Dear Community,

Across Rhode Island and across the country, Latino families are facing familiar challenges that feel heavier this year. Families are being priced out of housing. Changes to food programs and local food scarcities are driving our children and seniors to hunger. Schools are struggling to meet the needs of multilingual learners in the face of significant budget cuts. The national conversation about immigrants has turned louder, but not kinder, and closer to home in our community, many of our neighbors are living in a constant state of confusion, anxiety and fear.

In moments like this, the work of belonging becomes an act of courage.

At Conexión Latina, we meet these challenges by ensuring Latinos are seen and supported and by offering opportunities to build leadership from within the community. We start by listening to what our community needs and what they dream of, and then we walk beside them as they learn, organize, and take on leadership roles that change lives far beyond their own.

That work is already reshaping this city. Parents who once came to us for help navigating the simple task of registering their child for school, are now speaking before the School Committee  in support of an equity policy that would level the playing field for all students. Women who joined Mujeres Poderosas for connection and community are now mentoring others on how to build community and serving in leadership positions in our schools and local government. Our community is not waiting for change, we are becoming the change.

But the truth is that the programs at the heart of this transformation are not fully funded. To keep them growing, we need your help. We urgently need to raise $50,000 to keep our most vital Community Belonging programs alive. 

Your gift today supports:

• Mujeres Poderosas: A yearly cohort of 8-12 Latina women discovering their self worth, their community connections, professional networks of strength, mentorship, and leadership. In the end, Mujeres Poderosas become Embajadoras of Conexión Latina, and serve as the voice of Conexión Latina, as volunteers, mentors and role models for other women in the community, and many go on to explore civic involvement and leadership opportunities.  We currently have 2 Mujeres Poderosas on our Board of Directors!
  
  

• The Community Advisory Board: A diverse community-led advisory board ensuring that CLN’s priorities reflect real needs. The Community Advisory Board  meets monthly and are charged with being the eyes and ears of Conexión Latina, and bringing crucial community information, concerns, fears and needs to the table so they can be addressed. In addition, they serve to share information from Conexión Latina out into the community, and are often able to reach people that we cannot. Junta members learn the ins and outs of community organizing, nonprofit work and the delicate balance of meeting community needs with limited funding.
  
  

• LPEAC – Parent Education Advisory Council: Parents organizing for fair and equitable education for multilingual students. LPEAC parents start by learning how US schools systems function, who the key points of contact are, and what their role as a parent is, all which in general are very different from their native experiences. They learn the specifics about English Language Learning and how it interacts with standard education and what their rights are in that regard. But most importantly, LPEAC parents pick one or two areas of concern that they want to advocate for, learn about the specifics, and learn the most effective ways to advocate for what they want, the most important being collective power. 

If Conexión Latina can continue these programs that foster community belonging and leadership, then we expect to see greater representation from the Latino community around decision making tables, as local business owners, in seats of power, and as advocates for their communities needs. These programs don’t just serve our community. They strengthen Rhode Island. They build neighborhoods where every voice matters and every family feels seen.

If you believe that belonging should not depend on language, background, or birthplace, please make a contribution before December 31. Your gift will help our community keep leading, learning, and lighting the path forward for others.

Thank you for believing in this work and in the people behind it.

With gratitude,

Rebekah Gomez & Yoli Macias

P.S. Did you know you can make a gift to become a monthly supporter? You can also help us grow this circle by inviting friends and neighbors to join you. Every new supporter strengthens the community we’re building together.