The first Familias Unidas was a success! 75 individuals attended and 29 COVID vaccinations were provided by Sheboygan County Department of Health staff, who noted that they might usually give 25 in an eight-hour day.

Many organizations brought bilingual staff and translated materials, or gained interpretation support from other organizations’ staff. Bilingual Community Health Workers Cher Pao Vang and Marisela Olivas are now part of the planning team and County Supervisor Rebecca Clarke is in the loop.

We already have a full guest organization list for our next event May 15 at St. Clement’s Church after Spanish Mass, which will focus on youth programs. Extension PYDE Lisa Sanderson has requested organizations bring youth ambassadors to do peer-to-peer outreach. So far, Sheboygan Youth Symphony, Mental Health America, Safe Harbor, and Theatre for Young Audiences have expressed interest in bringing youth ambassadors. Other participating organizations include Kohler Arts Center, Staff Management, Lakeshore United, Rainbow Kids, RAYS, YMCA, RCS Empowers, and more, including guests from our last event.

Many participating organizations have commented that “they wanted to reach out to these communities and didn’t know how”. Cher Pao Vang and Lisa Sanderson attended a Hmong Summer Festival Planning meeting 3/14 and requested permission to be a part of that July 2022 event in order to reach out to the Hmong community. The Summer Festival planning Chair Moua Her and Co-Chair Sheila Yang and committee members approved the request. They noted that they too feel the need to go to their constituents with support and outreach.