Conference at UCF to Address Diverse Needs of Latinos in Central Florida

By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala March 3, 2009

Photo: UCF File

Speakers at the Latino conference will talk about the diversity among Latinos, who come from a variety of backgrounds.

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The struggles of immigrant workers, illegal immigrants and other Latinos in Central Florida will be the focus of the Third Annual School of Social Work Conference at the University of Central Florida.

“Latinos in the New America: Responding to the Needs of a Diverse Population” will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, March 6, at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center on the main UCF campus. The cost is $25 for the general public and $10 for students.

The goal of the conference is to educate attendees about the diversity within the Latino community and to discuss challenges and solutions to serving this unique population.

“There is a huge need in the community in terms of cultural competency and understanding the diversity within our Latino community of Central Florida,” said Estelli Ramos, an instructor at UCF’s School of Social Work who helped to organize the event.

“We are not all Cubans or Puerto Ricans,” Ramos said. “There is this stereotype that we are all the same. But there are commonalities that strengthen our community and understanding this fact is critical to serving the community.”

Sister Anne Kendrick, a nun with the Notre Dame de Namur order, will be among the speakers at the daylong event. She is a winner of the Opus Prize for her 30 years of service in Apopka. Thanks to her efforts, a Community Health Center that started in a trailer now has eight freestanding clinics to provide medical and dental care for the working poor. The order also operates the Home Community Center and Farmworkers Ministry, which help immigrants in the community.

“She’s one of my heroes,” Ramos said. “She has dedicated her life to defending and serving people. In social work, that’s what we’re all about.”

Kendrick will discuss how immigration and deportation laws impact families with children. She also will talk about the impact of stereotypes on working poor Latino communities with which she works daily.

Keynote speaker Jose Maunez-Cuadra, a professor who directs UCF’s Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies program, will speak about the diversity within the Latino community and how it has grown in Central Florida.

Other speakers include Orange County Circuit Judge Jose Rodriguez, who will address Latinos in the juvenile justice system, and UCF Assistant Professor Bernardo Ramirez, who will discuss Latinos and health care management.

Event Schedule:

8 a.m. Registration
9 a.m. Keynote speaker
10 a.m. Panel discussion with Sister Kendrick, Judge Rodriguez and Assistant Professor Ramirez12 p.m. Lunch
1 p.m. Afternoon workshops on immigration, preventing violence among youth and family, and infant mental health.

Registration is requested by calling 407-235-3960 or clicking here.

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