Latino community

(in Multnomah county)

Carolina Torres, Araceli Guzman, Yliana Huidor,
Jazmin Munoz, Alyssa Valles

who are latinos?

Fun Fact #1
Mexican people are the biggest category of
the overall hispanic/latino community~55.7
million.

Introducing the Latino community

Latinos have deep roots in Oregon dating back to 1542

In the 1900s an influx of Latinos (led by immigrants from Mexico) began to enter the
state for agricultural work
The beginning of WWII brought more Latinos to Oregon since many American farmers were
leaving for the army
The 1960s the Latino community in Oregon became more visible due to increased
political activism
By 1970 the Chicano movement was underway in Oregon
Since then many Latino serving organizations have been created that are focused in the
Portland area

immigration policy & related policy barriers

The relationship between Latinos and the U.S remains one

of:

EXPLOITATION

MARGINALIZATION

EXCLUSION

POWERLESSNESS

immigration myth busting: Common immigration Myths

1.
2.
3.
4.

Immigrants take away American jobs

the incomes of US Citizens
Immigrants do not pay taxes
Since NAFTA Mexico has become more
to seek better economic conditions
Non-citizens use services they are

and put downward pressure on

prosperous. There is no need

in the U.S
not entitled to

FUN FAct #2
Almost Half Of The Amount Of Interracial
Couples In The US Involve A Latino

CIvic engagement
Definition:
Civic engagement refers to the ways in which citizens participate in the life of a community in order to improve
conditions for others or to help shape the community's future

Latinos do not have a political voice

In 2008, levels of voter registration among Latinos remained significantly
lower than for non-Latino Whites

*Those levels were also lower than for Blacks and Asians which had voter
registration levels of 70%*

Population Counts

From 1990-2010, the Latino Population has increased by

231.5% (from 18,390 Latinos to 80,138)
These Census numbers are still fairly inaccurate!

community -verified population counts

The Census Bureau recognized that in 2000 there was an

undercount in Latinos by 0.71% and an overcount of 1.13%
among the White community
Census numbers are not only inaccurate because of fear
but also because of other patterns in the Latino
community
These undercounts have a major impact on the community
financially

Community-verified population counts continued

The INS estimates are determined by The Department of

Homeland Securitys Office of Immigration Statistics and
the Pew Hispanic Center.
Homeland Securitys estimate of the undocumented
population is 10.8 million.
Pew Hispanic Center estimate is 11.2 million.
In Oregon, the estimate is 160,000 of whom 81% are
thought to be Latino.
In 2009, 40% of the Latino population was immigrant,
totalling to be 32,055 Latino immigrants in Multnomah
County.

Population demographics (AGE)

37.3% Of the Latino community

are under 18, compared to

17.1% of whites.

The median age for Latinos

in Multnomah County is
25.6 years, compared to
38.4 for whites.

Population Demographics (Race in Public Schools)

Comparison with king county

Insert disparities comparison chart from page 76

Fun fact #3
Carlos Slim is the second richest man in the world as of
right now. He is worth 72.9 Billion USD, and is a proud
Mexican!

Poverty

(23%) live in poverty,

77% higher than Whites

13% of whites are in the

same poverty levels as
Latinos

Poverty level is
decreasing
Used to be 3x, now 2x
Economic options
improving

* This is not good news

for biggers changes need
to be seen and poverty
levels are still very
high

Poverty levels of
latino families are
almost 3x higher than
white families
Single Latina mothers
have 1 in 2 chances of
living in poverty

Improving but needs immediate attention

Income

Latino:$14,627 White:$32,371
per capita income
Income gap is getting bigger
because of lost economic
ground
Before: 56% below average
Now: 65% below average
Makes it hard for them to
live in Multnomah County

Occupation & Job Prospects

Employment prospects are low

Mainly work in service, farming, fishing, forestry,
construction, production and transportation
2nd worst to have access to a management/professional
career
Likely to be employed even with college education
Affected by labor market marginalization

wealth

For every dollar in wealth held by

Whites, Latinos hold 5 cents. Thats 18
times more wealth.

From loss of income, comes less

opportunities for jobs and living
situations, even the chance of going back
to school.

housing and homelessness

Housing is key for building wealth & for

accessing better schools and
neighborhoods

Housing discrimination by landlords

against Latino renters is pronounced in
Portland

A recent test showed that 68% of

landlords discriminated Latino
applicants in 2010

In 2009, the Homeless Count for Portland

determined that there were 225 Latinos
living on the street or in shelters

education

Whites only have a 6% (1/16) chance of

not graduating high school while
Latinos have a 44% chance (almost ) of
not graduating high school
Whites have a 44% chance of having a
Bachelor's degree or higher and Latinos
have a 16% chance
Across Multnomah County, Latino
students are suspended and expelled
from schools at higher rates than White
students

health and its barriers

1 out of 3 Latinos do not have health

insurance
Health care coverage to low
Health disparities 130% worse than
whites
Access to health care must expand, for
adults and children
Poverty, low-income, insecure
employment, food insecurity, stress,
low education, and unsafe housing are
some factors to jeopardizing one's
health

Crime and adult corrections

The Good: *Crimes have been decreasing over the last 15
years*
The Bad: Theyre arrested 13% more than whites
The Ugly: Racial Profiling
The Problem: Police Departments mainly employ whites, and
only few people of color.

Portland Police Department Employment in 2011

Latinos make up
10.1% of the
population in
Portland.

Harsher
sentences
are applied
to people of
color.

Latinos are
incarcerated at a
rate of .41%, While
white are
incarcerated at a
rate of .33%

juvenile Justice

Latino youth are charged double the rate than white

youth!
Also are more likely to be detained, given probation, and
be charged than whites.
They are 52% more likely to receive custody sentences
than whites.
Latinos are also 14% more likely to be charged with a reoffense than whites.

Child WElfare

Latinos are 67.4% likely to be reported to the

Child Protective Services (CPS), while whites are
56.7%

Multnomah County:7.4 of per 1,000

National Average: 6 per 1,000
A study done in Multnomah county (2008) showed that
most Latino children in welfare returned to their
families within 30 days.

Latino are less likely than any other group to

stay in care for long periods of time.

NOW TO END ON A LITTLE HAPPIER NOTE