Everything Under The Sun: Bringing Together The Diverse Cultures In Hazelton

Some of the children benefiting from the after school program at HIP.

Not many communities have one of these, but maybe more should. I'm talking about the HAZELTON INTEGRATION PROJECT (HIP), located in the city of Hazleton, PA. Thanks to Hazleton native and Chicago Cubs Manager, Joe Maddon, (yes, that one, the manager of the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs), HIP is a reality.

The Hazelton One Community Center is the physical base of the organization, a place where economically-challenged children and adults can experience enriching programs, without cost. There are a variety of classes and programs offered, all fostering a sense of dignity and respect among the various cultural groups in the area.

Sports figure rather highly at HIP, since that is one type of activity that links people of all ages and cultural backgrounds. Sports has become the means, at HIP, by which individuals join together and get to know each other in a leisurely atmosphere that allows for the understanding and appreciation of both similarities and differences.

On December 16, HIP is hosting Around The Horn With Joe Maddon & Friends!, an evening that promises to be filled with fun, filled with celebrities, and a chance to play casino "games" at the Valley Country Club. This event, of course, takes on added significance with the Cubs' World Championship Professional Baseball title. Open from 6 to 11 PM, this event offers an open bar for three hours, elegant hors d'oeuvres, two carving stations, sports memorabilia, and a photo of Joe & guests. Tickets are limited to 250. Guests must be age 21 or over. Tickets cost $250 per couple and $150 for individuals. This is a fund-raiser for HIP.

The current executive director of HIP is Ben Medina, a gentleman who knows both Spanish and English and has had experience in translating documents. It turns out that Board of Elections supervisor needed some help with bilingual translation for the upcoming election, since the numbers of Spanish-speaking voters had grown in the area.

There were several questions on the ballot applying to amending the home rule charter that required translation, for both the legal language and the voter explanation. That's where Mr. Medina's services came in handy. He said, "I know for a fact that, especially in Hazelton, there are a lot of people who are United States citizens but with the terminology on the ballot, I knew that they were not going to be able to understand it."

Cadets from the Lackawanna College Police Academy donated backpacks to the youngsters in the after school program.

Clear explanations help voters to make better-informed decisions, especially when they are trying to understand technical details of legal changes. Providing the best translation of these changes, Mr. Medina is helping citizen participation in the electoral process, something that Spanish-speaking voters will certainly appreciate when they exercise their voting rights.