Chicano/Latino Families

Christian Garcia began his career at InterCare Community Health Network in West Michigan assisting agricultural working families with healthcare needs. His migrant health experience allowed him to collaborate with service providers from legal services, education, human services and social services that serve agricultural working families. He currently sits as Co-Chair for the Migrant Resource Council that serves Ottawa, Allegan and Barry counties. Currently, he is the Regional Coordinator for the Michigan Initiative for Maternal and Infant Oral Health Pilot Project based at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry. Christian Garcia received a double major bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Communication studies and a Master of Arts in Organizational Change Leadership from Western Michigan University. 

Melissa Del Rio is a lifelong resident of Michigan.  She has been an employee at MSU for more than 25 years, earning an undergraduate human resources degree and graduate degree from Michigan State in Human Resources and Labor Relations (HRLR).  As "Chief of Staff of the Graduate School, Melissa was recently recognized as a 2019 recipient of the prestigious Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award.  Melissa provides exceptional leadership in the Graduate School and across the university community supporting more than 100 academic units as well as Graduate Associate Deans, Graduate Program Directors and Secretaries."

Graduate School personnel; UCGS and GAAD contact; eFellowships; Ford Fellowships; DOE Fellows; GradInfo and GradPlan; Workshop and conference planning; support for the Dean 
Phone: 517-353-3220 
mdelrio@grd.msu.edu

Sources: SJSU.edu and MIT.edu

1. How do you define "family"?
2. Who holds the most "status" in your family?  Why?
   1. How important is hierarchy?
   2. How are gender roles perceived?
3. How important is education in your family?
   1. Are people encouraged to question things?
   2. Are people encouraged to be more action-oriented or to be more contemplative?
4. Do you eat foods that are indigenous to your culture?  (at work and/or home)
   1. Why or why not?
   2. If yes, name some of the foods that you eat.
5. Did you ever live with your grandparents or extended family?
   1. What are the cultural attitudes toward aging and the elderly?
   2. How do people view obligations toward one another?
6. How important is religion to your family?  Why?
   1. Do you plan to pass religion on to your children?
   2. How important is connection with nature?
7. Define and describe the most important (or most celebrated) holiday of your culture.
   1. Are your holidays recognized in your workplace, i.e. are you able to take days off without problems?
   2. What are the norms around weddings? Births? Deaths?
8. If you are from a culture that speaks English as a second language, do you speak your native language?
   1. If not, why?
   2. If so, will you teach your native language to any children you have?
9. What is considered most dis/respectful in your culture?
10. What would you say is, from your perspective, the most commonly held misconception about people of your culture?