Adelita Hernandez never felt out of place as a first-generation American.

“I was lucky,” she said. “Not everyone is.”

Now Hernandez is in a position to help. Last week the Northwestern graduate began working for the Evanston Department of Health and Human Services as an outreach specialist.

Her job is to inform residents about the services and resources Evanston provides, whether a family doesn’t know how to deal with a child’s behavior problems or a resident doesn’t understand the English in his legal documents.

Evanston created the position of outreach specialist in 1996 to aid Evanston residents who don’t speak English, particularly Latinos. Ald. Edmund Moran (6th) pushed for the position. Latinos are often hesitant to ask for help, but someone a person similar to Hernandez can act as confidante, Moran said.

“It gives the office someone who the Spanish-speaking population can speak with and relate to,” said Alisa Dean, the city’s Human Services’ community intervention coordinator.

Since its creation the outreach coordinator position has grown to help all parts of Evanston.

Many people don’t realize how diverse Evanston is, Hernandez said.

“A lot of people think Spanish when they think bilingual,” she said.

There are a number of other language groups which need help, she said, such as immigrants from the Caribbean.

There are 4,539 Latinos, 4,524 Asians and 64 Pacific Islanders living in Evanston, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.

“It’s very helpful if we can coordinate all the things that are going on and make that available,” Ald. Cheryl Wollin (1st) said. “There’s nothing more valuable.”

Before coming to school in Evanston, Hernandez had never stayed at a school for more than two years as her family moved across the country.

Growing up in a Spanish-speaking home, learning English in school and living in Mexico for a year makes it easier for Hernandez to relate to the people she works with, she said.

After graduating from Weinberg in 2005, Hernandez worked at two not-for-profit social service organizations.

When she saw the opening for an outreach specialist on the city Web site, Hernandez went for it, and now she says the job is a perfect fit.

“Working with the community is really important for me,” she said. “The day goes by really quickly because I’m doing what I want to.”

Typically, the phone rings all day. Community groups, schools and city departments can refer people who need guidance to Hernandez, although many cases result from direct calls and walk-ins.

“It could be as simple as ‘I got a ticket and I don’t know what it means,'” Hernandez said.

Someone who doesn’t understand English well could get a ticket because they misinterpret how to display a parking sticker. Hernandez, who minored in Spanish and can find members of the city staff who speak other languages, explains the reason for the ticket and directs them about how to respond.

Parking issues generally take one visit to deal with, but legal petitions can take multiple visits, Hernandez said.

Hernandez also coordinates fairs and workshops to help inform residents about issues like how to do taxes. She is working with the Evanston Police Department for its Latino safety and awareness fair taking place in March.

“There are times that you wish you could do more,” Hernandez said. “When I see someone less fortunate I just want to help and make it better.”

Contact Elizabeth Gibson at [email protected].