural traditions with youth or with members of the community.

Volunteerism: True or False Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. --Martin Luther King Jr.

Characteristics of Volunteerism within the Latino Culture When reaching out to new audiences, we must take the time to fully understand the dynamics involved. When reaching out to new audiences, we must take the time to fully understand the dynamics involved. We got to know them. We learned how they learned and what they valued. We got to know them. We learned how they learned and what they valued. We introduced these educational innovations by building a relationship with the clientele and earning their trust We introduced these educational innovations by building a relationship with the clientele and earning their trust

Characteristics of Volunteerism within the Latino Culture  Informal volunteerism system. Culture of “doing favors.”  For many of the immigrants coming to the United States, volunteering is not part of their history.  Latinos do not volunteer in the traditional American pattern. (B. Hobbs, Extension specialist, Oregon State University)

Characteristics of Volunteerism within the Latino Culture Helping others is second nature to Latinos. It isn’t viewed as something you do at a particular time, for a particular group. Helping others is second nature to Latinos. It isn’t viewed as something you do at a particular time, for a particular group. For many of the Latino immigrants, volunteering refers to activities carried out by the wealthy on behalf of the poor. For many of the Latino immigrants, volunteering refers to activities carried out by the wealthy on behalf of the poor.

Strategies to Recruit Latino Volunteers Build a relationship and establish trust with the Latino community. Build a relationship and establish trust with the Latino community. Establish a presence in the Latino community. Establish a presence in the Latino community. Recruiting Latinos as volunteers needs to be done on a one-to- one basis. Recruiting Latinos as volunteers needs to be done on a one-to- one basis.

Strategies to Recruit Latino Volunteers Attend Latino events in your community, such as festivals and soccer tournaments. Attend Latino events in your community, such as festivals and soccer tournaments. Contact people personally, rather than relying only on written communication. Contact people personally, rather than relying only on written communication.

Strategies to Recruit Latino Volunteers  Introduce your organization’s mission and goals and how they apply and benefit the Latino community.  How they can volunteer.  Emphasize the idea that anybody can be a volunteer regardless of his or her gender, age, religion, race, economic, and educational level.

Strategies to Recruit Latino Volunteers Invite them to work within a diverse work committee or group. Be sure that they have somebody they already trust in the group. Invite them to work within a diverse work committee or group. Be sure that they have somebody they already trust in the group. Make reminder calls. This helps not only to remind them of their task or meeting but also to build a relationship. Make reminder calls. This helps not only to remind them of their task or meeting but also to build a relationship. Recognition of their work must be designed within the cultural context. Recognition of their work must be designed within the cultural context.

Feel free to us for more information or a copy of these slides Any Questions? ¡ Gracias y Buena Suerte!