ESPERANZA UNITED

THE FAMILY ADVOCACY TEAM PROVIDES DIRECT SUPPORT FOR LATIN@S AND THEIR FAMILIES, IN THE SEVEN-COUNTY METROPOLITAN AREA OF THE TWIN CITIES, MINNESOTA, WHO ARE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, STALKING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. ESPERANZA UNITED PROVIDES A VARIETY OF OPTIONS TO BEST MEET OUR FAMILIES' NEEDS INCLUDING: EL REFUGIO (EMERGENCY SHELTER), A BILINGUAL CRISIS LINE, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SUPPORT, ASSISTING WITH REFERRALS TO OTHER RESOURCES AND MOBILE ADVOCACY. THROUGH MOBILE ADVOCACY, OUR LATIN@ FAMILY ADVOCATES MEET SURVIVORS WHEREVER THEY FEEL SAFE, TO HELP THEM CREATE SAFETY PLANS, NAVIGATE LEGAL SYSTEMS, AND ACCOMPANY THEM TO SCHOOL, COURT, OR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS. DURING THIS LAST YEAR, OUR CRISIS LINE RECEIVED OVER 600 CALLS RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. EL REFUGIO PROVIDED SAFE HOUSING FOR 247 SURVIVORS AND THEIR CHILDREN, 220 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED EMERGENCY AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, 2007 INSTANCES OF INTERPRETER SERVICES WERE DELIVERED, AND 654 INSTANCES OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES WERE PROVIDED. OUR FAMILY ADVOCACY TEAM ALSO SERVED 278 YOUTH. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO DEEPEN OUR ADVOCACY FOR SURVIVORS AND PROVIDED 563 CASES OF LEGAL ADVOCACY WHICH INCLUDED 137 ORDERS FOR PROTECTION. WE HAVE STRENGTHENED OUR OUTREACH WITH COMMUNITY CENTERED EVENTS SUCH AS THE FERIA LATINA EXPO, WHERE OVER 40 VENDORS PLUS A COVID-19 AND FLU VACCINE CLINIC SHOWCASED RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND HOSTED OUR THIRD ANNUAL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS EVENT, WHERE WE HONORED AND REMEMBERED THE LIVES LOST DUE TO VIOLENCE.

THE PREVENTION AND SOCIAL CHANGE TEAM FOCUSES ON DEVELOPING THE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY CAPACITY OF LATIN@S OF ALL AGES TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, STALKING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. OVER THE LAST YEAR WE IMPLEMENTED 26 INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO ENGAGE YOUTH, MEN, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN CREATING SYSTEMIC CHANGE. OUR WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDING LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP, IMPACTED APPROXIMATELY 423 INDIVIDUALS, 90% OF PARTICIPANTS STATED THAT THEY LEARNED SOMETHING NEW THAT THEY CAN APPLY TO THEIR LIVES. ADDITIONALLY, 100% OF PARTICIPANTS SHARED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF HOW TRAUMA AND VIOLENCE CAN AFFECT THEM AND THEIR FAMILY. OUR PADRES EN LIDERAZGO PROGRAM EMPOWERED LATIN@ PARENTS AND YOUTH BY ADDRESSING CRITICAL TOPICS SUCH AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, MENTAL HEALTH, AND ADOLESCENT COMMUNICATION. THIS YEAR, EIGHT OUTSTANDING TEEN LEADERS ORGANIZED TOUR ANNUAL YOUTH CONFERENCE, CONNECTING WITH 34 LOCAL STUDENTS IN TOPICS INCLUDING HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, EMBRACING CHANGE, HIDDEN STORIES: EMPOWERING YOUTH AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING, UNMASKING DRUGS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND HEALING THROUGH ART. WE ALSO HOSTED RECREATIONAL EVENTS, SUCH AS FISHING OUTINGS, WHERE 74 PARTICIPANTS LEARNED ABOUT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS IN A FUN OUTDOOR SETTING. THE CONTINUING FOCUS WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE WE SERVE IS TO BUILD NEW PEER RELATIONSHIPS, GAIN CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ROLES AS COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND TAKE ACTION TO PROMOTE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN OUR PROGRAMMING.