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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
jrendeiro@nclr.org
NCLR Conference Press Office:
(702) 322-5587
LAS VEGAS—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) recognized two community organizations at the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference held July 7–10 in Las Vegas, Nev., for their excellence in serving Latino families. The 2012 Family Strengthening Awards were presented to the Latin American Coalition of Charlotte, N.C., and Hacienda Community Development Corporation of Portland, Ore., at the National Affiliate Luncheon on Saturday, July 7.
The NCLR Family Strengthening Awards are presented annually to NCLR Affiliate community-based organizations that have demonstrated exemplary work in the Hispanic community and made a measurable impact in strengthening Latino families. The award winners will each receive a cash award of $15,000 and will have an opportunity to share their winning program’s best practices with other organizations in the NCLR Affiliate Network.
“The Family Strengthening Awards offer us an opportunity to honor organizations in the NCLR Affiliate Network that are diligently and effectively serving Latino families, to recognize Affiliates’ specific programs that demonstrate a holistic approach to strengthening families, and to showcase their work to other Affiliates attending Conference,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR. “The Latin American Coalition and Hacienda Community Development Corporation have each designed winning programs that connect parents to the resources, social networks, and support that provide a solid economic grounding for their families and help their children succeed.”
The Latin American Coalition’s Immigrant Welcome Center was recognized for its crucial work in helping more than 6,000 immigrants integrate each year into local communities in North Carolina. The program moves Latino families through an intentional path that includes crisis intervention, victim assistance, and integration support, all building toward full civic and economic participation in their communities.
“We are honored to be recognized for our commitment to immigrant integration,” said Jess George, Executive Director of the Latin American Coalition. “Winning the Family Strengthening Award from NCLR is more than a validation of our model: it is an opportunity to share what we have learned with our fellow Affiliates across the country.”
Hacienda Community Development Corporation—Portland’s only Latino affordable housing developer and the largest Latino-serving and Latino-led nonprofit in Oregon—was recognized for its after-school program Expresiones, which serves youth in grades K–9 and their families. Established in 2006, the program provides a combination of bilingual academic support, culturally appropriate personal enrichment activities, and service-learning opportunities, while also offering parents resources to help them navigate the U.S. education system and support their children’s academic success.
“At Hacienda, we believe that a good life begins with a strong family, a safe and affordable place to call home, and tools to navigate our educational system. Through our various initiatives, Hacienda works to develop quality and sustainable neighborhoods that empower Oregon’s Latino community,” stated Victor Merced, Executive Director of Hacienda Community Development Corporation. “The NCLR Family Strengthening Award represents national acknowledgement of our success in serving youth and their families. Hacienda is proud and honored to receive this award.”
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