Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15 - Oct 15) is a month-long celebration of the many diverse cultures and nationalities within the Latino community that call our region home.
As part of that, we're excited to share experiences from some of our partners working to serve this vibrant community.
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1) Briefly describe the mission of your organization and the services you provide to the Latino community in the Greater Washington region.
In pursuit of a just, equitable and inclusive society, Identity creates opportunities for Latino and other historically underserved youth to realize their highest potential and thrive. Like an extended family, Identity teaches and models for thousands of young people and families across Montgomery County the social-emotional, academic, workforce and life skills they need to thrive in the modern world. Our programs are provided at two dozen schools, in the community and on playing fields and are complemented by life-saving family case management, mental health and substance abuse counseling, non-clinical emotional support groups, and recreation. Through a two-generation approach, we also work to empower parents to engage in their child’s education and be a champion for their success and the success of the community. Like family, we celebrate their victories and offer help when something extra is needed.
2) What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do with the Latino community in the Greater Washington area? What are you most proud of?
Identity is so proud of the growth and resilience of our client community. Identity youth report real improvements in their ability to manage difficult emotions; resolve conflict; speak up for themselves; connect to school, the workforce and the community; and avoid substance abuse and other harmful behavior. Identity youth show improved school attendance and achievement, and their families report improved communication and more involvement in their children’s lives after participating in our programs. Lifesaving safety-net support and caring human connections stave off hunger, homelessness and despair in families during times of extreme crisis. This is especially meaningful because of Identity's deep commitment to ensuring community members are full and authentic partners in our work. More than 85% of staff are bi-lingual and bi-cultural and immigrants or children of immigrants.
3) As a nonprofit partner, tell us about how funding that you’ve received that has helped you achieve this?
The Greater Washington Community Foundation has been with Identity at every critical juncture, providing funding when and where it is most needed. Most recently, through Neighbors in Need, we were able to provide lifesaving safety net support during the pandemic and stayed with us in order to help those whose recovery has been slower and more difficult. The Foundation also provided early support for our innovation Encuentros emotional support groups which have helped more than 2000 community members develop the skills to manage difficult emotions and help friends and family cope with stress and anxiety.
4) What do you wish that more people understood about the Latino community?
Our region’s Latino community is growing! In Montgomery County it has increased 27% between 2010 and 2021; 35% of MCPS students and almost 40% of kindergarteners are Latino. We hope others appreciate that "the Latino community" is made up of many communities and cultures, from North, Central and South America. And despite many obstacles including language and geographic isolation, deep poverty and disproportionate traumatic experiences, with the right support at the right time, this is a tremendously resilient community that is strives and thrives in school, in business and in community.
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1) Briefly describe the mission of your organization and the services you provide to the Latino community in the Greater Washington region.
Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with low incomes dealing with the often-devastating consequences of abusive debt collection practices and other consumer related issues. We offer DC residents free legal and financial counseling services (regardless of immigration status). In addition, through our Sin Deudas, Sin Dudas outreach project (“No Debts, No Doubts”), we provide bilingual community educational programs on issues like knowing your rights when dealing with debt collectors; avoiding (or recovering from) scams and fraud; overcoming shame for getting in debt or scammed; understanding, managing and building credit; and why it’s so important to get legal help when facing debt-related problems.
2) What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do with the Latino community in the Greater Washington area? What are you most proud of?
We engage with the community at the very grassroots via our work with CBO partners that have long been anchors in the DC Latino community, as well as via Iglesia Sagrado Corazón / Sacred Heart Church; Following Francis on the Hill; two branches of the DC Public Library; and the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs. From the very beginning, our most meaningful work has been connecting with community members who are experiencing food insecurity at food distribution lines. We roll up our sleeves tirelessly and consistently on this front, reaching out and contributing to those who are among our most vulnerable.
3) As a nonprofit partner, tell us about how funding that you’ve received that has helped you achieve this?
Funding that we have received from foundations and individual donors has enabled us to hire Spanish-speaking staff – a Senior Attorney, a Financial Counselor and our Community Outreach and Communications Consultant; to produce a bilingual “tool kit” with individual flyers on credit, debt and scams that we distribute widely at community events and presentations; and to hire INK, a strategic communications firm, to help us with our media outreach to the Latino community.
4) What do you wish that more people understood about the Latino community?
First, the wealth of its diversity. Although Salvadorans make up DC’s largest Latino group, there are also Dominican, Mexican, and Puerto Rican communities in the District. And the DMV as a whole counts with a large Bolivian and Guatemalan population. Second, that language access must not only be about making available translated information, but also about making available culturally-appropriate communications—that is, those that reflect a nuanced understanding of the culture of the target population.
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1) Briefly describe the mission of your organization and the services you provide to the Latino community in the Greater Washington region.
La Clinica Del Pueblo's mission is to build a healthy Latino community through culturally appropriate health services, focusing on those most in need. Since 1983, La Clínica del Pueblo has been addressing the distinct health needs of our community through comprehensive primary medical care with wrap-around services across the life spectrum; mental health and substance use treatment; medical interpretation and language access advocacy; community health including health education and safe spaces; and advocacy strategies to increase inclusion and health equity for Latino immigrants.
2) What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do with the Latino community in the Greater Washington area? What are you most proud of?
Recognizing health is a human right, not something that should be determined by our citizenship or type of employment.
3) As a nonprofit partner, tell us about how funding that you’ve received that has helped you achieve this?
We are looking to expand healthcare access to the Latino Immigrant community by eliminating barriers and creating policies that are culturally and linguistically appropriate. The design of our actions will engage the community at various levels from capturing needs to designing advocacy strategies through political engagement.
4) What do you wish that more people understood about the Latino community?
The diversity that exists within the community and the stories of migration have shaped the DC area. A great place to witness the diversity and richness of our community is at our La Fiesta Del Barrio (Free Neighborhood Block Party) on Oct 14th which will celebrate 40 years.
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1) Briefly describe the mission of your organization and the services you provide to the Latino community in the Greater Washington region.
DC Affordable Law Firm (DCALF) is an innovative nonprofit legal services organization striving to close the civil justice gap in DC. At DCALF, we believe everyone deserves justice and that income should not be a barrier to a family’s receipt of high-quality legal representation. DCALF provides low-cost and free immigration, family, and probate legal support to modest income clients who do not qualify for traditional forms of free legal aid, and others for whom access to justice is out of reach. DCALF understands the significant access to justice gap within our city’s Latinx and immigrant communities and fosters development of DC's Latinx population by often providing free, grant-funded representation to Latinx community members from low and modest means households. Additionally, DCALF partner with the Mayor's Office on Latin American Affairs (MOLA), regularly engage in community outreach, and conduct workshops to inform the broader Latinx and immigrant community living in DC about their family law, immigration, and probate and estate planning rights.
2) What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do with the Latino community in the Greater Washington area? What are you most proud of?
At DC Affordable Law Firm (DCALF), we share the belief that lawyers have a special obligation to the administration of justice; therefore, our attorneys represent clients in immigration, family law, and probate matters at low-to-no cost to the client. Thanks to grant funding and generous donors, we proudly serve more than 90% of our clients for free and the services we offer are available to Latinx DC residents living in households across all 8 Wards. Additionally, we engage in deliberate and intentional outreach efforts to ensure a broad reach and visibility of our services to Latinos regardless of where they live within the city.
3) As a nonprofit partner, tell us about how funding that you’ve received that has helped you achieve this?
At DC Affordable Law Firm (DCALF), we are committed to accessible justice and understand the importance of expanding access to legal services for modest-income Latinx DC residents. The funding we received from the Greater Washington Community Foundation and our partnership with GWCF has been transformative for DCALF. We now serve more than 90% of our clients, primarily Latinx and Black DC residents, for free through grant- and donor-funded representation, delivering the same high-quality services, but in a way that acknowledges, respects, and safeguards our clients’ economic realities and fixed household budgets.
4) What do you wish that more people understood about the Latino community?
End-of-life planning is key to preserving intergenerational wealth and helping families plan for their futures with dignity, yet these conversations occur far too infrequently, particularly within Latinx and BIPOC communities. In the United States, only 31% of adults have a will, and wills and estate planning documents are far more prevalent in higher-income households. DCALF believes all individuals deserve to plan for their futures, and estate planning should not be something only accessible to those with wealth. By educating Latinx community members and staff from community-based organizations, we are able to break down barriers and help Latinx families avail themselves of services that are often out of reach for modest-income individuals.
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1) Briefly describe the mission of your organization and the services you provide to the Latino community in the Greater Washington region.
The Upcounty Hub was founded with the philosophy of providing individuals and families with food and other essentials, without requiring documentation to prove necessity, allowing them to maintain their privacy and dignity.
The idea that “we rise by lifting others” has been a central principle of our organization because helping others is nutrition for the soul. Our work for the community by the community unites us in the fight against food insecurity because people, especially children, should not have to worry about one of their most basic needs. The residual impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has created a greater demand for food and healthcare assistance, and our goal is to connect the most vulnerable and impoverished populations to fundamental, culturally-competent resources.
2) What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do with the Latino community in the Greater Washington area? What are you most proud of?
Prior to the pandemic, the Latino community and much of the upcounty areas of Montgomery County did not have access to the resources they need. At Upcounty Hub, we are proud to serve as a bridge to various resources and to continue to be a voice for all the clients that we serve.
3) As a nonprofit partner, tell us about how funding that you’ve received that has helped you achieve this?
The funding that we receive goes towards food and essential items as well as staffing which has allowed us to expand our services to help clients beyond just food.
4) What do you wish that more people understood about the Latino community?
The Latino community was one of the most drastically impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and is still struggling. Montgomery County has a very fast-growing population of Latinos. We are very proud of that growth, and we are very proud to help them continue to grow and pursue their dreams in Montgomery County.
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1) Briefly describe the mission of your organization and the services you provide to the Latino community in the Greater Washington region.
Since our founding in the late 1960s, Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) has grown from a small grassroots recreation center into a nationally recognized agency serving all low-income youth. Each year LAYC serves over 4,000 youth and families through youth centers, school-based sites, and public charter schools in the District of Columbia and Maryland’s Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties as the Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers (MMYC). Our mission is to empower a diverse population of youth to achieve a successful transition to adulthood through multi-cultural, comprehensive, and innovative programs that address youths’ social, academic, and career needs. We believe in a future where all youth pursue their dreams, reach their goals, and acquire the skills and self-confidence to live a life of purpose, connection, contribution, and joy. Our bilingual programs and services are designed to address the multiple needs of the young people and families in the communities we serve. Through opportunities in academics, arts and recreation, job readiness, safe places to live, and health and wellness, LAYC strives to address many of the barriers to success low-income youth face. fundamental, culturally-competent resources.
2) What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do with the Latino community in the Greater Washington area? What are you most proud of?
•We want to highlight the resiliency, determination, courage and perseverance in the face of adversity – qualities we see every day in the youth and families who walk through our doors.
•We are very proud of the high percentage of staff who are members of the very communities we serve, with many cases being former youth participants of our programs, including our CEO.
•While the pandemic disrupted so much, we never closed our doors despite the challenges.
•LAYC’s close connection with the community developed over decades, founded on trust.
•LAYC’s Promotor Pathway®, our signature youth development model, removes barriers facing youth, proactively encourages participation in a broad set of LAYC services, and connects them to resources within the community. Through rigorous long-term evaluation, participants in the Promotor Pathway have shown marked improvements in education, employment, job stability and earnings compared to their peers.
3) As a nonprofit partner, tell us about how funding that you’ve received that has helped you achieve this?
As a nonprofit partner of GWCF, we have continued and expanded our Promotor Pathway® model in the DC community, providing critical support to young people who may be disconnected from school or employment, in need of more caring adults in their lives. The support allows us to work alongside youth who face the most extreme challenges—from raising children to homelessness, from gang activity to substance use and mental health disorders. Our promotores, or youth advocates, provide intensive, long-term, one-on-one mentoring and case management. They work intentionally and deliberately to build relationships designed to transform a young person’s life and are committed to the relentless pursuit of the youth’s success.
4) What do you wish that more people understood about the Latino community?
The Latino community has overcome challenges and continues to do so. They recognize the importance of education as a pathway out of poverty. The Latino community is very family oriented, and those familial relationships are key to dealing with the challenges they face.
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1) Briefly describe the mission of your organization and the services you provide to the Latino community in the Greater Washington region.
CARECEN’s mission is to foster the comprehensive development of the Latino population in the Washington metropolitan region by providing direct legal services, housing counseling, citizenship education, and community economic development. Just as fundamentally, the organization aims to promote grassroots empowerment, civic engagement, and civil rights advocacy.
CARECEN programs include: (a) Immigration Legal Services: provides direct legal services and counseling at low or no cost for immigration matters, including work authorization, permanent residence, family reunification, and citizenship; (b) Civic Participation: conducts citizenship classes to prepare participants for the U.S. naturalization examination, and promotes informed community participation in local civic and democratic processes through education and training; (c) Housing Counseling: helps to maintain safe and affordable housing by informing tenants of their rights, providing financial literacy training, and counseling participants to prevent displacement.
In addition to offering direct services to more than 3,000 community residents every year, CARECEN provides education and outreach on vital issues to thousands more Latinos in the greater Washington area through local and regional campaigns both in the field and across multiple media platforms.
2) What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do with the Latino community in the Greater Washington area? What are you most proud of?
CARECEN's close ties to the Latino community, allow us to respond effectively to the comprehensive needs of immigrants in the D.C. metropolitan area and provide timely and appropriate services through our Legal- Citizenship, and Housing while also taking up initiatives to advocate for the rights of the immigrant community. Our approach focuses in understanding the "push and pull" factors of the community's migration to the U.S. and their needs for services to help stabilize families, provide economic security, and facilitate integration; allowing CARECEN to provide a mix of direct services and advocacy.
3) As a nonprofit partner, tell us about how funding that you’ve received that has helped you achieve this?
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, our community has seen an increased demand for rental counseling. While the Latino community in DC has been one of the most adversely affected by the Coronavirus economically, CARECEN’s is only one of a handful of housing programs in the DC area with bilingual staff in English and Spanish.
In addition to the increased caseload, the COVID-19 crisis also required our housing team to play a more active role in relief efforts and advocacy. CARECEN participated in an advocacy effort to ensure $5 million of local funds were allocated and dispensed to undocumented residents of the District of Columbia - many who were excluded from other pandemic related emergency funds.
Thanks to the Community Foundation, the Housing Program was able to secure more than $770,136 in COVID-19 rental relief through Stay DC and Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) for more than 157 tenants. The program was also able to preserve six affordable housing buildings help 50 homeowners avoid foreclosure on their homes.
Additionally, thanks to the Community Foundation, CARECEN distributed $1.1 million of DC Care funds to 1,100 residents in the community, helping those most affected by the pandemic meet some of their most urgent financial needs. We also secured an additional $9 million for excluded workers that were not able to access unemployment or did not receive the federal stimulus funding. Last year the city council approved $41 million which we helped distribute to DC residents that qualified.
4) What do you wish that more people understood about the Latino community?
We are a diverse community made up of 19 Spanish countries and one U.S. Territory. This high number of countries with the official language of Spanish puts the language in fourth place in the topmost spoken languages in the world following English, Mandarin Chinese and Hindi. However, when it comes to the languages with the most native speakers, Spanish occupies an incredible second spot (following Mandarin Chinese). The country with the largest representation in the U.S. is Mexico and, in most states, Mexican nationals make up the largest foreign-born population. There are exceptions such as Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC, where Salvadorans make up the largest foreign-born population.
The Latino population includes immigrants both legal and undocumented, and native born. As previous immigrant waves, Latinos by the third generation born in the U.S. are like the nonimmigrant population. Although we are newer in this region, (approximately 40 years) we contribute to the development of the region, with our labor, culture, food, that make the region better for everyone.