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The VOICE for Traumatized Children and families - Attachment and Trauma Network

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Attachment & Trauma Network (ATN) the VOICE for traumatized children through our mission Empowering Trauma-Informed Families, Schools, and Communities.

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A ( traumatic event is a scary, dangerous, or violent event. An event can be traumatic when we face or witness an immediate threat to ourselves or to a loved one, and it is often followed by serious injury or harm NCTSN Parents and Caregivers Website).

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Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems: 5 Forces Impacting Our Lives

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Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful events occurring in childhood including

domestic violence

parental abandonment through separation or divorce

a parent with a mental health condition

being the victim of abuse (physical, sexual and/or emotional)

being the victim of neglect (physical and emotional)

a member of the household being in prison

growing up in a household in which there are adults experiencing alcohol and drug use problems.

The term was originally developed in the US for the Adverse Childhood Experiences survey which found that as the number of ACEs increased in the population studied, so did the risk of experiencing a range of health conditions in adulthood. There have been numerous other studies which have found similar findings including in Wales and England.

ACEs and health inequalities

Preventing ACEs should be seen within the wider context of tackling societal inequalities. While ACEs are found across the population, there is more risk of experiencing ACEs in areas of higher deprivation.

ACEs have been found to have lifelong impacts on health and behaviour and they are relevant to all sectors and involve all of us in society. We all have a part to play in preventing adversity and raising awareness of ACEs. Resilient communities have an important role in action on ACEs.

An ACE survey with adults in Wales found that compared to people with no ACEs, those with 4 or more ACEs are more likely to

have been in prison

develop heart disease

frequently visit the GP

develop type 2 diabetes

have committed violence in the last 12 months

have health-harming behaviours (high-risk drinking, smoking, drug use).

When children are exposed to adverse and stressful experiences, it can have a long-lasting impact on their ability to think, interact with others and on their learning.

ACEs should not be seen as someone's destiny. There is much that can be done to offer hope and build resilience in children, young people and adults who have experienced adversity in early life.

You can find out more about principles that could underpin work on ACEs by reading the 'Adverse childhood experiences in context' produced by the Scottish Adverse Childhood Experiences Hub.

Overcoming childhood adversity - inspiring stories

With Public Health Wales, we have published a collection of stories from individuals sharing how they have used their knowledge about childhood adversity in their work and lives. We hope these stories will be inspiring, showing the difference that we can all have in the lives of those around us.

National action

In collaboration with many individuals and organisations across the UK, including the Scottish Childhood Adversity Hub, we have produced a report called 'Ending Childhood Adversity'. This new report builds on the previous Scottish Public Health Network 'Polishing the Diamonds' report and sets out a strong case for preventative action on childhood adversity.

The Scottish Government has set out its commitment to preventing and mitigating ACEs. You can read about their commitment in the 2017/18 Programme for Government (external site).

We co-ordinate a Scottish ACEs Hub to progress national action on ACEs.

The ACE Hub, working with Scottish Government and other partners is involved in action on

raising awareness and understanding about ACEs

contributing to developing the evidence base on ACEs

policy and practice approaches to prevent ACEs and mitigate their negative impacts.

You can help reduce ACEs by

preventing household adversity

supporting parents and families

building resilience in children and wider communities

encouraging wider awareness and understanding about ACEs and their impact on health and behaviour

using encounters with adults in services such as homelessness services, addiction, prison or maternity services, to also consider the impacts on their children or future children.

You can find out more about tackling ACEs in our evidence report 'Tackling the Attainment Gap'.

We have produced this short animation to contribute to raising awareness about the impact of childhood adversity. We hope it can stimulate discussion about what action can be taken to both prevent and respond to early adversity.

Please share and use the clip and let us know what you think

You can find further information to support dealing with trauma and traumatic events on the NHS Inform website (external website).

Contact us

You can contact the Childhood Adversity team for more information about our work.

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Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful events occurring in childhood including domestic violence parental abandonment through separation or divorce a parent with a mental health condition being the victim of abuse (physical, sexual and/or emotional) being the victim of neglect (physical and emotional) a member of the household being in

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Being able to talk openly to a family member or as a family about feelings and feel heard, accepted and supported.

Belief that family stood by them during difficult times.

Feeling safe and protected by an adult in the home.

Not every child comes from a family that is warm, supportive and accepting. Some children live in homes where they don't feel emotionally and physically safe. The good news is that friends and communities can be sources of PCEs as well. Examples of non-family PCEs include:

Feeling supported by friends.

Having a sense of belonging and connection with a larger group who has "got your back" (e.g. school, church, clubs, neighborhood, etc.).

Enjoyment of participation in community traditions.

Relationship with at least one non-parent adult who takes genuine interest in you.

The types of experiences that have the most healing effects are not things that can be bought or that necessarily cost a lot of money. They are the experiences that help children learn to trust others even when life is uncertain, difficult or frightening. They happen when we are willing to talk honestly about things that are hard to understand, scary, embarrassing or painful. When adults are willing to have these types of conversations with the children, the result is that children feel reassured that they are not alone in their struggles and they are better able to find meaning or purpose in their struggles.

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Being able to talk openly to a family member or as a family about feelings and feel heard, accepted and supported. Belief that family stood by them during difficult times. Feeling safe and protected by an adult in the home. Not every child comes from a family that is warm, supportive and accepting.

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Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs)

In September 2019, lead researcher Dr. Christina Bethell released the results of a study of 6,188 adults at Johns Hopkins seeking to identify Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) that could buffer against the health effects of traumatic ones. A percentage of kids with high ACE scores do nevertheless grow up to have normal development and good adult emotional health. The researchers were looking to identify the factors that created a level of resiliency in these kids that helped them to thrive despite difficult childhoods.

The study determined there are 7 positive childhood experiences that can be statistically linked to good emotional and mental health in adults.

Even before researchers defined ACE's and demonstrated the link between high ACE scores and lower high school graduation rates, increased mental health diagnoses, higher rates of incarceration, and other poor outcomes, there has been an enormous focus on decreasing adverse childhood experiences.

The PCEs study helps shape research moving in an additional direction: increasing positive childhood experiences to build resilience in kids who have experienced trauma, and those who may in the future. The relationship between PCEs in childhood and good mental health in adults is dose-responsive; the more PCEs a child gets, the better their adult mental health is likely to be.

Children with PCEs become adults who are able to seek social and emotional support. The 7 PCEs are:

1. The ability to talk with family about feelings.

2. The sense that family is supportive during difficult times.

3. The enjoyment of participation in community traditions.

4. Feeling a sense of belonging in high school.

5. Feeling supported by friends.

6. Having at least two non-parent adults who genuinely cared.

7. Feeling safe and protected by an adult in the home.

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Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) - Pinetree Institute

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In September 2019, lead researcher Dr. Christina Bethell released the results of a study of 6,188 adults at Johns Hopkins seeking to identify Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) that could buffer against the health effects of traumatic ones. A percentage of kids with high ACE scores do nevertheless grow up to have normal development and good adult emotional health.

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What is Polyvagal Theory | Polyvagal Institute

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If you're looking for a basic understanding of Dr. Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory, check out our articles, 20-second videos, simple illustrations, FAQ's and slides to give you a solid foundation of the key principles of Polyvagal Theory.

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July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, also known as BIPOC Mental Health Month

The theme of Mental Health America's 2023 BIPOC Mental Health campaign is Culture, Community, & Connection. Our lives are deeply intertwined with our environments, and these surroundings impact our mental health and overall wellness. Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) populations are faced with disproportionate amounts of historical trauma and displacement that can challenge their ability to thrive in their environments. However, culture, community, and connection are pillars that support and uplift BIPOC individuals in the face of oppression and systemic racism. Learn more in these resources about how BIPOC communities have thrived.

Download the 2023 BIPOC Mental Health Month Toolkit

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July was designated as Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in 2008 to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face in regard to mental illness in the United States (US).

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Certified Instructors

Sign in to document training, access training resources, explore professional development opportunities, and more.

CPI Learners

Sign in to access your online modules, manage your classes, preview courses, and more.

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Homepage | Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI)

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Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) is an international training organization that specializes in the safe management of disruptive and assaultive behavior through the use of verbal as well as restrictive de-escalation strategies and techniques.

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Kathleen Hilchey - Anti-Bullying Specialist

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Kathleen Hilchey - Anti-Bullying Specialist

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Bullying and harassment specialist and coach

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We envision a community that inspires youth to live with pride and purpose, where the sounds of gunshots have been replaced by the sounds of organizing, song, collaboration, laughter, and learning.

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What is Vicarious Trauma? | The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit | OVC

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Find a definition of vicarious trauma and how organizations can addressing the negative impact of this occupational challenge on their employees.

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With each time-out, detention, suspension, expulsion, paddling, restraint, seclusion, & arrest at school, there are children who aren't getting the help they need & are being pushed away from caregivers who could instead be helping them. Doing things differently requires a major paradigm shift.

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Last year, more than 2 million people attempted to enter the United States, bringing the total number of immigrants to a record high of 46 million, according to recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Some sought refuge from conflicts, violence, and political unrest, while others wanted the security of a functional economy. The Southwest border experienced the largest ever surge in numbers. In 2022, more than a million individuals became authorized permanent residents in the United States. Most new permanent U.S. residents originate from 20 countries and five continents, with the largest numbers of people coming from Mexico.

Psychologists specializing in working with these communities say that immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees are living with extreme stress, consistent vulnerability, and life-long health consequences as a result of barriers that limit their ability to receive psychological care. A 2022 study of children and families living in the United States who have experienced migration-related trauma found significant barriers to receiving mental health care, including mental health stigma, distrust of service systems, and cultural and linguistic differences ( Miller, A. B., Psychological Trauma, Oct 27, 2022).

Psychology as a field has not historically considered the structural inequities and cyclical trauma in immigrant communities ( Rami, F., et al., American Psychologist, Vol. 78, No. 2, 2023). Some psychologists are changing this by providing specialized care for different types of immigrant trauma, training new providers to deliver culturally and contextually competent care, and embedding themselves into the immigrant communities they serve.

Following are four examples of psychologists working closely with different historically marginalized immigrant populations:

Reaching marginalized immigrants

As the daughter of a Mexican-born mother, psychologist Jeannine Cicco Barker, PsyD, focuses her Philadelphia-based practice on supporting immigrant and marginalized communities. After gaining experience in providing psychological assessments to these communities, Cicco Barker now provides therapy, outreach, and advocacy to often hard-to-reach populations or individuals who must remain hidden or face deportation.

Every immigrant story is unique and often complex, said Cicco Barker. Her special insight into this population was gained by working with organizations like Physicians for Human Rights Asylum Network and by providing volunteer psychological services for the CARA/Dilley Pro Bono Project at the Family Detention Center in Dilley, Texas. These roles support Cicco Barker's ability to serve communities she is committed to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

Providing these services at the border and in detention centers is just one example of how psychologists can help this vulnerable population, said Cicco Barker. She asserted: "It is not very easy to do." But, an accessible and pragmatic approach for psychologists to help is offering immigration evaluations or offering pro-bono/low-cost therapy to immigrants and asylum seekers, she said.

Often that work involves finding ways to provide specific care for every member of the family. "A lot of the time children of immigrants are often supporting their families in unexpected ways, from taking care of younger siblings to translating for parents," she said. Cicco Barker sees some of her personal experiences mirrored in those of these first-generation Americans, and this prepares her to provide appropriate care and services. Changing demographics in the United States are making a slow impact on diversity in psychology, which remains dominated by White clinicians, representing almost 81% of those in practice. "I look at our field-it lacks diversity and as a result, our services are not equitable and accessible," she said.

The pandemic changed the way that many psychologists provide care, including Cicco Barker, who is registered with PSYPACT and can see patients from 39 states via telehealth services. Technology-and the laws enabling it-is broadening her scope to reach patients across the country and that means more access for individuals and communities in need, including historically marginalized immigrants.

Equitable evaluations

The number of psychologists skilled and able to provide care embedded in cultural awareness and sensitivity to Asian Americans is limited, with 3.28% of psychologists identifying as Asian. This is important because after Mexico, the largest numbers of authorized immigrants settling in the United States are coming from India and China. Living between cultures is a challenge faced by all immigrants, and navigating those complexities is how psychologist Valerie Yeo, PsyD, is providing care for Asian American communities. Strong family ties, sometimes differing immigration status within these families, and high expectations of success in these communities often result in hidden challenges for Yeo's patients.

Yeo is one of the few private practitioners in Portland, Oregon, providing care to first- and second-generation Americans, many of whom are of Asian descent. Fear continues to occupy the minds of new and even established immigrants, particularly in Asian communities, said Yeo. In 2020, there was a 70% increase in attacks on individuals of Asian descent, according to the FBI Hate Crime statistics. It was social unrest, said Yeo, that originally made her decide to devote her practice to working with immigrants. "I was thinking about ways that I could use my degree to effect more concrete change," she said.

Yeo provides support and psychological evaluations for patients applying to be permanent residents, for waivers of removal from the U.S. or citizenship. These application processes are often long and time-consuming, said Yeo. Working with immigrant populations means that psychologists must know where individuals and families can access the community experts and the resources they need to guide them through this process, said Yeo. "With immigrant clients, we are working with people who by and large aren't White, English might not be their first language, and they may have been through all sorts of trauma. We're also often working with interpreters, so it is not just language but also cultural differences," she said.

To make sure she doesn't bring biases into the clinical setting, Yeo continuously works to understand the communities that she serves. "I have multiple marginalized identities myself," said Yeo. "As psychologists, we cannot say that we are 'culturally affirming' if we are not also working to dismantle systemic oppression in our own selves and within our communities," said Yeo. The next step for clinicians is to consider their approach in relation to this broader context, asserts Yeo. "If we do not do the work to think about what we are bringing [to the sessions], then we can do a lot of harm to our clients," she said.

With 6 years of experience providing psychological evaluations, Yeo now trains psychologists and other mental health providers in this process through the nonprofit organization IMPACT based in Portland, Oregon. IMPACT provides services to individuals and families trying to gain stability. Immigrant families often have the added complexity of varying legal statuses between undocumented parents and their children born in the United States.

For psychologists new to providing services to immigrant and undocumented clients, this means exploring each patient's journey. "Without knowing the sociopolitical context of people's experiences, it can be easy to pathologize or essentialize someone's presentation, especially if it does not conform to Western-centric ideas of health or wellness," said Yeo.

As well as providing services and care to patients, she also works to broaden the psychological literacy of other professionals working with immigrants such as attorneys. She represents her patients when they are being evaluated during immigration proceedings, and the goal of the evaluations is to assess the client's mental health and well-being. "My role in these evaluations is essentially to tell someone's story and to provide some education-especially about trauma-for people in the court system and to attorneys who might not otherwise know this information," she said.

While psychological care is losing its stigma for many Americans, many immigrant populations struggle to acknowledge mental health challenges. In addition, working with immigrants often involves multiple layers of effort from administrative to practical on the part of the provider, Yeo says. "It does create a little more case management around finding services that are going to be a good fit. A lot of these folks are not coming from a Eurocentric environment, so I always try to be careful that I am making referrals to places and providers who have that understanding, and have done their own work around how to provide care with cultural humility and awareness," said Yeo.

Meeting immigrants where they are

Some psychologists believe the work to strengthen the profession to address the needs of immigrants must begin in the classroom by training the new generation of scientist-practitioners. Researchers like Luz Garcini, PhD, an assistant professor of psychology in psychological sciences and director of community health at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University, are doing just that.

Research has shown that despite the challenges of the immigration experience, the influx of foreign-born individuals has increased life expectancy in the United States ( Hendi, A. S., & Ho, J. Y., SSM - Population Health, Vol. 15, 2021). But Garcini suggests that this may well be a false narrative. Her research indicates that there is a major psychological and physical cost in making the journey to the United States. "In the short term the United States is a place for immigrants with the greatest resilience, those whose bodies can withstand the most abuse, and those who have no choice but to stay as a survival mechanism," she said.

Data is limited and there is a need for research to guide effective interventions, advocacy, and policy to reduce risk and prevent further harm, said Garcini. "There is little information about what happens over time and the detrimental effects of living under chronic stress and oppressive circumstances." Addressing the lack of longitudinal data is the next crucial step for researchers.

The burden of disease faced by this immigrant population and its toll on the well-being of unauthorized and often essential workers is unknown, said Garcini, but is "something that we must urgently explore." Garcini and her collaborators are currently using biomarkers to document how toxic stressors and trauma can get under the skin over time to increase health risk among marginalized Latinx immigrants, with the goal of informing public health and migration policies.

Garcini and her team have been collaborating with immigrant communities to address significant gaps in the research literature. This means going out into the community to meet immigrants where they are, said Garcini, who, along with a team of psychologists, has now launched the Latinx Immigrant Health Alliance (LIHA), a group of Latinx scholars who collaborate to advance research, policy, and effective interventions to improve immigrant health and inform effective policy.

There are also growing networks and directories featuring psychologists whose goals are to provide care for immigrant and marginalized populations. One thing these providers have noted about working with immigrants at various stages of their journey is that sliding scale fees are essential. Clinicians can partner with nonprofits, such as the Open Path Collective and the Loveland Foundation, which fund mental health care at steeply reduced rates for patients with lower incomes.

Serving communities

Oswaldo Moreno, PhD, an associate professor of psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and a first-generation American, directs the La Esperenza Research Lab, where his team researches health care and mental health disparities. They employ qualitative and quantitative methodologies that include community engagement, as well as community-participatory and school-based research. "My goal is to be able to uplift the voices of the communities," said Moreno, whose patients include Latinx and Spanish-speaking individuals and families.

Moreno's work takes place not only on the campus but also in the neighborhoods of Richmond, Virginia, where he codirects and co-supervises the VCU Multicultural Clinic, providing mental health services for immigrant and Spanish-speaking communities. He said he tries to follow the example his parents set as immigrants to the United States. "They had a fifth-grade education, but they instilled in us the idea of getting an education, as well as values like giving back to the community, passed on from generation to generation. I really value working with people," said Moreno. "Providing adequate, culturally responsible services," said Moreno, is at the core of his work, and those differ from patient to patient. "One size does not fit all," he said.

According to Moreno, the essential component in providing care for immigrant communities is context. "A lot of my work looks at systemic policies at the regional, state, and national levels," he said. He adds that the lived experiences of immigrant families have been politicized, creating more challenges to an already vulnerable community. "If we look at the Western views of psychotherapy, many look at just the individual level, but the reality is that [our] policies and systems are making the lived experience quite stressful. So, it goes broader than just the community and the individual; it's not just about health disparities-it's about structural health inequalities," he said.

COVID-19 brought to light many of these structural issues when jobs held largely by immigrants and those of lower socioeconomic levels were recognized as essential, even as the lack of provisions for their safety (and treatment in the event they contracted COVID-19) telegraphed that the workers themselves were expendable. Due to this, as well as anti-immigrant rhetoric, policies, and sentiment, many immigrants "feel like they are being pushed out," which creates further emotional entanglement at the end of an often difficult journey, said Moreno. Immigrants often suffer "a lack of belonging," he said. "This is a human rights issue and our role as psychologists is to be able to care for all communities."

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Specialized care for immigrants experiencing trauma is vital. Psychologists are breaking down the mental health barriers

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Record numbers of people are seeking residency and refuge in the United States, but structural barriers make it hard for many to thrive.

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Education Buzzwords Defined: What Are Trauma-Informed Practices?

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The phrase "trauma informed" is everywhere, but what does it mean to bring that lens to school settings? Get started with a basic definition.

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Trauma is a person's emotional response to a distressing experience. Few people can go through life without encountering some kind of trauma. Unlike ordinary hardships, traumatic events tend to be sudden and unpredictable, involve a serious threat to life-like bodily injury or death-and feel beyond a person's control.

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The National Disability Rights Network works in Washington, DC on behalf of the Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As) and Client Assistance Programs (CAPs), the nation's largest providers of legal advocacy services for people with disabilities.

NDRN promotes the network's capacity, ensures that P&As/CAPs remain strong and effective by providing training and technical assistance, and advocates for laws protecting the civil and human rights of all people with disabilities.

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National Disability Rights Network - P&A - CAP | NDRN

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NDRN promotes the network's capacity, ensures that P&As/CAPs remain strong and effective by providing training and fighting for people with disabilities.

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Partnering by Jean Oelwang: 8 Minute Summary

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Trauma-Sensitive School Professional Development - Attachment and Trauma Network

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ATN provides Trauma-Sensitive School Professional Development and Training. Our TSS Team will develop a training program that meets your unique needs.

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"The Teacher's Guide to Student Mental Health" By William Dikel MD

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Joe Brummer - Trauma Informed Educators Network Podcast LIVE

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Maggie Kline - Learn How to Start Trauma-Proofing Your Schools

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The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

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Supporting Schools to Test and Implement Tailored Trauma-Informed Practices

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Highlights key components of the NCTSN Breakthrough Series Collaborative (BSC) for Supporting Trauma-Informed Schools to Keep Students in the Classroom.

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The growing intolerance of foreign-born communities creates vulnerable groups of individuals often living in the shadows, misunderstood, and/or subject to discrimination and violence. Up until now, the immigrant community has, by and large, stuck to congregating within their own communities and has not created cross-cultural partnerships that will mutually benefit and empower the immigrant community as a whole.

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like a little paper boat ...
sailing in search of something better,
because we all have something good to give
because art is life and life is art
because Arts matter

because they are the ones who know how to love,
because they are the hope for this world.​

"Para los niños trabajamos,
porque los niños son los que saben querer,
porque los niños son la esperanza del mundo"
Creativity is linked to all areas of human activity. Educating creativity is to educate for change and train people rich in originality, flexibility, future vision, initiative, confidence, lovers of risks and ready to face the obstacles and problems they are presented in their school life and everyday, as well to offer tools for innovation.
"Imagination is the source of all human achievement. Through creativity and talent we make diversity possible. Imagination is the source of every form of human achievement. And it's the one thing that I believe we are systematically jeopardizing in the way we educate our children and ourselves" Ken Robinson

La creatividad está ligada a todas las áreas de la actividad humana. Educar en la creatividad es educar para el cambio y formar a las personas ricas en originalidad, flexibilidad, visión futura, iniciativa, confianza, amantes de los riesgos y listos para enfrentar los obstáculos y problemas que se presentan en su vida escolar y cotidiana, además de ofrecer herramientas para innovación.
"La imaginación es la fuente de todo logro humano. A través de la creatividad y el talento hacemos posible la diversidad. La imaginación es la fuente de todas las formas de realización humana. Y creo que es la única cosa que estamos poniendo en peligro sistemáticamente en la forma en que educamos a nuestros hijos y a nosotros mismos" Ken Robinson
Frágiles y fuertes, como un barquito de papel...
navegando en la búsqueda de algo mejor,
porque todos tenemos algo bueno que dar
porque el arte es vida
y la vida es arte...
porque el arte importa

Art Pot is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization;

all donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Thanks to FMA Free Music Archive for providing an interactive music library of high-quality, benefiting organizations and individuals in the educational and charitable area.

Art Pot (Olla de Arte) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that is expanding, and finally have a permanent home (Multicultural Center) (Closed April 2020, due to COVID-19) which will not only serve as the home but will also be the office/headquarters for Hispanic Community Services, without restriction to serve all communities.

The Multicultural Center will provide a unique and meaningful arts programming for all children and adults, to educate children and parents through the arts, and to build a lifelong audience for the arts. We plan to offer a dynamic and constantly-evolving program. Although we will incorporate all of the fine arts into our programs, our focus is on theater. Most activities will be open and enjoyed free of charge. The Center will be staffed by artists and community members, and all structured activities will be led by master artist, teachers, counselors and volunteers. Art Pot educates through Art in a search for a better community coexistence for all where different groups of race, nationality and language are integrated through art and its diverse manifestations.

The growing intolerance of foreign-born communities creates vulnerable groups of individuals often living in the shadows, misunderstood, and/or subject to discrimination and violence. Up until now, the immigrant community has by in large, stuck to congregating within their own communities and have not created cross-cultural partnerships that will mutually benefit and empower the immigrant community as a whole.

Immigrant Latinos account for a large and growing share of the economy and population in the state of South Carolina. Latinos entrepreneurs and consumers add billions of dollars and tens thousands of jobs to South Carolina's economy and are integral to South Carolina's economy as workers and taxpayers. Latinos will continue to drive the growth of the labor force, as they will account for 60 percent of the Nation's population growth between 2005 and 2050. As Hispanic and latinos, we need to develop our potential, we need raise and resolve concerns, we need to create a positive impact in South Carolina, we need to show who we are. We are looking for a space where we can work on the hispanic community integration.