Garcia-Sierra said a program like this is necessary for the Latino community if they are to improve their lives in Dane County.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Hispanic population in Dane County rose from 14,643 in 2000 to over 19,000 in 2004. Latino leaders say, however, that in reality that number is much higher.
      "Lately we have seen the number of Latinos increasing a lot in Dane County," Garcia-Sierra said.
      With immigration becoming a high profile, politicized topic, this growing population is facing increased discrimination. As the community deals with the polarizing effects of this debate, increasing community involvement among the Latino population becomes a more daunting task. Garcia-Sierra says that needs to change.
       "In order to improve our lives, there has to be more involvement in our community," he said.
      The Grassroots Leadership College is a program that teaches regular people how to become neighborhood and community leaders by building their organizing skills and support networks. Since 2003, the college has sought to give people a proactive voice in their communities.
      "We believe that everyone is a learner, everyone is a teacher, and everyone is a leader," program coordinator Amy Mondloch said.
      Grassroots Leadership College programs include a general semester, an intensive workshop series, and alumni programming.
       In the general semester, participants are matched with a volunteer coach. Together, they explore aspects of community leadership and develop a community-oriented project. Since the college's inception, more than 40 community projects have been developed or enhanced by participants of the college. Projects include the Weed Warriors, Within Reach (a mom's support group), Nuestro Mundo Community School, a free holistic health care clinic,  Allied Drive organizing, the Northside Artists Group, Yahara River Clean Up, and Voices Beyond Bars.
      The workshop series is a shorter program that features a series of workshops on areas related to community organizing and leadership. The Spanish pilot program will begin this year with a workshop series. The college plans to create a general semester program for Spanish speakers next year.
      "The [Spanish pilot] program is very similar to what we are doing this year in our regular workshop series," Mondloch      said.  "The Spanish language program has been on our minds for quite awhile and we are excited to begin."
      Well-known Latino leaders will lead seven intensive workshops for nearly 20 Latino participants. The topics will include self- esteem, organizing techniques, political and civil participation, fund-raising, and conflict transformation.
      Garcia-Sierra and Grassroots Leadership College board member Analucia Allie say community involvement is lacking in the Latino community, not because Latinos aren't interested in leading and improving their communities, but because they often don't know how or are fearful. Language barriers and discrimination create additional challenges for this      community. The college hopes to change this by giving Latinos the self-esteem and skills it takes to lead the way.
      "When a group feels included in a community, their involvement and relationship with the community improves," Allie said.  "It helps the self esteem of not only the individual, but the community as a whole."
      Garcia-Sierra said the program is truly one-of-a-kind.
      There really is nothing like this in the community right now," he said.  "We really hope that this program will motivate people to get involved in the community."
Grassroots Leadership College's Spanish program
by Laura Salinger
(Above) Garcia-Sierra (r) and Grassroots Leadership College board member Analucia Allie see the need for Latino involvement in the community and to encourage their active participation, they started a program that speaks their language.
     The Grassroots Leadership College is expanding its programming to create a broader base of leaders in Madison. This September,  the college is launching its first-ever Spanish pilot program in hopes that  they can develop grassroots leaders among Madison's growing Latino community.
      The program, led by Guatemalan native and UW-Madison student Mario Garcia-Sierra, seeks to give Latinos a voice and help them organize  to create a positive and united presence in the Madison area.
      "We are looking to give basic organizing skills to everyday people,"       Garcia-Sierra said.  "We want the Latino community to get more involved."
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