One third of WUSD students, 10 percent of residents are of ethnic descent
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
With nearly 10 percent of its population comprised of persons of Hispanic heritage, Whitewater officials have expressed a desire to bring members of the cultural and ethnic group into the fold of civic activities.
While no formal action was taken, the Common Council on Aug. 18 backed a plan to convene a task force that will include participation from officials within the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Members of this appointed group will be tasked with looking into engagement activities.
According to 2010 U.S. Census figures, 9.5 percent of the city’s population reported being of Hispanic or Latino heritage. Approximately one-third of the Whitewater Unified School District’s population also falls within this classification.
City Manager Cameron Clapper said he has been interested in forming the task force and brought into the fold two local educators with extensive experience in working with the Hispanic community.
Speaking to perceptions within the community, Clapper said, “We have, at times, a disconnect between the city and members of our Hispanic population. It has been a concern of mine for a while.”
Former council member Jim Winship has been working with Clapper as the nuts and bolts of the plan have been assembled. Winship stepped down from his elected duties late last year and traveled to Columbia after receiving a Fulbright Scholarship teaching and research award.
Another key participant in the plan is Jorge Islas-Martinez, who has taught English as a Second Language (ESL) courses in the community for 18 years.
There are several goals behind the task force, Clapper said, including engagement. When the group’s recommendations are made, one goal is to have members of the Hispanic community represented in civic groups.
While voters have the ultimate say in who serves on the Common Council, members of the elected council, in turn, appoint residents to serve on the range of boards, commissions and committees that dig into specific issues — from the city’s parks to policing.
“Our hope is to have the task force to find ways to facilitate that participation among our immigrant populations,” Clapper said.
Additionally, Clapper said he is concerned members of the city’s Hispanic community are not always in tune with various issues, including health and safety.
As part of the plan announced at last week’s council meeting, Winship and Islas-Martinez will head up the task force. The names of other resident participants are being assembled. No firm date has been set for the task force’s first meeting.
For his part, Winship said he believes the task force will prove important in shaping Whitewater’s future as efforts to represent the interests of all racial and ethnic groups are undertaken.
“The population in Whitewater is large and diverse,” Winship said. “There are some families that have been here for three generations and some that have been here for a far shorter time.”
