Who We Are

Acceso Hispano is a project of the Self Reliance Foundation (SRF), a non-governmental, non-profit organization with 501(c)3 status, that works to empower underserved communities to improve their quality of life. Most of SRF’s projects combine the persuasive power of mass media with person-to-person community outreach, to ensure that people have access to the information, services and support networks they need.

Acceso Hispano’s project team is dedicated to providing vital information, referrals, and support to the U.S. Hispanic population to improve health and quality of life. We refer people to the services they need thanks to a database of 17,500 community-based and Hispanic-serving organizations throughout the country that offer bilingual, affordable and culturally competent services related to a variety of issues. Since its founding, the Acceso Hispano Helpline has assisted more than 100,000 individuals in their search for information, support, and affordable services in the communities where they live.

We seek to embody the values of respect, trust, empowerment and confidentiality in every service we provide. Our vision is that one day every Hispanic individual in America will have access to the information, education, and opportunities they need to lead successful and productive lives.

Our Team

Maite Arce
Maite’s parents moved to the U.S. from Mexico in search for work and a better life in the 1970s. After working in marketing and communications for several years, she founded the Self Reliance Foundation’s Helpline in 1996 (now the Acceso Hispano project) to address the extraordinary need among underserved communities for access to information, support, and resources in the areas of health, education, social issues, and environmental justice. Maite returned to lead Acceso Hispano again in 2008 after five years of working in education reform, parental involvement, public policy and advocacy to improve education for Hispanic students. She plans to build Acceso Hispano into the most reliable and trusted source for Latinos in search of information, empowerment and access to opportunities or community-based resources.

Formally, Ms. Arce served as the Vice President of Operations for the Hispanic Council for Reform & Educational Options (Hispanic CREO), having built the original network of membership, affiliates, and coalitions in support of Hispanic CREO parental involvement and education initiatives in its founding years. She led Hispanic CREO’s  administration and core programs on a state and national level, including grassroots Hispanic parent, faith and business leader advocacy training, helpline services, and public policy efforts.  She is responsible for growing CREO’s membership network from 3,000 to 29,000, and led the team of grassroots trainers, who trained more than 30,000 parents in 6 states under a contract with the U.S. Department of Education. In 2007, Ms. Arce was recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education during her speech at the White House Faith & Community Initiatives Conference.

She serves as a board member for the National Council of Hispanic Women, Vice-Chair for the National Association of Hispanic Education (NAHE) Hispanic STEM Initiative, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention –Tobacco Control Advisory Board. In June, 2007, Ms. Arce received an Honorary Doctorate from Logos Christian College in Jacksonville, Florida.

Roberto Arjona 

Roberto Arjona serves as the Marketing, Graphic Design, & Communications Manager for Acceso Hispano. As a key member of the Acceso Hispano Team, Roberto is responsible for the development and implementation of graphic design, marketing and communications strategies. Prior to coming to SRF, he served as the Programs & Production Manager for the National Association of Hispanic Publications, NAHP. With over 7 years of experience working hand-in-hand with both the private and non-profit sectors, Roberto brings to SRF perseverance, confidence, and his passion for helping to improve the lives of others in need. Having lived, volunteered and worked for the first half of his life in Panama, he is not only a native Spanish speaker, but also understands the needs of the Latino community. Roberto brought his desire for community service to the United States and graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park Campus with a degree in Graphic Design and Marketing. In his little free time Roberto loves to paint, dance, and travel.  Mr. Arjona can be reached at (202) 496-6064.

Jairo Valencia R
Jairo has 20 years of experience in the area of human rights and research both in the United States and his native Colombia, with a specific focus on indigenous and rural populations. He has worked with victims of armed conflicts, and women and children in particular. Jairo is a grassroots organizer who has mobilized communities around the issues of human rights, environmental justice, violence reduction, and fighting child exploitation and human trafficking. In addition to working with Acceso Hispano’s outreach team, Jairo continues to serve on various commissions including the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS) to protect the rights of indigenous people throughout the Americas. He enjoys his work with Acceso Hispano as it enriches his understanding of the diverse Hispanic communities in the U.S. and enables him to provide the support and encouragement that he knows is needed by the community.

Jenny Brandt
Jenny is Filipino American who learned Spanish at the University of Hawaii and through her travels to Argentina, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.  She worked as a women’s advocate at a domestic abuse women’s shelter and there was responsible for the crisis hotline. Jenny is a compassionate professional whose education, skill and experience bring great value to the individuals who call Acceso Hispano’s Helpline. She works to ensure that immigrants are empowered through knowledge and by exercising their guaranteed human rights..