About Safer Latinos. The proliferation of youth violence in the last few decades has fueled the publics....
About Safer Latinos. The proliferation of youth violence in the last few decades has fueled the publics....
Census Updates on Latinos in the District of Columbia. This August 2009 report provides updated figures for demographic, economic and housing characteristics of Latinos residing in the District of Columbia .”
Cumbre Capital Monthly Newsletter. Back issues of
the Federation’s monthly newsletter, featuring advocacy, community
events, recent research, and spotlights on member agencies.”
October
2009
September
2009
August
2009
LFGW member agencies provide a wide array of services in housing, education, health, economic development, legal assistance, child care, the arts and culture, among others. Through LFGW, member agencies coordinate service delivery, multiply their purchasing and bargaining power, and share information and resources that foster the development of individual CBO's and the community as a whole.
Founded in 1970, Andromeda provides bilingual and bicultural mental
health services to the Latino community. Andromeda's
philosophy of treatment is oriented to the Latino culture and its value
system; emphasis is placed on integrating clients into U.S. society
without losing their own cultural identity. Andromeda offers services
through four core programs: Adult Mental Health and Crisis Intervention;
Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention; HIV/AIDS Mental Health and
Case Management; and the Cuban Refugees Program.
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Founded in 1999, the mission of the Arriba Center is to help physically
and mentally disabled persons, primarily economically
marginalized individuals from ethnic and cultural minorities, to
live independently by preparing them to undertake activities of daily
living, become integrated into the community, and become job-ready
individuals.
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Since its establishment in 1971, Ayuda has provided comprehensive
immigration and domestic relations legal services to
the low income Latino and foreign born non English speaking
communities in the Washington metropolitan area. These
services include providing representation before local and
federal courts or in non judicial administrative matters,
and translating for case related matters. Ayuda is the only
agency in DC offering panoply of emergency and one-stop
legal and social services to immigrant and refugee women
fleeing domestic violence. Through trainings, publications,
technical assistance on cases and participation in national
coalitions, Ayuda provides information to individuals and
organizations on the latest changes affecting the legal
rights of battered immigrant women and children, as well
as model programs serving them.
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Barbara Chambers Children’s Center (BCCC) was founded in 1968 to provide comprehensive quality child care services by offering a variety of opportunities for intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development in a clean, safe, and nurturing environment. Throughout the year, the Center offers an Infant Care Program for ages six weeks to 24 months, a Pre-school Program for ages two to five, and a Before and After School Program for ages five to twelve. During the summer, the Center offers a program for ages five to twelve which includes swimming and field trips. In addition, BCCC offers parenting classes and tuition assistance.
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In 1989, the Multicultural Career Intern Program (MCIP) was fully incorporated into the DC Public School System, merging with the Bell Career Center to become Bell Multicultural High School (BMHS). Since its incorporation, MCIP has continued to serve the community as the nonprofit fundraising arm of Bell and supports an array of academic, vocational, career and technical training courses designed to address the multiple needs of its students, many of whom have limited English proficiency. As a "Center for Excellence in Languages," BMHS focuses on language acquisition and development and is the only high school in the country offering interpreting and translating programs.
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Casa del Pueblo was organized in 1985 with the goals of addressing the socio economic and cultural needs of DC's Latino community and bridging the cultural and language gaps within the diverse community of Mount Pleasant/Columbia Heights. Casa del Pueblo has three major components: the Language Program which offers classes in Spanish and English literacy as well as Spanish as a Second Language; the Cultural Program with concerts and sponsorship of Central American music groups; and the Children/Youth Programs which focus on cultural education and economic development.
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Founded in 1981 to respond to social, economic and cultural needs of the Central American community in the Washington area, CARECEN offers legal representation in immigration and asylum cases and organizes proactive educational campaigns aimed at creating teams of active legal and health rights promoters. Also, the One Stop Services program provides direct assistance on a walk-in basis to those who need help in the translation of documents, filling out forms and three-way conference calls. CARECEN has been in the forefront in its educational and community empowerment programs, and has been a strong advocate to promote policies and programs that will improve the welfare of the Central American community.
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Change, Inc. has been active in assisting Ward I and Ward IV DC residents in need for more than 23 years. Change seeks to solve and prevent recurring problems residents face by providing free counseling and social services. The organization provides emergency services, employment services, youth services, a housing program, health services, nutrition programs, income management, and linkages to other service providers. Change offers its clients one-stop assistance for the range of problems they face.
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Citiwide’s mission is to use information technology to close the digital divide and improve the educational and socio-economic conditions of low-income residents of the District of Columbia. Citiwide also provide summer and after-school academic enrichment programs that cater to the educational needs of children in grades 3-6. Established in 1993 as a non-profit technology organization, CitiWide has provided services to more than 2,500 District of Columbia residents. Citiwide offers youth and adults who are low-income District of Columbia residents a chance to receive job training and soft skills enrichment, experience with computer web-based tools in administration computer skills, and other job enhancement opportunities. Training sites and program details are listed on Citiwide’s web page.
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La Clínica was formed in 1983 by a coalition of Central and Northern Americans seeking to improve the quality of health care for Latino residents. It is one of the few bilingual, culturally competent medical clinics providing free care to Latinos in the greater Washington metropolitan area. Clínica provides comprehensive health care, including preventative medical services, health education and patient advocacy to over 5,500 individuals annually. Reliance on volunteers and donations make Clínica's services extremely cost-effective.
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EPICA was founded in 1968 as a nonprofit organization in solidarity with the peoples of Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. EPICA works in partnership with communities and popular organizations for human rights, social and economic justice, and the self-determination of the peoples of the Americas. EPICA also serves the Central American immigrant community. EPICA produces publications in Spanish, English, and bilingual text, sends delegations to the region (with scholarships for Latinos), offers workshops on popular education (in Spanish), and works with advocacy coalitions for a just US policy and justice for Latino immigrants.
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Established in 1981, The Family Place delivers family support services that maximize the healthy development of young children in a welcoming, open-door, multicultural environment. With programs that promote Family Literacy, Family Wellness, and Family Safety and Security, The Family Place currently offers a comprehensive range of informational, educational, and emergency services including: classes in pre- and post-natal care, nutrition, parenting, and early childhood education; training in adult literacy, job readiness, childcare certification and English-as-a-Second Language; and crisis intervention counseling, referrals to other agencies for shelter, domestic violence services, and emergency distribution of food, diapers, clothing and other supplies. The Family Place provides child care and nutritious meals to facilitate participants’ engagement with and successful completion of seminars, workshops and classes.
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The Girls Scouts’ Linguistic Outreach Program (Programa de Enlace Comunitario) is dedicated to promoting the full participation of Latinos and Asians in the Girl Scout movement, ensuring that girl scouting is accessible to girls from all walks of life, cultures and language groups. Girls and troop leaders are recruited to participate in the Girl Scouts, an esteem-enhancing movement where girls and adults have the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills, explore new activities, and serve the community.
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With members and friends that include Hispanic
businesses, corporations, multinationals, and U.S. and foreign
governments, the mission of GWIACC is to “assist, advocate
and develop Hispanic business in the Washington DC metro region." Established
in 1976, GWIACC priorities include: advocating on behalf of Hispanic-owned
businesses; promoting Washington, D.C. as center for business
and trade with Spain and Latin America; serving as a clearinghouse
for government and corporate procurement, referrals, contacts,
Hispanic demographics and other pertinent information to its members;
partnering with other organizations, including but not limited
to Federal, State and local Governments, private organizations
Chambers of Commerce, major corporations and other organizations
with a common interest in the promotion of the Hispanic business
community in Greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area; and undertaking
programs, seminars and networking venues designed to promote the
development of chamber membership.
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Hermanos y Hermanas Mayores is the Latino Program of Big Brothers
Big Sisters of the National Capital Area. Founded in
1995 to better serve the Latino community, Hermanos y Hermanas Mayores
provides one-to-one mentoring services for Latino children between 8
and 15 years old who usually come from single-parent homes. Men and
women who are interested in becoming a "Hermano Mayor o Hermana
Mayor" (Big Brother
or Big Sister) are recruited and selected carefully to
be match with the children we serve. Our goal is to provide Latino youth
with positive role models who understand their culture and help them
in developing into responsible adults while meeting the challenges encountered
in their local communities. Support services for participants include
child abuse preventing training, counseling, crisis intervention, child
development information, referrals to other services, assistance with
the juvenile system and family activities.
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The Latino Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) is a private, non-profit 501(c) (3) community development corporation founded in 1991. LEDC’s mission is to economically empower Washington, DC area Latinos and other emerging communities. LEDC’s goal is to revitalize Latino communities in the DC area by expanding their asset and wealth-building capacity by: Increasing the number, strength, and wealth-creating capacity of Latino businesses through LEDC’s Emerging Business Loan Fund, supported by technical assistance and training; Increasing economic vitality by investing directly in small businesses and real estate development, thereby creating business ownership, management, and employment and affordable homeownership opportunities for Latinos; and Increasing homeownership among Latinos though homeownership counseling, training, and loan packaging services.
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The Latino Student Fund, founded in 1994 by community leaders, educators
and concerned parents who realized that the independent
schools were not reaching out to the Latino community in an organized
manner. Over the years, LSF has continued to develop new services, activities,
and programs to better serve the educational needs of the Latino community.
We are committed to the continued growth and development
of services that will help to better reach and serve the Latino community
more effectively. The mission of the Latino Student Fund (LSF) is to
ensure equal access to the best educational resources of the Washington,
D.C. metropolitan area for students of Hispanic descent through financial
aid, academic support, and informational outreach. Our belief is that
a strong academic foundation during grades 12 is a critical step toward
higher education and professional leadership.
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The Life Skills Center is the only trilingual (Spanish/Vietnamese/English)
Center for adults with mental retardation in the District
of Columbia. Founded in 1974, the Center’s mission is to help
adults with mental retardation to become as independent as possible
by becoming part of the community as taxpayers through employment. The
Center offers a Day Training Program, a Program for Independent Living
and a Studio Arts Program. Through the Program for Independent Living,
participants can gain employment in area businesses such as US Service
Industry, Southland Corporation, Security Fencing, Mount Pleasant Deli,
Dos Gringos Restaurant and Pizzeria Uno.
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Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care was established in 1988. It demonstrates how improved access to health care, coupled with sensitivity to culture and family, lead to healthy parents and healthy children. In addition, the Center, through its numerous programs, has undertaken initiatives to provide a dynamic child development program, intensive home visits for vulnerable families, case management for teen pregnancy prevention and planning, educational training to prevent school dropout, employment referral and placement, HIV testing and prevention, and a housing program designed to prevent homelessness. Today, the Center serves a multicultural population residing in every Ward of the city, with a focus on families who work in jobs where health insurance is not available.
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Founded in 1982, Mary House is dedicated to providing housing and other related services that meet the social and economic needs of homeless refugee and immigrant families and distressed women and children. Mary House works predominantly with low-income Latinos. Services include crisis management, transitional and long-term supportive housing; home visiting program; food delivery; and clothing and furniture distribution. Mary House owns and operates ten sites, eight located in the District and two sites in Maryland serving up to thirty families and any given time.
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MCS was established in 1997 to serve residents of Ward 1 in Washington,
DC. MCS mission is to transform racial, cultural and
ethnic intolerance into a sense of richness in diversity. MCS: provides
facilitations of public conversations on topics determined by the community;
training and skill building in facilitation and mediation for volunteers
who represent the diversity of the community; also providing simultaneous
oral interpretation and translation services.
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Neighbors’ Consejo was established in 1994 to connect the homeless
population of Mt. Pleasant, Adams Morgan and Columbia
Heights to services and resources to assist them in regaining independent,
productive lives. They conduct street outreach and referrals; advocate
for high quality and accessible services; provide temporary transitional
housing to Hispanic men in recovery; and find ways to involve community
residents in assisting their homeless neighbors. Neighbors’ Consejo
works to eradicate homelessness through effective outreach, advocacy
and referrals.
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The Pan American Orchestra, a community based orchestra made up of
volunteer musicians from the Washington metropolitan
area, was founded in 1991 with the goal of presenting Latin American
symphonic music that is rarely performed in the U.S. and unfamiliar
to the concert public. Committed to providing quality performances of
a symphonic repertoire, the orchestra emphasizes original compositions
by Latin American composers. Contact orchestra directly:
Sergio Buslje,
2020 Cascade Rd. Silver Spring MD 209002,
Ph: (240) 242 8032.
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Rosemount Center is a multicultural early childhood center that serves approximately 300 children and their families in the District of Columbia. The main programs at Rosemount Center are for infants/toddlers (birth to age three) and pre-school (age three to five). Each includes center-based and home-based programs. The center-based program offers quality, full year early childhood education in 12 classrooms at the Center. The home-based program provides a family partnership specialist who visits the family weekly and offers services that help the parent teach his/her child. Rosemount also coordinates a comprehensive disabilities program for infants, toddlers and pre-school age children. Rosemount is under re-accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), has received “Gold Level” status from the Office of Early Childhood Development in the District of Columbia, and follows the Head Start Performance standards and DC Licensing Requirements for best practices.
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The Spanish Catholic Center assists low-income immigrants in the process
of adaptation and integration into US society. The Center’s services
include: three health clinics; a dental clinic; the Health
Advisory Program; the Immigration Service, program assisting clients
with INS forms and legal documents and sponsors, citizenship classes;
employment referrals and counseling; translation, assistance with income
tax preparation; English-as-a-Second Language, Literacy Education; and
training courses.
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Founded in 1971, the SED Center provides day care services for children two-and-a-half to four years of age through its nationally accredited bilingual preschool program; a before- and after-school program for students K-6 and English-as-Second Language (ESL) and Spanish classes for adults. An award-winning volunteer program assigns volunteer staff to each of these programs, contributing more than 2000 hours a year.
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Founded in 1991, Teatro de la Luna brings high quality Latino Theater to the Washington metropolitan area. Teatro de la Luna places great emphasis on training new actors and theater technicians, and is the only Spanish-language theater in northern Virginia. Responding especially to the growing Latino population, the company presents a variety of high quality work at affordable ticket prices.
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Originally founded in 1969 as the Educational Organization For United
Latin America (EOFULA), Vida Senior Centers assists the
local Hispanic community to overcome cultural, economic, social, and
language barriers. In 1974, the Spanish Senior Center was established
and provides daily hot lunches, recreational activities, counseling,
transportation, health promotion, case management, employment and housing
assistance, visits and calls, an escort service, and Spanish/English
translation and interpretation. District residents age 60 and over may
participate and services are free of charge; however, voluntary contributions
are encouraged. Vida Senior Center is part of the DC Office on Aging
Senior Center Network and is also a member agency of the United Black
Fund.
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Young Playwrights Theatre was founded in 1995. Teaching young people how to write plays as a means to teach literacy, conflict resolution and community building. YPT offers in-school playwriting residencies, on site after-school programs, collaborative playwriting and performances projects with Wolly Mammoth, Gala Hispanic Theatre, and Sol y Soul.