Shifting Racial Tides

Graph 1

Graph 2 

Graph 3

The racial demographic of the U.S. is changing. While the white race is still currently dominant in terms of population size, there has been a gradual change in the population's racial makeup. Graph 1 displays what changes we can come to expect over the years, with the white race no longer over half of the population in 2044. Right now the largest non-white minorities are Latino and African American, although Graph 2 shows a trend of increasing Asian immigration to the U.S. As of 2014, according to the United States Census Bureau, Asians make up 5.4 percent of the population. This steadily increasing rate of immigration explains the jump to 7.9 percent by 2044, especially considering the decreasing amount of Hispanic immigrants to the U.S., which has dropped from 59 percent in 2000 to 31 percent in 2010. Regardless of this decreasing trend, Latinos are still projected to constitute 25 percent of the population by 2044.

Beyond that, another category is gaining ground and that is the percentage of the population that considers themselves multiracial. At 2.5 percent as of 2014, the multiracial demographic is expected to grow to 3.7 percent, as show in Graph 1. Graph 3 shows the number of interracial weddings in 2008 for each race, and the large percentage of people marrying outside of their race lends credence to the projected multiracial population in the U.S. for 2044.

Graph 1 data source
Graph 2 data source
Graph 3 data source

Sterling: The Great Beauty

There are many people unhappy with the inconveniences of the construction happening on Main Street. Suelinda Santiago is one of the residents who are vocal about their displeasure regarding the roadwork. 

“Nobody wants to travel Main Street because of all the traffic that’s there,” Santiago said.

"But, so far, people have been understanding because they know the need for a better road and how it will be so much better when it's done," said Jared Fiel, media contact for Colorado Department of Transportation for the Sterling resurfacing project.

Despite the inconveniences for traffic along Main Street, many residents see the beautification as a positive thing.

“We have one or two people a day come in and thank us,” said Horner.

Sterling Beautification Goals

The city of Sterling has rallied together to work on improving the aesthetics of the city, even with any inconveniences or construction.

The city raised funds for or was sponsored for a set of bronze sculptures created and on display around town, as a symbol of Sterling's heritage.

"This is the most I’ve ever seen the community together,” said Jim Horner, owner of Journal Office Supply, referring to what prompted his own decision to restore the C.J. Latta Building.

"People have been understanding because they know the need for a better road and how it will be so much better when it's done," said Jared Fiel, Colorado Department of Transportation's media contact.

Foster Care in Colorado in Better Light

Candie Farquhar, foster mother from Sterling, CO, was very clear about fostering not being for everyone.

"It's really tough," said Farquhar.

When asked about the negatives of foster care Farquhar said, "It's exciting to get them but then it hurts when you see how damaged they are and how sad they are."

However, Farquhar spent much more time expounding on the best parts about fostering.

"For the first two years she would send me the sweetest note and text on Mother's Day, that she loved me and was thankful for what we did," said Farquhar on her favorite part of fostering, using a previous foster child as an example of how some of the children get so attached they want to stay in touch with their old foster parents.

Attorney Lori Hulbert said, "I'm here for the children's best interest so when a case ends it's always a happy ending from the best interests of the children."

Foster Care in Colorado Primer

The foster care situation in Colorado is not a good one but it seems to be improving.

The latest count by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families has the number of children in foster care in the 2013 fiscal year at 5,851.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2013 estimate of population in Colorado is 5,272,086. That makes the number of children in foster care in Colorado an entire 0.11 percent of the Colorado population.

This is a big improvement from the 0.17 percent of the population in foster care in 2004, with a total Colorado population of 4,601,403 according to the Census Bureau and the number of foster children at 8,196 according to the ACF.

Candie Farquhar, a foster mom, and Lori Hulbert, an attorney that deals with numerous child custody-related cases, have consented to be interviewed more on their experience with foster care in Colorado.

"Our system is designed to make sure that it's a good event for the children and that their best interest is always taken into consideration," said Hulbert.