FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Latino Community Foundation Awards 19 Grants to Latino-Led, Youth-Serving Organizations for 2020 Census Outreach
Organizations were selected by a Latino Youth Led Panel representing the State of California
San Francisco—January 30, 2020— Latino youth leaders, ages 16 to 31, formed the Latino Community Foundation’s (LCF) 2020 Census Selection Committee and awarded 19 grants to Latino-led, youth-serving organizations in California. The purpose of the grants will support outreach and education in Latino communities across the state to ensure an accurate count of all Latinos.
The youth-led committee reviewed proposals from organizations seeking funding for Census outreach in “hard-to-count” areas across the state, including the Central Coast, the Central Valley and the Inland Empire. As they deliberated in choosing the organizations, they considered the challenges and opportunities facing their communities at a time of heightened anti-immigrant political rhetoric. A total of $150,000 were awarded in grants.
“Latino youth will play a pivotal role in securing an accurate 2020 Census count because this generation is organized, tech-savvy, and motivated to exercise their civic responsibilities to secure fair federal resources and political representation for their local communities,” said Jaqueline Martinez Garcel, CEO of the Latino Community Foundation. “There is no better group of people to decide where this funding is allocated than their peers.”
Maria Martinez, 16, from Pittsburg, CA was one of the youth leaders to take part in the grantmaking process. “The census will be important because it will help provide schools the funding they need,” said Martinez, “I feel honored that I was able to help out my Latino community. These grants will make it easier for community organizations to make sure everyone gets counted.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Latinos represent a “hard-to-count” group that has historically been undercounted for decades. Poverty, language barriers, and misinformation about the census are some of the biggest challenges undermining full participation among the largest racial/ethnic group in California. At stake for California is $115 billion for federal programs in education, housing, and health care, as well as maintaining the state’s 53 members of Congress.
The grantees selected were:
67 Sueños, Oakland, CA–To organize after-school census education programs, and to support community members fill out the census at public events in Oakland.
Alianza Coachella Valley, Coachella, CA–To conduct canvassing efforts in hard-to-count communities in the Coachella Valley.
Centro Cultural para el Desarrollo Indígena Oaxaqueño, Fresno, CA–To support a youth-led social media campaign that reaches Fresno’s indigenous community in their respective languages.
Community Center for the Arts and Technology, Fresno, CA–To develop media-based educational resources and to conduct outreach in Fresno’s rural communities to mobilize families to complete the census.
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, Los Angeles, CA–To train high school youth leaders in the Wise Up! Program to conduct census outreach in immigrant communities.
Clínica Tepati, Sacramento, CA–To create a program for undocumented undergraduate leaders at UC Davis to educate and mobilize the communities served at Clínica Tepati on the importance of the census.
Comité Cívico, Brawley, CA–To invest in youth leaders to engage Latino families by canvassing in “hard-to-count” communities via the Youth Environmental Health Internship.
Fresno Barrios Unidos, Fresno, CA–To conduct a block party in southeast Fresno for youth and families to fill out their census form on-site.
Future Leaders of America, Oxnard, CA–To conduct canvassing efforts in “hard-to-count” communities, including east and west Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and South Oxnard.
Inner City Struggle, Los Angeles, CA–To mobilize East Los Angeles youth and families communities by conducting direct canvassing and digital outreach that provides education on the importance of the census.
LOUD for Tomorrow, Delano, CA–To lead youth town halls and workshops to educate Latino communities on the census.
Movimiento Cultural de la Unión Indígena, Vineburg, CA–To conduct TV and radio outreach in multilingual, indigenous and immigrant communities.
Mi Familia Vota, Fresno, CA–To host community forums and workshops, and conduct social media campaigns to reach “hard-to-count” communities in San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Fresno counties.
Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project, Oxnard, CA–To train middle to high school indigenous youth to conduct culturally-relevant census outreach within their communities.
Monument Impact, Concord, CA–To lead high school outreach activities and to provide families with on-site questionnaire assistance.
North Bay Organizing Project, Graton, CA–To lead a mobilization effort among more than 3,000 young people of color, 18-32, to fill out the Census.
Resilience Orange County, Santa Ana, CA–To invest in Santa Ana youth and community leaders to reach “hard-to-count” communities in the region.
South Kern Sol, Bakersfield, CA–To conduct social media campaigns and to educate and mobilize community members to fill out the census at public events, including Bakersfield College’s Social Justice Institute.
Youth Alliance, Hollister, CA–To produce multilingual youth and community-focused visual and audio educational census materials.
About the Latino Community Foundation
The Latino Community Foundation is on a mission to unleash the civic and economic power of Latinos in California. The Foundation has the largest network of Latino philanthropists in the country and has invested $10 million to build Latino civic and political power and leadership in the state. It is the only statewide foundation solely focused on investing in Latino youth and families in California. For more info, visit: www.latinocf.org.
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For further information contact:
Christian Arana, (818) 312-3328 / carana@latinocf.org
Policy Director, Latino Community Foundation
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