A Bi-Weekly LULAC Newsletter

Issue No. 44

Hello John,

La Liga is here for your bi-weekly update on Latino news. We are so excited to share with you what is in store at LULAC and our councils throughout the country and Puerto Rico. Follow us on social media to stay up to date on all events, webinars, and programs!

Here’s what you will find in this issue:

1. LULAC Donates Nearly $500,000 to victums of Uvalde, TX
2. National Convention & Expo Concludes
3. Ford Driving Dreams
4. Affordable Connectivity Program
5. Back To School Food Safety

By Viviana Calderon

On Saturday August 20th, LULAC donated nearly $500,000 to the families of Uvalde, TX.

Thanks to our community, LULAC was able to donate 100% of the funds directly to assist the victims and their families from Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.

We are proud to stand with Uvalde and will continue to stand with our Latino communities across the country. Watch the reception on our YouTube Channel.

Last July our LULAC National Convention was celebrated in San Juan, Puerto Rico. You played a vital part in making the 2022 LULAC Convention & Exposition a tremendous success. We can genuinely say that the five-day program exceeded our fondest expectations for this first national convention since 2019, before the onset of the pandemic.

To each and all of our excellent allies, corporate partners, and sponsors, we are indebted to you for your steadfast loyalty and faith in LULAC. To our new partners, we welcome you to the LULAC family and promise that we will make our country better, stronger, and more enduring for all together. Finally, to the LULAC team, from the national board to every staff member and volunteer, job well done. See you in Albuquerque in 2023!

ICYMI: See our full image and video gallery here!

LULAC and other advocacy group to participate in White House's 'United We Stand' summit this month

Sindy Benavides, LULAC National Chief Executive Officer, had the following statement:

“Unfortunately the Latino community, as well as many other minority and religious communities, have been victimized over and over again by deadly gun violence. As a civil rights and social justice organization, LULAC applauds the White House for bringing this issue to the forefront and acknowledging that the government needs to have a leading role in addressing domestic extremism in all forms. LULAC looks forward to working with the Biden Administration, law enforcement, stakeholders at all levels of government and other community groups to find long-term solutions.”

​​The White House will host the historical “United We Stand” Summit on September 15, 2022.

(Source: Al Día)

August 26th was Women’s Equality Day!

“The U.S. Congress designated August 26 as “Women’s Equality Day.” The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York. The observance of Women’s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality. Workplaces, libraries, organizations, and public facilities now participate with Women’s Equality Day programs, displays, video showings, or other activities.” (Source)

Support One Million Latinas Strong! One Million Latinas Strong is a campaign with a goal to mobilize 1,000,000 women. LULAC recognizes the immense power and influence women hold in our communities and families. The One Million Latinas Strong campaign is a way to honor and fully unleash the political power Latina women hold. Learn more and support the One Million Latinas Strong campaign today!

Opinion: It's time to close the digital divide in the Latino community | Opinión: Es hora de cerrar la brecha digital en la comunidad latina

By Sindy M. Benavides and Angie Cooper

Heartland Forward and LULAC know high-speed internet access is essential to create real economic opportunity and equity for the Latino community. Read more.

Did you miss the LULAC News Spring/Summer Edition?

It’s not too late to catch up on LULAC’s work!

This issue brings light to the power of mobilization and working together. The Fall 2021 issue captures a rejuvenated energy and passion within LULAC.

You can read the inspiration from our LULAC National President, Domingo Garcia, and LULAC leaders who are committed to our mission. We encourage you to join us and dive into the recent programs, actions, and policy issues that have guided our efforts across the country.

Read Here

Submit your local event or stay up-to-date with our LULAC Calendar.

2022-2024 Ford Driving Dreams Grants Program

Now accepting proposals! Deadline to apply is September 20th, 2022.

The Ford Driving Dreams Grants program helps LULAC councils and their educational community partners drive education further by supporting students and families through localized initiatives that address the most pressing needs within communities.

Through the Request for Proposals (RFP), eleven (11) winning proposals will receive up to $25,000 each from Ford Fund to support the implementation of their proposed projects from November 2022 through June 2024. Through this initiative, LULAC and Ford Fund will support innovative, top-notch programs that help stimulate STEAM academic achievement, high school completion, and promote college enrollment.

We invite LULAC councils across the country and Puerto Rico to apply for this grant.

To access the RFP, visit LULAC.org/ford. Proposals must be submitted by clicking here by 11:59 PM EST on September 20, 2022.

For questions, contact [email protected].

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Day of Action: Wednesday, August 24th.

The “limited PSLF waiver” refers to the time-limited changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program rules that allow borrowers to receive credit for past periods of repayment that would otherwise not qualify for PSLF. This opportunity ends on Oct. 31, 2022. For more information and to see if you qualify, visit studentaid.gov.

(Source: studentaid.gov)

LULAC and Heartland Forward have partnered to increase outreach in Latino communities and assist eligible households with applying for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). ACP is a FCC program that assists eligible households with a monthly discount up to $30 on internet service, $75 if the household is on qualifying Tribal lands, and up to a $100 discount on a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer. LULAC councils in Arkansas, Illinoi, Iowa, Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, and Wisconsin have come together to help us increase awareness about the ACP in their communities.

To see if you qualify for the ACP, visit acpbenefit.org today!

Did you know? There is a new Affordable Connectivity Program to help you pay for broadband internet service. Qualifying individuals and families can receive up to $30 per month off their broadband costs. People on tribal lands will receive $75 per month off broadband costs.

Looking to enroll? Your household may qualify for ACP if…

• You receive Women, Infants and Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition benefits or SNAP.
• You participate in free and reduced school meals or Pell grant programs.
• You receive Supplemental Security income (SSI), Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), SNAP, or Veterans Pension and Survivor Benefits.
• You participate in the Lifeline program.
• Your income is below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
• You participate in Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

You can learn more about and sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program here: GetInternet.gov

The Take Down Tobacco Youth Advocacy Tour is geared towards youth and young adult advocates who are interested in becoming a Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Youth Ambassador. These are advocates ready to take on the tobacco industry and fight for social and health justice movements.

This tour will offer opportunities to learn through real-time advocacy experiences such as meetings with legislators/decision makers; workshops to improve writing, media engagement,activism, and community organizing; and opportunities to work alongside and build networks with other advocates.

Learn more by visiting: https://lulac.org/r/E/MzM5MzMw/MTkxMzcy/0/0/YmlnamFja2J1bHdhcmtAZ21haWwuY29t/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGFrZWRvd250b2JhY2NvLm9yZy8yMDIyLXlvdXRoLXRvdXItcmVnaXN0cmF0aW9uIyEjIQ/3591/1

The All of Us Research Program is a large research program from the National Institutes of Health. The goal is to help researchers understand more about why people get sick or stay healthy. We hope that more than one million people will join the All of Us Research Program.

The Latino community hasn’t been well represented in health research. The All of Us Research Program wants to change that.

LULAC will be hosting in-person events for the All of Us Research Program throughout late 2022 into 2023. LULAC will host events in El Paso, TX; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; and the D.C. metropolitan area (DMV). We will also be hosting virtual events throughout the year. Please be on the lookout for our events via our website at lulac.org/events. Follow LULAC on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay updated!

Learn more about the All of Us Research Program at lulac.org/allofus

Internet Safety and Digital Literacy

The start of a new semester is just around the corner for many students. Back to school means back to daily internet use to access classes, schoolwork, and extracurriculars. According to the U.S Census Bureau's American Community Survey, 15% of Latino households and 23% of low-income have no access to an internet accessible device. LULAC and T-Mobile are committed to keeping our students safe and helping them learn valuable internet safety skills and digital literacy to be a responsible internet user through our Conexiones Program.

To learn more about what LULAC and T-Mobile are doing, learn more here.

USDA Issues Helpful Reminders for Your School Lunch Prep

Jesus Garcia, Public Affairs Specialist, FSIS-USDA

More than 50 million youth are expected to attend U.S. schools this fall, and a good portion will be taking their own lunches to school. To help parents and caregivers prepare to-go meals safely, USDA offers some advice. Homemade school lunches strive to contain healthy nutrients to fuel the day, but perishable lunches do the body no good if they cross over to the “Danger Zone” in poorly insulated bags with no cooling or heating option. If these lunches are kept in temperatures between 40 F and 140 F for more than two hours (or one hour when it’s 90 F outside), bacteria will multiply quickly and make food unsafe.

Here are some tips:

Use an insulated lunch bag. Avoid brown paper bags. Purchase an insulated bag and add a frozen gel pack and a frozen juice box or bottle of water to keep items at 40 F or below.

Keep it hot. If soup, chili or stew is on the menu, use an insulated container to keep food heated. Fill the container with boiling water, let it stand for a few minutes, empty it, and then pour in the hot liquid meal. Keep the insulated container closed until lunchtime to keep items at 140 F or above.

Choose non-refrigerated items. Include options that don’t require refrigeration in your child’s lunch, like whole fruits, raw and uncut vegetables, hard cheeses, unopened shelf stable meats and fish cans and pouches, chips, bread, crackers, peanut butter and jelly.

Learn how to keep meals safe with USDA’s Four Steps to Food Safety. For more information, contact the Meat and Poultry Hotline from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern

Time, Monday through Friday via:

Phone: 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854)

Email: [email protected]

Live chat: ask.usda.gov

KSAT 12, LULAC's 'Pray for Texas' campaign raises money for those affected by Robb Elementary shooting

OPB, Monkeypox in Oregon is disproportionately hurting Latino men

U.S Department of Education, White House Initiative Latino Economic Summit Heads to Atlanta

WTTW Chicago, Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices, Aug. 20, 2022 - Full Show

*Selected highlights from the week

Press Releases