TORSnel ves at Las Carolinas are stocked with a variety of specialty goods, 

 including mole sauce, a variety of spices and seasoned vegetaraes. 

 50TTOM: Boots are popular items with Hispanic men and Us. 



:popi 



future Prospects 



Immigrants will continue to play an important role in the future of 

 North Carolina communities, Griffith and Johnson conclude. 



To encourage the successful integration of immigrants into 

 communities, the researchers will develop a "best practices manual" 

 citing examples of successful immigrant programs around the country. 

 One model program is the University of Northern Iowa's (UNI) Center 

 for Immigrant Leadership and Integration. 



"Because Iowa 

 has an aging population, 

 state officials have been 

 trying to attract and keep 

 immigrant workers since 

 the late 1970s, when Gov. 

 Robert Ray welcomed 

 refugees from Southeast 

 Asia," Griffith says. Since 

 then, the UNI Center 

 and other state programs 

 have been involved in 

 welcoming immigrants. 



At UNI, center 

 director Mark Grey and 

 colleagues have developed 

 manuals for employers, 

 church leaders, city 

 managers and others on how to 

 incorporate immigrants effectively 

 into communities and increase their 

 civic participation. 



The center also provides 

 bilingual safety information about 

 how to respond to tornadoes that are 

 common in Iowa. 



"We hope to produce similar 

 materials about hurricanes for North 

 Carolina immigrants," says Griffith. 



To improve communication 

 with the Hispanic population, 

 Griffith also recommends that the 

 state's medical facilities increase the 

 number of Spanish translators. 



Also, companies and 

 organizations need to educate current 

 U.S. citizens about the culture 

 brought by arrivals from Mexico and 

 other Latin American countries. 



"These people bring vital 

 cultural traditions to our state that 

 many employers, community leaders 

 and others have already recognized," Griffith says. 



"I have interviewed dozens of North Carolina natives who work 

 closely with immigrants and praise them for their work ethic, dedication 

 to family and high moral character." E 



To find out about the Iowa Center for Immigrant Leadership and 

 Integration, visit the Web: www.newiowans.com. 



Coastwatch I Holiday 2006 I www.ncseagrant.org 17 



