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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
July 23, 2014 Camila Gallardo
cgallardo@nclr.org
(305) 215-4259
LOS ANGELES—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) honored two of its Affiliate organizations for the excellent work they do to strengthen Latino families. The two honorees—Eastmont Community Center in Los Angeles and Erie Neighborhood House in Chicago—were recognized at a ceremony during the 2014 NCLR Annual Conference, which took place July 19–22 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The NCLR Family Strengthening Awards are presented annually to NCLR-affiliated community-based organizations that have demonstrated exemplary work in the Hispanic community and made a measurable impact in strengthening Latino families. The selected Affiliates will each receive a cash award of $5,000 to deepen their work and partnership with NCLR.
“Each year we look forward to this opportunity to honor the important work of our Affiliates at our Annual Conference. This year’s Family Strengthening Award recipients exemplify how organizations can be at the forefront of both strengthening families and building stronger communities,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR. “Eastmont Community Center is noteworthy because of its Education and Childcare Division, which reaches 10,000 individuals each year. Erie Neighborhood House’s Proyecto Cuídate is a program dedicated to family well-being whose goal is to prevent violence and family division. We applaud them and thank them for their contributions.”
Founded in 1967, Eastmont Community Center works to enhance the quality of life for children, youth, working adults and seniors in low-income families by holistically integrating education, health care, workforce development and civic engagement into a continuous service delivery model.
“We are honored to have been chosen as one of this year's recipients of the NCLR Family Strengthening Award,” said Teresa Palacios, Executive Director of Eastmont Community Center. “This contribution makes Eastmont stronger and more determined to continue, expand and improve on the educational programs that supplement our public schools in preparing future leaders from our community.”
Established in 1870 in the settlement house tradition, Erie Neighborhood House evolved into one of the first comprehensive social service agencies in Chicago, serving the city’s low-income and immigrant residents. The organization’s mission is to promote a just and inclusive society by strengthening low-income, primarily Latino families through skill-building, access to critical resources, advocacy and collaborative action.
“Like so many other Erie Neighborhood House programs that preceded it, Proyecto Cuídate provides a critical safety net and aims to invest in the well-being of the children and families in our communities. The tremendous cutting-edge work of Site Director Sandy De Leon and her colleagues has made Proyecto Cuídate a wellspring of resources and support for families in Little Village and its surrounding communities. We couldn't be prouder of their accomplishments and what this national recognition from NCLR signifies," said Celena Roldán-Moreno, Executive Director of Erie Neighborhood House.
NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
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