Federal grant money to be used to form Hispanic Advisory Board in Carson

(THERE IS A MUG OF WALTERS THAT CAT CROPPED IF YOU WANT IT)

by Maggie O'Neill

Appeal Staff Writer

Hispanic-run businesses like taquerias, churches and hospitals are good ways to reach out to the Hispanic community, according to members of a new Hispanic Advisory Board.

"A lot of people in our community do go to these places to meet," said Raquel Knecht, director of the Carson City branch of Nevada Hispanic Services.

The board was formed with a $435,000 grant awarded to Carson City's Community Council on Youth by John Walters, director of national drug control policy under President Bush.

"A very, very small amount of coalitions around the nation receive the award a second time," said CCOY director Pauline Kizer.

Previous grant money was used for The Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada, the Ron Wood Family Resource Center and Nevada Hispanic Services. Current funding begins at $100,000 the first year then declines over a five-year period.

"They really want you to work on sustainability over the five years of the grant," Kizer said. "They want you to start grass-root efforts."

Walters, who was in Reno in October, awarded $725,000 to eight Northern Nevada agencies that work to create drug-free communities. Nationwide, he distributed $21.9 million to 227 community organizations with a focus on stopping drug use.

"What we're hoping to do with the new grant money in Carson City is a couple of different things," Kizer said.

In addition to the Hispanic board, she plans to start an American Indian Advisory Board and a parenting program.

The Hispanic Advisory Board will focus on the needs of the Hispanic community and assist Nevada Hispanic Services, which provides immigration assistance.

"CCOY tries to make the community healthy for youth," Kizer told board members recently. "Our expertise is building resources."

Some issues board members discussed were English-Spanish translations, filling out immigration papers, marriage counseling, and dental, health and mental health care.

For me information on the Hispanic Advisory Board, call Kizer at 841-4730.

Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at mo'neill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.