One study of Puerto Rican owned grocery stores and restaurantsfound that such small businesses can serve their communities farbeyond selling food (Delgado, 1996). They can:
1. Furnish credit and cash checks when necessary.
2. Provide information about community issues and events.
3. Supply information about what’s going on in theirhomeland.
4. Provide informal counseling to people in crisis.
5. Furnish information about relevant, available socialservices.
6. Help community residents interpret and fill out governmentforms.
Provide “cultural connectedness to the homeland through theselling of videotapes, publications,” etc. (Delgado, 1997, p.447).
Describe and discuss in what ways these activities seek toachieve personal and social empowerment for communityresidents.
