Résumé :
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[BDSP. Notice produite par INIST R0xjTgAl. Diffusion soumise à autorisation]. Poverty, overpopulation, and a lack of environmental controls have combined with cultural and linguistic division to produce a looming public health threat in unincorporated communities on the US-Mexico border. These rapidly multiplying colonias, from a Spanish term for neighborhoods, are seulements of varying size located along the border. Along the American side of the Texas-Mexico border alone, there are approximately 1800 colonias-the largest number of any border state-most of which lack basic water and sewer systems, paved roads, and safe and sanitary housing. Promotorus, from a Spanish term for lay community educators, are community leaders who live in the colonias and build important bridges between residents and the federal and state bureaucraeies. These women have been trained to introduce their neightors to state "systems" of government, education, and medical and social services that otherwise may the out of reach. Promotoras are able to "translate" this training into culturilly meaningful instruction that empowers community self-development. When neighbors teach neighbors, the message is received with greater trust and readiness to act.
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