Entre Hermanos Programs
Our services are provided specifically for the Latino LGBTQ community, in a way that is culturally appropriate. That means our outreach and services staff is made up of Latino LGBT people who are also immigrants from Spanish speaking countries.
Salud Es Vida: Health is Life
Our principal HIV prevention program consists of several approaches to reach those at greatest risk for contracting HIV. Our local Public Health department has prioritized Latino MSM (men who have sex with men) as a population at high risk. We reach these individuals through community outreach at Neighbours nightclub. We invite participants to educational presentations and small group workshops where we explore issues of identity and factors that lead to risky behavior. We promote a positive and healthy lifestyle that includes risk reduction.
We have also added a Medical Case Management program, which helps Latinos living with HIV to receive the life-saving treatment and medical care they need.
Mujeres Diversas: Diverse Women
This program serves the Latina lesbian/bisexual community. This is a group that is often marginalized due to being 1) female, 2) lesbian, and 3) persons of color. We provide social support and community-building. We have monthly gatherings that often include informative presentations on a range of topics including mental health, domestic violence, history of lesbian life in Spanish-speaking cultures and also fun topics such as a burlesque workshop. We also host festive dinners on special occasions such as Valentines Day, Mothers Day and Christmas.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
In 2012 we participated in the Marriage Equality campaign. This was a huge success! Not only did Referendum 74 win approval; our work brought us into closer working relationships with other Latino-serving community groups as well as with local LGBT organizations. These relationships are critical as we continue working for the health and wellbeing of LGBT Latinos and our whole communities.
A major challenge for us in recent years has been the diversification of our funding sources. We have been overly dependent on government funds, which now comprise about half our annual budget. We have made progress in developing a base of individual donors, and our board is engaged in that effort. We continue to seek foundation support, and we have also improved the performance of our fundraising events. So we are meeting this challenge, but still have more work to do!