In Your Community

Honoring and Uplifting Our Affiliates’ Impact

The opportunity to hold our Annual Conference in person this past July in San Antonio allowed for much awaited celebration of our Affiliate Network and our collective efforts to empower Latinos to define and achieve their own American Dream.

Our San Antonio Affiliates Avenida Guadalupe Association, AVANCE, Neighborhood Housing Services of San Antonio, Bexar County Community Health Collaborative, and the Mexican American Unity Council (MAUC) outdid themselves in welcoming the UnidosUS familia by hosting a bienvenida reception at Avenida Guadalupe Association’s El Progreso Hall. We were honored to be invited to the West Side neighborhood – once known as the Mexican District – where these long-standing organizations, rooted in their community for decades, are making a difference.

On the day before conference officially launched, UnidosUS and our partners Bank of America and Walmart supported our Affiliates at a Back-to-School Community Fair giving away 750 backpacks with school supplies and a children’s hygiene kit and 330 $30 gift cards. In addition, Walmart’s Mobile Health Unit provided health screenings for vision, diabetes, and high blood pressure, and facilitated vaccine administration.

As is tradition, on the last evening of the conference, UnidosUS presented awards to its Affiliates and outstanding individuals. The Affiliate of the Year is the highest honor bestowed on an Affiliate for exemplary work in service to their community, as well as its collaboration with UnidosUS and the Affiliate Network.

One Stop Career Center (OSCC) was the first organization based in Puerto Rico to receive the Affiliate of the Year Award.  “In just five years, OSCC has become recognized as a trailblazer offering services and solutions in employment, education, legal issues, housing, and health,” said UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía. “The Center delivers integrated services that are woven into a quilt of success; and their motto, Ayudando a Forjar Caminos, is true to its mission, helping forge paths for the community to move forward.”

OSCC has partnered with UnidosUS to increase the community’s financial empowerment, access to housing, respond to COVID-19, and increase access to workforce development resources, including through a Department of Labor project for young adults to re-enter the workforce after being involved with the justice system.

We once again congratulate our Affiliate and individual awardees. We are grateful for the partnerships and look forward to our continued work together!

For a full recap of the 2022 UnidosUS Annual Conference visit unidosus.org/conference