Coonnecting and Systematizing: statewide infrastructure
Mechanisms
Building physical and organizational statewide infrastructure requires connecting folks via region and topic to develop relationships, share current successes and challenges, and create opportunities to sustain statewide collaborations, cohorts, exchanges, programming, coalitions, and advocacy efforts.
Mechanisms are the foundation of VCO’s vision and represent the directives and collective desires of Latino leaders across the state. They are explained here and further detailed via topics and strategies in the pages that follow.
Learn more
Data and Communications: sharing data and robust communication
Grants Making and Collaboration: leveraging local/statewide dollars in collaboration
Mobilizing a Shared Strategy: sharing innovative approaches
Future Setting: concretizing our vision
Concretizing our vision refers to the culmination of the various mechanisms, goals, and strategies carried out throughout the ten-year period, which have normalized where Latine leaders in Oregon hope our state to be in ten years. They can be considered long-term goals encompassing our collective values and approaches to organizing our people and systems. Examples include replacing discipline with restorative justice practices, a Latine-build democratic system, sustainable community food systems, and representative Latine leadership across every topic and at every level of government.
Sharing data means keeping leaders informed of what is happening in Latine communities via strategies, metrics, outcomes, barriers, and future desires to guide decision-making. Establishing robust statewide communications means connecting media professionals and outlets to collaborate on sharing news, culture, information on social services, and messaging to unite Latine communities.
Building on the connecting and systemizing approach, mobilizing a shared strategy is reserved for more extensive, innovative techniques working in one part of the state that could be expanded if shared and mobilized in another part of the state. Examples include empowering intergenerational civic engagement to increase pathways into the movement and expanding regional coalitions for more inclusive health systems.
Leveraging local and statewide dollars begins with establishing collaborative funding and grantmaking models and approaches. Minimizing the competition among our people and organizations supports strategic collaboration to get foundations, governments, and other funders on board with both local and statewide community desires; it also supports artists and business owners who have faced higher challenges of securing funding. Lastly, an Oregon Latine Foundation is a long-term desire.
Learn more
Learn more
Learn more
Learn more
Connecting and systemization
Housing
Environmental Justice
Health
Education
Food
Democratic Civic Engagement Political Power
Cultural
Wealth
Back to mechanisms
Data and communication
Housing
Environmental Justice
Health
Education
Food
Democratic Civic Engagement Political Power
Cultural
Wealth
Back to mechanisms
Grants making and collaboration
Housing
Environmental Justice
Health
Education
Food
Democratic Civic Engagement Political Power
Cultural
Wealth
Back to mechanisms
Mobilizing a Shared Strategy
Housing
Environmental Justice
Health
Education
Food
Democratic Civic Engagement Political Power
Cultural
Wealth
Back to mechanisms
Future setting
Housing
Environmental Justice
Health
Education
Food
Democratic Civic Engagement Political Power
Cultural
Wealth
Back to mechanisms
Statewide physical and organizational Infrastructure
Physical locations supporting Latine art and culture
Statewide programming and organizing
Organized communication and multimedia
There are no places for artistic expression; Using allies and spaces to transform them into safe and creative places; The lack of a central hub for Latino arts and culture where cross-cultural, cross-regional, inter- and intra- ethnic, racial, linguistic, and generational groups can grow, advocate, and learn together to cultivate the state's evolving Latino identity.
Cultural centers; School-centered approaches; Radio approaches; There is no continuity. No "sustainability (concrete). There is no infrastructure/structure. There is no systematization of cultural and artistic support and promotion. There is no cultural/art organization.
Statewide communication and organizing that is bilingual. We are in fashion - Taking advantage. Lack of Covering stories (media).
Empowering intergenerational civic engagement
Increasing pathways into the movement
Bring more Latine youth to the decision-making table. Work with CBOs to provide mentorship, paid internships, and other activities to build skills and get families on board and in the movement.
Increase representation in leadership and providers
Create career pathways in affordable housing careers
Representation in elected seats
More community members with deep connection and experience in housing in seats of power—council, commissions, state and federal legislative leaders, etc. who understand community needs
Introduce careers in housing, in local government, non-profits, realtors, development, property management, and architecture to the youth, colleges, and adults. However, there need to be better pay for those in the non-profit housing provider space.
Disrupt systemic oppression in education
Replacing discipline with restorative justice practices
Culturally meaningful ELL and Disability supports
Training and accountability for addressing hate violence in schools
Overrepresentation and underserved of kids with English language needs and Special Education.
Reducing suspension and expulsion rates for Latine students and encouraging restorative practices.
School staff and administrators need to take hate violence seriously and address the issues promptly.
Transforming Housing Systems
Reform Housing Barriers
Housing development needs to reflect the needs of the community
Community members with deep experience in the area are leading in creating a housing system with no longer barriers for those without documentation or credit and discriminatory high interest. In this system, there is the same government housing investment that was seen in the past for white families in our communities.
Grants for housing developments need to reflect the needs of Latine community and families that have less rescritions on the hosuing requirments and is mindful of zoning barriers.
Provide education that expands housing access
Reducing the stigma around affordable housing
Education on the impact of housing on community
Other homeowners fear that multi-dwelling housing will reduce the value of single-family housing. However, this fear is unfounded and prevents the creation of affordable housing for families.
Education community on housing insecurity, its cause, its impact on the community, and how essential housing is to quality of life.
Seres sociales
Seres digitales
Necesitamos interactuar unos con otros. Aprendemos de forma colaborativa.
Evitamos formar parte de la saturación de contenido en el mundo digital.
Removing wealth stripping
Programs that deliver money directly to the community
Advocacy for removing wealth-stripping policies
The community needs programming to easily access money through grants, IDA programs, or basic universal income. This money would help immediately and serve as capital, reducing barriers to interacting with other financial institutions.
Lobby for removing policies that prevent wealth building, such as student loans. We need to update our understanding of the barriers that prevent wealth building for Latine community members through research. To do this, we need more Latine leaders in government.
Access to nutritional and culturally specific foods
Create sustainable community food systems
Culturally specific food and resources for everyone
Food systems must be congruent with the environment and connect farmworkers to markets by providing transportation. Provide educational resources (online videos in Spanish) of easy recipes and a nutritious alternative to easy food that is also low effort. Community-owned gardens are extensive enough to grow culturally specific foods in various communities statewide and more public food for everyone.
Food programs need culturally specific, nourishing food available to those who are unable to participate in government programming because of immigration status. These foods need to be financially accessible, locally grown, and permanently funded. There also needs to be access to and education about clean drinking water.
Increasing Democracy's Accessibility
Statewide Latine Advocacy Effort
A centralized effort that gathers a map of all the needs and priorities of Latine focus areas across the state to build a community legislative agenda. The centralized government is connected to regional hubs that help collect local information.
Access to nutritional and culturally specific foods
Culturally specific food and resources for everyone
Food programs need culturally specific, nourishing food available to those who are unable to participate in government programming because of immigration status. These foods need to be financially accessible, locally grown, and permanently funded. There also needs to be access to and education about clean drinking water.
Environmental InstitutionAL Changes
Representative Latine Leadership
Sustainable Changes to infrastructure
We need consistent representatives and community leaders who preserve our cultural knowledge, history, and memory while honoring different perspectives and affinity groups.
Environmental progress must be protected and implemented by elected officials and community leaders.
Intergeneration al/national knowledge and desire sharing
Transnational events and exchanges
Creation of workshops, interdisciplinary events, etc. Cultural and artistic exchange with/other countries, states, and communities; Accessibility to different art trends; Non-traditional arts are accepted and disseminated, invited to be part of the work; move from old- to new-school art and culture events the community wants; Writing/Reading Workshops in Spanish. Public education. Bilingual meetings/events (multilingual).
Increase representation in leadership and providers
Workforce training and diversification
Diversifying the professional pool (including CWH) by increasing funding for training, paid internships, residency, loan repayment, and onboarding support (Future Ready funding). Create opportunities for men, youth, and families to participate in the health workforce. CHW needs partnerships with other programs such as Mental health, and preventative care (e.g., breast cancer).
Access to nutritional and culturally specific foods
Preservation of cultural food practices
Youth-centered programming that educates the community on cultural food practices and incorporates knowledge of food cultivation from farmworkers and elders. There are also statewide seed preservation programs that preserve culturally specific plants.
Education reflects collectivism values
Latine representation in school
Create a curriculum that reflects culturally specific programming
Latine community needs are represented at all levels of school leadership: administrative, board, and educators—resources are needed to enable all community members to participate fully as volunteers in programs and schools regardless of status. In addition, these decision-making bodies should understand and value Latine cultures in school. Provide education opportunities for the community to provide testimony.
Expanding culturally specific programs that promote cultural pride and cultural arts statewide would make programming more open to more students without limiting it to specific districts or schools. Cultural-specific programming should include cultural events that provide a service. These initiatives must be community-led.
Statewide Latine Support Cohorts
Personal relationships between elected and community
Face-to-face relationships with elected and community members are built on abundance and focused on mitigating harm to the community.
Seres sociales
Seres digitales
Necesitamos interactuar unos con otros. Aprendemos de forma colaborativa.
Evitamos formar parte de la saturación de contenido en el mundo digital.
Build Latine wealth-building infrastructure
Investments in Latine businesses
Prospective and established business owners must be connected to funding, technical assistance, and resources to start and grow their businesses. Community health workers could be influential in providing resources to community members.
Education reflects collectivism values
Community defined measures for success
We need programming and academic measures that prioritize growth and mental well-being over performance. Methods that incorporate qualitative data measure cultural outcomes, such as belonging. These measures are accessible for a range of ages and languages. Evaluations must include youth voices using culturally appropriate methods and measure student agency and confidence. These methods are needed to ensure that youth perspectives are known..
Managing Political Polarization
Statewide Latine Media
Latine ran media is an accessible social media source with trusted information focused on elected officials and community experiences across the state. This program will add context from history, global success, and challenges and combat misinformation.
Diversify pathways and options for housing
Increase access to wealth building
There is growing awareness that affordable housing projects need to include pathways to home ownership and land ownership, not just affordable rentals. This includes providing homeownership opportunities by increasing multi-family housing options and providing easier pathways to affordable housing, loans, and housing (e.g., down payments, purchasing a home, and foreclosure prevention).
Statewide physical and organizational Infrastructure
Physical locations supporting Latine art and culture
Statewide programming and organizing
Organized communication and multimedia
There are no places for artistic expression; Using allies and spaces to transform them into safe and creative places; The lack of a central hub for Latino arts and culture where cross-cultural, cross-regional, inter- and intra- ethnic, racial, linguistic, and generational groups can grow, advocate, and learn together to cultivate the state's evolving Latino identity.
Cultural centers; School-centered approaches; Radio approaches; There is no continuity. No "sustainability (concrete). There is no infrastructure/structure. There is no systematization of cultural and artistic support and promotion. There is no cultural/art organization.
Statewide communication and organizing that is bilingual. We are in fashion - Taking advantage. Lack of Covering stories (media).
Diversify pathways and options for housing
Investment in collective ownership
Diversity of sources of investment and partnership in housing development
We need more avenues for local Community land trusts and community-based organizations to develop and manage property by leveraging funding opportunities, expanding community collective land and housing ownership, and developing new housing that is affordable and will last for BIPOC communities (e.g., multi-family home options). There is also a need for communities with resources and housing for those newly arrived in the US.
There needs to be a monetary investment in affordable housing from various sources other than the government, such as hospitals, colleges, and for-profit businesses.
Integrate food access programming in multiple institutions
Incorporate other health into food programming
Food programming in schools
Food pantries must be present in K-12 schools and universities, and school system leadership must be aware of community needs.
Connect community members to resources as they visit the food pantries (e.g., dental care resources). Include programs in health systems that make fresh foods more accessible.
Intergeneration al/national knowledge and desire sharing
Transnational events and exchanges
Creation of workshops, interdisciplinary events, etc. Cultural and artistic exchange with/other countries, states, and communities; Accessibility to different art trends; Non-traditional arts are accepted and disseminated, invited to be part of the work; move from old- to new-school art and culture events the community wants; Writing/Reading Workshops in Spanish. Public education. Bilingual meetings/events (multilingual).
Advocacy for Inclusive Health Systems
Providers inform funding for community desires
Strategic funding that fosters collaboration and meets communities' most pressing needs. This includes informational meetings between health centers and service providers that encourage collaboration rather than silos.
Empowering intergenerational civic engagement
Weaving youth civic practice in daily activities
Civic classes and activities with a historical lens are required for all students. Integrate civic education into clubs, sports teams, and community events for Latine youth.
Seres sociales
Seres digitales
Necesitamos interactuar unos con otros. Aprendemos de forma colaborativa.
Evitamos formar parte de la saturación de contenido en el mundo digital.
Education on available wealth Resources
Holistic workforce development
Workforce development includes increasing skills in industry or higher education, but it should also reflect the holistic needs of community members (e.g., mental health). Programs should include accreditation for community members. There also need to be resources to hold companies accountable in discrimination cases.
Increase EJ Knowledge, Communication and Education
Increase accessibility of cultural environmental knowledge
All environmental information, even scientific language, must be translated into Spanish. Space must be created for Spanish discussions about environmental issues, and the community must know what resources are already established.
Increasing Democracy's accessibility
Demand for Latine built democratic systems
We need to make the systems work for the community. We should push for systems' linguistic and cultural responsiveness before educating the community to encourage civic engagement.
Support & Accountability for Electeds and Leaders
Educating electeds and community
Latine Leadership Development
Elected officials must be educated on the community's environmental justice priorities and have Latine representation. The community needs to be educated on the dominant process and understand the lack of support for elected officials so we ce can advocate for them. When individuals make it to these seats of power or gain power in other ways, they remember their fellow community members.
Include more opportunities and development for community decision-makers, and share ways a community can be involved. Community involvement must be compensated.
Community Supported Health
Community-shared information and resources
Implementation of timely and reliable community-shared information about health research, environmental risk, access to care, and public safety. In multiple mediums (videos on Whatsapp or Youtube, fliers) that are culturally and linguistically relevant to Latine community.
Seres sociales
Seres digitales
Necesitamos interactuar unos con otros. Aprendemos de forma colaborativa.
Evitamos formar parte de la saturación de contenido en el mundo digital.
Education on available wealth Resources
Education to achieve financial goals
Provide resources on how the community can achieve its financial goals, such as compliance requirements, homeownership, foreclosure prevention, scholarships, training, saving, investment, and retirement. In addition, connect community members to those wanting to achieve the same goals for support and collaboration (e.g., those interested in being a part of a land trust). Financial education needs to be for all ages and incorporate youth center programming. Programs should include wealth-building strategies with collective and individual methods (land trust).
Education reflects collectivism values
Latine representation in school
Create a curriculum that reflects culturally specific programming
Latine community needs are represented at all levels of school leadership: administrative, board, and educators—resources are needed to enable all community members to participate fully as volunteers in programs and schools regardless of status. In addition, these decision-making bodies should understand and value Latine cultures in school. Provide education opportunities for the community to provide testimony.
Expanding culturally specific programs that promote cultural pride and cultural arts statewide would make programming more open to more students without limiting it to specific districts or schools. Cultural-specific programming should include cultural events that provide a service. These initiatives must be community-led.
Increase EJ Knowledge, Communication and Education
Conveining intergeneration leaders
Latine organizations unite to impact the system. At the same time, dominant partners and allies help create bridges (with dollars) for Latine collaboration and then step back to let them make change.
Transforming housing systems
Create local strategies for homeless reduction
We need to learn from methods used in other PNW cities, like Seattle, to reduce homelessness and provide more support and funding for mental health needs, especially for PHS-funded housing.
Leveraging existing public and private dollars
Representation on art & culture boards (local, regional, and state)
Indigenous art, music, & spirituality; Both from here and there; youth desires for the future; Passing on learned experiences, wisdom, and information from one generation to another, in the general population and with artists.
Increase representation in leadership and providers
Workforce training and diversification
Diversifying the professional pool (including CWH) by increasing funding for training, paid internships, residency, loan repayment, and onboarding support (Future Ready funding). Create opportunities for men, youth, and families to participate in the health workforce. CHW needs partnerships with other programs such as Mental health, and preventative care (e.g., breast cancer).
Advocacy for Inclusive Health Systems
Collaboration for collective action
Regional coalitions that promote collaboration and advocacy for providers, culturally responsive care, and diversifying workforce where community voice is centered.
Transforming Health Care to Holistic Care
Expand culturally specific centers
Expand culturally specific programs and services
Holistic Prevention
Increasing centers and services that are accessible to those who are linguistically diverse or can not access government programming, including Provide culturally specific food (culturally specific thing that brings community in). Increase of CBO that train CHW
Creating a responsive health care and new systems that address preventive holistic care that are grounded in community values and approaches
Dental health education and expanding culturally specific health and behavioral health services across the lifespan are needed.
Increase EJ Knowledge, Communication and Education
Relying on community knowledge
We must rely on community knowledge from the present day and pre-colonial era to propel us forward, especially from women and indigenous folks. This includes efforts to preserve this knowledge (the job of electeds), use it to combat dominant practices, and educate those on how they are not serving the community.
Managing Political Polarization
Personal relationships between elected and community
A centralized effort that gathers a map of all the needs and priorities of Latine focus areas across the state to build a community legislative agenda. The centralized government is connected to regional hubs that help collect local information.
Expanding Education Programing
Lifetime education programming
Resources for navigating education systems
Programming that leads to professional opportunities
Regardless of age or level, everyone should have access to educational programs that address needs and encourage lifelong learning and connection. These programs should address the needs of Latine communities from early childhood to adulthood and need to include tailored programming for different age ranges, such as healthy parent and child relationships, GED, college preparedness, or US citizenship classes. This includes continuing early learning and offering more adult resources. These resources should be online accessible with hybrid options (online and in-person) and in various languages (Spanish), similar to the programming offered during the pandemic.
Increase programming that guides youth through education systems to achieve their goals. This includes but is not limited to, connecting youth to trusted adults in schools via mentorship programs, exposing youth to higher education through field trips to campuses, and providing funding or scholarships for prospective college students. In addition, encourage and set the conditions for parents to get involved in school to aid in their child's success.
Increase programming that prepares students and adults for higher education (e.g., college credits) and other economic opportunities and knowledge (e.g., accreditations, financial literacy).
Community Supported Health
Community Building in health promotion
A desire for initiatives fostering community well-being and support opportunities for community to lead in their own health initiatives
Seres sociales
Seres digitales
Necesitamos interactuar unos con otros. Aprendemos de forma colaborativa.
Evitamos formar parte de la saturación de contenido en el mundo digital.
Removing wealth stripping
Collaborating with allies and institutions
Need to direct white and institutional (credit unions) allies where to put their resources and how to educate others on why investing in Latine communities benefits the economy.
Community leaders need to lead the creation of solutions to address wealth stripping, but funding is needed to develop these solutions.
Seres sociales
Seres digitales
Necesitamos interactuar unos con otros. Aprendemos de forma colaborativa.
Evitamos formar parte de la saturación de contenido en el mundo digital.
Build Latine wealth-building infrastructure
Personal Latine-led financial institutions
Economic Development System
Building a Statewide Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Individual Development Account for Latine community members would increase their access to loans and savings to help individuals achieve their financial goals. These infrastructures can also be influential in starting a Latine Land Trust for those seeking to own land or insure generational housing as a collective.
CBOs' efforts in economic development need to be centralized across the state, and more support is needed for CBOs that wish to administer economic development.
Increasing Democracy's accessibility
Demystifying electeds responsibilities and civic engagement
Educate community members on the responsibilities of their elected officials and the government in serving them. Create a map of Latino electeds' needs and strategies for community members to help them. Also, a resource list of experts for Latino electeds should be created.
Leveraging existing public and private dollars
Funding models for CBO/Foundations
Understanding the difference between being an “artist” as a career versus an artist as a “creative being” in the community, they both can intersect, but one serves as a profession where one makes money by way of making art and paying for their bills, the other is a soul orientation where one is in touch with the creativity that lives in the heart and soul and that is instrumental to create community. There’s a lot of emphasis on being an artist as a profession, we could use more emphasis on community building with soul and creativity.
Environmental Institutional Changes
Statewide Latine Support Cohorts
Statewide cohorts will be held where community members can come together to share meals, perspectives, and resources and emotionally support each other. The cohorts will be held in a dedicated place owned by the Latine community. Through this community ownership, long-term wealth-building opportunities are available for the community.
Diversify pathways and options for housing
Housing supports across the lifetime
We need to develop a program that helps the community through all stages of housing, from securing an apartment and buying smaller housing options like trailers to family homeownership through application, language, and technological support, with extra support for those without credit or documentation.
Access to safe and affordable rentals
Increase tenant protections against evictions and equitable access to rental housing.
Environmental Institution Infrastructure and Organizational Changes
Latine collaborative efforts funded by dominant institutions
Latine organizations unite to impact the system. At the same time, dominant partners and allies help create bridges (with dollars) for Latine collaboration and then step back to let them make change.
Intergenerational/national knowledge and desire sharing
Art/culture as professional and soul work
Understanding the difference between being an “artist” as a career versus an artist as a “creative being” in the community, they both can intersect, but one serves as a profession where one makes money by way of making art and paying for their bills, the other is a soul orientation where one is in touch with the creativity that lives in the heart and soul and that is instrumental to create community. There’s a lot of emphasis on being an artist as a profession, we could use more emphasis on community building with soul and creativity.
Elders' knowledge and Youth desires
Indigenous art, music, & spirituality; Both from here and there; youth desires for the future; Passing on learned experiences, wisdom, and information from one generation to another, in the general population and with artists.
VCO - English
Communications Department Latino Network
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Transcript
Coonnecting and Systematizing: statewide infrastructure
Mechanisms
Building physical and organizational statewide infrastructure requires connecting folks via region and topic to develop relationships, share current successes and challenges, and create opportunities to sustain statewide collaborations, cohorts, exchanges, programming, coalitions, and advocacy efforts.
Mechanisms are the foundation of VCO’s vision and represent the directives and collective desires of Latino leaders across the state. They are explained here and further detailed via topics and strategies in the pages that follow.
Learn more
Data and Communications: sharing data and robust communication
Grants Making and Collaboration: leveraging local/statewide dollars in collaboration
Mobilizing a Shared Strategy: sharing innovative approaches
Future Setting: concretizing our vision
Concretizing our vision refers to the culmination of the various mechanisms, goals, and strategies carried out throughout the ten-year period, which have normalized where Latine leaders in Oregon hope our state to be in ten years. They can be considered long-term goals encompassing our collective values and approaches to organizing our people and systems. Examples include replacing discipline with restorative justice practices, a Latine-build democratic system, sustainable community food systems, and representative Latine leadership across every topic and at every level of government.
Sharing data means keeping leaders informed of what is happening in Latine communities via strategies, metrics, outcomes, barriers, and future desires to guide decision-making. Establishing robust statewide communications means connecting media professionals and outlets to collaborate on sharing news, culture, information on social services, and messaging to unite Latine communities.
Building on the connecting and systemizing approach, mobilizing a shared strategy is reserved for more extensive, innovative techniques working in one part of the state that could be expanded if shared and mobilized in another part of the state. Examples include empowering intergenerational civic engagement to increase pathways into the movement and expanding regional coalitions for more inclusive health systems.
Leveraging local and statewide dollars begins with establishing collaborative funding and grantmaking models and approaches. Minimizing the competition among our people and organizations supports strategic collaboration to get foundations, governments, and other funders on board with both local and statewide community desires; it also supports artists and business owners who have faced higher challenges of securing funding. Lastly, an Oregon Latine Foundation is a long-term desire.
Learn more
Learn more
Learn more
Learn more
Connecting and systemization
Housing
Environmental Justice
Health
Education
Food
Democratic Civic Engagement Political Power
Cultural
Wealth
Back to mechanisms
Data and communication
Housing
Environmental Justice
Health
Education
Food
Democratic Civic Engagement Political Power
Cultural
Wealth
Back to mechanisms
Grants making and collaboration
Housing
Environmental Justice
Health
Education
Food
Democratic Civic Engagement Political Power
Cultural
Wealth
Back to mechanisms
Mobilizing a Shared Strategy
Housing
Environmental Justice
Health
Education
Food
Democratic Civic Engagement Political Power
Cultural
Wealth
Back to mechanisms
Future setting
Housing
Environmental Justice
Health
Education
Food
Democratic Civic Engagement Political Power
Cultural
Wealth
Back to mechanisms
Statewide physical and organizational Infrastructure
Physical locations supporting Latine art and culture
Statewide programming and organizing
Organized communication and multimedia
There are no places for artistic expression; Using allies and spaces to transform them into safe and creative places; The lack of a central hub for Latino arts and culture where cross-cultural, cross-regional, inter- and intra- ethnic, racial, linguistic, and generational groups can grow, advocate, and learn together to cultivate the state's evolving Latino identity.
Cultural centers; School-centered approaches; Radio approaches; There is no continuity. No "sustainability (concrete). There is no infrastructure/structure. There is no systematization of cultural and artistic support and promotion. There is no cultural/art organization.
Statewide communication and organizing that is bilingual. We are in fashion - Taking advantage. Lack of Covering stories (media).
Empowering intergenerational civic engagement
Increasing pathways into the movement
Bring more Latine youth to the decision-making table. Work with CBOs to provide mentorship, paid internships, and other activities to build skills and get families on board and in the movement.
Increase representation in leadership and providers
Create career pathways in affordable housing careers
Representation in elected seats
More community members with deep connection and experience in housing in seats of power—council, commissions, state and federal legislative leaders, etc. who understand community needs
Introduce careers in housing, in local government, non-profits, realtors, development, property management, and architecture to the youth, colleges, and adults. However, there need to be better pay for those in the non-profit housing provider space.
Disrupt systemic oppression in education
Replacing discipline with restorative justice practices
Culturally meaningful ELL and Disability supports
Training and accountability for addressing hate violence in schools
Overrepresentation and underserved of kids with English language needs and Special Education.
Reducing suspension and expulsion rates for Latine students and encouraging restorative practices.
School staff and administrators need to take hate violence seriously and address the issues promptly.
Transforming Housing Systems
Reform Housing Barriers
Housing development needs to reflect the needs of the community
Community members with deep experience in the area are leading in creating a housing system with no longer barriers for those without documentation or credit and discriminatory high interest. In this system, there is the same government housing investment that was seen in the past for white families in our communities.
Grants for housing developments need to reflect the needs of Latine community and families that have less rescritions on the hosuing requirments and is mindful of zoning barriers.
Provide education that expands housing access
Reducing the stigma around affordable housing
Education on the impact of housing on community
Other homeowners fear that multi-dwelling housing will reduce the value of single-family housing. However, this fear is unfounded and prevents the creation of affordable housing for families.
Education community on housing insecurity, its cause, its impact on the community, and how essential housing is to quality of life.
Seres sociales
Seres digitales
Necesitamos interactuar unos con otros. Aprendemos de forma colaborativa.
Evitamos formar parte de la saturación de contenido en el mundo digital.
Removing wealth stripping
Programs that deliver money directly to the community
Advocacy for removing wealth-stripping policies
The community needs programming to easily access money through grants, IDA programs, or basic universal income. This money would help immediately and serve as capital, reducing barriers to interacting with other financial institutions.
Lobby for removing policies that prevent wealth building, such as student loans. We need to update our understanding of the barriers that prevent wealth building for Latine community members through research. To do this, we need more Latine leaders in government.
Access to nutritional and culturally specific foods
Create sustainable community food systems
Culturally specific food and resources for everyone
Food systems must be congruent with the environment and connect farmworkers to markets by providing transportation. Provide educational resources (online videos in Spanish) of easy recipes and a nutritious alternative to easy food that is also low effort. Community-owned gardens are extensive enough to grow culturally specific foods in various communities statewide and more public food for everyone.
Food programs need culturally specific, nourishing food available to those who are unable to participate in government programming because of immigration status. These foods need to be financially accessible, locally grown, and permanently funded. There also needs to be access to and education about clean drinking water.
Increasing Democracy's Accessibility
Statewide Latine Advocacy Effort
A centralized effort that gathers a map of all the needs and priorities of Latine focus areas across the state to build a community legislative agenda. The centralized government is connected to regional hubs that help collect local information.
Access to nutritional and culturally specific foods
Culturally specific food and resources for everyone
Food programs need culturally specific, nourishing food available to those who are unable to participate in government programming because of immigration status. These foods need to be financially accessible, locally grown, and permanently funded. There also needs to be access to and education about clean drinking water.
Environmental InstitutionAL Changes
Representative Latine Leadership
Sustainable Changes to infrastructure
We need consistent representatives and community leaders who preserve our cultural knowledge, history, and memory while honoring different perspectives and affinity groups.
Environmental progress must be protected and implemented by elected officials and community leaders.
Intergeneration al/national knowledge and desire sharing
Transnational events and exchanges
Creation of workshops, interdisciplinary events, etc. Cultural and artistic exchange with/other countries, states, and communities; Accessibility to different art trends; Non-traditional arts are accepted and disseminated, invited to be part of the work; move from old- to new-school art and culture events the community wants; Writing/Reading Workshops in Spanish. Public education. Bilingual meetings/events (multilingual).
Increase representation in leadership and providers
Workforce training and diversification
Diversifying the professional pool (including CWH) by increasing funding for training, paid internships, residency, loan repayment, and onboarding support (Future Ready funding). Create opportunities for men, youth, and families to participate in the health workforce. CHW needs partnerships with other programs such as Mental health, and preventative care (e.g., breast cancer).
Access to nutritional and culturally specific foods
Preservation of cultural food practices
Youth-centered programming that educates the community on cultural food practices and incorporates knowledge of food cultivation from farmworkers and elders. There are also statewide seed preservation programs that preserve culturally specific plants.
Education reflects collectivism values
Latine representation in school
Create a curriculum that reflects culturally specific programming
Latine community needs are represented at all levels of school leadership: administrative, board, and educators—resources are needed to enable all community members to participate fully as volunteers in programs and schools regardless of status. In addition, these decision-making bodies should understand and value Latine cultures in school. Provide education opportunities for the community to provide testimony.
Expanding culturally specific programs that promote cultural pride and cultural arts statewide would make programming more open to more students without limiting it to specific districts or schools. Cultural-specific programming should include cultural events that provide a service. These initiatives must be community-led.
Statewide Latine Support Cohorts
Personal relationships between elected and community
Face-to-face relationships with elected and community members are built on abundance and focused on mitigating harm to the community.
Seres sociales
Seres digitales
Necesitamos interactuar unos con otros. Aprendemos de forma colaborativa.
Evitamos formar parte de la saturación de contenido en el mundo digital.
Build Latine wealth-building infrastructure
Investments in Latine businesses
Prospective and established business owners must be connected to funding, technical assistance, and resources to start and grow their businesses. Community health workers could be influential in providing resources to community members.
Education reflects collectivism values
Community defined measures for success
We need programming and academic measures that prioritize growth and mental well-being over performance. Methods that incorporate qualitative data measure cultural outcomes, such as belonging. These measures are accessible for a range of ages and languages. Evaluations must include youth voices using culturally appropriate methods and measure student agency and confidence. These methods are needed to ensure that youth perspectives are known..
Managing Political Polarization
Statewide Latine Media
Latine ran media is an accessible social media source with trusted information focused on elected officials and community experiences across the state. This program will add context from history, global success, and challenges and combat misinformation.
Diversify pathways and options for housing
Increase access to wealth building
There is growing awareness that affordable housing projects need to include pathways to home ownership and land ownership, not just affordable rentals. This includes providing homeownership opportunities by increasing multi-family housing options and providing easier pathways to affordable housing, loans, and housing (e.g., down payments, purchasing a home, and foreclosure prevention).
Statewide physical and organizational Infrastructure
Physical locations supporting Latine art and culture
Statewide programming and organizing
Organized communication and multimedia
There are no places for artistic expression; Using allies and spaces to transform them into safe and creative places; The lack of a central hub for Latino arts and culture where cross-cultural, cross-regional, inter- and intra- ethnic, racial, linguistic, and generational groups can grow, advocate, and learn together to cultivate the state's evolving Latino identity.
Cultural centers; School-centered approaches; Radio approaches; There is no continuity. No "sustainability (concrete). There is no infrastructure/structure. There is no systematization of cultural and artistic support and promotion. There is no cultural/art organization.
Statewide communication and organizing that is bilingual. We are in fashion - Taking advantage. Lack of Covering stories (media).
Diversify pathways and options for housing
Investment in collective ownership
Diversity of sources of investment and partnership in housing development
We need more avenues for local Community land trusts and community-based organizations to develop and manage property by leveraging funding opportunities, expanding community collective land and housing ownership, and developing new housing that is affordable and will last for BIPOC communities (e.g., multi-family home options). There is also a need for communities with resources and housing for those newly arrived in the US.
There needs to be a monetary investment in affordable housing from various sources other than the government, such as hospitals, colleges, and for-profit businesses.
Integrate food access programming in multiple institutions
Incorporate other health into food programming
Food programming in schools
Food pantries must be present in K-12 schools and universities, and school system leadership must be aware of community needs.
Connect community members to resources as they visit the food pantries (e.g., dental care resources). Include programs in health systems that make fresh foods more accessible.
Intergeneration al/national knowledge and desire sharing
Transnational events and exchanges
Creation of workshops, interdisciplinary events, etc. Cultural and artistic exchange with/other countries, states, and communities; Accessibility to different art trends; Non-traditional arts are accepted and disseminated, invited to be part of the work; move from old- to new-school art and culture events the community wants; Writing/Reading Workshops in Spanish. Public education. Bilingual meetings/events (multilingual).
Advocacy for Inclusive Health Systems
Providers inform funding for community desires
Strategic funding that fosters collaboration and meets communities' most pressing needs. This includes informational meetings between health centers and service providers that encourage collaboration rather than silos.
Empowering intergenerational civic engagement
Weaving youth civic practice in daily activities
Civic classes and activities with a historical lens are required for all students. Integrate civic education into clubs, sports teams, and community events for Latine youth.
Seres sociales
Seres digitales
Necesitamos interactuar unos con otros. Aprendemos de forma colaborativa.
Evitamos formar parte de la saturación de contenido en el mundo digital.
Education on available wealth Resources
Holistic workforce development
Workforce development includes increasing skills in industry or higher education, but it should also reflect the holistic needs of community members (e.g., mental health). Programs should include accreditation for community members. There also need to be resources to hold companies accountable in discrimination cases.
Increase EJ Knowledge, Communication and Education
Increase accessibility of cultural environmental knowledge
All environmental information, even scientific language, must be translated into Spanish. Space must be created for Spanish discussions about environmental issues, and the community must know what resources are already established.
Increasing Democracy's accessibility
Demand for Latine built democratic systems
We need to make the systems work for the community. We should push for systems' linguistic and cultural responsiveness before educating the community to encourage civic engagement.
Support & Accountability for Electeds and Leaders
Educating electeds and community
Latine Leadership Development
Elected officials must be educated on the community's environmental justice priorities and have Latine representation. The community needs to be educated on the dominant process and understand the lack of support for elected officials so we ce can advocate for them. When individuals make it to these seats of power or gain power in other ways, they remember their fellow community members.
Include more opportunities and development for community decision-makers, and share ways a community can be involved. Community involvement must be compensated.
Community Supported Health
Community-shared information and resources
Implementation of timely and reliable community-shared information about health research, environmental risk, access to care, and public safety. In multiple mediums (videos on Whatsapp or Youtube, fliers) that are culturally and linguistically relevant to Latine community.
Seres sociales
Seres digitales
Necesitamos interactuar unos con otros. Aprendemos de forma colaborativa.
Evitamos formar parte de la saturación de contenido en el mundo digital.
Education on available wealth Resources
Education to achieve financial goals
Provide resources on how the community can achieve its financial goals, such as compliance requirements, homeownership, foreclosure prevention, scholarships, training, saving, investment, and retirement. In addition, connect community members to those wanting to achieve the same goals for support and collaboration (e.g., those interested in being a part of a land trust). Financial education needs to be for all ages and incorporate youth center programming. Programs should include wealth-building strategies with collective and individual methods (land trust).
Education reflects collectivism values
Latine representation in school
Create a curriculum that reflects culturally specific programming
Latine community needs are represented at all levels of school leadership: administrative, board, and educators—resources are needed to enable all community members to participate fully as volunteers in programs and schools regardless of status. In addition, these decision-making bodies should understand and value Latine cultures in school. Provide education opportunities for the community to provide testimony.
Expanding culturally specific programs that promote cultural pride and cultural arts statewide would make programming more open to more students without limiting it to specific districts or schools. Cultural-specific programming should include cultural events that provide a service. These initiatives must be community-led.
Increase EJ Knowledge, Communication and Education
Conveining intergeneration leaders
Latine organizations unite to impact the system. At the same time, dominant partners and allies help create bridges (with dollars) for Latine collaboration and then step back to let them make change.
Transforming housing systems
Create local strategies for homeless reduction
We need to learn from methods used in other PNW cities, like Seattle, to reduce homelessness and provide more support and funding for mental health needs, especially for PHS-funded housing.
Leveraging existing public and private dollars
Representation on art & culture boards (local, regional, and state)
Indigenous art, music, & spirituality; Both from here and there; youth desires for the future; Passing on learned experiences, wisdom, and information from one generation to another, in the general population and with artists.
Increase representation in leadership and providers
Workforce training and diversification
Diversifying the professional pool (including CWH) by increasing funding for training, paid internships, residency, loan repayment, and onboarding support (Future Ready funding). Create opportunities for men, youth, and families to participate in the health workforce. CHW needs partnerships with other programs such as Mental health, and preventative care (e.g., breast cancer).
Advocacy for Inclusive Health Systems
Collaboration for collective action
Regional coalitions that promote collaboration and advocacy for providers, culturally responsive care, and diversifying workforce where community voice is centered.
Transforming Health Care to Holistic Care
Expand culturally specific centers
Expand culturally specific programs and services
Holistic Prevention
Increasing centers and services that are accessible to those who are linguistically diverse or can not access government programming, including Provide culturally specific food (culturally specific thing that brings community in). Increase of CBO that train CHW
Creating a responsive health care and new systems that address preventive holistic care that are grounded in community values and approaches
Dental health education and expanding culturally specific health and behavioral health services across the lifespan are needed.
Increase EJ Knowledge, Communication and Education
Relying on community knowledge
We must rely on community knowledge from the present day and pre-colonial era to propel us forward, especially from women and indigenous folks. This includes efforts to preserve this knowledge (the job of electeds), use it to combat dominant practices, and educate those on how they are not serving the community.
Managing Political Polarization
Personal relationships between elected and community
A centralized effort that gathers a map of all the needs and priorities of Latine focus areas across the state to build a community legislative agenda. The centralized government is connected to regional hubs that help collect local information.
Expanding Education Programing
Lifetime education programming
Resources for navigating education systems
Programming that leads to professional opportunities
Regardless of age or level, everyone should have access to educational programs that address needs and encourage lifelong learning and connection. These programs should address the needs of Latine communities from early childhood to adulthood and need to include tailored programming for different age ranges, such as healthy parent and child relationships, GED, college preparedness, or US citizenship classes. This includes continuing early learning and offering more adult resources. These resources should be online accessible with hybrid options (online and in-person) and in various languages (Spanish), similar to the programming offered during the pandemic.
Increase programming that guides youth through education systems to achieve their goals. This includes but is not limited to, connecting youth to trusted adults in schools via mentorship programs, exposing youth to higher education through field trips to campuses, and providing funding or scholarships for prospective college students. In addition, encourage and set the conditions for parents to get involved in school to aid in their child's success.
Increase programming that prepares students and adults for higher education (e.g., college credits) and other economic opportunities and knowledge (e.g., accreditations, financial literacy).
Community Supported Health
Community Building in health promotion
A desire for initiatives fostering community well-being and support opportunities for community to lead in their own health initiatives
Seres sociales
Seres digitales
Necesitamos interactuar unos con otros. Aprendemos de forma colaborativa.
Evitamos formar parte de la saturación de contenido en el mundo digital.
Removing wealth stripping
Collaborating with allies and institutions
Need to direct white and institutional (credit unions) allies where to put their resources and how to educate others on why investing in Latine communities benefits the economy.
Community leaders need to lead the creation of solutions to address wealth stripping, but funding is needed to develop these solutions.
Seres sociales
Seres digitales
Necesitamos interactuar unos con otros. Aprendemos de forma colaborativa.
Evitamos formar parte de la saturación de contenido en el mundo digital.
Build Latine wealth-building infrastructure
Personal Latine-led financial institutions
Economic Development System
Building a Statewide Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Individual Development Account for Latine community members would increase their access to loans and savings to help individuals achieve their financial goals. These infrastructures can also be influential in starting a Latine Land Trust for those seeking to own land or insure generational housing as a collective.
CBOs' efforts in economic development need to be centralized across the state, and more support is needed for CBOs that wish to administer economic development.
Increasing Democracy's accessibility
Demystifying electeds responsibilities and civic engagement
Educate community members on the responsibilities of their elected officials and the government in serving them. Create a map of Latino electeds' needs and strategies for community members to help them. Also, a resource list of experts for Latino electeds should be created.
Leveraging existing public and private dollars
Funding models for CBO/Foundations
Understanding the difference between being an “artist” as a career versus an artist as a “creative being” in the community, they both can intersect, but one serves as a profession where one makes money by way of making art and paying for their bills, the other is a soul orientation where one is in touch with the creativity that lives in the heart and soul and that is instrumental to create community. There’s a lot of emphasis on being an artist as a profession, we could use more emphasis on community building with soul and creativity.
Environmental Institutional Changes
Statewide Latine Support Cohorts
Statewide cohorts will be held where community members can come together to share meals, perspectives, and resources and emotionally support each other. The cohorts will be held in a dedicated place owned by the Latine community. Through this community ownership, long-term wealth-building opportunities are available for the community.
Diversify pathways and options for housing
Housing supports across the lifetime
We need to develop a program that helps the community through all stages of housing, from securing an apartment and buying smaller housing options like trailers to family homeownership through application, language, and technological support, with extra support for those without credit or documentation.
Access to safe and affordable rentals
Increase tenant protections against evictions and equitable access to rental housing.
Environmental Institution Infrastructure and Organizational Changes
Latine collaborative efforts funded by dominant institutions
Latine organizations unite to impact the system. At the same time, dominant partners and allies help create bridges (with dollars) for Latine collaboration and then step back to let them make change.
Intergenerational/national knowledge and desire sharing
Art/culture as professional and soul work
Understanding the difference between being an “artist” as a career versus an artist as a “creative being” in the community, they both can intersect, but one serves as a profession where one makes money by way of making art and paying for their bills, the other is a soul orientation where one is in touch with the creativity that lives in the heart and soul and that is instrumental to create community. There’s a lot of emphasis on being an artist as a profession, we could use more emphasis on community building with soul and creativity.
Elders' knowledge and Youth desires
Indigenous art, music, & spirituality; Both from here and there; youth desires for the future; Passing on learned experiences, wisdom, and information from one generation to another, in the general population and with artists.