Centro Legal de la Raza

?? **The Eviction Crisis is Real and Rising** ?? Today, Centro Legal learned that the Alameda County Superior Court is on track to see **6,400 unlawful detainer (eviction) filings this year**—that’s an alarming **1,300 more than last year!** Just in October alone, we hit **577 filings**, a number higher than September. This isn’t just a statistic; it represents families facing displacement, communities torn apart, and countless individuals wrestling with uncertainty about where they will sleep tonight. ?? Imagine being forced out of your home—a place where memories are made and lives are built. Think of the children worried about changing schools or the elderly who’ve lived in their homes for decades. This crisis impacts us all and calls for urgent action! ? At Centro Legal, our dedicated housing rights team stands ready to provide high-quality eviction defense for our community members facing these daunting challenges. We believe that everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Together, we can turn the tide on this eviction crisis! If you or someone you know needs help navigating this difficult situation, please reach out—we’re here to support you! ???? #EvictionCrisis #HousingRights #CentroLegal #CommunitySupport

?? Exciting times in Fremont! On Monday, Centro Legal de la Raza & Pars Equality Center worked together to host a Naturalization clinic, assisting 56 community members on their journey to US citizenship. ?? Grateful for our partnership—strengthening civic engagement is essential for strengthening our democracy. ???? Let’s work together to empower more community members to participate fully! #Naturalization #CivicEngagement #CommunityDevelopment #Citizenship #Partnerships

In times of uncertainty, we stand together. Centro Legal de la Raza, The Unity Council, La Clínica de La Raza, Native American Health Center, and East Bay Spanish Speaking Citizens' Foundation are united in our commitment to supporting the Fruitvale community and beyond. #Fruitvale #StrengthInUnity #CommunitySupport Read our joint statement on how we’ll continue to uplift and empower post-election: " As Fruitvale-based nonprofits with over 200 years of combined commitment to Oakland’s Fruitvale district, La Clínica de La Raza, Centro Legal de La Raza, Native American Health Center, East Bay Spanish Speaking Citizens’ Foundation, The Unity Council stand united in our dedication to uplifting our community. In times of uncertainty, we draw on our shared legacy of strength and resilience. We understand that post-election fears and doubts can feel overwhelming for historically excluded communities, but we are here to reassure you: you are not alone. Our strength lies in our unwavering commitment to action and service. We will support the Fruitvale community and beyond by ensuring accessible, holistic resources to help navigate these challenging times. La Clínica de La Raza and Native American Health Center will harness its decades of experience in community health to provide compassionate and culturally relevant care, prioritizing both physical and mental well being. Centro Legal de La Raza will continue to stand as a beacon of justice, advocating for the rights of our community, and empowering individuals through steadfast legal support. East Bay Spanish Speaking Citizens’ Foundation and The Unity Council will continue to support economic initiatives and social efforts aimed at fostering stability and prosperity, uplifting families and promoting equitable opportunities. Together, we remain a steadfast source of hope, action, and empowerment. We are committed to walking alongside our community every step of the way, ensuring that no one is left behind. With resilience and unity, we will face the future stronger, more determined, and ready to create a brighter, more equitable tomorrow."

?? Happy Pro Bono Week! ?? Last week, we partnered with DLA Piper to host a pro bono clinic in San Francisco, where we helped community members apply for U.S. residency after winning their asylum cases. This is a crucial step towards reuniting them with their families and establishing their status as residents in the U.S.! We're also excited to announce another Work Permit Clinic coming up, where we’ll assist community members in obtaining their work authorization documents. A huge thank you to DLA Piper for your amazing support—this work wouldn't be possible without you! ?? #ProBonoWeek #DLAPiper #Probonoclinics #FamilyReunification #WorkAuthorization

We are thrilled to co-host a non-partisan Voter Education & Ballot Party this Sunday, October 20th at 3pm in Fruitvale! This event is your one-stop opportunity to register to vote, learn about the measures and races, and cast your vote all in one place. ? The event is organized in collaboration with several community partners: League of Women Voters of Oakland, the Alameda County Registrar of Voters, East Bay Spanish Speaking Citizens' Foundation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce, The Unity Council, Oakland NAACP and many more! Invite your friends, family & community members. ? ? The League of Women Voters?will have a bilingual non-partisan presentation of races & measures. ? The Alameda County Registrar of Voters?will have a secure Ballot Drop Box on-site for you to safely drop off your ballot. ?

Congratulations to the East Bay La Raza Lawyers Association for distributing $30,000 in scholarships to law students at their gala! ???? #Scholarships #LawStudents #EastBayLaRazaLawyersAssociation

?? New Blog Alert! ?? Dreams Without Borders We’re thrilled to share the inspiring journeys of our clients who have successfully navigated the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) process. SIJS is a vital pathway for immigrant youth to achieve stability and safety in the U.S., and their stories remind us why advocacy and support for unaccompanied minors are more important than ever. Visit our blog to learn more about the perseverance of these inspiring young people and the work we’re doing at Centro Legal to help them achieve their dreams. You'll also find out about the advocacy efforts of the?End SIJS? Backlog Coalition, which supports youth organizing, as well as legislative and administrative advocacy, to address the challenges SIJS-impacted youth face: https://lnkd.in/gvPkZq2Y To make an impact, consider making a donation to allow us to provide critical legal representation to immigrant youth navigating these complex immigration processes: centrolegal.org/donate? #SIJS #ImmigrantYouth #UnaccompaniedMinors #DreamsWithoutBorders

HF Familia! Check out part 2 of our Hispanic Heritage Month series, featuring organizations from across the Midwest and West Coast!?? Each Friday for the rest of this month, we will be highlighting some of our member organizations from across the nation. The importance of working together as a shared network is crucial, and we are so grateful for their continued collaboration. Tune in next week to see what our last group of member organizations have to say about working with us. Happy HHM! ??? ***** ?Familia de HF! En la segunda parte de nuestra serie del mes de la Herencia Hispana, presentamos a organizaciones que vienen del Oeste y Medio Oeste de los EE. UU.? Cada viernes de este mes, presentaremos a algunas de nuestras organizaciones miembros de todo el país y la importancia de trabajar juntos como una red compartida, esta labor es crucial y estamos muy agradecidos por su colaboración. ? No olviden estar pendientes el próximo viernes para ver lo que el último grupo de nuestras organizaciones miembros tienen que decir sobre trabajar con nosotros. ?Feliz HHM! ?? Gracias: Latino Academy of Workforce Development, Inc. Centro Legal de la Raza CHIRLA National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, Building Skills Partnership Digital Nest Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES), Latino Equality Alliance COLOR LATINA TransLatina Coalition

Join us this October for East Bay Housing Organizations' 2024 Candidate Forums on Houselessness, Housing, and Hunger! Candidates from key races in Alameda County and Oakland will discuss the critical role of government and elected officials in addressing our community's most urgent challenges. Don't miss this opportunity to hear their plans and ask important questions about the future of housing and support services. ?? Tonight: October 3, 2024 Sign up at https://lnkd.in/gupd-8S7 ?? Save the date: October 10, 2024 Sign up at https://lnkd.in/gYZ2eAxZ Centro Legal de la Raza's Executive Director, Monique Berlanga, will be moderating the panel on October 10.

We are deeply grateful to be a part of this initiative by the San Francisco Foundation. The $3 million investment to strengthen the Bay Area’s ecosystem of Latinx community organizers has been nothing short of transformational. As one of the grantees, these resources have been instrumental in supporting our leadership and our ongoing efforts to combat systemic inequities. #LatinxHeritageMonth