Speaker: 'Talent going to waste'
By Judi Brinegar
Staff Writer, The Courier-Tribune
ASHEBORO - "Talent waste" is how Dr. H. Nolo Martinez describes
the untapped Hispanic population in Randolph County.
Martinez spoke at a luncheon Wednesday, giving an in-depth review of
the cultural changes taking place in the community and what steps should
be taken to tap that market, including some national steps on revising immigration
policies. The luncheon was sponsored by the Cultural Diversity Committee
of the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce.
"We have Hispanic doctors, teachers, restaurateurs, store owners
here in Asheboro," he said. "I don't want to make the mistake
of looking back and saying that we have talent going to waste in Randolph
County. We need to offer higher education and make more opportunities available
for Hispanics. They are here and are not going anywhere."
Martinez was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. He attended the University
of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez where he earned a bachelor's degree in Agronomy
in 1982. Upon graduation, he was awarded a scholarship from the president
of the University of Puerto Rico to enroll in graduate school at Rutgers,
the state university of New Jersey. In 1984, he received a master's degree
in Agricultural Economics from Rutgers. In 1991, Martinez earned a doctorate
degree in Adult Education from N.C. State University. He is the former director
of Hispanic/Latino Affairs of the Governor's Office and is currently the
director of the Center for New North Carolinians at the University of North
Carolina at Greensboro.
Martinez is well-educated because he was born an American citizen. Those
Hispanics who come to the United States illegally to better themselves are
not allowed the same opportunity.
"They cannot get a higher education because they are not legal,"
Martinez said. "We go to other countries to get nurses for our hospitals,
but there are Hispanics here who could do those jobs if they could get an
education. They want to be here for a better life and want to get an education.
"In order for that to occur, we need to work on changing immigration
policy in this country and America's relationship with immigrants."
Martinez said that language may be a barrier, but immigration policy
in the United States is an even higher barrier. In the year 2000, North
Carolina was the fastest state in the nation in Hispanic growth. There are
10 million Hispanics in the United States. That is $9.8 billion in buying
power, Martinez said.
Hispanic workers contribute to the economy by paying sales tax, property
taxes and income tax through an Individual Taxpayer Identification issued
by the Internal Revenue Service. Those identifications are issued to foreign
nationals who do not qualify for Social Security numbers. These people are
a viable workforce in the United States.
"This is not about building a Hispanic Asheboro," Martinez
said. "I have news for you - they are not just visiting. They are here
to stay. They come here to work and for better opportunities.
"We need to develop some interaction, collaboration and networking
in this community. North Carolina is now a bi-cultural state and we all
have to accept it."
Copyright 2002, Stephens Media Group
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