RECENT ARTICLES

“Ernesto” Story from Helpline Specialist Jairo Valencia

DTV Acceso Hispano Centers Achieve the Objective with Outreach to the Elderly in Puerto Rico

Giving New Meaning to “Walking the Extra Mile”: Success Stories from the FCC DTV Initiative

Fighting Against Cancer on Behalf of the Community

A Promoter Committed to Her Community

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“Ernesto” Story from Helpline Specialist Jairo Valencia

The fear of losing a child is terrifying for any parent. For “Ernesto,” this nightmare has become reality as he tirelessly fights for custody of his five-year-old son. This overwhelmed father in need recently called Acceso Hispano’s bilingual toll-free helpline (1-800-473-3003) and shared his heart-wrenching story with Helpline Specialist Jairo Valencia.

The phone call revealed that “Ernesto” was a victim of domestic abuse and for that reason was forced to leave his home. His ex-wife has since denied access to their child despite his continued financial support. Desperate, “Ernesto” turned to the courts for help but was unable to garner neither legal representation nor a Spanish interpreter. These barriers prevented him from communicating to the judge that his ex-wife had a history of both domestic and alcohol abuse. After hearing their testimonies, the judge ruled in favor of the mother because “Ernesto” could not provide receipts documenting payments made to support their son.

Determined to protect his child, “Ernesto” will fight to have his case heard before a circuit court. Unsure of how to approach such a process, he turned to Acceso Hispano for help. Jairo Valencia patiently listened to this father’s story and immediately connected him with organizations in the Acceso Hispano Community Service Directory. These resources are located in his community and will provide counsel for “Ernesto” as he fights to overcome legal, cultural and social challenges in the battle for the wellbeing of his child.

Like the thousands of other people who call the Acceso Hispano Helpline, “Ernesto” is in a difficult situation – but he is not alone. Jairo Valencia and the rest of the Acceso Hispano team will continue to provide support to this father and will follow-up on his story.

by Janessa Nickell

DTV Acceso Hispano Centers Achieve the Objective with Outreach to the Elderly in Puerto Rico

Acceso Hispano has been working with the FCC on its DTV initiative to successfully transition analog television users to digital television. We have developed a coalition of faith-based organizations to operate Walk-In Centers in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago and in San Juan, Ponce and Patillas Puerto Rico. In these centers, Acceso Hispano, in conjunction with its faith-based partners, are offering coupon application assistance with wireless internet capability, as well as live demonstrations on the converter box installation process to support the community’s transition to digital television.
The Acceso Hispano Walk-In Centers in Puerto Rico saw a great need to focus their outreach efforts to serving the elderly. There may be several reasons why there was a substantial need in Puerto Rico to serve the elderly, among them:
•    There is an even higher life expectancy in Puerto Rico as versus the U.S. as a whole (78.58 years as versus 77.8 years)
•    There are high levels of migration of young Puerto Ricans to the U.S. mainland, estimated at 2 million people. As the total population in the island is just under 4 million, this migration is significant and some elderly may have been left behind.

“Padre Colacho,” as he is affectionately called by his parishioners at the Parroco Maria Auxiliadora Church in San Juan, states that the center has been an experience like no other. Padre Colacho is well known in the Puerto Rican Catholic community due to his extensive outreach, however, this effort has been unique in that it has brought him even closer to his parishioners, requiring home visits to those most in need—especially the elderly.  He and Aitza Garcia, the employee at the center have referred to the FCC-sponsored installers as much as possible, however the demand was so great, he also requested the help of church volunteers to go to the homes of his elderly congregants. Aitza explains that although the elderly would come to the center to learn through demonstrations, many found they still needed the on-site assistance, and younger parishioners would help the elderly to get the job done. Padre Colacho indicates that this has brought everyone closer together and has been an enriching experience.

Although Padre Colacho is our favorite celebrity in Puerto Rico, Nestor Murray is the star performer of our operations there.  A graduated Manufacturing Engineer with 9 years experience in the Aerospace Industry, Nestor is currently in search of full-time employment, and aimed for the stars with this temporary assignment.  As supervisor of the Sagrado Corazon Church center, Nestor demonstrated great discipline and dedication to conducting an effective outreach program by going at least twice a week, every week without fail, to the nearby lower income residential areas, the “barrios” and “residencias.” He was equipped with flyers and other literature to promote the service at the center. Through these efforts, his center has definitely achieved the goal of serving the elderly and economically disadvantaged, and through his diligence, more than doubled the results of other centers!

Jose Manuel Berdecia, supervisor of the Inmaculado Corazon de Maria Church, has also focused extensively on the elderly and is our favorite “son” so to speak, as he is only 19 years old, yet well trained in outreach through volunteer work in the past two years. Early in our campaign, Jose Manuel identified a nearby senior citizen residence, with 5 floors, and 15 rooms on each floor. Room by room, Jose Manuel informed the elderly in this residence about DTV and about our services, providing assistance for those that were immobilized and could not visit the center. He indicated that many did not realize or understand that they would completely lose signal, and were very grateful for his help.

And last but not least, Arlene Varela is a part time computer science teacher, and has been our supervisor for the San Juan Bosco Church. Arlene has also conducted door to door outreach to notify the nearby residential area of the existence of the center. She has helped several elderly in those door to door visits, with literature and guidance about DTV. In one of her visits, Arlene discovered an elderly disabled man who needed an outside antenna installed but did not have the money for the installation.  Arlene referred this to the FCC-funded expert installer, who successfully installed the antenna.

In all these instances, our Church partners have achieved the goal of reaching out to and serving the elderly and economically disadvantaged in their community.  Acceso Hispano is very grateful to them for helping us reach our common objective.  As is often claimed in their tourism ads, “Puerto Rico lo hace mejor,” or Puerto Rico does it better!

Giving New Meaning to “Walking the Extra Mile”: Success Stories from the FCC DTV Initiative

Self Reliance Foundation / Acceso Hispano is very proud to be working with the FCC in their DTV Walk-In  Center and Mobile Clinic outreach initiative. We are equally proud and, at the same time, humbled by the wonderful collaboration we have experienced from our Church and community partners in carrying out the FCC DTV initiative in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago and Puerto Rico—they are the heroes in our “Walking the Extra Mile” Success Stories.

Whether representing an Evangelical or a Catholic Church, or even another community-based organization,  our partners are men and women that are giving back with heart and soul to their community, many of them walking the extra mile to truly help those most in need.   Living in different parts of the country, each has a unique background and as well, a compelling story.
We will be telling our unsung hero stories by recounting their contributions everywhere we are participating in the FCC DTV initiative. Following we will tell you about our heroes in Los Angeles.

You can find Pastor Carpio, at the Iglesia de Dios Church, right at the heart of downtown Los Angeles.  His is a store-front church in a high foot-traffic area: many passers-by are day laborers in the clothing manufacturer sector of the city. These are workers that are paid by the piece; they may make clothes that we wear, but they do not know how to read or write well.  Due in part to the centrality of their location and in large measure due to their great dedication to our campaign, Pastor Carpio’s team made a tremendous contribution in providing large numbers of laborers and the elderly with assistance in filling out the on-line application form for the converter box, as well as providing live demonstrations of the converter box installation process. Up to July 1st, his team alone had assisted 1,051 people, and is our undisputed leader among Walk-In Center results!

Nearby in downtown L.A., Univision Channel 34 took notice of Pastor Carpio’s special contribution, and through him, took notice of Self Reliance Foundation / Acceso Hispano’s unique faith-based initiative. Not only did they visit Pastor Carpio twice for News Report interviews, but as well visited other Self Reliance Foundation / Acceso Hispano Walk-In Centers. Impressed by the quality of our Church partners, Univision asked us collaborate with them in their televised phone bank program on June 11th, targeting people who still needed assistance to make the DTV transition.  All our Los Angeles Supervisors collaborated with Univision in this program, arriving at 3:30 for training, and staying through to 11:30 pm to man the phone bank through the entire 5 ½  hour televised operation.  There were 400 callers that were assisted that night!

We’d like to thank all our wonderful Walk-In Center Supervisors that contributed to this special marathon-like effort: Pastor Carpio, Pastor Villarreal (Iglesia de Dios Pacoima), Martin Valladares (Our Lady of Peace), Nancy Plascencia (Saints Peter and Paul Church), and David Gomez (St. Bernard Church).
Last but not least, we’d like to share the story of the St. Bernard Church team, a unique example of the very special, heartfelt contributions of our partners.

The St. Bernard Church team, David Gomez and Susan Sigala, were hired from Homeboy Industries, a non-profit organization started by Father Greg Boyle over 20 years ago, and a national leader in gang intervention programs.  David has been with Father Boyle’s group almost since it started, and is now the Supervisor of the Part-Time Youth Work Program for ages 14 through 19, as well as our Supervisor for the St. Bernard Walk-In Center.

While manning the phone bank for the Univision initiative on June 11th, David assisted Elizabeth Hernandez, an elderly lady who was bed-ridden with an injury, had asked for help multiple times, and had not been able to receive coupons or get a converter box installed.  She explained to David that she speaks little English and doesn’t have relatives or friend s in the U .S. After feeling comfortable with him during their phone conversation, she pleaded with David to visit her urgently and not refer her to anyone else. As she was about 4 miles from St. Bernard Church, David visited “la Sra. Elizabeth” with his wife, purchased a converter box with an extra personal coupon that he had, and installed the converter box so that she could be assured of having television communication during her illness.  In gratitude, she called yours truly to thank David and Self Reliance Foundation / Acceso Hispano for the help provided. David and his wife visited with la Sra. Elizabeth three times to provide food, comfort and assistance.

These all, I believe, are beautiful examples that our Church and community partners have provided  of what it is like to care enough to walk the extra mile in helping one’s fellow man and woman, working with the heart as well as with the mind.

All of us at Self Reliance Foundation / Acceso Hispano are honored to be involved with such wonderful people!

There will be more to come in the next few weeks—Stay Tuned!

Author: Jeryl Skinner

For more information contact us at 1-800-473-3003

Fighting Against Cancer on Behalf of the Community

Viviana Alvarezcorrea is Colombian and a lawyer by profession. Before coming to the United States she worked with the community for several years to address issues of concern. She is currently a member of the Self Reliance Foundation’s Advisory Board for Acceso Hispano’s “El Cáncer Nos Afecta a Todos” campaign.

Most recently Viviana has been working with Nueva Vida, a non-profit organization that provides services to Latina women diagnosed with breast, cervical or ovarian cancer in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and surrounding states of Virgina and Maryland.

Viviana has extensive experience in public relations and coordinates many Nueva Vida activities at the community level. She organizes meetings in churches, promotes discussion spaces and interview with mass media, establishes strategic partnerships with doctors, attends health fairs, participates in prevention projects, and visits Latino neighborhoods directly to get the word out about cancer. All of these efforts are focused on increasing awareness of the importance of doing regular self-exams and early detection screening to be able to save more lives.

Viviana told us that there are several factors that put Latina women at greater risk with respect to cancer. Often they are so focused on their work, their children, their husbands and their housework, that they neglect their health. Another contributing factor is the lack of understanding of cancer risk and lack of information about diagnostic measures such as self-exams, mammograms, and pap smears.

“There are several barriers that complicate early detection of cancer within the Latino community. Lack of health insurance, language, legal status, fear of the health systems and shame about talking about one’s own body are some of the principle obstacles,” explains Viviana.

“Despite the fact that cancer can be a mortal disease, without a doubt early detection marks the difference between life and death” Viviana emphasizes.

Through her perseverence and dedication to this difficult but vitally important work, Viviana is an excellent example of a committed Latina women working on behalf of her community.

To learn more about Nueva Vida visit their website at www.nueva-vida.org. To locate organizations like Nueva Vida in other parts of the country, call Acceso Hispano’s hotline at 1-800-473-3003 or send us an email at ayuda@accesohispano.org.

A Promoter Committed to Her Community

Linda Sosa arrived in the United States in 1982, leaving behind Aguas Calientes Mexico, where she was born. Six months after arriving in Colorado she became concerned about the “clash of cultures” that she was witnessing in her community. The communication problems her compatriots faced in dealing with the surrounding American culture went well beyond language barriers—they were a result of strong cultural differences. She saw this problem reflected in a variety of situations, from parents who were afraid to take their children to see the doctor, to teenagers who refused to speak Spanish with their parents because they were ashamed of being different from their American friends.

Linda got involved in the church and began to work at the Museum of Anthropology in Denver supporting an exhibition on the Aztecs, despite knowing little English. She began to let the other Mexican families in her community know about the exhibition, and encouraged them to bring their children to see this exhibition about their cultural roots. From there she and others from the community began to organize traditional dance groups, singing groups, and other activities to celebrate their Mexican heritage and encourage the youth to be proud of where they came from. Linda began to organize small acts of solidarity with her community like bringing food to a group of people who were stuck in a Detention Center on Christmas, orienting families about how to obtain health insurance, or teaching them how to discipline their children in new ways that didn’t include corporal punishment.

She took English courses at her local Community College, and started looking for answers to important issues or problems that she observed within the community. She identified doctors, lawyers, psychologies, and even journalists who spoke Spanish and were willing to help—sometimes for free. She approached the local Spanish-language television stations (Univisión, Telemundo, TV Azteca) and asked for their help in denouncing abuse by authorities that she had witnessed in her community and demanding accountability from them—a strategy that continues to be effective today in keeping abuses in check. She also began to organize educational “social Fridays” with her church to talk about different issues affecting the community. Linda is often contacted by various organizations throughout the state to help facilitate contact and communication with the Mexican community in Colorado.

In speaking with Linda, her passion for helping others shines through. She demonstrates natural leadership and a strong spirit. Her perseverance is fueled by a tremendous dedication to her work (which she does on a completely voluntary basis), and compassion for her community. If she doesn’t know the response to a question, she goes out and finds it. If someone from her community needs help, she does whatever it takes to find a solution to their problem.

When asked to share some of her wisdom after years of working on behalf of the community, Linda emphasizes the importance of helping youth. “Youth are our future, and to work with them requires a lot of patience.” She goes on to add that to be a promoter “one must have the heart to truly help—to open oneself and listen to people. They develop a lot of trust in you and tell you their deepest secrets. It is important to never betray the community and never abuse their trust.”