Oregon Latinx Leadership Network awards $2.2 million in health equity funds to address the impact of COVID-19 in Latinx communities
Nov. 5, 2020 (WOODBURN, Ore.) The Oregon Latinx Leadership Network (OLLN) has awarded over $2 million in health equity funds to more than 50 community-based organizations and businesses located in 23 counties throughout Oregon to help with the fight against COVID-19. The funds are to ensure culturally responsive community engagement, education, and wraparound support, to address the inequitable impacts of COVID-19 in Latinx and Mesoamerican indigenous communities in Oregon.
"Latinx populations represent the largest ethnic group in Oregon and were hit hardest by the pandemic," said Anthony Veliz, founder of OLLN. "Our communities already suffered from high rates of poverty, chronic illnesses, and lack of basic living essentials." Veliz says the funds would help people impacted by COVID-19 get assistance with housing, utilities, food, behavioral health and counseling, technology, childcare, personal protective equipment for essential workers and families, and more. Awardees are:
· Adelante Community Partners
· Adelante Mujeres
· Alianza
· Centro Cultural Del Condado De Washington
· Centro Latino Americano in partnership with Downtown Languages & Huerto de La Familia
· Clackamas Volunteers in Medicine
· Comunidades - Amplifying Voices for Environmental and Social Justice
· Consejo Hispano
· Coos Hispanic Allies
· Doulas Latinas International
· Easterseals Oregon
· Educate Ya
· Evolve Workforce & Housing Services
· FACES of America
· Farmworker Housing Development Corporation
· Grupo Latino de Accion Directa
· Helyos Consulting, LLC
· Immigration Counseling Service
· Interface Network/Empowerment and Leadership for Youth and Young Adults Program (ELY)
· Kids Club of Jefferson County
· Kids Unlimited of Oregon
· Klamath Community College
· Latino Business Alliance
· Latino Community Association
· M&M Multinational Marketplace
· Mecca Bend
· New Horizon Program
· Next Door, Inc.
· Noemi Legaspi Counseling, LLC
· NOWIA Unete Center for Farm Worker Advocacy
· Olalla Center
· Oregon LULAC
· Oregon Rural Action
· Oregon Worker Relief Fund (OWRF) Coalition
· PCUN
· Providence St. Vincent's Foundation on behalf of LatinX Emotional Health Partnership
· Pueblo Unido PDX
· Rogue Action Center
· Rogue Climate
· Rogue Valley Mentoring
· Sabiduria: Latinx Psychology Emphasis - School of Graduate Psychology, Pacific University
· Sigma Lambda Beta
· Southern Oregon Child & Family Council, Inc. - Listo Family Literacy Program
· St. Vincent de Paul Society-St Luke Conference
· Ta Yeiyari Te Pa' Ye Xeiyari
· Una Voz Latino Leadership and Advocacy, LIFE Art
· United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) and EDI Consulting
· Verde
· Voz Workers' Rights Education Project
· Women's Resource Center, Transiciones Oeste - PCC Foundation
The health equity funds were created from a COVID-19 grant OLLN received earlier this fall from the Oregon Health Authority to provide necessary short-term relief and long-term recovery in Latino/a/x and Mesoamerican indigenous communities.
The Oregon Latinx Leadership Network exists to build and strengthen community and resilience among our Latinx community, to organize and advocate around a strategic budget and policy agenda, and to partner with leaders and public officials to advance change to enhance the wellbeing of all Oregonians.
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