Casa Latinos Unidos

Programs: Casa latinos unidos de benton county is a non-profit organization committed to facilitating the integration of latinos into the broader community by promoting the well-being of latino families, providing opportunities for leadership and capacity building and collaborating with allies and partners to support and advance their equal rights and equal access by creating a climate of tolerance and cross-cultural understanding. Clubc continues to serve community members who need assistance navigating their way in a culture whose language they do not speak and rules and regulations they do not understand. Immediate needs services program: through this program we assist low-income families who come to us for assistance with translation, interpretation, filling out forms, referrals to attorneys or other social service agencies, writing letters, mediation with landlords, etc. In 2017, we served over 800 families in office/events and about 300 phone calls for service referrals from benton/linn/lincoln counties. Funding for this facet of our programs came from foundation grants. Cost: approximately 125 per client. Educational workshops: for families and youth on citizenship, immigrant rights and civic engagement (2 events and 5 workshops). We also continue to have the farmers markets tours for the whole family where they learn about spending on a budget and healthy eating. We also conducted one workshop on starting their own booth at farmer's market (2 workshops/event tours) total number of people served through these events/workshops is about 750 people. These were funded through foundation grants. Cost about: 14,000. After school programs: aplicate, haz tu tarea apply yourself, do your homework program. Serves elementary kids from 3rd to 5th grade. Tutoring sessions are provided twice a week for one hour at 2 elementary schools. The tutors are college students that are bilingual and bicultural. The program has about 10 to 12 students and 4 to 5 tutors. "tus raices, tu cultura", "your roots, your culture" program serves elementary and middle school students. Participants learn about folkloric dance, write poems, practice public speaking and participate in cultural events. The program has about 10 to 12 participants, one instructor and two volunteers. Parents of participants are also present and volunteer as needed. The biggest event that we had in partnership brought together about 900 individuals to help with form filing (passports, birth certificates and mexican citizenship) and to learn about resources in the community such as health services and social services.