Joe Mena knows computers. And he knows the Utah Hispanic community.
Now he's playing matchmaker. He thinks the two make for a fine marriage.
"Many Hispanic people want to get into technology, but where can they go? Many of them can't read and can't speak English. The problem isn't money, it's awareness," Mena said.
For 11 years, Mena has worked for the USA Computer Center, 1739 S. Redwood Road. A native of Mexico City, he grew up in hard-core East Los Angeles amid the gangs. He had to tug himself up by his bootstraps.
"There were four boys, my mom, and no dad in our family," he says. "And I figure if we made it through, other people can, too."
And Mena is making a career of helping them make it through. His local Web page, www.hispanosenutah.com, is a treasure trove of information for Latinos. If you're looking for entertainment, immigration information, the name of a local business, a good lawyer, good doctor or a good joke to start the day, it's all in there.
In short, the Hispanic page is online. The trick now is to get Hispanics online.
At the Computer Center, Mena has created a special "Hispanic Room." There are sombreros on the wall, figurines of mariachi bands, posters of Mexican vacation spots. His aunt will often cook up tamales to share. The background music is from south of the border, and the atmosphere is tranquil and inviting.
The idea is to lower the anxiety of visitors, help them feel at ease and create an atmosphere that will draw them back. Once they feel at home in the room, Mena tries to get them to feel at home on the computer. That often means teaching language skills along with computer skills. But the approach is working.
Currently 20 members of the community drop by to check their e-mail, look up information and surf the Web. As the word gets out, more will come.
"My community doesn't always see technology as a career," Mena said. "Many of them come from countries where lawyers, doctors and politicians are the most admired professionals, and that's what they want for their kids. Technology is not seen as an option. I want to make it one."
One group that Mena has targeted for help is the group of "olvidados," the forgotten ones — the aging Hispanics who have no language skills and little education.
"The emphasis is often on the youth," he says. "But I enjoy taking someone who is 50 or 60, someone who only knows manual labor, and showing them there's a way to check on things back home, in Spanish, using the Internet."
In other words, Columbus may have discovered people in the New World. Now Joe Mena hopes to offer those same people another New World to explore.
For information, contact Mena at 972-2018, or send an e-mail to: joe@usacomputer.com">joe@usacomputer.com .
E-MAIL: jerjohn@desnews.com