For most people, the education of their children is the most important thing. If their children are getting a good education, they won't feel like outcasts in the community. Maria Martinez is one of the critical points of connection between the schools and Spanish-speaking parents. In her role as bilingual classroom aide, she translates printed information for parents and interprets at parent-teacher conferences. Sandoval says that when his son was falling behind in class because of health problems or when his daughter failed to get proper recognition for schoolwork she had done, he approached Martinez to bring his concerns to the teachers.
Someone needs to be the liaison.
T he True Value hardware store on Highway 22 is a place where nearly everyone up and down the Santiam Canyon stops sooner or later. Owner Tim Kirsch, who grew up in the canyon, hears a pretty good sampling of community opinions when folks come in shopping for paint or nails. He thinks such sentiments are the inevitable growing pains of a community making a rapid transition from uniformity to diversity. Our client base has a lot of Hispanics. It's the new reality in the Santiam Canyon, and it's being played out in rural communities everywhere.