Hi Myriam,
Cultural change is usually a long, slow process (unless there is an economic incentive!) Building a community cat program in Montenegro, I frequently have to remind myself of this important lesson I learned as an anthropology major in the 1970s.
That said, maybe you need to consider different outreach and marketing strategies for the TNVR program? Are there Latinas already informally (or formally) fostering kittens? Are there potential vet students? Are there people in the Hispanic community already feeding cats, who are unaware of free or heavily subsidized spay-neuter programs? Maybe they have no idea that they can be humanely trapped and returned to them?
You will always find people who want all of the work done for them (trapping, sterilizing, and returning the cats), and others only willing to trap in their own neighborhoods. Keep helping and training those folks, and every so often you will find a gem who grabs a trap and takes off! Try to build small teams of 2-3 people, instead of creating large meet-ups as you do for clean-up days. There are "cat people" everywhere! Your mission will be to find a couple. Often they can introduce you to more "cat people".... and you build from there.
How do you reach the people already feeding and fostering? Give them some incentive to contact you! Free food, free kitten formula and Miracle Nipples. Develop relationships, time you offers of training for after kitten season.
Since you likely won't have big meet-ups for cat trapping, plan 2-4 days per year of potlucks and social activities for them to build community.
As for the rest of the Spanish-speaking community, is there a newpaper where you can contribute a monthly "Did you know?" piece about cat behaviors, reproduction, and solutions? Maybe that would be a first step to change that doesn't involve too much of your time.
Cheers!
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April King
Volunteer and Board Member
Kotor Kitties
+1 206 407 5336
http://www.kotorkitties.org------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 07-08-2024 06:09 PM
From: Myriam Martinez
Subject: How can we approach the Hispanic community or the community in general?
How can we approach the Hispanic community or the community in general, knowing that we have great shelters to provide help with the animals, and also have a great TNVR program for feral cats?
Hello everyone,
I hope all of you are doing well. It has been a while since I last touched base with you, but I have been so busy, sick, and stressed with all the programs that our organization is managing to keep our Latin community updated with all the fabulous programs that South Carolina has for pets.
I want to take a moment to say thank you to all of you who, at the beginning of this journey, have been helping me with a lot of information about the AVER/TNVR program.
I am going to start writing and updating you on all the things we are doing right now in Charleston, SC. Unfortunately, the situation isn't great. Our organization is the only Latin women-led group taking care of the environment and protecting wildlife. Now, we are also involved with the TNVR/AVER program. However, most of our members speak Spanish, and the Latin community doesn't pay much attention to these issues. On top of this, our laws regarding feral animals are minimal, and our feral cats are the ones who suffer the consequences of the community's ignorance.
#CommunityCatManagement
#CommunityPartnerships*
#Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice
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Myriam Martinez
President
Mujeres Latinas SC
SC
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