HHSC Quick Resource Guide (Office of Border Affairs)

Here's a link to download the "Texas Health and Human Service Commission Quick Resource Guide - Services offered to the public by health and human service agencies in Texas" in English and in Spanish. Guía general de los programas para uso de promotores y organizaciones en el área de salud comunitaria.

The Atlantic: Destitution North of the Border

In the "colonias" communities of South Texas, thousands live without running water, sanitation, or electricity.

Alex Hannaford, a journalist based in Texas, wrote this article for The Atlantic. He introduces his readers to the history of colonias, some of those that are fighting for the rights of the residents, and shines a light on the daily lives of some of those living in colonias near Corpus Christi.

Texas Excludes Low-Income Latinos from Census

"Newly released census figures show that the Latino population in the United States surged by 43 percent in the last 10 years, comprising 50 million people. According to New America Media’s Nina Martin, this marks the first decade since the 1960s when the number of Latino births exceeded the number of immigrants. But, the increase notwithstanding, it seems that a sizable portion of the Latino population may not have been counted at all ...Though community organizers spent months preparing families to participate in the census, the federal government failed to mail census forms to 95 percent of colonia residents—allegedly deeming them 'hard to count'."

What does failing to count as many as 300,000 Texas residents living along the U.S.-Mexico border mean? Less money for the state going toward social services funding over the next decade, new congressional districts that will not include the increased Latino population, and redistricting plans that will reduce the political power of under-counted Latino voters.

Read more about this issue on the Campus Progress and New American Media sites. Campus Progress is a national organization that works with and for young people to promote progressive solutions to key political and social challenges. New America Media is the country's first and largest national collaboration and advocate of 2000 ethnic news organizations.

Bus Service for Nueces County Colonias?

The Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority is circulating a survey among residents in the Agua Dulce, Banquete and Driscoll areas to determine if it should extend bus services to the colonias as it begins it's planning initiatives for 2012. If monies are secured, life would be much easier for the more than 6,000 people who live in 38 documented colonias in Nueces County.

Corpus Christi and Rains from Hurricane Karl

The effect of the conditions surrounding the current rains on the colonias in Nueces, with their lack of drainage and sewage infrastructure, can only be imagined via these reports on Corpus Christi neighborhoods and sewage system.

• No getting into, out of Nueces County colonias
• Corpus Christi officials: More than 100,000 gallons of wastewater mixed into flood water
• Flooding swamps city

Profile of Lionel in The Dallas Morning News

The Dallas Morning News has published a profile article about Lionel Lopez called, "Rebel defends the forgotten people of Texas' colonias", by Stephanie Elizondo Griest of "Around the Blog". It's a great write-up that recounts the history and motivations of Lionel and Juanita's involvement with the colonias around Corpus Christi. (Note: a second version of the profile on The Dallas Morning News includes a video of Lionel making the rounds.)

Robstown Health Fair

The Dia de la Mujer Latina health fair in Robstown on August 7 allowed concerned agencies such as STCI and the South Coastal Area Health Education Center, to raise health awareness in, provide initial health screening, lead patients to follow-up services and gather data to better assess the community's needs.