Forward Janesville - TheReport - Second Quarter 2023

according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The Latinx population in 2000 was 2.6%. That’s grown to 5.4% in 2010 and 5.7% in 2020. In the Janesville School District alone, the Hispanic/Latinx population rose to 14.6% in 2021. Forward Janesville joins a lineup of Janesville organizations that offer Latinx resources and outreach programs including the City of Janesville, Janesville School District, Blackhawk Technical College and Rock County. PremierBank, Forward Janesville’s recent DiversityAwardWinner, has been a leader in meeting the growth of Janesville’s Latinx community by providing financial resources to the local Spanish speaking community. “Several years ago we formed an internal Bilingual Initiatives committee that focuses on outreach efforts to reach our communities in their native language. The committee has been very successful in its mission and last year we decided to broaden our outreach by organizing the first Hispanic Heritage Festival in Janesville,” PremierBank’s Chairman, President and CEO Russ Turk said. Donde-Selensky has worked in financial services as a bilingual banker while volunteering her free time to teach those with limited English proficiency about a variety of financial literacy topics, in their native language, including budgeting, how to secure credit, and steps to saving. The Janesville community as a whole will benefit from Latinx outreach because it will support greater workforce development. Businesses have been looking for workers and workers need jobs, but the two groups don’t often mix because of language and cultural barriers. “Normally what you don't know you're scared of,” Donde-Selensky said. “Alot of Latinx community is scared they won't be welcome. In America, we don't know about Latinx culture. Once we all merge into a Janesville community, not just a Latinx community and anAmerican community, we can work together to improve the lives of people in Janesville.” “At Forward Janesville, we know that diversity is a key ingredient to a thriving economy and an essential component to community development.This initiativewas a result of Forward Janesville and its Foundation’s goal to broaden the chamber membership base to better reflect our community,” said Angela Pakes, President of Forward Janesville and the Forward Foundation. 12 | FORWARD JANESVILLE More than 150 guests enjoy music from a local mariachi band Emma De Luna (Owner, La Chuchería) MEET THE CONSEJO EMPRESARIAL LATINX (LATINX BUSINESS COUNCIL) Chair: ..............................Silvia Donday-Selenske PremierBank, Council Chair Coordinator : ..................Claire Olsen, Forward Janesville, Council Coordinator René Bue .........................Hedberg Public Library Emma De Luna ................La Chuchería Angelica Figueroa............Century 21 Ginna Isunza ....................YWCA Manuel Maravillo .............Maravillo Properties LLC Jose Massas-Caraballo ....Massas Transportation Javier Montero.................Tacos Neno Francisco Mejía ................Rutaquería el Pancho Esperanza Suárez .............La Kermes Food Truck & Catering Jorge Tenorio...................Tenorio Midwest Services LLC Randy Terronez ................Rock County Leticia Topete .................La Jaiba Loca Pedro Yescas ....................La Perlita Fortunato Zuñiga .............Mexico en la Sangre THE CONSEJO EMPRESARIAL LATINX IS UNIQUE FOR A WISCONSIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Currently, there are more than 265 chambers of commerce in Wisconsin, with only 3 of those chambers focused specifically on serving Latino/Hispanic businesses. Rather than a separate organization, the FJI Consejo will work to integrate the local Latinx business community and leverage resources more broadly. The Consejo meets on a quarterly basis and is supported by FJI staff, a dedicated phone line and email, as well as resources and materials in Spanish. INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE OR GETTING INVOLVED? Connect with our Adelante Janesville coordinator, Claire Olsen, at recursos@forwardjanesville.com or call (608) 449-3666.