Is the tide of Mexican immigration turning? School’s in for UTLA’s new president. Downtown Women’s Center gets a new home, but its 71 apartments are already full. Coming up… A special election will be held July 12th for the 36th Congressional District seat recently vacated by Jane Harman. This Thursday, July 7th, Larry Mantle moderates a live debate between Democratic candidate Janice Hahn and her Republican opponent Craig Huey, here in the AirTalk studio. This will be the first, and possibly only, debate of their heated runoff campaign. You can leave your questions for the candidates ahead of time by clicking on the ‘Insight Network’ link on the KPCC homepage.
Tide of Mexican immigration is turning
Millions of immigrants have streamed across the border from Mexico over the past 30 years, driven by dreams of a better life in El Norte; in fact, the trip has been looked at as a rite of passage for generations of Mexican youth. But a new research study from the Pew Hispanic Center finds that the trend is reversing. Families south of the border report seeing a wave of both returning relatives and younger members opting to stay put. In one technological school in Jalisco, students who are finding themselves better educated than their parents say they plan to stay and live the dream at home. For the first time in 60 years, net traffic at the border has gone to zero. What could be contributing to the trend? A lower birth rate, expanding economic and educational opportunities in Mexico and the increasing danger of border crossings are a few of the factors named by the study. In addition, economic woes in the U.S. have made it a less appealing goal for job seekers. What do these numbers mean to our economy? How will this affect the national argument over immigration? What shifts have you noticed in your community? If you’re a Mexican immigrant, have you or your friends considered returning to pursue opportunities there?
Guests:
Jeffrey Passel, Senior Demographer, Pew Hispanic Center
Steven Camarota, Director of Research, Center for Immigration Studies
David Leopold, Immediate past President, American Immigration Lawyers; currently practices immigration law in Cleveland, Ohio
School’s in for UTLA’s new president
When United Teachers Los Angeles President A.J. Duffy was termed out of office this year, it was widely expected Vice President Julie Washington would be elected his successor. But in a surprise upset, Warren Fletcher, who teaches English at City of Angels alternative school, narrowly edged Washington out with a 53-47 percent victory. In his third run at the seat, Fletcher garnered the support of a coalition of teachers dissatisfied with the direction of union leadership as well as displaced school nurses, substitute teachers and learning coaches. In recent years, UTLA has been plagued with layoffs, salary cuts and loss of political clout. Fletcher’s term started on July 1st; it remains to be seen how he’ll implement his campaign promise to restore the UTLA to its former glory. Are you a teacher, parent or administrator who’s been unhappy with UTLA? What changes would you like to see happen in the teachers’ union? What should the new president’s priorities be?
Guest:
Warren Fletcher, President, United Teachers Los Angeles
Downtown Women’s Center gets a new home, but its 71 apartments are already full
Shirley Farris, 68, struggled with homelessness off and on for years. Now, she is a proud new resident of the Downtown Women’s Center, a shelter and support network in the heart of L.A.’s Skid Row. The DWC prides itself on its holistic approach to serving L.A.'s homeless women, but with all of its beds currently filled and a waiting list more than double its current occupancy, its story is also that of a community whose growing needs are far outpacing the services available.
“I believe that you know where you’ve been but you don’t always know where you’re going,” Farris told AirTalk’s Larry Mantle. “And the last place in the world that I thought I would end up is in the Skid Row area.”
Farris is one of the lucky ones. Before the Downtown Women’s Center opened its new facility on San Pedro Street last December, they wouldn’t have been able to provide a home to Farris. There’s no telling where she’d be today.
The Downtown Women’s Center was founded in 1978 to serve the unique needs of homeless women in Los Angeles. They do this by providing permanent supportive housing to women – the fastest growing segment of the homeless population – and a safe, healthy environment intended to foster dignity and stability.
The DWC moved into their new, beautifully renovated facility about six months ago. It’s twice the size of their old location on Los Angeles Street and includes 71 permanent residences. But the center is already at capacity and there are 145 women on the waiting list. Fortunately, they are able to provide many other supportive services as well to women in need. There’s a Day Center, which provides meals, showers, beds and clothing to about 140 women daily, a full medical and mental health clinic, job training programs as well as a gift shop and café.
Last week, AirTalk traveled to the Downtown Women’s Center to talk about their approach to helping homeless women and to hear from the women themselves. Many of them share certain characteristics – mental illness, drug abuse, domestic violence, physical or emotional disabilities, circumstances of aging and poverty. There’s rarely an easy explanation for what leads to one becoming homeless and there’s much debate about the best way to help the people who do.
In listening to these women tell their stories one thing is clear – there are many different faces of homelessness.
Read some notable quotes from the guests AirTalk spoke with at the center. (Photos by Lara Coger)
Lisa Watson, Chief Executive Officer of the Downtown Women’s Center
Watson says the DWC’s model of helping homeless women by providing permanent housing works. "We've been doing this for 33 years," she said. "…and 98% of our women have maintained housing for a lifetime. So we know what success really is and success isn't only providing a roof over their head."
Faye Brown, Senior Day Center Manager, Downtown Women’s Center
"Miss Faye" rules the drop-in Day Center with firm grip and lots of warm hugs. She says everyone at DWC is family "and we're very supportive of each and every person who walks through Downtown Women's Center's doors."
Shirley Farris, Resident at the Downtown Women's Center
Farris moved into a permanent apartment at the DWC in March 2011. "Oh, I'm going out in a body bag, when I leave here."
Addy Martinez uses the Day Center and is on the waiting list for a permanent residence at the Downtown Women's Center
"I like myself enough to give myself a chance to make it. No matter how terrible things are," Martinez told AirTalk's Larry Mantle. "I don't only want to be worth something to myself. But also I want to be somebody who's valued by somebody else."
Sofia Russell, Resident at the Downtown Women's Center
"I just kind of got left behind in the market of jobs and when my income stopped, the house went into foreclosure and I became homeless.”
Dianna Pendergrass participates in the Set to Succeed program at the Downtown Women's Center
After years of addiction to prescription drugs, Pendergrass came to the DWC to "get clean." In May, she took a six year chip for sobriety. The folks at DWC "were my beacon," she said.