Annual Report 2012
INTEGRATE ◊ CONNECT ◊ EDUCATE www.hispanicinterest.org | Phone: 205.942.5505 | Toll Free: 866.502.HICA (4422) Street Address: 260 F West Valley Avenue Birmingham AL 35209 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 190299 Birmingham AL 35219
Letter from the Director Dear Supporter, 2012 was a landmark year for ¡HICA! in many ways. Through our work as a statewide integrator, connector, and educator, we worked with over 11,000 members of our community and provided services ranging from tax preparation to legal immigration assistance and victims advocacy. As Alabama’s only community-based non-profit serving Latinos, we are proud to have provided over 40,000 units of service this year to people from around the state. Since ¡HICA! was founded in 1999, we have strived to bring our communities closer together to create a ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ para todos (for all). Our work would not be possible without allies in every corner of our state. These allies have partnered with us to work toward a community that is welcoming to all people, regardless of their native land or language. With heartfelt gratitude, we thank our sponsors, partner organizations, and our many supporters for their commitment to building an Alabama that everyone can truly call home.
¡Adelante!
Isabel Rubio, Executive Director
2012 Board of Directors Teresa Zuniga Odom, Chair Community Volunteer Roseann Rodriguez, Vice Chair Children’s Aid Society Tony Smoke, Treasurer Alabama Power Company Jennifer Kilburn, Secretary Children’s Policy Cooperative
Carlos Torres-Sanchez, Immediate Past Chair Jeff. Co. Department of Health Willie Chriesman Chriesman & Associates Scott Douglas Greater Birmingham Ministries Mary Andrews Liles Vulcan Materials Company Jamika Kirk UAB
Vivian Mora State Farm Insurance Co. R.G. Lyons Church Without Walls, UMC Liliana Salas-Grip Regions Bank Joyce Spielberger Magic Moments Eva Thau, MSW Baptist Princeton Hospital
¡HICA! Staff Administration Isabel Rubio, Executive Director Silvia Hoyos, Assistant Director Johanna Alvarez, Office & Financial Coordinator Vanessa Stevens, Resource Development & Communications Coordinator Community Engagement & Education Gwendolyn Ferreti, Community Organizer Amanda Cherry, AmeriCorps VISTA Matt Buttler, AmeriCorps VISTA Miriam Villanueva, Comadre Marcela Corona, Comadre
Strong Families Program Claudia Hendley, Program Coordinator Maria Gooch, Court Advocate Stacey Burke, Family Advocate Rosa Guzman, Family Advocate Asset Building & Economic Development Lorena Vasquez, Program Coordinator Janet Licea, Program Associate Immigration & Access to Justice Charlotte Alvarez, J.D., Legal Services Director Juliana Ramirez, Paralegal Lucia Gaona, VAWA Specialist
¡HICA!’s Approach MISSION ¡HICA! is dedicated to the social, civic and economic integration of Hispanic families in Alabama. VISION ¡HICA! envisions an Alabama in which everyone has full and equal participation in our state’s civic, cultural, social, and economic life. Hispanic and immigrant families are empowered to integrate, engage, and lead their communities to reach their families’ aspirations.
2012 Highlights SOCIAL INTEGRATION
Guided 7,151 immigrants in navigating their new home through information and referral Trained 20 parents to be advocates for their children’s education and worked with dozens of educators to strengthen their engagement of Hispanic families to improve children’s academic achievements Empowered 60 women to lead their families and communities through increased education on issues such as domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, nutrition and other topics Assisted more than 70 victims of domestic violence in escaping from their abusive situations through crisis hotline calls, referrals to shelter, Protection from Abuse Orders, and court accompaniment Trained 300 law enforcement officers to better assist Hispanic victims of crime
“I liked the Padres Comprometidos Program very much because it shows the responsibility that parents have towards their child’s education . . . The program teaches us how to help our child as well as to understand what and how they are learning in school. Padres Comprometidos teaches parents that they are responsible to help guide their children through school.” —Veronica
ECONOMIC INTEGRATION Educated 114 individuals in financial literacy Helped 30 individuals practice financial literacy through matched savings accounts Filed tax returns for 211 Hispanic families Found employment for 59 individuals through our community job bank Coached 22 Hispanics in their development of a small business Recovered $5,281 in denied wages for 8 workers
CIVIC INTEGRATION
Counseled 600 immigrants from more than 30 countries about their immigration options Educated more than 1,000 immigrants about their rights and responsibilities in the U.S. Facilitated workshops for more than 200 members of our host community about cultural familiarity and the immigration system Engaged hundreds of community members in leadership development and advocacy to repeal HB 56 and make our community safer and more vibrant for everyone Enabled 110 immigrant youth to get closer to the American dream by filing Deferred Action applications
Something about HB 56 and it being a trying2012 year
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
The National Council of La Raza awarded ¡HICA! its Southeast Affiliate of the Year Award and its Advocacy Award in 2012. ¡HICA! also placed in the Top 25 of Iniciativa Mexico, a social entrepreneurship contest about Mexicans helping Mexicans. Thank you to everyone who supported us through our 10th Annual Tamale Sale! Thanks to you we sold over 13,500 tamales!
Stories of Integration at Work Maria’s Story* Maria was a victim of domestic violence who had reached out to Alabama’s 24/7 Spanish language victims of crime hotline several times. She had been struggling with her marriage, but a few months later in 2012, her husband committed suicide. This created a very difficult situation, as he was the main provider for their family. Due to his sudden death, she was in need of multiple services for herself and her four children. Thanks to our family advocacy, Maria was able to schedule a visit for herself and her children at Gateway Social Services for counseling. A Family Advocate also helped identify resources to pay three months of mortgage payments and utility bills as well as obtain food assistance. Maria has been an active participant in ¡HICA!’s programs, including the Comadres women’s group. She is working hard in a steady job to support her family, and she is also attending her therapy sessions. Maria says she feels much better knowing that she can take care of her family by herself. Iván’s Story Pictured here with staff members from ¡HICA!’s Immigration & Access to Justice Program, Iván LaraAlcántara is the recipient of ¡HICA!’s first approved Deferred Action application. In the summer of 2012 President Obama issued an Executive Order for Deferred Action for Early Child Arrivals. This program grants a two-year reprieve from deportation and a work permit to undocumented youth who have grown up in the U.S. ¡HICA! has filed over 100 applications for Deferred Action since August 15th. Iván, age 24, is graduate of Pelham High School and has lived in Alabama for 15 years. Now that Iván has received his work permit, he plans to find better employment and enroll in a university art program, and hopes one day to enlist in the military and become a U.S. citizen. Marifer’s Story* Marifer visited our office for the first time for help finding employment, and our Asset Building and Economic Development program staff helped her through this job-seeking process. Staff members gave her information about an available job position, facilitated her communication with the employer, set up her interview, and helped her overcome the language barrier during the interview. As a result, she was offered the position. At the same time that she was looking for new employment, Marifer’s current employer was refusing to pay her the wages he owed her for cleaning his house. ¡HICA! explained her options for recovering the wages and assisted her in writing a letter to her employer. By June, she was able to collect her unpaid wages, which totaled over $1200. Marifer then participated in our financial literacy workshop and opened a bank account, which she continues to use. She now visits our office frequently for other services including assistance with housing information, immigration services, and computer classes. *Names have been changed to protect the identities of our constituents
Statement of Activities Year Ended 12/31/12 & comparative totals at 12/31/11 Revenue and Other Support Contracts, Grants Contributions Fundraising United Way Constituent Donations TOTAL REVENUE Program Services Administration Fundraising
2012 1,016,622.00 55,159.42 42,250.81 115,500.00 8,667.78 1,238,200.01
2011 753,125.43 65,284.50 51,517.00 120,328.91 15,083.04 1,005,338.88
541,546 44,482 18,404
395,826 33,073 12,079
TOTAL EXPENSES
604,432
440,978
Change in Net Assets
(48,848)
135,966
Net Assets—Beginning
224,261
93,736
151,853
219,636
Adjustment to Balance Net Assets—Ending
2012 Contributors
$50,000 and up Alabama Law Foundation Iniciativa Mexico Marguerite Casey Foundation Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation United Way of Central Alabama U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women
$25,000 to $49,999 Alabama Department of $20,000 to $49,999 Economic and Community Alabama Affairs Civil Justice Foundation (ADECA) Compass BBVA Alabama PowerFoundation Foundation Safe House of Shelby County Community Foundation of Shelby County Commission Greater Birmingham Goodrich Foundation Proteus Fund Shelby County Wells Fargo
$15,000 to $24,999 BBVA/Compass Foundation The IPC Foundation National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders Regions Financial Corporation The Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham Southern Partners Fund
$10,000 to $14,999 AT&T Hugh Kaul Foundation State Farm Insurance Company
$5,000 to $9,999 Beasley Allen Law Firm BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama Brasfield and Gorrie Honda Manufacturing of Alabama McWane, Inc. National Council of La Raza Robert R. Meyer Foundation Vulcan Materials Company
$1,000 to $4,999 Birmingham Bar Foundation
MIL GRACIAS to UNITED WAY of CENTRAL ALABAMA
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID BIRMINGHAM, AL PERMIT NO. 3418
P.O. Box 190299 Birmingham, AL 35219