Grant Stories: Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 marks the start of a month-long observation dedicated to honoring Hispanic and Latin American communities in the United States. In the states of the Pacific Northwest, particularly Oregon and Washington, Hispanic communities collectively make up one of the fastest growing demographics in the region. The Murdock Trust is proud to partner with outstanding nonprofits that are making the rich culture and contributions of these communities more known and valued across our region, and that are creating more opportunities for empowerment and flourishing for Hispanic people in the Pacific Northwest.

While this month-long celebration is but a small observance of what are significant and lasting contributions to our country, it gives us an opportunity to pause, reflect on, and thank our nonprofit and community leaders for their enriching work bringing the fullness of Hispanic culture to our region. May this month’s opportunities for reflection and celebration be a catalyst for continuous learning and engaging with these organizations and the people they support.

Here are some nonprofits led by or serving the Hispanic communities of our region that the Murdock Trust has been grateful to partner with recently:

Adelante Mujeres based in Forest Grove, OR, offers education, leadership training, and enterprise opportunities so that Latine* women and their families can become strong, empowered leaders in our community. They offer programs ranging from early childhood education to small business development and more. Learn about these programs, visit one of their local farmers markets, or find other ways to engage here.

Far + Wise (formerly “I Have a Dream” Foundation) in Blaine County, ID, provides academic support and experiential education for students from early elementary through high school and beyond. Much of their programming – up to 96% in one program – serves students for whom Spanish is their first language. They partner with students for the long term, with a goal that 100% of their students will graduate high school. Explore participant or volunteer opportunities on their website.

Casa Latina advances the power and well-being of Latino immigrants through employment, education, and community organizing. Based in central Seattle, they employ a transformational model of direct service combined with leadership development and community organizing to help new immigrants thrive and build economic self-reliance in their adopted home. Go here to help them celebrate 30 years of community impact this year.

Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center aims to provide high-quality, comprehensive, and culturally appropriate primary health care to Washington and Yamhill counties in Oregon, with a special emphasis on migrant and seasonal farmworkers and others with barriers to receiving health care. They take a collaborative, patient-centered approach to their work, seeking to be a catalyst for change in healthcare delivery. At their wellness center in Beaverton, OR, nearly 60% of patients come from a Latino background. To learn more about their approach, inquire about patient opportunities, or volunteer, explore their website.

Milagro Theatre has been providing extraordinary Latino theatre, culture, and arts education for the enrichment of all communities since 1985. Based in Portland, OR, it produces a full season of regional or world premieres, including one Spanish-language play each year and a long-running Día de los Muertos signature production. In addition, Milagro presents original bilingual plays and educational residencies to communities across the nation through its touring Teatro Milagro. Discover upcoming productions, workshops, residencies, and more on their website.

Hacienda Community Development Corporation is a Latino-led Community Development Corporation based in Portland, OR, that strengthens families by providing affordable housing, homeownership support, economic advancement, and educational opportunities. Since their founding in 1992, this nonprofit has built 11 housing communities in Northwestern Oregon, creating more than 600 units. Find events and opportunities to partner in this important work here.

These are a small sample of the transformative nonprofits uplifting and celebrating the rich culture and contributions of Hispanic communities, while also walking alongside them in their own empowerment and self-determination. The Murdock Trust is grateful to each of these organizations, and many others, for their good work this month and every month. May we continue to honor and celebrate this work year-round.

*Note: It is Murdock Trust practice to defer to the preferences of our grantees regarding cultural terms. In this blog post, we use the preferred terms of each grantee (Latine, Latino, etc.) when speaking of their work.