Hispanic Outreach Project

Legal Aid Society of Northwest North Carolina - 030088

Abstract Number: 030088

May 2003

Legal Aid Society of Northwest North Carolina (LASNNC) created a Hispanic Outreach Project to provide legal services to the low-income Hispanic community in LASNNC's service area. LASNNC primarily provides legal assistance and advice in family law and consumer law issues and engages in some benefits and landlord tenant matters. LASNNC hired a paralegal who coordinates events and conducts targeted outreach to the community. LASNNC also hosts community education clinics that are held in local churches or community centers. LASNNC recently joined the Hispanic Services Coalition in order to coordinate LASNNC's services with other social services providers serving the Hispanic community.

LASNNC also provided instruction in conversational Spanish to its entire staff. LASNNC hired a teacher from an organization that specializes in teaching languages to business travelers and held classes from 4:00-5:30PM twice a week for twelve weeks to ensure that all staff members could interact with Spanish speaking clients on a basic level. LASNNC found the classes particularly helpful especially with staff who interact with Spanish speaking clients on a daily basis yet may not be inclined to learn Spanish in a classroom setting outside of work. While not meant to replace the use of experienced translators or bilingual staff, this project intends to provide staff with basic Spanish skills allowing them to interact with clients with out complete dependence on a translator. For staff members interested in more in depth language study, LASNNC also offers tuition and book reimbursements for staff members who are interested in taking Spanish classes in their personal time.

Contact Information:

Andrea Kurtz
Managing Attorney
Legal Aid Society of Northwest North Carolina
216 West 4th St
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Phone: (336)725-9166
Email

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