MONROE - Issues of immigration, from law enforcement to economic impact, were discussed Friday at the Green and Lafayette counties Rural Immigration Summit.
Dolores Leibold from the Green County Literacy Council said there is a willingness by Hispanics and local residents to bridge the gap between cultures, and the summit allowed that to happen.
Jessie Potterton of Lafayette County University of Wisconsin Extension said resources to help Hispanics often are limited in smaller counties because of the language barriers.
"We want to help them and tell them what resources are available for them, but sometimes it's difficult," she said.
Communication is the key to knocking down barriers, Darlington Police Officer Tony Ruesga said. Ruesga has been with the department for eight years and is a liaison between the police and the Hispanic community in Darlington.
"There are problems with communication and cultural understanding," he said.
Whether here legally or, in some cases, illegally, Hispanic people do feel there's a stigma placed on them, he said.
"My job is to be the buffer and to set them at ease," he said.
In many cases, Hispanics have felt ill at ease to contact local police departments. Over the years he's been with the Darlington Police Department, that has changed, he said. As he's become more familiar in the community, he's developed a sense of trust between himself and Hispanics. The fact he's Hispanic has helped tremendously, he said.
"I have people who get my business card and contact me with questions about people they know," he said.
The uneasy feelings go both ways, he added. It took a while for people to get acquainted with him as a Hispanic police officer. Those feelings disappeared over time, however, as he became more involved with the community and met more people.
"It takes time for things to change," he said. "It doesn't happen overnight."
The Rev. Mario Cordero of the Iglesia Hispana Evangelica Church in Darlington pastors at the only full-time Spanish-speaking church in either county. He echoed Ruesga's sentiments that people gravitate toward others with a similar background and culture.
"They are willing to come to our church because of the language and culture," he said. They also ask for help for their friends, he said.
The Rev. Randy Budnar of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Darlington said Hispanics come to him for help when they go the hospital or even to the pharmacy. The majority of Hispanics are Catholic, and they feel comfortable asking him for assistance.
Green and Lafayette counties have seen an influx of immigration over the years and one of the topics discussed Friday was how difficult it is for someone to become a citizen, said Bridget Mouchon from the University of Wisconsin Extension office in Green County.
The purpose of the summit was to help people of different cultures understand each other and look at issues everyone faces. About 100 people attended the event at Monroe United Methodist Church.
Dolores Leibold from the Green County Literacy Council said there is a willingness by Hispanics and local residents to bridge the gap between cultures, and the summit allowed that to happen.
Jessie Potterton of Lafayette County University of Wisconsin Extension said resources to help Hispanics often are limited in smaller counties because of the language barriers.
"We want to help them and tell them what resources are available for them, but sometimes it's difficult," she said.
Communication is the key to knocking down barriers, Darlington Police Officer Tony Ruesga said. Ruesga has been with the department for eight years and is a liaison between the police and the Hispanic community in Darlington.
"There are problems with communication and cultural understanding," he said.
Whether here legally or, in some cases, illegally, Hispanic people do feel there's a stigma placed on them, he said.
"My job is to be the buffer and to set them at ease," he said.
In many cases, Hispanics have felt ill at ease to contact local police departments. Over the years he's been with the Darlington Police Department, that has changed, he said. As he's become more familiar in the community, he's developed a sense of trust between himself and Hispanics. The fact he's Hispanic has helped tremendously, he said.
"I have people who get my business card and contact me with questions about people they know," he said.
The uneasy feelings go both ways, he added. It took a while for people to get acquainted with him as a Hispanic police officer. Those feelings disappeared over time, however, as he became more involved with the community and met more people.
"It takes time for things to change," he said. "It doesn't happen overnight."
The Rev. Mario Cordero of the Iglesia Hispana Evangelica Church in Darlington pastors at the only full-time Spanish-speaking church in either county. He echoed Ruesga's sentiments that people gravitate toward others with a similar background and culture.
"They are willing to come to our church because of the language and culture," he said. They also ask for help for their friends, he said.
The Rev. Randy Budnar of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Darlington said Hispanics come to him for help when they go the hospital or even to the pharmacy. The majority of Hispanics are Catholic, and they feel comfortable asking him for assistance.
Green and Lafayette counties have seen an influx of immigration over the years and one of the topics discussed Friday was how difficult it is for someone to become a citizen, said Bridget Mouchon from the University of Wisconsin Extension office in Green County.
The purpose of the summit was to help people of different cultures understand each other and look at issues everyone faces. About 100 people attended the event at Monroe United Methodist Church.