By Portia Chung ’24
In the early 1970s, local business was booming for the Ulbrich Stainless Steel and Special Metals company, which prompted an influx of workers from Mexico and Ecuador to Wallingford. While men worked in the factory, female immigrants gathered in groups, socializing and providing services for other families in the area. Thus, the Spanish Community of Wallingford (SCOW) was born.
SCOW, as the sole Hispanic and Latine social service agency in the area, specializes in helping new immigrants overcome language and cultural barriers in the United States. While their programs are open to all residents of Wallingford, Meriden, and surrounding towns, many of their clients are Hispanic or Latine and are predominantly Spanish speakers. According to Assistant Executive Director at SCOW Ms. Lizandra Mejías-Salinas, “Every one of our staff members is bilingual and bicultural and can communicate with clients in either Spanish or English.”
One way SCOW helps its clients overcome language barriers is by providing phone interpretation services with officials in essential fields such as education, healthcare, and law. The organization also hosts bilingual information and education workshops throughout the year and organizes cultural events in collaboration with partner agencies to fulfill its mission of “enabling Latinos to maintain and share their rich varied cultures with the broader community.”
For over five decades, the organization has prioritized the needs of its Latine and Hispanic clients by utilizing feedback to shape its services. The organization places great importance on constant communication and follow-ups with clients to ensure the ongoing success of their initiatives. “We determine the current needs of the community and the programs and services we should offer at the agency through the feedback and information received from one-on-one conversations with clients, client surveys, and during provider meetings with our community partners,” Ms. Mejías-Salinas said.
In response to the shifting landscape brought about by the pandemic, SCOW has refocused its efforts on addressing the employment, social, and emotional needs of the community. SCOW launched the PowerUp Program in association with the United Way of Meriden and Wallingford. This initiative supports individuals in their pursuit of upskilling opportunities to secure better-paying jobs and enhance their ability to provide for their families.
In recognizing the increasing social and emotional needs within the community, SCOW has also partnered with Sacred Heart University’s Social Work Internship Program and the Wallingford Department of Youth and Social Services. “[We] provide educational mental health workshops that address the mental health issues currently affecting our Hispanic [and] Latino community,” Ms. Mejías-Salinas said.
As members of the Wallingford community, Choate students have engaged with SCOW through various courses of action to support and uplift members of this community who face hidden obstacles. The School collaborates with SCOW through initiatives like Teach Music and Art Pod, which provide children at SCOW with access to Choate’s resources for additional educational opportunities in the arts.
A Community Service Seminar led by Director of Community Service Ms. Melissa Koomson is open to students interested in working with SCOW. The project involves visiting SCOW twice a week to work with elementary school students.
SCOW is not only a hub for social services but a cultural bridge ensuring that the diverse needs of the Spanish-speaking community are met with sensitivity and effectiveness as well. More than 50 years since its founding, the organization continues to be a vital force in promoting the well-being and prosperity of the individuals and families it serves.
As a member of the Global Engagement Program, Chung wrote this article for her project, “The Choate News x GEP Project Workforce Navigators at SCOW,” to spread SCOW’s mission.
