The Power of theUnidos us–AffiliatePartnership

“This can’t go on”—UnidosUS Calls on Elected Officials to Act in the Wake of Uvalde Shooting

In May, we mourned with our community and the nation for the senseless loss of life caused by a mass shooter at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. We worked with leaders and partners in this predominately Latino town, and with our Texas Affiliates, to help deliver mental health resources and services. In June, we applauded the bipartisan passage of a federal gun safety bill, but we know that the law does not go far enough. We will continue to advocate for common sense gun safety laws that protect our schools and other sensitive locations and include liability for gun manufacturers, a ban on assault weapons, as well as licensing and background checks—measures which are widely supported by Latino voters.

“It’s long past time for the people we elected to represent us to step up and eradicate the American crisis of gun violence. We are calling on Congress to take meaningful action and vote on common sense gun reform we have endorsed.”

Affiliates Help Families in Puerto Rico Recover After Fiona

In September, a dangerous hurricane once again affected the island of Puerto Rico. Just as they responded after Hurricane Maria in 2017, UnidosUS and our Affiliates joined efforts to help Puerto Ricans recover after the storm.

We disbursed emergency relief grants so that our Affiliates could quickly address the most critical needs of their communities. This support made it possible for our Puerto Rico Affiliates One Stop Career Center—our 2022 Affiliate of the Year—and Corporación de Desarrollo Económico, Vivienda y Salud ODEVyS to respond to the needs of their communities after Hurricane Fiona landed in September. Through the fall we continued to advocate for federal government attention and assistance for the island’s long-term recovery.

The response efforts by our Affiliates in Puerto Rico included:

• Conducting wellness checks home by home
• Documenting needs
• Identifying displaced persons

A Major Investment in the Future of the Latino Community and the Country

In August, we received a four-year, $11.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Good Jobs Challenge—the largest government grant ever received by our organization. This award will support our work with our Affiliates One Stop Career Center of Puerto Rico and Mi Casa Resource Center in Denver, Colorado to develop and strengthen programs that train Latino workers. Mi Casa Resource Center will be the regional lead for human resources and medical administration training, while One Stop Career Center of Puerto Rico will lead the region for construction and aviation jobs training.

This funding will open the door to opportunity for more Hispanics and diverse underserved communities, preparing them for quality, family-sustaining jobs. The impact of this will be felt for years to come and shows that America is more powerful when everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

“A trained workforce is essential to ensuring that the United States can compete and succeed in the 21st century.”