The word Hispanic is a generic term derived from the word España, which is the Spanish word for Spain. People of any race who trace their family origin to a Spanish-speaking country are Hispanic. Hispanic people can be of any race. They constitute a pluralistic society of many national origins.
Growing ethnic diversity will continue to create new challenges and opportunities for the Hispanic Emphasis of the Boy Scouts of America.
U.S. Hispanics experienced the largest population growth of any racial or ethnic group between April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2002. According to the latest U.S. Census figures, the Hispanic population rose to 38.8 million, bringing the total U.S. Hispanic American/Latino population to 42.7 million people.
Many professional Scouters and volunteers have discovered some real challenges in organizing traditional Scouting units in predominately Hispanic communities. The reasons are many, but two factors seem to contribute to the struggles many unit-serving executives face:
Many newly arrived immigrants (first-generation Hispanics) from Mexico and parts of Central and South America, and a large number of second-generation families perceive Scouting as a youth program reserved for wealthy families. When a child brings a Cub Scout flier home from school, the conclusion many of these parents draw is that Scouting can't possibly be for them.
The second factor is equally challenging. Most Hispanic Americans/Latinos don't have a long tradition of Scouting in their families. The vast majority can honestly say their grandfathers, fathers, and uncles were not in Scouting as youths. This is an unfortunate reality when one takes into account that Hispanic Americans/Latinos are among the most "brand loyal" consumers in this country.
Council executives who are serious about serving their growing Hispanic American/Latino communities should keep in mind that it will take some time for unit-serving executives and volunteers to establish the trust and confidence of Hispanic American/Latino parents about a program that's fairly new to them. Hiring local Hispanic men and women who are bilingual and knowledgeable about the benefits of Scouting can quicken the pace. Also, recruiting Hispanic community leaders to serve in council Scoutreach committees and executive boards is a tremendous plus.
Most cities in the United States have Hispanic communitybased organizations that address the social, political, and economic growth of their communities. Members of these organizations are themselves "movers and shakers" of Hispanic communities, and can be great resources to councils. Examples of these organizations include
Letters of endorsement from these and other national Hispanic organizations are available through the Scoutreach Division and can be helpful in selling Scouting to local Hispanic chapters.
Other community resources include
The national office produces a wide array of Spanish-language resources designed to assist unit-serving executives in promoting Scouting's awareness in Hispanic communities. These resources, most of which are parent-focused, include bilingual, colorful brochures, fliers, posters, booklets, videos, and training manuals. Especially helpful to unit-serving executives are the following:
Unit-serving executives can order these and all other Spanish materials directly from the National Distribution Center by calling 800-323-0732.
www.scoutingvalelapena.org gives Spanish-speaking parents an overview of the various traditional Scouting programs, including BSA's Soccer and Scouting program. A council locator enables interested parents to identify the council service center near their homes and provides the names of bilingual staff who can assist them.
| Place Hispanic/Latino Population (millions) | Percent of Area's Population | Primary Country of Origin by Market | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Los Angeles | 8.4 | 46.7% | Mexico 80% |
| 2. | New York | 4.3 | 20.7% | Puerto Rico 31% |
| 3. | Miami | 2.1 | 48.6% | Cuba 46% |
| 4. | Chicago | 1.9 | 19.5% | Mexico 81% |
| 5. | Houston | 1.9 | 33.6% | Mexico 81% |
| 6. | San Francisco | 1.7 | 23.7% | Mexico 76% |
| 7. | Dallas/Fort Worth | 1.6 | 24.5% | Mexico 88% |
| 8. | Phoenix | 1.2 | 26.6% | Mexico 93% |
| 9. | San Antonio | 1.2 | 53.8% | Mexico 91% |
| 10. | Rio Grande Valley | 1.1 | NA | Mexico 96% |
Source: Synovate U.S. Diversity Markets Report 2006
The Merits of Marketing (marketing.scouting.org) is a resource for local
councils, developed by the Marketing &
Communications Division of the National Council, Boy Scouts of
America.