NOTE FROM THE LECTURER DAWN TROOK: Writing 10 is a required freshman composition class at UC Merced, one that causes many groans. During Spring semester I had my students perform community-engaged research. My goals were to connect students with the city of Merced and to encourage them to see their writing as impacting and reaching an audience beyond the classroom. The Downtown Project started when I took my morning section on a downtown tour. One of the most striking things we realized was how many helping agencies are located within this shopping district. These students' essays celebrate the diversity and persistence of this locale.

Words by Mayra Abreo

The normal morning routine of the ever growing Merced community is becoming more and more chaotic. New business' are opening up, and older business are taking new approaches to maintain community of Merced in these horrible economy. Bilinguals in Merced are defiantly making a difference. Among this hardworking bilingual folks are Silvia Garcia and Linda Mendez, two hardworking women who contribute to the community in various ways. Within these simple interviews given to Mrs. Garcia and Mrs. Mendez I discovered that the influence of bilinguals has a boost in the management of the economy."

Many judge the illegal immigrants in society, especially when they come to America in hopes of making their big dreams come true, but few ever carefully take the time to look at the bigger picture and see along the lines of the contribution illegal immigrants bring to America. Like many Americans, illegal immigrants set foot on the land of America in order to provide the opportunity of a better life for their children. Since many did not have the privilege or luxury of having education as one of their choices in life as their children have. Illegal immigrants work hard to be where they are in their lives. However, the barrier that is formed between illegal immigrants and America is language which frequently keeps one another from communicating. The beauty of America is that there is an acceptance for those who are bilinguals. Of course, these entire people have different stories towards how they acquired both languages. Some came to America without even being able to pronounce one word in English and over time attended school and learned their basics leading to complex words and finally, being able to maintain and understand a conversation in English. Speaking both English and Spanish should be an accomplishment one should be proud about and not ashamed about just because we are in America.

Sign language is simple to understand, but only if one knows how to get it across to others. At times sign language can become a complex type of language when one does not understand it. Since few people know the right signs to perform in order to get the correct message across to others. Sign language is similar to English language; it can be a challenge to speak when one does not understand it. As for Silva Garcia who is a Thirty-six year old and a cook at the restaurant J&R Tacos in the Merced community, she has to overcome the barrier of communication, since she only speaks Spanish. Mrs. Garcia was first attracted to the community of Merced because it is a small area full of an agriculture environment. Mrs. Garcia describes that it is not that she likes waking up early in the morning to go to work, but it is the necessity of her economical problems that give her sleepless nights that also give her strength to arrive to work early in the mornings. Her husband has yet not been able to find a job and has been taking care of her small child. Mrs. Garcia says, “The world is a competition, one position is offered out of two-hundred applicants,” meaning that her husband has attempted various times to search for a job, but there are no available positions. Every month she marks with red pen on her calendar the estimation of the due dates for certain bills. When I asked Mrs.

• Login or register to post comments