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HOPE

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LEADING WITH HOPE

LEADING WITH HOPE

CHAMPIONING ORGANIZATIONS THAT UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITIES

Everyday, by way of advocacy, leadership and education, HOPE – Hispanas Organized for Political Equality – lives up to its namesake. The nonprofit has been lifting up Latinas all over California since 1989, and has empowered them to pursue positions of positive influence that have instilled hope across communities for the past 33 years. Helen Torres, the Executive Director and CEO, has had the opportunity to bear witness to the long-term impacts of this valuable work. She has seen firsthand how the organization’s successful programs –the HOPE Latina Empowerment Day Series, the professional summits and the Leadership Institute – have elevated Latinas to make meaningful changes locally, across the state and even at the national level.

The nonprofit was founded in 1989 by five women who noticed that Latinas were being overlooked in the political decisions made throughout Los Angeles County. They put together programming to honor the historic contributions of Latinas, including Latina History Day, which is still celebrated on the second Friday of Women’s History Month each year. Over the next 10 years, HOPE expanded and developed new initiatives. Eventually, the organization transitioned from having a regional focus to hosting programs all over the state. “You can look at the ripple effects everywhere because of the growth of the organization,” Torres said.

Roughly 3,000 women participate in HOPE’s overall programming. One of the core founding members of HOPE, Minnie Lopez Bafflo, was an employee at SoCalGas. Today, SoCalGas continues to support the nonprofit by sponsoring sessions during the HOPE Leadership Institute, hosting an empowerment day, providing volunteers and by donating their time, resources and guidance. “SoCalGas is an active and impactful partner in our work,” Torres said.

In 1999, the nonprofit started the HOPE Leadership Institute. According to Torres, that program is really the crown jewel of the organization. “25-50 women go through the Leadership Institute every year, and by the end of 2023 we anticipate having close to 700 HOPE Leadership Institute Alumnae throughout the state” Torres explained. “HOPE Leadership Institute alumnae have held over 1600 nonprofit board and statewide commission positions over the past 25 years. 70 HLI alumnae have been or are currently elected officials.” HOPE is now recognized as a national organization and has expanded to support Latinas in high school, college and even those who hold high-level government positions.

The impacts of HOPE’s initiatives are uniquely tangible. “We’re able to track the women who went through the Leadership Institute,”

Torres said. “We have some incredible examples. They’re in office. They’re using their platforms to get legislation passed to support communities. They’re lifting up the voices of those who are underrepresented.” Torres even remembered meeting a young woman who had gone through HOPE’s programs and now works for the President of the United States.

The positive impacts at the regional and national levels are mirrored by those on the local level. Lucia Diaz, Executive Director of the Mar Vista Family Center in Culver City, California, attended the HOPE Leadership Institute back in 2003. “Lucia is a great example of a non-elected official doing amazing work in the nonprofit sector,” Torres said. The skills Diaz learned during her time with HOPE have helped the Mar Vista Family Center reach its 45th year of service in the community.

The Mar Vista Family Center was founded in 1977 as a resource for low-income families. The goal of the organization was to encourage parents and educators to work together, so parents could play an active role in the development of their children. “It’s called a shared responsibility model,” Diaz explained. “Community members learn how to take responsibility for their lives, the community and their families.” At the beginning, the center supported six families and was entirely funded by the government. As time went on, that funding dissipated. Even without steady support, the community’s needs continued to grow and Diaz knew that she needed to secure sustainable funding so they could continue their indispensable work.

Through the HOPE Leadership Institute, Diaz not only gained valuable leadership skills, but also met a fellow organization continually looking to further their positive impact in the community. That organization was SoCalGas, who in turn began to fund the Mar Vista Family Center for long-term success. Incredibly, the Mar Vista Family Center now supports about 300 local families annually.

Supported by her renewed funding, Diaz has utilized the tools she learned with HOPE to amplify the work she’s doing at the family center. “We do training at Mar Vista that helps everyone with personal and professional development,” Diaz explained. “I brought a lot of that work from my training with the HOPE organization, and after 45 years, there’s been a great transformation in the community,” Diaz said.

Today, Mar Vista hosts their original preschool program where parents and educators work in tandem, after school programs, college prep programs, a food pantry and community gardens. These initiatives provide the young people in the community with opportunities for education, upward mobility and prolonged success. That’s a seismic shift for this neighborhood, which looked very different when the family center opened its doors. “Parents didn’t believe their kids could graduate from high school, but now we have a 98% graduation rate,” Diaz explained. Young people have even approached Diaz to express how the organization has changed their lives. “I remember one of the kids coming and saying, ‘I have a choice now. I used to only have the chance to join a gang and now I have a chance to be a part of something,’” she recalled.

SoCalGas has fortified the family center with financial support, educational programs and tangible resources for the families that Diaz works with. Now that the organization relies partially on corporate funding, the financial contributions from SoCalGas are invaluable. However, the connection between Mar Vista and SoCalGas runs so much deeper than that. “They make me feel like I count,” Diaz said. “I always know I can call them if I need support or information.”

According to Helen Torres at HOPE, SoCalGas has been a fantastic partner in expanding their reach. In addition to all the other support they provide, they play a key role during the Latina Empowerment Day Series by facilitating energy training sessions. These mini-training days provide the women with an opportunity to learn about the intersection between government and natural resources. HOPE started these sessions after they realized that Latina representation on natural resource boards in California was severely lacking. Now, SoCalGas and HOPE work together to teach Latinas about water, air, soil, energy and the environment. “SoCalGas has always looked out for the organization,” Torres explained. “They’ve helped us not only to grow, but also to dig deep into key issues that Latinas aren’t always invited to be a part of. SoCalGas has really opened that door, valued our voices and invested in Latina leaders.”

Both Diaz and Torres are able to call on SoCalGas for volunteers, resources and even if they just simply need a friend. “It’s not easy to have that with every partner,” Diaz explained. “Not everyone will understand the work that you’re doing. Not everyone will just support you. But with SoCalGas, we don’t have that challenge.” The relationship between HOPE, the Mar Vista Family Center and SoCalGas continues to touch thousands of lives across California. SoCalGas has provided these two organizations with a structural support system that they can lean on so the people they serve can continue leaning on them. And in challenging times, it’s that foundational support that can create the strongest ripple effects for California’s communities.

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