passion for the people
Story by Susan O'Connor, Photo by Dero Sanford

Gina Gomez intimately knows the struggles of immigration. Through her direction of the Hispanic Community Services Inc. (HCSI), she channels her passion into creative assistance for her Latin brothers and sisters.

A native of Colombia, Gomez and her husband, Andres Acosta, moved to the United States in 1999 and ultimately chose Jonesboro in order for Acosta to study international business at Arkansas State University. He is now director of Blessed Sacrament Childcare.

With a bachelor of science in psychology from her home country, Gomez began volunteering at Blessed Sacrament’s Hispanic outreach program with Sister Elaine Willett and was able to obtain a work Visa on religious grounds. Then began the lengthy, difficult process of establishing permanent residence here. After three years of meeting all the stringent requirements, she was able to apply.

“It is so difficult, so hard,” Gomez said, “because of a backlog of cases, the laws and changing requirements. It takes a long, long time to get your paperwork done. That’s why I love so much what I do. I understand. I know how difficult it is.”

Gomez explained that she arrived in the U.S. with the proper paperwork, a luxury that is not available to all immigrants.

“Can you imagine how difficult it is for someone who doesn’t have the legal paperwork, always thinking about what will happen tomorrow? Am I going to be deported?

“In Latin countries, it is so difficult to get a U.S. Visa. When you go to the embassy, there are lines and lines of people. It is very expensive, and most Visas are denied. You must establish that you have responsibilities in your own country that will require you to return. You have to show that you are tied to your country and you are going to go back. For most people, proving this is impossible. International students must have a sponsor and provide proof that there is money in the bank to pay for their education.”

She noted that after September 11, the process became even stricter.

In her role as executive director of HCSI, Gomez has begun measures to facilitate Hispanics in Arkansas with obstacles such as a lack of identification and a language barrier, as well as providing career counseling, child enrichment programs and more. The range of services offered by HCSI is unique in the state, according to Gomez. Only two other such centers exist — in Springdale and Little Rock — and they basically deal with immigration issues only.
Her right hand at the center is longtime volunteer Sister Elaine Willett, who maintains an office at Blessed Sacrament to serve the Hispanic community with religious needs and also volunteers heavily at the HCSI.

“We really work well together,” Gomez said. “She just has a Hispanic heart. Years ago she started going from home to home in different towns to help fill out documents and teach English. Whatever she will have to do, wherever she will have to go to help a family, she will do it. We are really blessed to have her.”
One unique project begun by Gomez and Willett is to issue HCSI membership cards to Hispanics, which serve as a vital source of identification for those who do not have a driver’s license or social security card. When entering a health department or school, or if stopped by law enforcement, these cards provide basic necessary information.

To apply, Gomez said applicants must have some type of government document from their country, or two witnesses to attest to identity, and the paperwork is notarized.

Contact information for the non-profit HCSI is on the card, so 24-hr translation services are available. The center charges $20 per card, which serves as a primary source of funding. To date, more than 11,000 membership cards have been issued. HCSI is a United Way member agency and also has received assistance from the City of Jonesboro, the Craighead County Community Foundation and has applied for funding from the Arkansas Community Foundation.

The $20 membership is a win-win situation, Gomez noted because the income helps keep the center afloat, and members benefit from the many services that are available.

For example, HCSI offers basic English classes for young children who have just arrived in the states, easing their transition into the school system.
There is also a tutoring program facilitated by interns from several departments at ASU, as well as summer programs and an after-school program that has 34 children enrolled a waiting list of 13 children.

Interestingly, HCSI began offering Spanish classes for Hispanic youth in the summer. Gomez said that for the most part, these kids choose not to speak Spanish because of the negative connotation of being different. She asked them to write in Spanish in a journal every day, which was very difficult for many of them, she said.

“Their parents speak to them in Spanish and the kids respond in English. We are trying to educate the parents. If you don’t push really hard, they lose their Spanish. It will be really important to them in the future to be bilingual.”

One new program is a drawing class for children taught by a local Hispanic artist.
“Many of these children don’t have access to cultural enrichment,” Gomez said. “They are really, really excited about the class.”

The center offers Spanish classes for English speakers, summer Spanish camp and translation and interpretation services for different businesses and organizations.

“We really work not just with, or for, the Hispanic community,” Gomez said. “We work a lot with the Anglo community.”

HCSI also works closely with the police department and court system as a go between, and partners with potential employers to match Hispanic workers with available jobs.

“We are trying to integrate the community,” she said sincerely. “I think because of the center, we don’t have the problems that some communities do. This is such a great community for Hispanics. I think that is why the Hispanic community keeps growing and growing.”