Workshop on communications to Hispanics

The University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Service is offering in Siouxland a seminar/workshop on understanding and communicating to the Hispanic culture. Iowa and South Dakota's extension services are also partnering in the seminar. The two-part program will be led by Carmen de Neve, a Los Angeles-based educational and inter-cultural communications specialist and consultant. The seminar will be May 17-20 at the Marina Inn in South Sioux City.

The workshop will be divided into two segments, an overview and an intensive workshop, with fewer people able to participate in the intensive sessions.

Monday evening, May 17, through Tuesday evening, May 18, the overview workshop will use analysis of contemporary movies to begin the learning process. Discussion will include topics such as stereotyping, labeling, acculturation, behaviors and attitudes.

Enrollment in the overview class will be limited to the first 90 registrants.

Only 30 of those registrants will be able to continue for the two-day intensive portion beginning Tuesday evening, May 18, and running through Thursday, May 20.

Both sessions will include some aspects of the following: patterns of communication in Hispanic/Latino cultures; looking at places of origin and their societal impact in the U.S.; discussions of historical events that influence cultures and attitudes today and exploration of their relationships to other ethnic groups and societies; increased understanding of communication styles, verbal and nonverbal, in the workplace, school and in social interactions.

Graduate, undergraduate and continuing education hours are available for the seminar through the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

The cost of the workshops is $50 for the overview and $150 for the intensive workshop. The registration deadline is May 1. Late fees are $85 and $175, respectively.

For more information, contact Kim Bearnes at the Thurston County Cooperative Extension Service, Walthill, Neb., (402) 846-5656.

Registration and payment should be sent to: Dr. Georgia Stevens, UNL Cooperative Extension Family and Community Specialist for Diversity, 134 HE Building, Lincoln, 68583-0801. Stevens' e-mail is gstevens1@unl.edu, or call (402) 472-5518, to contact her.

The seminar is sponsored by the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, Iowa State University Cooperative Extension, South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension, Mexican American Commission of Nebraska, Tyson Foods Inc. and numerous social service agencies and community groups in Siouxland.

Source: Sioux City Journal