Greene County Development Corporation, with support from several entities, were able to bring aboard a new position to help individuals and families whose primary language is not English.

Multicultural Family Resource Center Director Sara Huddleston started this past July and says she has been staying incredibly busy her first three months. Aside from attending all city council meetings in the county, along with a few employers and other organizations like the Greene County Clergy Association that she has met with, Huddleston says several students with the Greene County School District have needed her assistance. 

Huddleston explains that during school registration she helped over 30 kids interpret and help sign up for the school year, and she continues to provide services three days per week in various classrooms. She describes one example of how classroom teachers have responded to allowing her to be in the room to help students bridge the English language gap.

“They are really, actually, very flexible with the students. They continue with the class for everyone, I am right there sitting (with the student), so the Hispanian – so in this case it’s a Latino student – I am with him next to him guiding him to pay attention because this is what they are talking about, (and) follow up. The teachers continue with the class as it is.”    

Huddleston notes that she was also at a recent job fair in Perry and points out about 50 people stopped by their booth and she has helped a few people get interviews for job openings in Greene County. She adds employers such as American Athletic Incorporated/Spaulding and Power Lift have had interviews with some of those individuals and have made some hires. Contact Huddleston at Jefferson City Hall for more information about her services.