This #DoMore24DE the Latin American Community Center is raising funds to support programs in our Life Empowerment Department. Life Empowerment provides a wide range of programs that help individuals establish, or re-establish self-sufficiency. Life Empowerment Programs include: Adult Basic Education (ESL, Digital Literacy, and Civics Classes), Breastfeeding Peer Support, Case Management, ConeXiones, Domestic Violence Support, Family Immigration Services, Financial Literacy, a Food Closet, Healthy Homes, HIV Early Intervention Services, Los Abuelos Senior Program, Prevention Promoters; Victims of Crime Support; and Workforce Development.
 
 What your donation can do:
$25 can provide a bag of pantry staples to a family through our food closet
$50 provide diapers to a new mother in our Breastfeeding Peer Support Program
$100 can help cover immigration paperwork processing fees for an individual in our Family Immigration Services Program
$200 can support a field trip to provide social opportunities for seniors in our Los Abuelos Program
$500 can provide a wellness workshop for women in our Domestic Violence Program
$1,000 can sponsor the Prevention Promoters ArtAddiction event which encourages individuals to express their experiences related to addiction and recovery through art

Read below to learn more about specific Life Empowerment Programs

Adult Basic Education consists of three different types of classes: English as a Second Language (ESL), Adult Digital Literacy (ADL) and Civics in preparation for the US Citizenship exam. Students enrolling in ESL classes receive an initial language assessment and are places in one of six levels. Classes focus on practical application of the English language as students progress through the beginner to more advanced levels with activities including presentations, roleplaying every day scenarios, and how to apply English knowledge when applying for a new job. LACC client surveys found that English Language proficiency is one of the most common barriers to employment our clients face, making this program a critical tool to increase workforce participation. Adult Digital Literacy helps to prepare individuals for our increasingly digital world. The program has three levels starting with the basics like creating a word document or completing a google search and progresses to more advanced skills like building a resume, using zoom, and different excel functions. Finally, civics courses provide instruction on information needed for the US citizenship exam. All programs are offered 100% virtually with multiple class timeslots throughout the day, eliminating barriers to participation such as work hours, transportation, and access to child care. 

The Breastfeeding Peer Support Program supports new and expecting mothers who are Spanish speaking and WIC eligible. The program provides one-on-one support as well as group session to help navigate the breastfeeding process as well as the joys and challenges of new motherhood.
 

The LACC Senior Case Manager is frequently the first person a new LACC Client works with when they come to the center. They assess each client's needs and work to connect the individual with holistic wrap around support through referrals to programs at both the LACC and externally. The Case Manager also oversees the LACC food closet which provides bags of pantry staples and fresh produce to food insecure individuals as well as crisis alleviation funds to prevent eviction and utility shut off.

The LACC ConeXiones program was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and began by providing COVID-19 education, testing, and vaccines. Now nearly 5 years since the program's founding, ConeXiones has expanded to have both health and advocacy facets. The health facet provides health education, hosts vaccination events, and offers free lead testing. The advocacy facet works with community members to identify and address areas of highest need in order to bring their ideas for change to decision makers. Current advocacy efforts focus on housing, public safety, and immigration.

 

The LACC Domestic Violence Program provides both one-on-one and group support. Through one-on-one support the Domestic Violence Coordinator is able to provide education on domestic violence as well as help women to create a safety plan, provide translation support and accompaniment when filing a police report, assistance in filing a Protection From Abuse Order (PFA), and assistance navigating resources for survivors of Domestic Violence. In the program’s group “Mujeres Poderosas” sessions survivors of Domestic Violence are able to build a network of support with other women who have gone through similar experiences. In addition to this support network, sessions will also incorporate mental health and wellness workshops, career exploration and training, and trips to expose women to opportunities and activities that exist outside of their current situation. The program is based in Wilmington, DE but also provides services in Middletown, DE once a week.

The Family Immigration Services program assists individuals, couples, and families through multiple immigration processes, including naturalization and citizenship applications, family petitions, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) cases, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), changing an individual’s address with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, petition or renewal of Green Cards, removal of conditions for Green Card recipients, petition or renewal of work permits, and assistance with consular processes. The LACC Immigration Specialist assists clients in completing immigration forms, helps individuals collect documents from their home countries, translates documents, prepares clients for court dates, and attends their scheduled interview dates. The Program also provides financial assistance for those that cannot cover the costs associated with filling various immigration forms. 

The LACC's Bilingual Financial Literacy program uses the Stand by Me Hispano (SBMH) model to address the specific financial needs of the Latino immigrant community in Delaware. The program serves low- to moderate-income (LMI) individuals by empowering them through educational, financial workshops as well as in-depth 1-on-1 coaching. The LACC’s two coaches work with clients to help them manage their finances and achieve individualized financial goals through budgeting, establishing or increasing savings, strategies to pay off debt, and improving creditworthiness. Many clients also work with their coaches to achieve larger goals such as purchasing a vehicle or home.

The Healthy Homes Program works to educate community members on addressing home health hazards. Programming includes education sessions, conducting home assessments, referrals to services such as lead abatement and the Weatherization Assistance Program when applicable, and distribution of child safe cleaning and pest control products. 

LACC HIV Early Intervention Services provide free, confidential rapid HIV testing and education for individuals ages 13 and older. The two HIV Early Intervention Specialists also talk to individuals being tested about their risk factors and refer those who are eligible for PrEP. If an individual tests positive for HIV, the specialists refer them to care, help them navigate services, and provide additional follow up and support

The Los Abuelos senior program serves as a lifeline for Latino seniors within Wilmington, Delaware by offering a range of activities and services designed to promote overall well-being. The program targets seniors aged 60 and above, focusing on those often underserved and at risk of social isolation. Los Abuelos enables seniors to engage in arts, health education, fitness classes, recreational activities, trips and cultural events tailored to their unique needs. Through these efforts, Los Abuelos fosters a sense of belonging and purpose among participants, helping them to lead healthier and more fulfilling lives.

Prevention Promoters is a substance abuse prevention and education program. The program combines educational sessions utilizing the evidence based Prime for Life curriculum with community activities that act as an alternative to drug and alcohol use. Prevention Promoters biggest event of the year is its ArtAddiction program which encourages individuals to explore themes related to addiction and recovery through art.

The LACC Victims of Crime program ensures that Latino victims understand their rights under the law and educates other organizations on the challenges faced by Latino victims of crime. The program’s goal is to provide culturally specific wraparound support for immigrant victims of crime through services like advocacy, support, interpretation, translation, accompaniments, and referrals to empower Latino victims to report crimes and receive guidance through the criminal justice process. This program is based in Wilmington, Delaware but operates one day a week in Middletown, Delaware.

The LACC Workforce Development program assists low- to moderate-income immigrant Latinos, many of whom have limited-English proficiency with either securing new employment or advancing in their current career. The goal of the program is to remediate the barriers faced by its target population in obtaining steady employment that allows them to become self-sufficient. Initial client intake includes gathering education and work history, a work readiness assessment, and an English-language exam. The results from these assessments allows the program to provide the most individualized services for each client. Once an individual begins programming, the LACC Workforce Development Manager prepares them for all aspects of the job application process to ensure they are strong candidates. Preparation includes creating or updating their resume, writing cover letters, creating online job accounts and navigating on these sites, and interview preparation. The program also provides coaching on appropriate attire and soft skills for long-term success. The program manager is actively involved in the local job market and able to provide clients with notices of job postings for which they would be well-suited. The program regularly schedules job fairs where clients and community members are able to learn about organizations, apply to opportunities, and potentially be hired on the spot.