It is hard to pick up a newspaper these days without reading about violence within the Hispanic community, mostly in Springdale.
There’ve been at least three gang-related shooting and two homicides police say within a month in Springdale. These are problems not uncommon to a growing and increasing diverse region like Northwest Arkansas, which surpassed 500,000 in population recently. But it would be wrong to point fingers and castigate a whole community because of the actions of a few.
The vast majority of Hispanics in Northwest Arkansas are no more to blame for the surge in violence any more than I am with a murder that occurred less than two miles from my house. Like you, leaders in the Hispanic community are upset about the violence and motivated more to do something about it.
“I’m more frustrated than angry, actually,” said Irvin Camacho, 22, a 2010 Springdale High graduate and an emerging voice within the Latino community. “Some people are trying to make Springdale out like it’s becoming another Compton, California, and that’s so far from the truth. Springdale is a good city with good people.”
Springdale High boys soccer coach DJ Beeler sees the good things young people within the Hispanic community are doing on a daily basis. His team is 100 percent Hispanic and 11 of the 13 players from last season are now in college. Six of those have continued their soccer careers in college.
“Without a doubt, the vast majority of kids who’ve played for me are good people and good citizens,” said Beeler, who’s been the soccer coach at Springdale High for nine years. “Young people sometimes get into trouble and that includes all demographics regardless of race or ethnicity. As coaches, it’s our job to take all kids and get them to focus their energy in a positive way. The things people are reading in the paper involve such a very small percentage of the kids in our community.”
Sports has long been used an an avenue to steer young people away from trouble and more Hispanics are joining area high school teams, particularly in soccer and increasingly in football. Salvador Sandoval, for example, is looking at college options after he became an all-state receiver for Springdale as a senior. Springdale residents, particularly those on the east side, also have the benefit of the Jones Center for Families, where kids of all ages can learn, play, and develop a sense of belonging.
“Athletics is a positive way to get involved and a great connector to our schools,” said Wayne Stehlik, athletic director for Springdale Public Schools. “We have 2,800 students participating in athletics at Springdale, so the opportunity is there. We want more people like (Sandoval), who is one of the best athletes on the Springdale High campus.”
The Arkansas Activities Association did a study that shows students who participate in athletics have a higher grade point average and lower absenteeism and drop-out rates that non-participants. So, the evidence is clear.
Forget the street gangs and join the sports gang of Bulldogs, Wildcats, Tigers, Mounties and War Eagles scattered throughout the area.
“We must get the second- and third-generation of Latinos more involved and following good leaders,” said Carlos Chicas of Rogers, who is a sports reporter and anchor for Telemundo, a Spanish-language television network. “People in Northwest Arkansas need to hear more stories about guys like Amilcar Gonzales, a soccer player from Springdale who made the national team in El Salvador. Latinos want to be part of the community in all aspects, like in politics where 10 Latinos ran for public office in 2012.”
On Tuesday, Camacho will help lead a march for peace that will begin at 6 p.m. at Luther Grove Park in Springdale. Organizers hope to display a united front and build financial support for families who’ve been affected by the recent surge in violence.
“We want to support and raise some money for families of those who were shot and killed,” Camacho said. “At the same time, we need to show we can come together in Springdale and not be a divided city. This needs to happen.”
Rick Fires can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @nwarick.