Record-Journal (Meriden, CT)

Which brings me to the subject of this column, an organization on whose board I serve: the Spanish Community of Wallingford. SCOW, as it is regularly known, is an agency that assists the latest group of immigrants to Wallingford, the approximately three thousand people from the two dozen countries and islands that comprise Latin America. The mission statement of the agency sums up its purpose: “The mission of the Spanish Community of Wallingford, Inc. is to respond to the needs of the Latino Community by assisting them to succeed in U.S. society, and to enable Latinos to maintain and share their rich varied cultures with the broader community.”

SCOW has been in existence since 1972 performing that function. The Town of Wallingford generously provides our facility at 284 Washington Street, a $10,000 cash contribution and financial management assistance. Most of the rest of our funding comes to us in the form of two grants from the Connecticut Department of Social Services. With the financial predicament in which state government finds itself, we foresee a significant reduction of those grants on the horizon.

Knowing that we have to diversify our funding sources in order to continue, SCOW is holding its first large-scale fundraiser, a wine tasting event entitled Wines of Latin America. It will take place on Thursday, March 31st at the Villa Capri here in Wallingford from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. The tickets are $25 each and can be obtained by calling SCOW at 203-265-5866 or me at 203-269-3565 during business hours. The proceeds will be used to offset reductions in the aforementioned state grants. We can promise you a very enjoyable evening sampling at least two dozen excellent wines. You will also have the opportunity to meet our board and staff, all of whom are truly representative of the diverse and vibrant people of Latin America.

Despite it being a very busy place, the agency had until recently pretty much worked quietly in the background. No longer. SCOW is now taking its place alongside such well established entities as the Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA, VNA, Master’s Manna and other very visible and vibrant social service agencies. This transformation has several drivers: an expanding Latino community, an active and committed board of directors very ably led by Patricia Cymbala, and active outreach to the social service provider community. But more than that, it is a result of the efforts of Executive Director Maria Campos Harlow. Maria, who was born and raised in Colombia, assumed her post having been board president for two years. She brings grace, talent, intelligence, energy, compassion and an infectious joyful personality to everything she does. Her impact on the agency has been remarkable.

Wallingford has been a welcoming place to every wave of immigrants in our country’s history. We are now home to several thousand new people who have come here with the same hopes and dreams of all those others that have preceded them. SCOW is there to provide guidance in that quest to participate fully in the amazing experience of being in America and making their cultural contribution to this “land of opportunity” in which we all live.