The League of Women Voters – Whitewater Area hopes to be a better neighbor by hosting a forum on affirming and supporting the Nicaraguan community.

Co-President Ellen Penwell says says there are currently 80 families in the area and about 200 students in local schools.

Penwell says the program will take place Thursday from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m. at the Cravath Lakefront Community Center.

The forum will feature a panel of community leaders, each of whom will address what is being done in their area of professional or volunteer work, to assist in welcoming and providing language, economic, legal, housing, and employment assistance, and access to food and health services for members of the Nicaraguan community.

Panelists will include the Whitewater City Manager, Whitewater Unified School District’s Multicultural Services Coordinator and Bilingual Liaison, UW-Whitewater’s International Employment and Immigration Specialist, and the Manager of the Community Space.