Youth in the Northern Triangle of CentralAmerica -- Guatemala, El Salvador, andHonduras -- have limited social and economicmobility, which is perpetuated by brokensystems, pervasive violence, and lack ofopportunities.
While it is critically important to address the multifaceted immigration crisis among those who are stateside, Urban Strategies focuses on addressing some of the systemic causes at the grass-roots level in the immigrants’ native countries -- El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Our focus is to make meaningful progress through the following four strategies designed to prevent children and families from having to make difficult and traumatic decisions of survival.
Juntos Podemos supports the following work in the Northern Triangle:
- Building congregational capacity
- Building the capacity of youth
- Creating jobs
- Supporting educational advancement
Replicating our 2014-2015 efforts that provided more than 4,000 days of “full-service” residential services for unaccompanied children and youth, we are working with community and faith-based organizations throughout the United States to mobilize shelter and foster home-based care for vulnerable children. Our services are hosted at partnering congregations who have given themselves to serving the most marginalized and vulnerable among us. As we work together, our mission is to provide quality, transformative care in a loving and supporting environment. Our efforts across six states are focused on bolstering shelter services to accommodate nearly 1,000 children.
Hurricane Maria was “the fifth strongest hurricane to hit the United States” and was Puerto Rico’s largest natural disaster in over a century. Maria left a trail of devastation across Puerto Rico, leaving thousands of families homeless and more than 15,000 people are in temporary shelters, the entire power grid is offline, cellular communications are scarce and over 70% of the island is without water service. Hospitals are running low on medical supplies. Emergency relief and the long-term recovery efforts will take months, and in some areas, years.
As a result, thousands of families are choosing to leave everything and move to the mainland. Due to the large Puerto Rican community in Florida, families are showing up at Florida airports with only a small suitcase of personal items and no place to go. Support is also needed for these evacuees as they seek to relocate for the time being among our Florida communities.
On June 3, Guatemala suffered a natural catastrophe that has affected thousands of people in the mountainous area. The VOLCAN DE FUEGO exploded, throwing hot material that contained mud, lava and water. More than 65 people have died and thousands have been evacuated from their homes. Funds given for Guatemala will be provided to vetted, local congregations who are closest to the need andareproviding supportto the families that have been affected.
The Bienestar Program is a ministry in which we are blessed to have the opportunity to change thousands of lives in Central Florida where the Hispanic community is growing every single day. Behind the Bienestar Program there are passionate and trained professionals that want to bring this program to the families, churches and the community in Central Florida. Our goal is to have communities that live in wellness. Our approach is to create awareness of the importance of wellness focusing on mental, physical and spiritual wellness.
Juan Salgado
Bienestar Regional Director of Central Florida
We are excited for the opportunity to work with our South Florida Hispanic community! Bienestar’s goal is to improve the health of the community one family at a time by providing knowledge of about physical, mental and spiritual well being. It is our desire that every faith-based organization in South Florida will begin a Bienestar health initiative to work towards addressing the most important health needs of the families in their community.
Edgar Rivera
Bienestar Regional Director of South Florida
Bienestar Rio Grande Valley consists of a network of faith based organizations dedicated to improving the overall wellbeing of the Hispanic community, including body, mind and spirit.
In working with the McAllen community, the following information was gathered.
McAllen Community Health InformationMelody Milstead
Bienestar Regional Director of Texas
Are you a Faith based leader in San Antonio, Bexar county area and surrounding counties? Are you taking a stand and being proactive in your physical, mental and spiritual health? We want to partners with you!
Bienestar strives to bring awareness in regards to some critical components that deal with health for our leaders, churches and communities.
Olga Rodriguez
Bienestar Regional Director of Texas
Ana van Balen
Executive Director
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