Feel Good Friday - Latino Community Fund

We’re continuing the celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month by of highlighting organizations doing good work in Latino communities. Today, let’s learn about the Latino Community Fund of Washington State.

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Seattle, the vision of the Latino Community Fund (LCF) is “a vibrant and civically engaged Latino community in Washington.” To achieve this LCF cultivates new leaders and supports cultural and community based non-profit organizations that improve the quality of life for all Washingtonians.

In addition to awarding grant money to community organizations, LCF also runs several programs. Some focus on leadership such as the Washington Latino Nonprofit Leadership Academy, which helps individuals managing nonprofit organizations, and Alianza a youth-led group that increases youth leadership and civic engagement skills.

The Economic Empowerment program provides business education marketing support and technical assistance to small businesses owned by people of color, immigrants and women. Latinos in Tech is a community-led collaborative that connects students and professionals in the STEM fields along with advocating for expanding career pathways in STEM. The Healthy Latino Families Initiative works to improve access to health services of Latino individuals and communities by providing free, unbiased health care coverage counseling to over 1,000 individuals each year. Additional programs are focused on Environmental Justice, Civic Engagement and Voter Engagement.

In 2020 LCF worked in partnership with several community organizations to move $1.5 million in business assistance, food vouchers and rental assistance into the community. To find out the current impact of LCF, attend the 17th Annual Gala at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.

Other ways you can support the Latino Community Fund are by making a donation and by spreading the word on social media by following LCF on Facebook and Instagram

Feel Good Friday - Calle 24

September 15th is the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which makes it a great day to learn more about today’s organization, Calle 24.

Founded in 1999 and headquartered in San Francisco’s Mission District, the mission of Calle 24 (24th Street) is “to preserve, enhance and advocate for Latino cultural continuity, vitality, and community in San  Francisco's touchstone Latino Cultural District and the greater Mission neighborhood.”

Calle 24 covers the stretch of 24th Street running from Mission to Potrero. It began as a grassroots organization formed by community members who were concerned about quality of life issues in the community. Today the volunteers who run this organization represent merchants, residents, service providers and arts organizations.

If you’ve ever visited the area, you know it “boasts a vast number of colorful and unique specialty stores, restaurants, taquerias, Mexican bakeries, fresh produce grocers, butchers, cafes, and art galleries, as well as the greatest concentration of murals and Latino Businesses in the city.” In 2014, the San Francisco Mayor and Board of Supervisors established the area as the Latino Cultural District. Calle 24 has made it a priority to ensure that the community is “a living cultural district, not just a colorful tourist destination.”

To help with their vision of creating an economically vibrant community, Calle 24 has four committees which address different areas. Land Use educates and advocates for affordable and low-income housing and design guidelines that maintain the character of the neighborhood. Economic Vitality provides business resources such as technical aid, financial aid and social media promotion. Arts and Culture preserves cultural assets and manages culture-critical community events, including Carnaval and Dia de Los Muertos. Finally, Quality of Life fosters neighborhood safety, organizes community forums and provides community resources on topics such as children and families, education, environmental justice, food for all, health, housing, and jobs.

If you’d like to get involved with Calle 24 there are many fun ways to do so. Plan a visit to shop and dine or attend an event like tomorrow’s Fiesta de las Americas! You can also support Calle 24’s mission by volunteering your time, donating your money and spreading the word on social media. Like the Calle 24 Facebook page, follow them on Instagram subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Feel Good Friday - EveryLibrary

September is Library Card Sign Up Month! The first way you can celebrate is by signing up for a library card. The second way is by learning more about today’s Feel Good Friday organization, EveryLibrary.

Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Riverside, Illinois, EveryLibrary is a “staunchly non-partisan and fiercely pro-library organization” whose mission is “to build voter support for libraries of all kinds.” 

They are the first and only organization in the United States chartered “to promote public, school, and college libraries, including by advocating in support of public funding for libraries and building public awareness of public funding initiatives”. 

Their primary work is supporting local public libraries when they have a referendum or measure on the ballot. This support is provided pro-bono and includes training library staff, trustees, and volunteers to plan and run effective Information Only campaigns; assisting local committees on planning and executing Get Out the Vote work for their library’s measure; and speaking directly to the public about the value and relevance of libraries and librarians.

Other work done by EveryLibrary includes activating parents to fight for school library funding and school librarians' jobs; building a national network of Americans who will conduct direct actions for libraries such as signing petitions and contacting their elected officials; and using webinars, seminars and workshops to train librarians on political literacy and share actionable insights.

A look at the EveryLibrary 2023 Annual Report shows the impact of their work. They powered pro-library campaigns in 15 states, coordinating 172 direct actions like email campaigns and rallies, and they saved 7 libraries from closing. They also crafted and presented 85 in-person training events for librarians and library boards to help them anticipate and respond to a challenging library landscape.

If you’d like to help EveryLibrary build support for libraries and help grassroots groups fight book bans there are many ways you can get involved. Attend some of their online events during banned books week. Starting September 22nd, EveryLibrary will be hosting 25 panels with 45+ authors, publishing professionals, and experts on book bans and the First Amendment. You can also make a donation and amplify their message on social media. Like the EveryLibrary Facebook page follow them on Instagram.

Feel Good Friday - Providence Hospice of Oregon

I’ve been highlighting organizations in Oregon the last few weeks because I’ve been here taking care of a relative in hospice care, which leads me to today’s organization, Providence Hospice of Oregon.

Part of Providence Health System, Providence Hospice of Oregon “provides expert, compassionate care for individuals” facing the end of life. Their vision is “health for a better world.”

The hospice team at Providence works with the patient’s primary caregivers, people like me, to provide the support needed to keep the patient in their own home, living as fully and completely as possible and being able to spend time with family and friends.

Hospice is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance. The team at Providence Hospice brings the care to the patient’s home. We had regular visits from a Registered Nurse and speedy deliveries of equipment, medications and supplies. There is a 24/7 hotline staffed by RNs available to answer questions and coordinate logistics for the caregivers.

They also provide chaplains, social workers and additional therapies such as massage, acupuncture and music thanatologists who “use harp and voice to create an atmosphere of serenity and comfort to calm and soothe the patient.” You can view the full list of services here. 

It’s been a difficult time, which has come to an inevitable end. Throughout it all, the team at Providence Hospice of Oregon was professional, attentive and caring. You can let more people know about this service by supporting them on social media. Like the Providence Health System Facebook page and follow them on Instagram or LinkedIn.