Spanish language

Almost a third of Wyandotte County's population is Hispanic or Latino. Activists have campaigned for the last 18 months for the election commissioner to voluntarily offer Spanish-language election materials.

Armada con una grabadora, la bibliotecaria de Kansas City, Irene Ruiz, capturó la evolución de la historia del vecindario de Westside e hizo de la biblioteca un lugar más acogedor para los inmigrantes mexicanos y latinos que vivían allí. Hoy en día, la sucursal del vecindario de Westside la Biblioteca Pública de Kansas City, que cuenta con la sólida colección de idioma español que Ruiz comenzó, lleva su nombre en su honor.

Armed with a tape recorder, Kansas City librarian Irene Ruiz captured the evolving history of the Westside and made the library a more welcoming place for the Mexican immigrants and Latinos who lived there. Today, the Westside branch of the Kansas City Public Library — featuring the robust Spanish language collection that Ruiz began — is named in her honor.

Más de 130,000 inmigrantes viven en el área metropolitana de Kansas City, y alrededor de la mitad de ellos son latinos. Esta población crece cada año, aumentando la mano de obra y la base impositiva de la zona, pero un alto porcentaje de residentes inmigrantes tiene dificultades para acceder a la atención médica que necesitan.

Interest in Choose Topeka’s relocation incentive has spiked among first-generation Latino immigrants. Program officials say the city's established Spanish-speaking community is a big reason why.

More than 130,000 immigrants live in the Kansas City metro, about half of them Latino. This population is growing every year, adding to the area's labor force and tax base, but a high percentage of immigrant residents struggle to access medical care they need.

Reyes trabajó en muchas organizaciones comunitarias de Kansas City y se dedicó a cerrar la brecha entre los residentes hispanohablantes y anglosajones. Sus hijos se dedican a continuar su legado.

Christina Sanabria didn't think she'd have a career in performing arts. The Johnson County native recently won her second Grammy for children's music as part of the duo 123 Andrés, whose album "We Grow Together Preschool Songs" won Best Children’s Album of the Year.

Reyes served in many Kansas City community organizations and was dedicated to bridging the gap between its Spanish- and English-speaking residents. Her children are dedicated to continuing her legacy.

One in 20 Kansas City residents have limited proficiency in English. An ordinance passed by Kansas City Council on Thursday will create a city office dedicated to expanding translation abilities, and bridge the gap between the government and the local immigrant population.

Across the U.S., thousands of children and young adults serve as informal interpreters for family members that don’t speak English. For kids of Latino immigrants in Kansas City, being the family interpreter is an honor and burden. Plus: Gov. Laura Kelly is again calling for lawmakers to expand Medicaid to provide health care to about 150,000 low-income Kansans.

Across the U.S., thousands of children and young adults serve as informal interpreters for family members that don’t speak English. Many of them find pride in being of service to their families, but experts worry that this pride may be masking more serious long-term effects.