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Image provided by: Freeport Memorial Library
12 A new face in Nassau County Legislative District 5 Legislative aide hopes to address Hispanic community needs By NADYA NATALY i 00 o CM nnataly@liherald.com In the waning months of her first year in office, County Legislator Debra Mule has hired a new legislative aide that will serve as a Hispanic community liaison in an effort to support and connect with the sizable Latino population that lives in Dis- trict 5 — Baldwin, Freeport and South Hempstead. The role of the new aide, Vanessa Her- rera, 29, from West Babylon, will be to pro- vide Mule with an innate understanding of the immediate needs of the Hispanic community to allow her to address issues and needs quicker. \The Latino community has the same needs as anyone else,\ Mule said. \But people who are not native English speak- ers, I would imagine that the hurdles are higher... and [could be] intimidated when asking for services.\ One of Herrera's first efforts, under Mule's direction, has been meeting with Latino community leaders and local non- profit organizations like Central Ameri- can Refugee Center, CARECEN and C.A.S.A., Coordinated Agency for Spanish Americans. Considering the political climate at a national level, Herrera said, members of the Latino community might be skeptical of their elected officials. Mule said her Brian Stieglitz/Herald DURING A MEETING, District 5 County Legislator, Debra Mule, left and legislative aide, Vanessa Herrera brainstorm ideas on how to office's initiative is still in its early phas- es, but she is hopeful that it will reach everyone in the District 5 community \Part of our initiative is to figure out from the people what exactly are their needs,\ Herrera said. Mule added that once their needs were identified, she would be more able to serve the Hispanic community With Herrera at the helm, the commu- nity outreach projects are well underway During the first time homebuyers work- shop held in Freeport on Sept. 21, she guided Spanish speakers by providing resources and points of contact She also translated flyers into Spanish for the Aug. 7 National Night Out event at Cow Mead- ow Park in Freeport. Another initiative has been to partner with CARECEN to talk about the legal service the organization provides and how the district's undocumented popula- tion can access information and resourc- es to change their immigration status and receive proper documentation. She also has-plans to outreach to the district's churches to build further rapport. \We want them to feel represented,\ Herrera said. Ultimately, she and Mule are working together to create a safe environment that Hispanic community members can feel comfortable to openly discuss their issues and concerns. \I want them, [the Hispanic communi- ty] to know that they have a place at the table in our office,\ Mule said. \Every res- ident in District 5 has the ability to receive the services that they're entitled to, and it is our job to do that.\ Herrera is a first-generation college graduate from El Salvador.. She graduat- ed with a Bachelor's in Psychology from Queens College and a student at Stony- brook University, wrapping up her last semester of a Master's in Social Work. $2900 3 course meal at your favorite Freeport Nautical Mile Restaurant Sept 30 - Oct 7 Rachel's Waterside Grill 281 Woodcleft Ave 516-546-0050 Hudson's 340 Woodcleft Ave 516-442-5569 on the rinile EB Elliot's 23 Woodcleft Ave 516-378-8776 Nawlins Seafood Company 301 Woodcleft Ave 516-206-8100 Bracco's 319 Woodcleft Ave 516-378-6589 Clam and Oyster Bar Nautilus Cafe 46 Woodcleft Ave 516-379-2566 Tony Cuban 507 Guy Lombardo Ave 516-442-0565 ranr CUBAN T Ci(_cinfl & Cocktails' Woodcleft Crab Shack 150 Woodcleft Ave 516-868-6198 ^C tttafi*/* Otto's Sea Grill 271 Woodcleft Ave 516-321-0633 .Ono' Fmeport