Throughout the state, Latinos and others have organized diverse initiatives to both educate non-Latino Virginians about their Latino neighbors and increase understanding and cooperation amongst them, as well as to inform Latinos of their legal rights and available services. The groups range from incorporated non-profits to informal networks; some with robust websites, others with little more than a webpage with the group’s name. To update or add to the following directory of Latino Community Networks in Virginia, please email cj.cville@gmail.com
Colaborando Juntos (Working Together)
Richmond
Founded: 2004
Focus: Supporting the Hispanic community in the Richmond area.
Contact: cj@colaborandojuntosva.com
Website: http://www.colaborandojuntosva.com
Creciendo Juntos (CJ) (Growing Together)
Charlottesville
Founded: 2005
Focus: To support the Latino community in the greater Charlottesville area by enhancing the knowledge, skills and resources of service providers working with it and encouraging, identifying and facilitating opportunities for networking, partnerships and outreach.
Contact: cj.cville@gmail.com
Website: http://www.cj-network.org
Hampton Roads Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Hampton Roads
Founded: 2003
Focus: Provide services to the Hispanic businesses and community around Hampton Roads, VA, offering referrals about specific services such as immigration information, health services, and special programs offering discounts for health insurance, office equipment/supplies, etc. They also offer annual scholarships and special business and community awards. Main events include the monthly business after hours, annual Nuestra Feria Business and Community Fair, and Annual Gala – Awards and Scholarship ceremony.
Contact: (757) 575.6910 or carlos@espinozacpa.com (Carlos Espinoza)
Website: www.hrhcc.org or www.hamptonroadshispanic.org.
Hispanic Alliance Center for Information Education Neighborhood
Development and the Arts – Hacienda
Roanoke
Founded: 2005
Focus: Serves as an information and referral site for Latinos and organizes the annual Latino Festival in October.
Contact: Yolanda Puyana, (540) 309-5053
Website: www.haciendava.com
Hispanic Committee of Virginia
Falls Church, Arlington & Alexandria
Founded: 1967
Focus: Provides a broad and integrated combination of programs and services in direct response to the needs of the Hispanic community in Northern Virginia, including education, employment, health education, immigration, information and referral, and social services, all of which are supported by a strong and stable volunteer program. The mission of the organization is to provide programs and services that enable Hispanic immigrants to participate more fully and contribute to American society.
Contact: (703) 671-5666 or jmoreno@hcva.org (Jesus Moreno, Director)
Website: http://www.hcva.org
Northern Virginia
Founded: 1997
Focus: Created by a group of educators from Fairfax County Public Schools, The Hispanic Leadership Alliance (HLA) is a group of residents from Northern Virginia committed to helping Hispanic students achieve their highest academic potential. They grant college scholarships to promising Hispanic high school students (generally residents of northern Virginia).
Contact: http://www.hlanow.com./contact-hla-president.html
Website: http://www.hlanow.com
Harrisonburg
Founded: 2005
Focus: Supports the Hispanic community in the Harrisonburg area.
Contact: sb6whitney@gmail.com (Sylvia Whitney) or rcastaneda@hispaniccouncil.org (Rich Castaneda)
Website: http://www.hispaniccouncil.org/HSC/
Hispanos Unidos de Virginia
Falls Church
Founded: 1974
Focus: Works to raise the economic, educational, and social levels of the underprivileged residents of Northern Virginia who suffer from a substantial level of unemployment by administering services and activities, including training, employment services, and a self-help housing program
Contact: (703) 533-1760 or jsimancas@aol.com (Johnny Simancas, Director)
Website: None
La Voz
Loudoun County
Founded: 2002
Focus: To unite the community by assisting immigrants in the process of integration.
Contact: (703) 777-1417 or yvetteg@lavozloudoun.org (Yvette Castro Green, Director)
Website: http://www.lavozloudoun.org
Local Colors
Roanoke
Founded: 2007
Focus: Multi-cultural program which recognizes and embraces people of diverse origins, races and ethnic backgrounds. Throughout the year Local Colors works with schools, colleges, neighborhoods, retirement communities, government, businesses, and civic organizations to promote diversity and multi-cultural understanding through trainings, cultural activities and referrals. It collaborates with the Latino Festival in October and also organizes a Latino food festival.
Contact: Pearl Fu, (540) 904-2234, 580-0341 or pearlfu@aol.com
Website: www.localcolors.org
Office of the Governor Latino Liaison
Richmond
Founded: By Governor Tim Kaine in 2006
Focus: To advise the governor on issues related to the Latino community.
Contact: Luisa.Soaterna@governor.virginia.gov (Luisa Soaterna)
Website: None
Progreso Hispano
Alexandria
Founded: 2001
Focus: Seeks to serve and empower immigrants to improve the quality of their lives and of their communities through education, immigration services and leadership development.
Contact: Cristina Schoendorf, cschoen@progreso-hispano.org
Website: http://progreso-hispano.org/
Red de Mujeres Hispanas de Virginia
Fredericksburg
Founded: 2007
Focus: Organizing Hispanic women around common issues
Contact: reddemujereshispanas@gmail.com or 540/361-2102 or 540/295-1017 (Indira Murillo)
Website: None. An article about the group is located at http://elpreg.org/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=20&ArticleID=2472&TM=72916
Sabor
Hampton Roads
Founded: 2008
Focus: To create links between the Hispanic community, its people, and businesses in Hampton Roads
Contact: (757) 228-1122 or sandra@saborhr.com (Sandra Sanchez, General Manager)
Website: http://www.saborhr.com
Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations (VACOLAO)
Statewide
Founded: 2003
Focus: An alliance among organizations in Virginia that serve or support the interests of the Latino/Hispanic community to empower the community and secure equal treatment, equal opportunity, and equal representation for Latinos/Hispanics. VACOLAO offers a daily clipping service on legal issues relating to the Virginia Latino population. To subscribe, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VACOLAO
Contact: tim@justice4all.org (Tim Freilich, Legal Aid Justice Center/Charlottesville)
Website: None
Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Richmond
Founded: 2000
Focus: Seeks to empower Hispanics in the Virginia business community by building economic, social, and cultural bridges between Virginia and its growing Hispanic community.
Contact: (804) 378-4099 or info@vahcc.com
Website: http://www.vahcc.com
Virginia Latino Advisory Board (VLAB)
Statewide
Founded: 2003
Focus: Created to recognize the importance of the contributions of Latinos in Virginia, to advise and inform the Governor on issues facing Latino constituents, and to advocate for Latino interests.
Contact: (804) 225-4836, VLAB@governor.virginia.gov
Website: http://www.vlab.virginia.gov