Outreach Strategies to Connect with Newcomers
“Don’t try to fix them. We’re not going to fix them. If you have passion, demonstrate listening because when you listen, you’re going to hear their heart. And when you hear their heart, you’re going to understand their story.” – Norma Oliveras
Meet Norma Oliveras, the Hispanic Family Outreach Specialist with the Appleton Public Library in Wisconsin. Norma’s journey to librarianship was unexpected. She was a biologist in Puerto Rico, where she was born and raised. She then entered the human services field, educating children and families in the Head Start Program, after courageously relocating to Wisconsin in support of her husband’s dream of becoming a farm owner. Today, Norma continues to make an impact in the lives of children and families of all backgrounds. In her current role, she works closely with Hispanic families including immigrants and refugees. Norma shares a few actions to successfully outreach to and engage with immigrants and refugees:
Representation matters. Hire employees who have the passion, speak the languages, and/or reflect the changing demographics. This is fundamental in eliminating barriers and developing trust with marginalized communities like immigrants and refugees.
As public libraries are a government entity, we need to reassure immigrants and refugees that their information is confidential and we won’t share it with others. Privacy and safety is very important to all of us.
Develop a better understanding of the culture and where members of the culture are in the community. Then, bring information on library services directly to them. Examples of nontraditional outreach locations may include local food pantries, laundromats, hair salons, churches, farmers markets, cultural festivals, grocery stores, after-school clubs and events, restaurants, mobile estates, neighborhood parks, and others.
Design programs based on needs, not assumptions. When working closely with immigrants and refugees, organizations need to listen, not aim to fix them. An organization can connect with other community partners doing similar work to expand their reach, strengthen the collective impact, and share resources with one another. Libraries are even partnering with trusted lawyers now to educate immigrants on their rights.
Come listen to the full recording with Norma Oliveras for a more in-depth conversation. She discusses her role along with outreach efforts, programming ideas, political challenges, and more! If you have any follow up questions or would like to connect with Norma, you can contact her at noliveras@apl.org.