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The Dalton, Georgia Project: Successful Community Adaptation and Immigrant Incorporation

The Dalton, Georgia Project: Successful Community Adaptation and Immigrant Incorporation. Tim Dunn, Associate Professor, Dept. of Sociology, Salisbury University Drawing on work of: Ruben Hernandez-Leon and Victor Zuniga ,

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The Dalton, Georgia Project: Successful Community Adaptation and Immigrant Incorporation

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  1. The Dalton, Georgia Project: Successful Community Adaptation and Immigrant Incorporation Tim Dunn, Associate Professor, Dept. of Sociology, Salisbury University Drawing on work of: Ruben Hernandez-Leon and Victor Zuniga, 2005 “Appalachia Meets Aztlan: Mexican Immigration and Intergroup Relations in Dalton, Georgia.” in New Destinations of Mexican Immigration in the United States: Community Formation, Local Responses and Inter-Group Relations.

  2. Dalton, Georgia & Latino Immigrant Influx in the 1990s • Dalton “Carpet Capital of the World” • 80% of all US carpet & Lgst. Carpet Corp. in world (Shaw Industries). Local elites. • Labor Shortage early 1990s, but relatively high wages & benefit (lots of turnover) • Labor recruitment in So. Texas early 1990s • Poultry Industry an initial draw for Latino immigrants • Rapid Demographic Change • Dalton – 6.5% Latino in 1990,40% in 2000 (90% Mexican) • County -- 1990– Latinos 3.2%, Whites 92%, Blacks 4% • 2000-- Latinos 22%, Whites 72%, Blacks 3.8% • Latino growth (county) 694% • Dalton Schools: • 1990– Latino 3.9%,Whites 81%, Blacks 13.6%, Asian 1% 2000– Latino 51.5%,Whites 35.2%, Blacks 9.1%, Asian 2.7% • (White flight / withdrawl)

  3. The Latino Immigrants(pop.18,000) • 90% Mexican • 80% intend to stay for at least 3 years, • 20% own homes (as of 1997) • More than 70 immigrant small businesses • Largely Catholic – Huge growth in Catholic Church • Experienced Migrants • 53% lived elsewhere in US, avg. 5-9 yrs, esp. Cal & Texas • 47% straight from Mexico (mainly wives and children) • Example of New Geography of Mexican Migration – to South • This Facilitated adjustment & Incorporation, as did… • Large portion have Legal Status (IRCA wave) • Huge Influx Transforms Dalton area: • Culture, Class relations (new face of wkg. class), • Institutions (schools, banks, workplaces, churches), • Inter-ethnic relations, & Local Politics

  4. Tensions & Positives • Schools Unprepared & Overwhelmed • No ESL, no bilingual ed., Segregation • 2 types of Latino Immig. Student – • recent immigrant (more conforming) • those moving from elsewhere in US -- LA, Chicago, etc.– (more oppositional) • Gang appearance -- & hostility & over-reaction from authorities • Latino Parents Vocal with complaints of discrimination & prejudice (e.g., stu’s. not allowed to speak Spanish) • Workplace: • Increased competition, Immigs. as “rate busters,” INS raids with native workers assistance, INS sets up local office with local govt. assist. • Protests / Backlash: • KKK, Citzens Ag. Illegals have demos, Lots letters to editor • Role of Carpet Elites • --Quell nativist reaction, use newspaper, Speak up for immgs & contributions & family and work ethics. Bring along Middle Class • Nascent Black-Latino-White Collaboration: NAACP voter drive, but some resentment also, yet intermarriage & soczn & rec… (soccer, dances, etc.) • Moving from Separate co-existence to Interaction

  5. Dalton, Georgia Project Response of Local Econ. & Political & School leaders to tensions & problems Carpet Co’s. had joint venture with Mexican industrialists Contacted Univ. of Monterrey for help Georgia Project established 1997 (6 parts) (7 Ga. School Dists.) • Bilingual teachers from Univ. of Monterrey to Dalton (60 thus far) • Design Bilingual Curriculum & Professional development (ESL) trng. for Tchrs & staff (over 300 so far) • Latino Adult Ed. & Leadership initiative • SUMMER INSTITUTE for Ga. Tchrs (116 thus far) at U Monterrey – ESL, Span, Mexican Culture & History • Applied research (academic involvement – Mexicans) • College Scholarships for bilingual Dalton High School graduates, going into teaching. Now also working with Dalton State College and other are universities for ESL professional development and other support

  6. Dalton, Georgia Project (cont.) • Positives of Intervention of Mexican scholars and teachers: • Instl. Legitimacy for controversial positions & debates (e.g., bilingual ed) • “Cultural Knowledge” to respond to immigration • intermediaries for dialogue & mediation between immigrants and local actors • Led to creation of Latino immigrant organization • prestige to otherwise often invisible, looked down on immigrant community. • Replication Elsewhere? • YES, but must have local partners (school, civic, or econ. leaders) see need for intervention & outside assistance • & Need Mexican University partners (or other institutional) partners • & Local university support and expertise is a PLUS • Also, religious organizations can be key ( in Dalton Catholic Church, also Am. Friends Service Committee)

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