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Ohio Hispanic group to distribute book to students

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By LISA CORNWELL, The Associated Press Updated 6:56 PM Friday, November 6, 2009

CINCINNATI — A southwest Ohio Hispanic group has published a book it hopes will help students better understand Hispanic and other immigrant groups and curb anti-immigrant sentiment.

The Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati USA introduced the book publicly Friday. It will be working to get the initial printing of 15,000 copies to teachers and students in junior high schools in 14 counties in the Cincinnati area, northern Kentucky and southeast Indiana.

The book is intended to educate them about German, Irish, Jewish, Hispanic, African-American and Appalachian immigrants — groups chosen because they migrated in large numbers and were often met with resentment and even violence, said chamber president Alfonso Cornejo.

"Previous generations of immigrants have not passed this history along, so much of it is lost to newer generations," Cornejo said. "We want to at least create a dialogue so kids can learn about what their own families experienced and, hopefully, become more understanding of Hispanics and other new immigrants."

Cornejo said the 24-page "Cincinnati — A City of Immigrants, Struggling Toward Acceptance and Equality" was prompted by a letter the chamber sent to 530 area-school principals telling them about teasing and harassment aimed at Hispanic youths and other immigrants. He said they are taunted about their skin color and harassed about their inability to speak English. The chamber received only seven responses.

"Mass mailings usually get poor responses, so we came up with the idea for this book, written by historians in these immigrant groups," Cornejo said. "The letter dealt with the symptoms, but the book deals with the causes."

Jason Riveiro, state director of Ohio's branch of the League of United Latin American Citizens, plans to share the model with his national organization with the hope it can be adapted elsewhere.

"When we look at the curriculum being developed, particularly in public schools, there is a complete lack of multicultural history involving many nationalities that contributed to this country," Riveiro said. "It's important that students know that their ancestors — unless they were Native Americans — came from somewhere else too."

The cost of the project was not disclosed. Bridges for a Just Community and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati are partners in the effort.

"Our hope is that this model we are implementing this year will be replicated in other communities around the country," Chip Harrod, Bridges president and chief executive, said.

Harrod also plans to share the model with other members of the National Federation of Just Communities. Harrod's group will be adding the book to its offerings for schools, promoting its use by teachers and training them how best to use it.

Harrod says the project will begin in the Cincinnati Public Schools.

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November 06, 2009 11:53 PM EST

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