Once-retired ambulance heading to Honduras

BEDFORD — The wonders of modern medicine and quick response times during emergencies are a given in developed countries.

But in a country such as Honduras, obstacles are many for people needing medical care.

Capstone Ministries of Mitchell knows well the plight of the Honduran people. Later this month, Allen Burris, Capstone board president, will deliver an ambulance to a hospital in the village of Ojojona, which is a 45-minute trip from the capital of Honduras.

“People are often transported in the backs of pickups when they need to get to the hospital, so this is a tremendous blessing,” said Burris.

The gift of the ambulance was made possible by St. Vincent Dunn Hospital, which donated the out-of-service ambulance to Capstone.

“We talk about our service to the poor, and this is it in action,” said Matt Balla, chief executive officer of St. Vincent Dunn.

On Friday, Balla made the donation to Capstone official, presenting the keys and title to Burris and Capstone board member Warren Crawford.

Crawford visited Honduras on a mission trip in 2010 and knew of the need. He said he noticed the ambulance parked on Mitchell Road and when he found out it was no longer in use by the hospital, Capstone approached St. Vincent Dunn about donating it.

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City to prepare for insurance changes

On any given day, 561,000 Hoosiers are without health insurance, according to the Family and Social Services Administration’s website.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act mandates that all Americans have health insurance. Those who do not purchase some form of insurance will be penalized with a fee.

Beginning Oct. 1, enrollment will begin for Indiana’s health insurance marketplace. The marketplace will serve as a vehicle for uninsured individuals who do not qualify for Medicaid to purchase insurance. Coverage under these new plans begins Jan. 1, 2014.

Indiana has opted for a federally operated insurance exchange program. The details of how exactly this program will work are unclear, Bloomington Health Projects Coordinator Nancy Woolery said.
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Position: Health Projects Coordinator

Position: Health Projects Coordinator

Term of Employment: August 2013- June 2014 Contract Year

Part Time: 25 hours/week maximum

Hourly wage: $15

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of the Health Projects Coordinator is to create a bridge between providers of health, social and community services and underserved and often hard-to-reach Latino population within the community.  The CCL Health Projects Coordinator provides outreach, education, referrals and follow-up services to those who are at highest risk for poor health outcomes, particularly those at risk of chronic disease conditions that include heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, infant mortality, tobacco use and HIV/STD/HEP.

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Face of Indiana changes

INDIANAPOLIS – Like the rest of the nation, Indiana is continuing on a trend toward greater diversity as the numbers of Hispanics, blacks, Asians and other minorities are rising at a faster pace than whites.

New census data released last week also show the trend may accelerate in the years to come as the most racially and ethnically diverse age-group – Hoosiers under 5 – grow up.

The new census numbers are snapshot estimates of the population in July 2012, and come a year after the U.S. Census Bureau reported the nation is undergoing a historic shift: Fueled by immigration and high rates of birth, particularly among Hispanic Americans, the nation’s racial and ethnic minorities are growing more rapidly in numbers than whites.

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Latino models in short supply in Minn., casting agencies say

MINNEAPOLIS — When Paola Cardenas left Colombia for Minnesota nine years ago and began modeling, she thought the Midwest would be a quick stop before she pursued her ambitions in a place like Los Angeles, an international city that is home many Latin American immigrants.

But that changed after she married and gave birth to her son. Minnesota became home.

“Here people are really sweet,” Cardenas said recently during a photo shoot at Quad Photo in Minneapolis. “I think it’s a more relaxed market, it’s not like that high fashion.”

These days, Cardenas is in demand. Although Minnesota has long been home to the headquarters of big companies and the Twin Cities has a flourishing advertising production industry, modeling and casting companies have hit a hurdle. They say it’s very hard to find Hispanic models. That’s causing them to lose business.

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Taller de Poesía y Edición de Libros CartonerosTaller de Poesía y Edición de Libros Cartoneros

cartoneroLearn about Latin American poetry and make your own cardboard book from recycled materials. The workshop will include reading poems from Latin American authors, creative writing, cover design, illustration, and book binding. Workshop led by poet and editor Giancarlo Huapaya and coordinated by Cristian Medina.

[more]cartoneroTaller de poesía y edición artesanal de libros cartoneros. Comprensión lectora (se leerán a poetas latinoamericanos y estadounidenses), escritura creativa, diseño de tapas, técnicas de stencil, collage, compaginado, encuadernado y encolado; forman parte del proceso de este divertido y educativo taller. Recicla y edita. Realizado por el poeta, editor y gestor cultural: Giancarlo Huapaya. Coordinador: Cristian Medina

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Hispanic High School Graduates Pass Whites in Rate of College Enrollment

A record seven-in-ten (69%) Hispanic high school graduates in the class of 2012 enrolled in college that fall, two percentage points higher than the rate (67%) among their white counterparts,1 according to a Pew Research Center analysis of new data from the U.S. Census Bureau.2

This milestone is the result of a long-term increase in Hispanic college-going that accelerated with the onset of the recession in 2008 (Fry and Lopez, 2012). The rate among white high school graduates, by contrast, has declined slightly since 2008.

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Latino Faculty and Staff Council at IU Bloomington presents awards

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University Bloomington faculty members, staff and students will be recognized Friday, April 26, for outstanding service to the university’s Latino community.

Aide AcostaAide Acosta

The Latino Faculty and Staff Council Latino Awards will be presented in a ceremony at 6 p.m. at Oliver Winery, 8024 N. Ind. 37, Bloomington. The awards recognize individuals or groups that have participated in service and mentoring, promoted diversity initiatives and developed awareness in the areas of culture, arts, health, economy, language or education. [More]

Judge permanently blocks parts of Ind. immigration law

NDIANAPOLIS — A federal judge permanently blocked enforcement Friday of two key provisions of a controversial 2011 Indiana immigration bill: one barring the use of consular identification cards and another allowing the arrests of people whose immigration status is questionable.

In the ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker made permanent a preliminary injunction that she issued in June 2011.

[more]NDIANAPOLIS — A federal judge permanently blocked enforcement Friday of two key provisions of a controversial 2011 Indiana immigration bill: one barring the use of consular identification cards and another allowing the arrests of people whose immigration status is questionable.

In the ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker made permanent a preliminary injunction that she issued in June 2011.

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