Professional Development Project: Working with Latino Agricultural Communities

Professional Development Project: Working with Latino Agricultural Communities

Summary

Latinos, the fastest growing group of farmers, often lack access to resources needed to improve their farming practices. In order to increase agricultural educators’ cultural competencies, the project held six half-day workshops in Illinois, Michigan and Missouri for 112 participants during 2005. Evaluations showed that participants increased their understanding of strategies to reach Latino audiences and of the importance of culture and value systems in designing effective programs for non-traditional audiences. In small groups educators also modified existing plans of work for Latino audiences.

Objectives/Performance Targets

The project identified a number of short-term outcomes. These are listed below with information relevant to each outcome. The data are based on surveys filled out following each training re changes in knowledge, awareness or skills. Participants were asked to assess their knowledge, etc both pre- and post training, by agreeing or disagreeing with statements such as “I have a working knowledge of Latino community concerns and challenges.” The survey results showed that participants felt that as a result of the training they had increased their knowledge, awareness or skills considerably, which should increase their capacities to work with Latino audiences. For all topics addressed in the surveys, between70 to 90% of the participants disagreed-somewhat agreed that they already had specific, relevant knowledge, awareness or skills prior to the workshop; between 70-90% somewhat agreed-agreed that they had (gained) the knowledge, etc following the training. These half-day workshops are only a beginning and by themselves will have limited impact on relevant, effective programming by Extension and other agencies. For this reason, one and a half-day Institutes were planned for 2006, with the idea that they will serve as follow-up training for the 2005 workshop participants.

Outcome: Greater awareness of characteristics and needs of Latino farmers, families and communities. There were three statements relevant to this outcome. In response to the statement “I have a basic awareness of characteristics and needs of members of Latino communities,” regarding pre-workshop knowledge 83% of participants disagreed to somewhat agreed, while 85% somewhat agreed to agreed regarding post-workshop awareness. In other words, the vast majority of participants indicated that they had relatively little awareness prior to the workshop and about the same percent indicated that they increased their awareness after the workshop. In response to the statement “I have a basic understanding of the culture and values of members of Latino families and communities,” 72% of participants disagreed-somewhat agreed with this statement with respect to before the workshop, whereas 87% somewhat agreed–agreed with respect to after the workshop.

Regarding the statement, “I have a basic understanding of Latino/Hispanic culture and contributions to society,” 77% disagreed or somewhat agreed with this statement with respect to their understanding prior to the workshops; whereas 83% somewhat agreed or agreed with respect to their post-workshop understanding.

Outcome: Increased knowledge of non-traditional methods to reach Latino audiences. In response to the statement “I have a basic understanding of effective methods to provide information to Latino audiences,” 80% disagreed-somewhat agreed that they had the knowledge prior to the training; whereas 80% somewhat agreed-agreed that they did after the workshops.

Outcome: Increased knowledge of Latino community concerns and challenges. In response to the statement “I have a working knowledge of Latino community concerns and challenges,” 87% disagreed-somewhat agreed that they did prior to the training; whereas 92% somewhat agreed-agreed that they did after the workshops. Regarding the statement “I am confident that I have the knowledge needed to increase involvement of Latinos in my programs,” 82% of participants disagreed-somewhat agreed that they had the knowledge needed prior to training; while 77% somewhat agreed to agreed that they were confident in their knowledge following training.

Outcome: Improving skills to assist members of Latino agricultural communities to identify their needs and access information relevant to sustainable farming via programs offered by Extension, NRCS and other agencies. In response to the statement “I am confident that I can design and develop appropriate programs for Latino audiences,” 87% of participants disagreed-somewhat agreed that they had the skills needed prior to training; whereas 77% somewhat agreed to agreed that they had the skills after training. Lastly, 88% of participants disagreed-somewhat agreed with the statement “I am confident that I can develop plans of work that will involve greater numbers of Latinos,” with respect to before the workshop; whereas 86% somewhat agreed to agreed with respect to after the workshop. It is probably relevant that one of the workshop activities was to begin modifying plans of work while working in small groups.

Regarding both Intermediate and Long-Term Outcomes, it is premature to assess these. A follow-up survey will be mailed to participants to determine to what degree they believe that their programming has changed due to the project activities.

Accomplishments/Milestones

It’s important to recognize that the half-day workshops are only a beginning and by themselves will have limited impact on relevant, effective programming by Extension and other agencies. One accomplishment that increases the chances for positive change is that 10-20% of the workshop participants have Extension administrative positions, the vast majority at the county director level. In addition, these county directors were often accompanied by educators from their offices. For this reason, one and a half-day Institutes are planned for 2006, with the idea that they will serve as follow-up training for the 2005 workshop participants.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

As of December 31, 2006, the primary contribution made by the project has been an increased awareness within Extension of needs and characteristics of Latino farmers and other audiences, as well as of ways to reach these audiences. To some degree this also has occurred among staff and administrators beyond those who attended the half-day workshops. This is especially true in Illinois, which does not have specific personnel targeting Latino farmers as is true in Michigan and Missouri. Follow-up surveys will be designed to collect information on additional impacts and contributions of the project among participants and others.

Collaborators: