Foreword Missouri has a history of diversity in geography, the economy, culture and people. The state is well known for its ability to adapt to the changes required to accommodate this diversity. Among the changes that are occurring is the influx of immigrants from around the world. The changing of the colors of Missouri is, once again, providing a set of challenges to respond to. The most notable change in the faces and colors of Missouri in recent years is the increase of Latino and Hispanic peoples in both rural and urban areas. These new Missourians are contributing significantly to the local and state economy as well as to the social progress of the state. Because these new immigrants speak a different language and represent different cultures and values, we need to acknowledge and welcome their contributions and make an extra effort to weave and integrate them into the rich societal tapestry that results from such a change. Sylvia Lazos and Stephen Jeanetta together have studied and documented the current status of Latino and Hispanic people in the state. This critical and most timely research effort identifies the important issues that businesses, social services and community agencies need to consider in developing appropriate public policy issues that should be addressed. I urge you to use the knowledge included in this monograph to help create a Missouri that values each person and affords the equality of opportunity and individual rights that each person deserves. This is the right thing to do. Manuel Pacheco President University of Missouri-Columbia MU Extension, University of Missouri-Columbia 1 2 Cambio de Colores Contents Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................... 5 Missouri communities responding to change..........................................................................................................................5 Legal and policy challenges as Latinas/os make their homes in Missouri ..........................................................................5 Changes in Missouri .....................................................................................................................................................................5 What are the statewide changes in Latino growth shown by the 2000 census?.....................................................................5 Why such hypergrowth?...........................................................................................................................................................5 What is the demographic profile of Missouri’s Latinas/os? .......................................................................................................6 Key characteristics....................................................................................................................................................................6 Discrimination or integration?..................................................................................................................................................6 Undocumented status................................................................................................................................................................6 What are the key policy challenges?............................................................................................................................................7 Education...................................................................................................................................................................................7 Health care ................................................................................................................................................................................8 Housing .....................................................................................................................................................................................8 Latinas/os and civil rights.............................................................................................................................................................8 Driver’s licenses .......................................................................................................................................................................8 Language barriers .....................................................................................................................................................................9 Racial profiling .........................................................................................................................................................................9 Recommended policy actions.....................................................................................................................................................10 Missouri Communities Responding to Change.............................................................................. 11 Milan, Missouri...........................................................................................................................................................................11 California, Missouri....................................................................................................................................................................12 Senath, Missouri .........................................................................................................................................................................13 Sedalia, Missouri.........................................................................................................................................................................14 Noel, Missouri.............................................................................................................................................................................15 Kansas City, Missouri — The Rose Brooks/Mattie Rhodes Partnership .................................................................................16 Legal and Policy Challenges as Latinas/os Make Their Homes in Missouri ................................ 19 I. Changes in Missouri: From farm towns to agromaquila centers..........................................................................................20 II. Characteristics of urban and rural Latinas/os in Missouri....................................................................................................22 A. Urban settlement: Kansas City and St. Louis............................................................................................................22 1. The Santa Fe Trail leads to Kansas City ...............................................................................................................22 2. St. Louis: The melting pot .....................................................................................................................................23 B. Cambio de Colores (Change of Colors) in rural Missouri........................................................................................23 1. Mostly first-generation Missourians .....................................................................................................................24 2. Primarily Spanish-speaking Missourians..............................................................................................................25 3. Youthful and families with children......................................................................................................................25 4. Low earners............................................................................................................................................................26 C. Discrimination or integration?...................................................................................................................................26 D. Documentation: The lurking issue.............................................................................................................................28 E. Shared characteristics and perspectives.....................................................................................................................29 III. Policy challenges: Education, health, and housing .............................................................................................................29 A. Education ....................................................................................................................................................................29 1. Challenges for elementary education ....................................................................................................................30 2. High school.............................................................................................................................................................31 3. College education...................................................................................................................................................32 4. Adult education ......................................................................................................................................................32 B. Health..........................................................................................................................................................................34