Adelante juntos 

Community Defense

Adelante Juntos Provides Urgent Support Needed to Protect our Communities!

We’re moving quickly to respond to the escalating threats from the new federal administration. The Adelante Juntos Community Defense Initiative is a clearly identified set of priorities aimed at mitigating the new administration's intentions to target our community. Latino Network is uniquely positioned to address these threats, but we need your partnership to ensure our response is timely, well-coordinated, and impactful.

Your investment will enable us to safeguard our communities and advance a unified defense strategy that meets the urgent challenges head-on.

Take action today and support the Adelante Juntos initiative!

The following provides more information about Adelante Juntos and our work in defense of Oregon Latines:

immigration defense services

The Latine community has historically been subjected to considerable targeting regarding immigration status. Targeting includes but is not limited to, violence, detention & deportation, vigilante justice, exclusion from economic opportunity, bullying in schools,  job loss, asset loss, heightened discrimination in finance, and domestic violence. However, this new administration has already taken drastic, often unconstitutional actions, specifically aimed at immigrants and the Latine community.

In just the first few weeks in office, the new federal administration has, solely through executive order, commenced sweeping ICE raids – including at sensitive locations such as churches, schools, and hospitals. It has targeted the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship and expanded the ICE process of “expedited removal,” leading to fast-tracked deportation without constitutional adjudication protections and canceled pathways to legal immigration status. Furthermore, the administration is attempting to overturn local and state sanctuary laws and force local officials, by threat of prosecution, to cooperate and aid in this unlawful targeting process. 

The outcome for the Latine community is, as intended, a mix of uncertainty, fear, and outright terror due to these draconian attacks on the largest minority population in the U.S. As part of its initial response, Adelante Juntos will coordinate with regional CBOs to pool immigration resources, work with Innovation Law Lab for real-time analysis strategies to address federal actions, and hire two full-time Accredited Representatives to provide legal advice and immigration service navigation to our community.

Mental Health Support

Accessible mental health services are critical for Oregon Latinos, especially now, as rampant uncertainty and fear permeate immigrant communities due to repeated targeting by the current federal administration.

Despite Latinos representing nearly 14% of the Oregon population, only 3% of mental health providers are Latine, and few others offer culturally specific or bilingual services. Couple this with the fact that many Latine community members are less likely to seek mental health services, and the result is a critical lack of care when our community members are most in need. As part of Latino Network’s evolving posture in this arena,  the agency will hire two full-time Licensed Clinical Therapists to provide counseling at Zenith, our new mental health clinic, which is scheduled to open in Downtown Portland in the Spring of 2025.

In addition, Latino Network will coordinate with other local CBO partners such as Western Conexiones, Puentes at Central City Concern, Raíces de Bienestar, and Adelante Mujeres for external referrals.

reproductive health

This initiative includes a comprehensive communication plan to combat misinformation at every level. Additionally, Adelante Juntos will advocate for increased state funding of RHEA and enhance our advocacy efforts to address the gap left by the dissolution of Pro-Choice Oregon. The requested support also reinforces efforts to strengthen access to gender-affirming care and the full range of reproductive health services for our community.

Protections for abortion rights were overturned at the federal level as a result of the Dobbs Decision, upending 50 years of constitutional reproductive rights protections and resulting in deep anxiety, misinformation, and a need for trusted intermediaries. While Oregon has no drastic legal restrictions on abortion services, more action is needed to ensure safe access to these services for our communities.

Adelante Juntos will provide education about Oregon’s Reproductive Health Equity Fund (RHEA), Interstate Shield Law, and our involvement in Equal Rights for All (a ballot measure to enshrine gender-affirming care, abortion, and same-sex marriage in Oregon).

staff support and joy

At Latino Network, we understand the weight of the work we do and the emotional toll it takes, particularly in today’s political climate. The news of planned mass deportations, a worsening climate crisis, and threats to hard-won rights have deeply affected marginalized communities, including our staff. The majority of our staff come from the very communities we serve, so these challenges resonate with us on a personal level.

In light of these uncertain and stressful times, we are committed to prioritizing the mental and emotional well-being of our team. Our staff’s dedication to this vital work is inspiring, but we recognize that supporting them—especially in the aftermath of recent national elections—is essential to sustaining their ability to serve our communities with the same passion and purpose they brought when they first began.

To support our staff’s mental health, we have implemented several initiatives, including weekly wellness and healing activities, access to our new mental health clinic, and the creation of an internal Joy Committee. The Joy Committee focuses on fostering community through outdoor activities and creating moments of joy to help balance the heavy work of advocacy with lightness and connection. These efforts are critical in ensuring that our team remains strong, resilient, and ready to continue their work with compassion and care.

Together, we will continue to navigate these difficult times with strength and solidarity, supporting not just the community we serve but also the incredible individuals who make this important work possible.

Adelante Juntos Community champions

We want to acknowledge our partners who have recognized the urgent need to support Latine communities:

individual donor champions

Christine & David Vernier

 

Bonnie & Peter Reagan

Mark Holloway & David Kahl

Bob Quillin

Kelly Starkey

¡Muchísimas gracias!

donate today to Adelante Juntos!

Thank you for your concern and we hope you will support our efforts in defense of Oregon Latinos. Every donation, regardless of size, will make a difference!

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