Includes bibliographical references

Foreword by Francisco A. Villarruel. Acknowledgments. Introduction. Aztlán in the Midwest and other counternarratives revealed (Sandra M. Gonzales). The Changing demography of Latinos in the Midwest (Rogelio Saenz). Cosas políticas; Politics, attitudes, and perceptions by region (Arturo Vega, Rubén O. Martinez, and Tia Stevens). Institutional obstacles to incorporation: Latino immigrant experiences in a Midsized Rust-Belt city (Theo J. Majka and Linda C. Majka). The impact of an immigration and customs enforcement raid on marshalltown, Iowa (Jan L. Flora, Claudia Prado-Meza, Hannah Lewis, César P. Motalvo, and Frank Dunn). Health needs of Latina Women in Central Illinois: Promoting early detection of cervical and breast cancer (Lydia P. Buki, Jennifer B. Mayfield, and Flavia C.D. Andrade). Latinos and the risk of arrest: National and regional effects (Mike Tapia, Donald T. Huthcerson, and Ana Campos-Holland). Litigating biblingual education: A histoy of the Gomez decision in Illinois (David A. Badillo). Reaching across borders: The transnationalizing effect of Mexican migration on public schools on the outskirts of Chicago (Jennifer Tello Buntin). Increasing knowledge and networking opportunities for small-scale Mexican Growers in Southwest Michigan (Maria Josefa Santos and Antonio Castro-Escobar). CitySpirit; A people´s mural in Detroit´s Mexicantown (George Vargas). Conclusion. About the contributors.

Over the past twenty years, the Latino population in the Midwest has grown rapidly, both in urban and rural areas. As elsewhere in the country, shifting demographics in the region have given rise to controversy and mixed reception. Where some communities have greeted Latinos openly, others have been more guarded. In spite of their increasing presence, Latinos remain the most marginalized major population group in the country. In coming years, the projected growth of this population will require greater attention from policymakers concerned with helping to incorporate them into the nation’s core institutions. This eye-opening collection of essays examines the many ways in which an increase in the Latino population has impacted the Midwest ― culturally, economically, educationally, and politically. Drawing on studies, personal histories, legal rulings, and other sources, this book takes an interdisciplinary approach to an increasingly important topic in American society and offers a glimpse into the nation’s demographic future.