From Deseret News archives:
Plans for helping ethnic groups hailed
Director says details should be released by mid-September
Yvette Donosso Diaz, executive director of the Utah Department of Community and Culture, described the plan as "very ambitious" and "exciting."
It's about partnerships between the state's Asian, black, Hispanic and Pacific Islander offices and state agencies to build partnerships to help advance all the state's ethnic minority communities in areas such as education and economic development, she said.
"The ethnic affairs offices don't have a budget for programs," she said. "In a way, we're teaching state agencies how to do outreach."
A draft of the proposal, yet to be publicly released, was presented to the governor's office on July 1. Diaz said the draft is now about "95 percent ready to go" and should be released no later than mid-September. She said the ethnic offices have their work cut out for them in meeting the lofty goals, some of which could take up to two years.
However, some in the state's ethnic minority communities questioned why they had yet to be informed about the plan, originally set to be in place by June 30.
Diaz said the plan involves feedback from 14 town hall meetings held around the state and meetings with city and county officials. There was also input from the state offices the ethnic affairs directors are partnering with and the ethnic advisory councils, she said.
"That's why it took 100 days-plus to do this. We wanted it to be inclusive," she said. "We also wanted to have it be meaningful and have good deliverables."
Asian Advisory Council member Needra Nanayakkara said the draft plan had "some very good ideas" but said solutions have been discussed before. "I hope we implement it," she said.
Gonzalo Palza, member of the Hispanic Advisory Council, said the draft plan lacks what he sees as essential a blueprint for serving the state's undocumented immigrant population.
"I think it's a good attempt," he said. "But I'd like to see it accompanied by a clear policy with regards to the undocumented population."
Comments
- UK man pulls bus with hair 2:38 p.m.
- Prospective groom drops ring 2:36 p.m.
- Swine flu has sickened 22M 2:35 p.m.
- Obama to want revised war options 2:33 p.m.
- Banks will need consent for fees 2:32 p.m.
- Obama leaves for Far East 2:17 p.m.
- 'Mormon Mustang' pilot valiant 1:56 p.m.
- BYU-I devotional: Elder Clayton 1:38 p.m.
- Juan Diego pulls away from Wasatch 1:34 p.m.
- Iran began nuke plant 7 years ago 1:16 p.m.
- House passes health care bill
305 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
294 - TCU showdown has big implications
195 - Senators want food tax restored
158 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - Will state consider gay rights law?
126 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
115 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
110
One of my guilty pleasures is perusing the covers of celebrity magazines...
The galactic center shines like firelight through gaps in …
Do you realize how insurance and annuities work? Guess not because they are...
A 2008 survey by sexologist Li Yinhe shows a mixed picture of public...
To UM, Bigotry is irrational. No explanation is possible or required....
Why do they have to be "gay members" of the military? Why can't they just be...
you are speaking the truth. it about time somebody points out AK's worth to...
This is nothing more than propagana. As long as people can lable these guys...
'But the constitution also allows for the free exercise of religion,...
A former BYU professor claiming that Mormons are "mainstream"?? Who...
re: SJ | 2:16 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009 "What a bunch of garbage on these...
To: Jeff R - what if it does the opposite?


You can be the first to comment on this story.