LARAMIE, Wyo. -- Wyoming shoppers choosing to buy gifts at local mom-and-pop stores this holiday season can sample cookies with Mrs. Claus and refuel at Santa's Saloon, and kids can send letters to the jolly old elf via Pony Express riders.

Trey Sherwood, executive director of the Laramie Main Street Alliance, acknowledged most of the money shoppers spend at corporate chains ends up out of state, but when people buy local, they support their neighbors, and 68 cents of every dollar stays in the community.

"And it turns into payroll for local jobs, and it turns into support for our little-league teams," Sherwood outlined. "Because small businesses are often the sponsors for our youth sports."

Historic downtown Laramie, founded as a railroad town, is celebrating small businesses all week, capping off with a holiday parade. Instead of a traditional tree, officials will light up the city's historic train.

In addition to Santa, the "Old West Holiday" in downtown Cheyenne also features lights and decorations on architecture dating back to Wyoming's territorial days. Many buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Haylee Chenchar, vice president of the Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority, said small businesses have turned downtown into a festive winter wonderland.

"Everyone who comes to downtown, they will not only get to do their holiday shopping and support local businesses, but they really get a one-of-a-kind holiday experience that can't be replicated anywhere else," Chenchar explained.

Sherwood pointed out folks also can support most local businesses, and avoid big-box store supply-chain logjams, from the comfort of your sofa.

"Supporting local through online, you can sit in your pajamas at home and know that you are still making an investment in your downtown by shopping local, not having to worry about it being shipped late," Chenchar concluded.

A new report found factors like geography play a role in assessing Latino wealth gaps in the U.S.

The findings are from the Brookings Institution, which said there are regional differences between Latino wealth, assets, and debt.

Elvis Rivera, a member of the group Communities Organizing Latino Power and Action, has helped lead financial literacy classes in the Twin Cities. The group's Workers Center also assists with job training and resume building.

Echoing the report, he said there is nuance in helping Latinos overcome wealth barriers, noting there are often multiple generations in a household. He argued younger family members deserve prosperity, too, and it should not be assumed they are limited to low-wage jobs.

"We desire dignity, we desire power," Rivera pointed out. "And we desire to be catered to as it relates to laws, policies and resources, so that we can thrive also."

The Brookings report looked at six states, not including Minnesota. An example showed Illinois has the smallest Latino wealth gap, while it is substantially larger in New York. A separate state summary revealed southwest Minnesota has the highest concentration of Latino residents. It is an area where food manufacturing jobs are prominent, underscoring calls from advocates to create more opportunities.

Whether it is a food processing plant or a construction site, Rivera noted they are also having to respond to an environment where many Latino workers are still being taken advantage of.

"For example, wage theft is something that we're heavily working on addressing," Rivera explained. "Because we tend to see that a lot of folks that are brand new to the state may encounter job insecurity, exploitation."

The group's efforts coincide with recently adopted wage-theft laws in Minnesota.

Rivera, who has a background in finance, said he had to overcome misconceptions about his own ceiling as a working professional. He feels those beliefs still exist among employers and financial institutions. He stressed more culturally appropriate marketing and engagement efforts as Latinos try to build new lives here.

While many Wyomingites of Hispanic descent came from Mexico, there is a lesser-known population from the old Spanish settlements of northern New Mexico who made significant contributions to the state's cultural heritage and economic growth.

Trisha Martinez, assistant professor of Latino studies at the University of Wyoming, has been documenting oral histories of families who came to the Cowboy State along the Manito Trail, a corridor now occupied by Interstate 25. She said most came to work and support their families.

"In Northern New Mexico, the reality was really hard in terms of socio-economic conditions," Martinez explained. "And so, migrating outside of the state was a necessity for survival."

Workers from New Mexico and southern Colorado were recruited to work on the railroad, in the sugar beet industry, and as sheepherders in the early twentieth century, and now have permanent communities in the state going back several generations.

Most sheepherders in the Sierra Madres of southern Wyoming traveled along the Manito Trail, and many made long-lasting impressions on Aspen trees.

Amanda Castañeda, state coordinator for the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, said arborglyphs were created with sharp tools carving thin lines, which would expand as the trees grew. Many were straightforward, featuring family names or dates.

"You're also seeing some really beautiful drawings," Castañeda observed. "A lot of religious imagery, glamorous women with 40s and 50s style haircuts. So, you can come across some pretty striking artistic accomplishments in the forest."

Workers and their families settled in segregated Laramie's west side, the south side of Cheyenne, the south park barrio of Riverton, and the south side of Rawlins, where residents still maintain traditions from their home region.

Martinez added many of her students are surprised to learn their direct ancestors traveled the Manito Trail.

"They go home and they ask questions, they call their grandparents to learn more," Martinez noted. "When students explore their communities and histories, they affirm their connection to ancestral knowledge and life-producing energies."


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National Hispanic Heritage Month starts this Friday, and runs through Oct. 15. Dozens of events are planned up and down the Golden State to honor California's more than 15 million Hispanic residents, who make up more than 40% of the population.

Adriana Mendoza, associate director for advocacy and community engagement for AARP California, said her organization is hosting a series of online events, including two cooking demonstrations, a telephone town hall on family caregiving, and a webinar on adding a casita or "granny flat" to your property.

"AARP is celebrating the lively energy, the cultural pride and contributions of Latinos to our country. Our celebration centers around the tagline of 'Somos,' which translates to, 'We are' - we are the biggest force in an even bigger country," Mendoza explained.

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from mid-September to mid-October because Sept. 15 is the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and 18, respectively.

Mendoza said AARP has also produced a video series celebrating four Hispanic and Latino Californians who have made big differences in education and public service.

"These are the four stories that we've selected to highlight, honoring folks who are not always recognized, not always known - but they're making these amazing contributions just right here in our backyard," she continued.

More information is on the AARP California website.

In addition, many cities, universities, and colleges are holding Hispanic Heritage Month events. Several are listed on the website LatinBayArea.com, and there is a gala at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach.


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