2009 Research Report

The State of the State for Washington Latinos project engages Whitman College undergraduate students in intensive research to bring local racial barriers to light and empower communities with information and strategies to organize and advocate around a comprehensive agenda for racial and social justice.

The Research for the Fall of 2009 was organized in four broad areas.

Voting Rights

Three students, Ben Serrurier, Alice Minor, Zachary Duffy, partnered with a new Voting Rights Advocacy Initiative spearheaded by attorney and professor Joaquin Avila at the Seattle University School of Law. They investigated the obstacles for Latinos' and other minorities' to full participation and representation in the democratic process and the issues reflected in the strikingly low levels of Latino political representation in Washington state. They documented specific barriers to Latino political participation and which local voting jurisdictions across the state have rules that work against minority voters and candidates.

Education

Ariel Ruiz, Susannah Lowe, Rick Mora, Lyndsey Wilson partnered with Diana and Bill Erickson from the bilingual program in the Walla Walla public schools.  These four projects examined how to boost academic success  for Latino children’s to overcome the achievement gap. Their research questions addressed multiple issues: How does a family's immigration status impact a student's attitudes and performance? What effects stem from the geographic neighborhood where kids grow up? How can college readiness programs increase post-secondary enrollment? What are the consequences for Latino families of the new elementary school districts boundaries in Walla Walla?

Farm Workers

Natalie Popovich, Johanna Robertson, Dena Popova worked with Rosalinda Mendoza (’06) of the Washington State Farm Worker Housing Trust.  They explored Washington farm workers' needs and prospects for sharing in dynamic sectors of the regional economy that are growing even in tough times. The question they addressed included: How do the labor experiences and family needs of farm workers in Walla Walla's booming wine industry compare with those of workers in other agricultural sectors? What do recent survey data reveal about how often (and why) Latino farm workers use public social services, at a time when immigrants' opponents routinely charge them with over-using such services? Is possible it for Latino farm workers to develop career trajectories within the agricultural industry instead of shifting to jobs outside agriculture?

Neighborhood Improvement

Daria Reaven and  Annie Roberts continued the partnership with Nancy Carter and Teri Barila of Walla Walla's Commitment to Community (C2C). Improving marginalized neighborhoods that tend to have large Latino populations is a challenge in many Washington communities. These research addressed local community economic health issues: As foreclosures have spread through the country, what problems are low-income homeowners facing? What difficulties do home renters encounter? What are the overall characteristics and causes of poverty in the Walla Walla area? How can civic engagement among residents be increased so a community can advocate for solutions along with local allies?

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