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Puentes/Bridges Director Shaun
Duvall receives the 2008
Distinguished Wisconsin
Agriculturist Award ~ see "Puentes in the News" web page
for details.
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The Annual Golf
Outing is scheduled for June 12, 2008. See the
"Upcoming Events" web
page for more information.
December 31, 2007
Greetings!
2007 was a very good year for
Puentes/Bridges. I am convinced that
the word is finally getting out, and
people are beginning to see the worth of
what we are trying to do. I am thrilled
by this, and it spurs me on to continue
in this direction and in this work. Of
course, the best part of Puentes/Bridges
is the wonderful people who give so
generously of their time to keep things
going. I believe we are making a change
in our society. We are doing a good
thing.
Highlights:
We had four trips this year, one with
UW-RF, two with UW-EC and the producer
trip. We received our 501c3 approval,
had lots of press interest, the second
golf outing, helped to create a
statewide committee looking into
immigration reform, launched our
website, won an award of merit, and once
again received support from our very
generous donors. I will discuss each of
these separately.
Support from both UW-River Falls and
UW-Eau Claire has been growing.
In January, we took a
mini-Puentes/Bridges trip with three
CAFES students from UW-RF. Their
projects included a communication
program for a producer school
and feasibility studies on acquiring
milk cooling equipment and for
artificial insemination. They presented
to over 120 students at River Falls.
In July, we had the first English Corps
trip with two students from UW-EC. We
spent 5 days in rural Veracruz teaching
English to over 30 students. The class
was a hit, and surrounding communities
have asked for classes as well.
The UW-EC Capstone class took place in
October. Thirteen students took part.
They lived in homes and interviewed
residents of rural Veracruz as well as
employers and immigrant employees on
dairy farms in Buffalo and Trempealeau
Counties. Their work was highlighted at
a symposium on the campus.
The producer trip took place late in
November with 14 participants, 6 from
UW-Extension, 6 producers and 2
community people. We visited homes of
employees in Chiautla, Puebla, Rancho
Viejo, Guanajuato, Xuchiles, Tlaquilpa
and Astacinga, Veracruz.
The annual Golf Outing was a big success
this year, bringing in over $5000.00 in
support for Puentes/Bridges’ programs.
Dave Danzinger did an excellent job. We
will conscribe him again next year.
Generous support came once again from
Monsanto, Cargill Badgerland Financial
Services and Agstar, along with support
from many local agbusinesses.
Our website was launched, and we have a
person who is maintaining it. We have
received many positive comments.
There was a lot of press interest this
year, as well as speaking engagements.
Articles appeared in Wisconsin People
and Ideas, The Chicago Tribune,
The Winona Daily News, The
Publication of the Mpls District of the
Federal Reserve Bank, among others.
We presented at Madison’s Overture
Center, at the Future of Farming
Conference, and at the MN/WI Federation
of Co-ops Conference and the La Crosse
Chapter of the League of Women Voters.
We have formed, with other interested
groups and individuals in the state, a
committee whose goal is to help shape
Wisconsin’s approach to immigration.
This group has met several times and is
looking at ways to make Wisconsin a more
immigrant friendly state as well as ways
to influence immigration legislation.
We helped UW-Extension organize a
one-day seminar in Arcadia, WI, on the
subject of immigration. Over 300 people
attended this event, with very positive
comments.
We were granted tax exempt status this
year. Our 501c3 determination came in
the early summer.
Finally, Puentes/Bridges was granted the
Merit Award from the North Central
Council of Latin Americanists for
outstanding work in bringing awareness
to the public of the Latin American
cultures and peoples. We are deeply
humbled and honored at the award.
There are many people to thank for the
successes of this year. I will list them
individually, as their support and help
is invaluable and I want them to know
that they make a big difference.
John Rosenow Ann
Hansen
Carl Duley
Paul Kaldjian
Lawrence Hoffman Dave
Danzinger
Gregg Hadley Jon
Zander
Dale Gable Omtvedt
DATCP
Rod Nilsestuen
Wilda Nilsestuen
Roger Kukowski Barb
Rolland James
Duvall
Blanca Hernandez Lupe
Hernandez
Carina Aquino
Chris Weisenbeck Harriet
Guerrero Paco
Guerrero
Dick Cates
Enrique Figueroa Zac
Barnes
Leroy Wiersma Kathy
Thomsen Sadie
Kaiser
Goals for 2008:
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Continue to offer the same trips.
One for producers and public and the
English Corps. Plan and recruit
participants for the the 2009 River
Falls student trip and the 2009 Eau
Claire Capstone trip. Both of these
University trips will be offered
every two years. Continue current
levels of support.
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English Corps: have three sites for
the class - Tlaquilpa, Astacinga and
Texhuacan. This will mean three
mentors and three (possibly six)
students. Find some funding to
support this activity.
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Training program - pilot this at
John’s farm. 2008 is the year to
develop the goals and curriculum.
Find a willing and qualified person
to provide follow up once in Mexico.
Find funding for this program.
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Begin work on the book. Collect
stories and photos from producers.
Find people to write the book and
someone to take pictures. Have book
ready for 10 year anniversary of
Puentes/Bridges.
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Funding needs: We need to find a
source of support for the above
listed programs, as well as monies
to begin to pay salaries for those
who have so generously offered their
time. We need to find funding to
support a webmaster or someone to
update and maintain the website.
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Continue to speak and present at any
and all invitations. We need to help
the public become more aware of
immigration and its benefits to us
as a nation.
Puentes/Bridges’ star is beginning to
rise. We are at the point where we will
need to begin hiring employees and will
also need to look at offering trips to
other industries and businesses. We have
had great press this year. We have had
very successful trips. We have achieved
many good things and have had generous
help and support both financially and
personally. If we can maintain the same
dedication and committment, we should
see 2008 be an even better year. We must
always remember the goal is better
understanding across cultures. We must
always remember that it is about
connecting people from different places
in a human, genuine and sensitive way.
We must never get so big that we forget
that. Each one of us, Mexican or from
the US, is unique and so very valuable.
Let us commit to these ideas as we start
2008.
As always,
Shaun J. Duvall
Shaun
Judge Duvall
Puentes/Bridges Program
SJD Language & Culture Services
1245 Riverview Dr.
Alma, WI
54610
608.685.4705
Cell
715-495-3916
shaunjd@tds.net
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