BY KAREN BOSSICK
They’re called “The Quiet Force.”
And they are a force to be reckoned with, even though they may seem invisible to many of the tourists who frequent ski towns.
They are the Latino men and women, without whom the tourism and services economies would grind to a halt. They’re a mix of documented immigrants and undocumented workers—many of whom have faced increasing risk of deportation in recent years that has, in some cases, separated families.
A 37-minute documentary depicting “The Quiet Force” will be livestreamed at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 1, via The Community Library.
It will be followed by a panel discussion focusing on those who build homes and hotels, provide landscaping, painting, clean sheets and towels and who cook in the restaurants that residents and guests frequent.
The discussion will include Becky Lopez, incoming executive director of The Alliance of Idaho; Hailey City Council Member Juan Martinez; Blanca Romero, community care coordinator with The Hunger Coalition, and filmmaker Hilary Byrne. The discussion will be moderated by Luis Alberto Lecanda, a member of Galena and the Trails Advisory Committee.
The documentary focuses on the work force in Mammoth, Vail and Jackson where Latinos comprise 30 percent or more of the local population. It looks at the effects of the current political climate and it offers interviews with immigrant families, politicians, law enforcement, educators, representatives of non-profit organizations and economists to provide an analysis of an issue that remains murky even to the most seasoned.
You can catch the movie at https://livestream.com/comlib
The event is presented in collaboration with the Blaine County Recreation District and Galena Trails and Advisory Committee.