A new internship program for Spanish majors at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is providing a unique community service opportunity for nonprofit organizations that serve the Arkansas Hispanic community.

The program allows students to use Spanish in a professional and real-world setting in the central Arkansas community.

For Little Rock native and senior Forrest Goss, the program has provided a learning experience that has proven to be beneficial. Not only have his Spanish skills greatly improved, but Goss gained connections and insight into the Hispanic community.

“He is a gifted Spanish student whose study of the language is motivated by public service and social justice, so our new structured internship program fits him well,” said Erin Finzer, chair of the Department of International and Second Language Studies.

During the spring semester, interns were placed with El Zócalo, Children International, Twelfth Street Clinic, Shepherd’s Hope Clinic, and Harmony Clinic. After meeting with the organization, El Zócalo caught Goss’s immediate interest. He finished the internship during the spring semester, but continues to volunteer this summer.

The nonprofit organization serves as an immigrant resource center for the central Arkansas Hispanic community. The goal of El Zócalo is to promote a dignified life for immigrants and foster community-wide understanding through education. El Zócalo offers a food pantry, English as a Second Language classes, and assistance in finding resources to serve the Hispanic community in Little Rock.

Goss works with the food pantry program. His main responsibilities include picking up food from the Arkansas Food Bank and translating or interpreting for clients. With a few exceptions, most clients at the food pantry do not speak English.

Goss also assists in communication between guest presenters and El Zócalo clients. Different organizations in the community visit El Zócalo to offer helpful information, such as the Arkansas Food Bank, which will send representatives to present information on food stamp benefits.

Most recently, Goss has been leading classes in El Zócalo’s program, Cooking Matters, sponsored by the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance.

The organization supplies funding, training, and educational materials to conduct a six-week course on cooking and nutrition through Cooking Matters. The program focuses on ways to eat healthy on a budget, practice safe cooking techniques, and promote cooking and eating as quality family time. Participants are also given a bag of groceries with the ingredients to make the recipes at home.

Goss’ internship has helped him learn about the intricacies of nonprofit work, which is something he may be involved with in his future.

“I have learned a lot about the experiences of the Hispanic community and the overwhelming struggles that many Hispanic residents face,” Goss said. “It has been a blessing and a learning experience, to say the least.”