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.

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.

Julio Robledo
Julio is a native of Chile and an experienced researcher, writer and educator. He regularly puts his research and problem-solving skills to use in helping callers resolve the complex challenges they face on a variety of issues.  Julio’s experience includes a depth of knowledge in civil rights and law, particularly as they affect immigrant communities. He routinely and tirelessly demonstrates a deep commitment to informing and empowering the Hispanic community to improve their quality of life regardless of what specific issue they are dealing with, through the orientation, referrals, research, and specialized attention that he provides.  Julio is a dedicated professional with a profound compassion for people and communities in need.

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.