A parallel community

Culture in classrooms
At Waynesboro High School, where Hispanics now make up 10 percent of enrollment, many express cultural pride in where they’re from, Principal Tim Teachey said. “And they don’t receive much grief about it. They still show that pride in their heritage.” he said school district staff continue to try to connect with immigrant families to paint the school system as a resource. “It’s gotta be on the school system to build those bridges, initially,” he said.

Writing on the wall
Mariana Micali, 36, of Stuarts Draft, was one of the first Mexican immigrants to work at the Waynesboro Country Club on Meadowbrook Road. It was there that the “country girl” from outside of Monterrey, Mexico, steadily learned English. “Every night before I went to sleep, I’d put papers on the wall,” she said of her effort to become bilingual. “When you’re younger, you think everything is easy — nothing is easy,” she said in English.

Ecumenical outreach
For basic needs, spiritual fulfillment and education (for young and old), many Spanish-speaking immigrants turn to Basic City United Methodist Church on Winchester Avenue. Led by Pastor Don Gibson, the church leads food and home supply collections and offers a weekly Spanish church service, weekly English classes and daily afterschool tutoring. Immigrants from 10 nations regularly attend.

Cacti and calling cards
Waynesboro is home to two Hispanic all-purpose stores — just a block apart on North Poplar Avenue. Tienda La Mexicana, on the west side of the street, and Mi Mercadito on the east side, provide groceries, calling cards, money transfer services and traditional party supplies. On weekends, Mi Mercadito offers traditional taco cuisine, complete with cacti and whole peppers. Tienda La Mexicana sports an arcade and billiards.

St. John’s stirs
The faithful rose this morning by 5 a.m. for the celebration of La Virgen de Guadalupe at St. John’s Catholic Church on Eleventh Street in Waynesboro. Church leaders estimate as much as 90 percent of the area Hispanic population is Catholic (national statistics estimate almost 70 percent). Leaders at St. John’s are seeking to reestablish a weekly Sunday Mass in Spanish.

Fútbol frenzy
From former Mexican professional league players to high school standouts and rookie kickers, the place to be most summer evenings is Ridgeview Park at the end of Magnolia Avenue. From there, soccer players branch out into a web of local and Hispanic leagues.