Last updated:
May 19, 2004
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Workshop:
The experience of the AMIGOS Program in St. Charles
A report contributed by 
Theme: Change & Wellbeing
Moderator: Sergio Muñoz, St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment
(SLATE)
Presenters:
- Lyndel Porterfield, former City Attorney, St. Charles
- Robert
Hoeynck, Assistant City Attorney, St. Charles
- Francisco “Paco” Martínez,
Vice President of AMIGOS
The City of St. Charles started something unique. Noticing an increase
in the Hispanic population, city officials decided
to investigate what they could do to support their new neighbors before any
significant conflicts arose. “Although we in city hall started [AMIGOS], it was
our intent all along to stay out of it,” said Lyndel Porterfield, former
city attorney. The result: the creation of the non-profit organization
AMIGOS to serve its residents.
One of the difficulties AMIGOS had was how to connect to the people
who see what the problems are in the community. Francisco "Paco" Martínez,
Vice President of AMIGOS, said, “We started by leaving fliers at the
local library, contacting Hispanic grocery stores, word of mouth…the
Catholic church. As time moved along, we found that the primary method
of communication was word of mouth once they found out that we weren’t
a government agency, and we were there to help out.”
AMIGOS operates as a networking resource, helping to identify needs
and connect those who can provide services with those
who need assistance. AMIGOS
reduced language barriers in schools and hospitals, helped create Spanish-language
church services, and taught “survival” Spanish to city employees to
improve services. Another significant success of AMIGOS is that local
banks now allow immigrants to open checking accounts
without a social security number.
The program is now working to improve communications between businesses
and their Spanish-speaking employees. The intention is to go to the
worksite “for a half hour and teach employees basic language about
the job: plate, fork, spoon, and have classes for management in some
very basic Spanish terms,” said Porterfield. Martinez says that safety
issues with Spanish-speaking workers are also at the top of their list. “If
a fire breaks out,” said Martinez, “do they have the proper training
for safety, construction, safety in ladders, electrocution? ”
Assistant City Attorney Robert Hoeynck noted that there are advantages
and disadvantages to the city’s involvement. “None of us are interested
in helping INS, but as a government official and attorney working for
the government, I have to be very careful about what I do,” said Hoeynck. “A
big advantage is that since AMIGOS originated from the city government,
they have a lot of political weight through Mayor Pat King. She can
suggest things to Jeff City, the State or U.S. Representative or Senator. It
gives a voice to people that may not have one unless
they are in very large groups.”
AMIGOS has much in store. It doesn’t just cater to Hispanics but
to many different immigrant groups. The organization intends to branch
out to St. Peters and other areas in the near future. Yet they do
it all with little funding except for a very small grant from the SBC. The
few additional expenses they have are covered by
the City.
Day 1: Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Reporter: Diane Kuschel
(573)875-1395
(573)881-4041
kuscheldg@missouri.edu
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