Luis Solis is an Eau Claire resident and a first-generation college student who immigrated from Mexico with his family 18 years ago.
He is studying at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and, in the past year, has changed his major from finance to social work. The change came, he said, because a social work degree would prepare him to help those in need, especially immigrants like himself and others in the growing local Hispanic/Latinx community.
To read more about the impact of that growing community, click on the headline.
Growing Hispanic-Latinx population spurs welcoming efforts, spotlights need to develop ties and nurture future community leaders
The Chippewa Valley’s steadily growing Hispanic/Latinx population has spurred discussion on how best to welcome diverse newcomers into the community and to help them develop their own leadership for the future.
There is general agreement that learning how to understand people who are different is a stepping stone both to establishing bonds now and providing inspiration for future representative leaders. There is also a consensus that education will be a key ingredient in the mix.
[A BRIEF STORY EXPLAINING THE USE OF THE TERM “LATINX” CAN BE FOUND IMMEDIATELY TO THE RIGHT OF THIS STORY, UNDER THE “SIDEBAR STORIES” HEADING. A LINK TO THE FULL VERSION OF THAT STORY IS DISPLAYED IN THIS STORY’S CONTINUATION.]
Proposal for elementary school “language immersion” classes awaits School Board approval
The proposal would have a class or classes with half native English-speaking students and half native Spanish-speakers in the Eau Claire Area School District.