Go to most any event or program held to support the county's Spanish-speaking community and you will likely find Annapolis resident Maria Casasco.

Through her volunteer efforts and work as program director of the county Health Department's Hispanic Initiative, Ms. Casasco has led the development of educational, legal and social service programs for Spanish-speaking immigrants.

For her tireless efforts, Anne Arundel Community College's board of trustees presented her with the President's Community Service Award at the board's meeting on Tuesday night.

The award recognizes county residents who assist the college in contributing significantly to the quality of life in Anne Arundel.

A commitment to improving quality of life

Stephen F. Steele, the sociology professor at the college who nominated her for the award, said that he was impressed by "her steadfast commitment to improvement of the quality of life for a segment of the county's population who struggle against language and cultural barriers."

Among her many projects, Ms. Casasco developed a database of volunteers to provide a bridge between immigrants and their new home. A Spanish-speaking hotline managed by the volunteers provides answers about community services and referrals in case of emergencies.

Her most recent project helped 12 women become the first Spanish-speaking immigrants in the county to be state-certified day care providers. They will graduate tonight.

Claret Vega, a Bolivian immigrant who will be among the graduates, said she is grateful to Ms. Casasco for giving her the chance to show her teen-age son "that it's never too late to learn."

Ms. Casasco is also the project director for the Hispanic Resource Center in Annapolis, where many Hispanics and Latin Americans can go to receive services provided by the county's Hispanic Initiative.

The Hispanic Initiative

She was instrumental in the growth of the Hispanic Initiative, which was created in 1992 to assist the county's fast-growing Spanish-speaking population, estimated to be about 20,000 in the county and 5,000 in Annapolis.

The initiative originally focused on substance abuse prevention, but under Ms. Casasco's leadership, it has expanded significantly.

At the center, immigrants can receive U. S. citizenship education, health care, free legal assistance, help with domestic violence issues and can participate in English classes and family-oriented projects, such as youth mentoring and parenting classes.

Ms. Casasco works out of the Hispanic Resource Center, located at Allen Apartments off of Forest Drive.

A clinical psychologist, Ms. Casasco came to Annapolis from Argentina in 1988. Unable to speak English, she said she found that there was no support system for new Spanish-speaking residents.

"We didn't have anything that was organized at all. If there were Hispanics in the area, we didn't know where they were. Now we know where they are and we know what their needs are," she said.

Ms. Casasco said she is "thrilled" about the award because it shows that the Hispanic and Latin American community is being recognized.

"It gives me even more energy to serve not only the Hispanic community but also the community at large," she said.

Published 06/16/00, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
Copyright 2000 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.

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