[10 on Tuesday] 10 Ways to Connect Main Street and Hispanic Communities

Hispanic Heritage on Main St.10 Ways to Connect Main Street and HispanicCommunities Photo courtesy cliff1066, Flickr

1. Spot economicopportunities.Hispanic business owners can help revitalizeonce-forsaken downtowns. Encourageentrepreneurs to re-use empty storefronts whenbuilding new businesses.Photo courtesy Norma Ramirez de Miess

2. Get hands-on.Offer tailored, on-site bilingual group training and one-on-oneassistance programs designed for small businesses. It’s a greaterinvestment of time and resources, but yields proven results. Photo courtesy Office of Governor Patrick, Flickr

Photo courtesy USDAgov, flickr3. Start at the very beginning…A truly inclusive Main Street program needs to involveHispanic community members on a planning level, whetherthrough representation on the board of directors,partnerships, or volunteers.

4. … and start small.Not all Hispanic business ownersmight be comfortable or familiar withnon-profit organization planning. Itmight make more sense to start withthe group that needs morecoaching, and then strategicallybring other groups in as people buildtrust in the organization. Photo courtesy USDAgov, Flickr

5. Take it offline.Direct rather than indirect forms of communication work well withthe Hispanic community. Have face-to-face meetings or visitindividual businesses, instead of relying solely on email or phonecalls. Photo courtesy ct senatedems, FLickr

Photo courtesy Downtown Harlingen6. Throw a party!Special events that celebrate important Hispanic holidays andfestivals are a highly visible way for a Main Street program toappeal to its Hispanic constituents – and build a volunteerbase, too.

7. Go bilingual in Spanish.Make sure everyone can understand flyers, posters, and otherpromotional materials. It helps people feel more welcome andinvited. Photo courtesy heacphotos, Flickr

Photo courtesy heacphotos, Flickr8. Go bilingual in English.The language barrier can go both ways. Help Hispanicmerchants translate and put up signs and menus in bothlanguages to broaden their customer base.

9. Balance preservationwith cultural aesthetics.Sometimes new business owners have designideas or artistic preferences that clash with theexisting built environment. Bring in architectsand interior designers to work with individualbusinesses and educate business owners aboutpreserving the community’s architecturalheritage.Photo courtesy Downtown Harlingen

10. Know your community’smakeup.Diverse ethnicities, nationalities,beliefs, and cultures are combinedunder the umbrella terms “Hispanic”and “Latino.” Learn your town’sparticular makeup and needs so youcan implement initiatives that willbest help local entrepreneurs growtheir businesses and participate indowntown activities. Photo courtesy cliff1066, Flickr

Photo courtesy Flavia AlayaWant to read the full article?Check out National Trust Main Street Center’s full Story of theWeek, America in Translation: Hispanic Heritage on MainStreet.

Ten on Tuesday features ten preservationtips each week. For more tips, visitblog.PreservationNation.org.

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[10 on Tuesday] 10 Ways to Connect Main Street and Hispanic Communities

by PreservationNation on Oct 15, 2012

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[10 on Tuesday] 10 Ways to Connect Main Street and Hispanic Communities Presentation Transcript