EL COMITE DE LONGMONT INC
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Mission Statement
El Comitѐ serves as the County’s bilingual, bicultural social services for Latinos; clients stream in each day seeking support in meeting basic needs and navigating unfamiliar systems. In 2014 El Comitѐ tracked assistance in 45 areas of self-sufficiency support, including but not limited to food, housing, employment, child-related affairs, legal issues, and health. El Comitѐ is a recognized community leader and advocate for the contributions and needs of the Latino and non-Latino community. They negotiate and network with various other community and county systems on behalf of families and individuals who do not understand how to access services or how to advocate for themselves and who are often unaware of or overwhelmed by institutional rules, regulations and processes and are fearful of seeking help. El Comitѐ has a unique walk-in case management approach in offering services. El Comitѐ answers to the needs of Boulder County’s rising Latino/Chicano population.
About This Cause
The Mission of El Comitѐ is to facilitate communication and understanding within the community to improve social justice, education and economic status for the Latino Community. GOALS: GOAL 1: To Improve Education Opportunities • Providing ESL (English as a Second Language) Classes • Providing Citizenship Test Preparation classes • Providing Family Learning Sessions GOAL 2: To Increase Self-Sufficiency • Partnering with attorneys that offer pro-bono or low cost consultations • Advocating for laws and initiatives that promote social justice and equality • Providing translation services GOAL 3: To Be a Community Bridge Builder • Improve Communication and Understanding within the Community • Collaborating with community agencies/businesses • Hosting an annual Anniversary Celebration for the community CURRENT PROGRAMS Education: In the spring of 2012, the St. Vrain Valley School District announced that its Adult Education program, which had been a vital institution of the community for 45 years, would be closing at the end of the 2012-13 school years. This was an enormous blow to the community. The program was the only accredited source of free adult education services for those seeking to learn English as a second language, earn a GED, and improve their family’ stability and/or become U.S. citizens. El Comitѐ adopted this program because of its alignment with its client’s challenges in language and education as key barriers to achieving and improving their employment and ability to become self-sufficient. El Comitѐ through its education program provides six levels of Adult ESL classes throughout the year. On average 300 clients attended the ESL classes in 2014. The Adult Education program that El Comitѐ offers is a state–certified classroom curriculum, with a computer lab, and tutoring. El Comitѐ also provides Citizenship classes for preparation of the USCIS naturalization test. In 2014, one hundred (100) clients participated in the citizenship classes. Staff assisted 45 clients in filling out their application for citizenship. At year’s end, 40 clients became U.S. Citizens. El Comitѐ provides family learning sessions. In 2014 100 clients attended these classes. Classes included but were not limited to End of Life Classes, and Know Your Rights Forums Self-Sufficiency: According to Boulder County Foundation’s 2015 Report on key indicators, Boulder County is becoming more diverse, especially with a growing Latino population. According to them, in 1990 10% of the people of color lived in the county, by 2013 it had grown by 20% with the percentage of Latinos nearly doubling to 13%. And, 31% of the Latino population was under 15, compared to 14 % of the Anglo population. El Comitѐ assists clients in becoming Self-Sufficiency through referrals, advocacy and empowerment. El Comitѐ provides clients with legal resources and referrals to appropriate free/low cost legal service providers. They partner with local attorneys who provide pro-bono or low cost consultations. Between January 1, and June 30, 2015, Eight (8) attorneys volunteered once a week at the El Comitѐ office to deal with issues including but not limited to; unemployment, workers comp, divorce, landlord/tenant issues, immigration/citizenship, police interactions and income tax issues. Five hundred eighty three (583) clients were referred to these attorneys. El Comitѐ also provides referrals to other community agencies and business to assure clients have access to services and benefits for which they qualify. Issues may include driver’s license, motor vehicle issues, and restraining orders. Clients may need assistance and guidance in the navigation through the maze of school systems, social health and human services that address physical and mental health, dental care, housing, domestic violence, senior and end of life care. Eighty-eight (88) clients were referred to agencies dealing with employment issues (e.g. Department of Labor, Legal Aid, the District Attorney’s Office and OSHA). Forty-one (41) clients were referred to agencies in order to deal with unpaid wage issues. El Comitѐ provides translation services to clients and as requested to community organizations and businesses. They advocate and accompany non-English speaking clients to appointments to assure clients understand and are understood. One hundred fifty (150) clients received translation services, both on site to fill out paper work or to read a document they received in English, or were accompanied by staff to translate for an appointment off site. All programming follows best practices of customized, responsible and culturally appropriate services. Cultural disconnectedness and anti-immigration policies have increased Latinos urgency to seek trusted consultation and reliable social, health and legal information in a culturally proficient environment. El Comitѐ’s ultimate goal is to stabilize families and enable clients to solve similar problems in the future by themselves. Community Bridge Building: El Comitѐ encourages civic engagement within the Latino Community. They encourage Latinos to get involved on Boards and commissions. Staff posts on El Comitѐ’s website, the city and county boards/commissions that are accepting applications. El Comitѐ advocates for laws and initiatives that promote social justice and equality and serves as the bridge between the Latino community and the non-Latino community. The Executive Director is a member of the St. Vrain Community Council, the Boulder County Latino Coalition, and National Council for La Raza, Colorado Immigration Rights Coalition, and the Longmont Multicultural Plan Committee to promote social justice and equality. El Comitѐ hosts an annual Anniversary celebration and the community is invited. In 2014 about 100 clients attended the event at a local park. El Comitѐ co-sponsors events to bring the county’s diverse immigrant population together to share their customs with the broader community. Events include the annual Dia de Los Muertos and the Cinco de Mayo. El Comitѐ’s interaction with our partnering agencies improves its clients’ ability to access culturally appropriate services and creates a positive outcome for them and the community. El Comitѐ collaborates with enhance training, increase outreach, share resources, and coordinate programming These groups include but are not limited to the following organizations: Our Center; Longmont Senior Center; Project HOPE; Dental Aid; BCAP; Boulder County Mental Health Department and Aging Services; Victim Advocates; Hospice Care; Thistle; Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County; Longmont Youth Center; Longmont Police Department; National Council of la Raza and, the Mexican Consulate. The diversity of El Comitѐ’s clients is representative of Longmont’s changing community. Dozens of different countries are represented and many different languages. Whereas, some immigrants quickly assimilate and need little in the form of assistance and services, a great many of them, at one time or another, need an advocate who can help them overcome adversity. The need for El Comitѐ’s services isn’t going away. El Comitѐ continually strives to be inclusive in all areas of operation; our program, Board of Directors and staff. El Comitѐ offers services to a diverse Latino and non Latino population regardless of ethnic or socioeconomic status. The Boards focus is to establish a culture of inclusiveness with is respectful of our community. English/Spanish translation is provided at all programs that El Comitѐ provides and those they co-sponsor. Program locations are selected for accessibility for elders and people with physical disabilities. The intake assessment includes a question regarding hearing or vision impairment, which identifies issues they may have as well as challenges they may have in the community. El Comitѐ believes that “if you want peace, work for justice, and you have to act on things, because without action there are no miracles”.