Some say area Latinos are struggling

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Researchers from the Gaston Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston say the future of Springfield is tied to the future of its Latino residents.

Maria Idali Torres, the director of the institute, said, “Latinos are the future of the city, if you look at the demographics if you look at the number of Latino students in the schools, if you look at the workforce, it's pretty much Latino."

But the numbers also show Latinos in the area are struggling.

Dr. Phillip Granberry of the Gaston Institute said, “Latinos in Springfield compared to Latinos across the state are not doing as well educationally, higher rates of unemployment and so we have a little bit of concern for the Latino population in Springfield."

The researchers gathered city leaders together hoping to use the information to give them a hand in changing policy to better serve all Springfield residents, especially in the areas of education and health.

Some say language and cultural barriers are big issues.

Zaida Govan of Springfield said, “For a long time the old people from the old country, Puerto Rico, they think doctors know everything so they're afraid of talking to them a lot of the time and our community needs to come together.”

Others say racism is still an issue and until it's addressed the problems will continue.

Julie Skogsbergh Pimentel of Holyoke said, “Something has to be happening here and we see that regardless of class, income and education and it's not to say those things don't factor in but something is happening."

Marcella Jayne of Holyoke told 22News, “That's where sort of racist attitudes come in and selective policing and how people are serviced and how we aren't serviced based on the demographics and where we live."

The researchers used information from the U.S. census and the departments of education and health.