The Creciendo Juntos (CJ) web site is a bilingual clearinghouse of information and resources. Its purpose is to

increase awareness among service providers and others about the local Latino population;

share resources, facilitate networking, and in other ways enhance the capacity of service providers to respond to our ever increasing Spanish language residents;

and disseminate information about and in other ways support Latino focused initiatives in our area, as well as the service providers promoting them.

The web site began operation in April 2006. Updates of the website, including networking, web searches, and the preparation of information and changes, has demanded at least twenty hours weekly. Its webmaster spends an additional two hours weekly uploading changes. New collaborations are most welcomed. To visit a map of the site, click here.

Informing, educating and empowering is an overview about what the CJ website is, what it does, who uses it, and what needs it has. Click here to read the May 2009 document. Changes to the website and offers to help with content updates, to include the proactive task of contacting and networking with those serving the Latino community or generating information about it, should be directed to Anna Sullivan, CJ Coordinator, at cj.cville@gmail.com

CJ Website Work Group

The CJ web site was built by a volunteer in March 2006 as an example of what a web site could offer the CJ network. The concept was immediately adopted and the volunteer, without any webmaster experience, and technologically confined to his original design, took on the task of uploading weekly content updates. CJ has long ago outgrown the original menu that cannot be altered without either an enormous investment of time or by a web site upgrade. The CJ Web Site Work Group is working on the latter option.

Andrea Hidalgo, a Guatemalan American,who presently works for a Charlottesville software firm, joined the CJ Website Work Group in October 2009. She is providing technical expertise to upgrade the site and afterwards, will help to both prepare a proposal for website reform and seek out an individual or organization interested in donating time to assume webmaster tasks. Webmaster responsibilities after the overhaul will be limited to weekly maintenance and will likely require between one and two hours/week. Those interested in exploring taking on the upgrade effort, a onetime effort involving 40 hours, or in uploading changes to the site one to two hours weekly, should contact Andrea at: mspris27@gmail.com

Rolando Méndez, a Salvadoran and fourth year UVa student, has been the webmaster for this site since it began in March 2006, and is responsible for its logo. In May 2010, he received the CJ Community Builder Award for his exemplary volunteerism.

Linda Hemby, a Salvadoran citizen, sociologist, and lifetime social justice/human rights activist, was the web site’s coordinator, responsible for its development, updates and content, from when it began in March 2006. After April 1, 2010, her web duties have been limited to leading the CJ Web Site Work Group, charged with the site’s new design and finding a person or office to upgrade the site. She can be reached at lhemby@albemarle.org. In 2001 and 2003, web sites Linda coordinated were finalists for the international Betinho Prize, awarded to organizations that excel at using Internet to promote social justice.