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Show Page success? Mr. Nieves attributes it to the dedication of the volunteer 5 staff. "The membership is always first" for the hard working volunteers. And "our staff people Spanish Group Successful In Social Action are treated as if they were paid," says the director, "if they don't do the job they know we will find someone else who will." Funding for SOCIO comes from a variety of sources. The 1973-7Model Cities budget has 4 allocated $5,000 to the program, two national church groups, one Catholic, the other Presbyterian, by Tim Funk have contributed substantially "We are the most successful of any social action group in the state," says SOCIO executive director Robert Nieves with a smile. SOCIO (Spanish-speakinOrganization for Community, g Integrity and Opportunity) is a statewide Chicano coalition with an active membership of some 2,000 people. It was organized in 1967 to give the Chicano people in Utah a "voice and face" in community affairs. Mr. Nieves, the official voice of SOCI 0, has something to smile about, for, in the and memberships also bring in money. SOCIO could well be the strongest social action group in the state. It is highly organized, has a unified membership and a last year especially, the face of SOCIO has become well known. Through the efforts of its various action committees, the organization has been able to accomplish many things for the 50,000 Chicanos in Utah. Here are a few examples of recent accomplishments: - the hiring by Governor Calvin L. Rampton of a Chicano "ombudsman" to provide liason between the Spanish-speakinpeople and the rest of the highly committed staff of volunteer workers. As the organization becomes even stronger the lot of the Mexican-America- community. establishment of a "legal aid fund" to help guarantee the rights of the state's Mexican-Americanstart of an survey of Utah's - s. FINE CLOTHING in-dept- socio-economi- NEW FOR EASTER h evaluation specialist to study the value of special education classes which include many Mexican-American- and hired s, c Mexican-American- s. establishment of a paid SOCIO director's position (now manned by Mr. Nieves). increase in local SOCIO chapters from four to nine. SOCIO may have realized its greatest success so far in - full-tim- education by e, making administrators more aware of the Chicano culture and student needs. Through the work of the SOCIO Education Committee the following has been encouraged: - The Salt Lake School Board has adopted a series of bicultural textbooks for use by elementary and junior high students; compiled an instructional program package with SOCIO assistance; hired a Chicano ten new Mexican-America- n teachers in the past year. - The GraniteSchool district has hired its first Mexican-A- seven aides. The Utah State Legislature, prompted largely because of - SOCIO lobbying efforts, appropriated $100,000 in 1971, $200,000 in 1972 and some $350,000 - $400,000 (estimates vary) during the recent legislative session as financial aid to minority students seeking higher education opportunities. For Chicano students this means the total of nine students who attended college in school year 1969 1970, has increased to around 500 for the current 1972-7school year. this listing is by no means -- 3 impressive, while it is SOCIO is hardly satisfied. Mr. Nieves' smile turns determinedly grim when he says, "The unemployment rate for Utah residential Shogs - FURNITURE INDUSTRIAL Home STEAM EXTRACTION METHOD COMPETENT Only $50.00 1157 Glendale Drive, Glendale Plaza 1365 West 9th North, Rose Park when you call AI" Mark at 266-830- 2 For A Cheerful Free Estimate like 5 Unlimited earning potential Set your own schedule No experience percent, for Chicanos it's around necessary 12 percent." Training provided Glamorous field certificate many employers hang on their wall is just a decoration. We are going to pin them down and make them live uptoit." SOCIO is pushing forward on many other fronts: housing, alcoholic treatment, Chicano 20 Discount (y something Opportunity Employment) COMMERCIAL In Your is "The E.O.E. (Equal Domestic CLEANING amateurs. "We've moved so fast we can't keep up with it, there isn't enough staff. Revene sharing is one of the big things now. We are pioneering that area. Getting the minorities in there now means they are there to stay. administrator and merican. complete and FLAWLESSLY STYLED in polyester Double-Knit- . This exceptional Sport Coat has two button front, high center vent. Utah will improve with it. Mr. Nieves puts it this way, "We are very well structured. Once upon a time we were amateurs . . we are no longer g MARCO R'S in n contact: Mrs. Keller 355-887- 6 Your Distributor in Koscot Kosmetics probation and parole and more. Right now SOCIO has made grant ( applications to establish a Chicano alcoholism treatment facility and to set up a program for rehabilitation for Chicano probationers and parolees. What makes SOCIO a kosmetics for the communities of tomorrow |