Washington, D.C. – Hispanic Access Foundation is pleased to announce the hiring of David Armijo, who will serve as the Chief of Programs. In his role, Armijo will oversee all of the organization’s programs including the MANO Project, Conservation, and the Hispanic Leadership Network.

Over the course of 2020, HAF implemented a project, led by five of our key faith leader partners, that uses Heartwired messaging strategies to persuade audiences to act on ocean conservation. The Heartwired research from Heartwired to Love the Ocean shows people have certain mindsets that can open them to being persuaded to act for conservation. While the Heartwired research was specific to ocean conservation, we believe these mindsets can apply to other conservation and climate topics, and that tapping into them with your messaging can motivate people to action. In 2021, we expanded the scope of the project to include not just ocean and river conservation, but also land conservation and climate protection. This Heartwired to Love the Earth Communications Toolkit is an effort to summarize and apply Heartwired messaging strategies to topics beyond the ocean,  though we recognize these messaging recommendations have not been explicitly researched as was Heartwired to Love the Ocean.

Washington, D.C. – Hispanic Access Foundation is pleased to announce the hiring of Anastasia Hernandez, who will serve as a MANO Project Program Associate. In her role, she will assist with the MANO Project’s core purpose of connecting, building and developing thoughtful Latino leaders who share a passion for serving and strengthening their communities.

Linda Sosa knew the heartache her community was experiencing from the lives lost to COVID-19. And that pain motivated her to do something about it. 

The pandemic has disproportionately affected the health and livelihoods of Latinos and other communities of color. Although there’s a COVID-19 vaccine readily available, Latinos face several barriers preventing them from getting vaccinated – language, technology, transportation and mistrust of the vaccine. Sosa, a Hispanic Leadership Network graduate and long-time parishioner at St. Cajetan Catholic Church in Denver, is overcoming these obstacles and has helped over 5,000 Latinos get their vaccine.

Hispanic Access Foundation is pleased to announce the hiring of Oscar Hernandez, a MANO Project alumnus with the US Fish & Wildlife Service Midwest Region at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge (MVNWR). This past winter, MVNWR welcomed Hernandez to the team as a full-time Park Ranger for the refuge.

Recently, as part of the inaugural Latino Advocacy Week, I had the privilege to virtually witness Latino advocates from all around California share inspiring stories, from being the first in their family to run for office, to fighting against oil and gas drilling near their homes.

Scholarship to Award 50 Select Recipients with $500 Each

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Hispanic Access Foundation has launched the application for its “Our DREAMS Scholarship.” Through the scholarship, HAF will award as many as 50 recipients $500 each in monetary relief for filing or renewal fees for their DACA, TPS applications. To be applicable to apply, you need to be eligible for DACA, TPS, or be undocumented while attending undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degrees in an acredited United States college or university.

Hispanic Leadership Network members have found themselves on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing spiritual, emotional, and physical support to their congregants and community. Through prayer, a listening ear, and even dropping off groceries or medicine for those in quarantine, they’ve served their community, even while feeling the effects of secondary trauma, such as fatigue and anxiety. Perhaps the seminary did not prepare them for this type of frontline work, but their pastoral hearts have driven them to ensure all those around them are cared for spiritually, emotionally and physically.