I was thinking about how civic tech will help my community, and now I can say that it definitely is something that can help everyone. When Jeanne Brooks, an ecosystem architect, and Matt Stempeck, Microsoft’s director of civic technology, were talking in my Community Engagement class, I thought at first that civic tech wouldn’t help my community. But after doing some reading and speaking to someone from another program at CUNY, I actually understood how important it is for all of us to be educated on every issue that affects our lives as a society, not only individually.

That said, I believe that everything is a process. My plan is to start with the basics to build my presence within my community using social media tools and to gain the member’s trust by listening and serving as a bridge between them and any barriers. Once I feel that I’m serving the community’s basic needs, then I can start working on that second phase of getting involved in bigger projects — learning experiences that will encourage the immigrants to get active and to start being part of their new home, the United States.

What I understood from Jeanne is that journalists become ecosystem architects when they combine data technology and storytelling to understand the community and create ways to help them grow. I totally agree! “ECOSYSTEM ARCHITECTURE” is a new term that I can relate to.

Unfortunately, even though Hispanics are the biggest minority group in United States, we are very fragmented. Even within our own nationalities. I believe that if we become united we’ll have a lot of political power and will be much more respected.

In my community, immigrants in general, consist of people with different roots. I have noticed that some communities are very united, such as the Chinese and Jewish people.

Unfortunate, we, the Hispanic community are not united. As my friend well described it, one of the main reasons for Hispanics not to be united is the lack of true mutual respect and leadership. I think we’re conditioned to doubt the honesty and competence of our kind. We were raised in an environment of competition and survival. Being in a foreign country and feeling like second-class citizens, people assume this instinct. We become selfish and individualistic. Much of this lies in the fears that we bring from our home country. It is therefore very important to examine the differences and change of attitude. Unfortunately, many people don’t do it and continue making the same mistakes and it becomes a vicious circle.

How do I plan to bring he individuals in my community closer together?

It’s going to be kind of challenging. Situations don’t change instantly. It’s all a process but I strongly believe that if we all do our part, we can make it happen.

I’ll start to do my bit by engaging with the community, giving them the answers to their questions in their language, and educating them about issues they are interested in. At the same time and using the social media tools that they already know (Facebook and WhatsApp), I will be a bridge so they can start the process of educating themselves. They should understand that “Ignorance of the law is no excuse”. Also, that the customs in their home country are not necessarily accepted here. For example, it’s illegal to pee in the street here in USA, but no in other countries of South and Central America.

Step by step I’m creating the path to communicate with my community in a faster and easy way.