| San Jacinto College North (SJCN) of Houston, Texas, is located 10 miles from Galena Park, a small, predominantly Hispanic city in the Houston metropolitan area, east of downtown Houston. SJCN is the closest institution of higher learning to Galena Park, which is an extremely isolated community. Only two buses enter and exit Galena Park daily. City residents lack immediate access to many of the community resources of larger cities and must travel a considerable distance to receive many social services.
From 1970 to 1980, Galena Park changed from a White, middle-income community to a multi-ethnic, low-income community. The oil bust of the 1980s had a ripple effect on Galena Park. Many citizens worked in the oil industry, and the community also was adversely affected by the loss of steel and glass industries. Economics have forced many small businesses to close. U.S. Department of Labor unemployment figures indicate a recent 8.2 percent unemployment rate, more than twice that of Harris County. In 1980 the poverty level was 10.5 percent and by 1990 it was 19.4 percent. The fact that 82 percent of students in Galena Park now receive free or reduced-rate meals reflects the current higher poverty rate.
Hispanics comprise 69.3 percent of Galena Park's population and Whites 22.2 percent, but Whites comprise 27.4 percent of the population over age 18. There are few Hispanic leaders in the community and most of the commercial property is still controlled by Whites. Educational attainment in Galena Park is extremely low with fewer than 51 percent of adults having a high school degree or GED. More than 40 percent of elementary school students have limited English proficiency.
In collaboration with the Galena Park Independent School District (GPISD), Harris County Community Development Department (HCCDD), City of Galena Park, North Channel Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE), SJCN has established a Community Resource and Training Center to help the residents of Galena Park access community development and training resources. The Center includes leadership training for members of the Hispanic community.
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