Para Los Ni?os

Our advocacy team has been busy meeting with government officials and attending key government events to help influence decisions that will positively impact the communities we serve. In recent weeks: ? The team met with Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas and her staff to discuss the work Para Los Ni?os is doing with unhoused families, as well as the ongoing support we provide through the Peace and Healing Center. ? They attended the UnidosUS (WeAreUnidosUS) Changemakers Summit, a two-day advocacy training event where they heard from policy experts and government leaders associated with UnidosUS. This summit addressed the opportunities and challenges facing our community and allowed our team to build connections with government officials and other organizations. They met with staff members from Senator Adam Schiff, Representative Laura Friedman, Senator Alex Padilla, and Rep. Jimmy Gomez offices. ? They participated in Councilmember Ysabel Jurado's drop-in hours, designed for community members from Skid Row and the Industrial District, to introduce her to Para Los Ni?os and the work we are doing with the unhoused community. To learn more about the advocacy work we're doing, visit https://bit.ly/3tYnJc6! #PolicyAdvocacy

Congrats to my Para Los Ni?os colleagues, Diana J. Yi, Katherine Nelson, Stanley Anjan, M. Ed., Cecy Carol, Carlos Esquivel, Zianne Rangel and Patrick Templeto, for facilitating an informative session at the 2025 California Charter Schools Association Conference! ?? Participants were able to learn about the impactful work that our schools are leading to support students experiencing homelessness through our community schools strategy. #ccsaconference #paralosninos #communityschools #powerfulfamilies #excellenteducation #strongcommunities

Today on #ThrowbackThursday, we celebrate the incredible legacy of Lucille Roybal-Allard, our Familia Award Honoree, a true trailblazer in Congress, and a shining example during Women's History Month! As the first Mexican-American woman elected to Congress, Lucille made significant strides in advocating for women and children. She championed important legislation on healthcare, education, and immigration reform. We're also looking back at her feature on the 10th Anniversary cover of Latina Style magazine with trailblazers Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Nydia Velazquez. We honor her impactful legacy and acknowledge her invaluable contributions that continue to inspire the next generation of leaders. #WomensHistoryMonth

Thank you for uplifting the voices of Para Los Ni?os' Youth Workforce Services staff and our peers at partner organizations! This such an important topic vital to ensuring that social impact is as effective as it can be. We need the resources to put people and systems in place that allow more children, youth and families access to everything our organizations have to offer. That means funding critical infrastructure and the people power to manage it, in addition to direct program services.

Join Us for Career Day at Para Los Ni?os! We’re excited to welcome professionals from all fields to inspire our students at Career Day on Friday, March 21st, from 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM! This is a fantastic opportunity to share your career journey, answer questions, and motivate the next generation. Whether you’re in healthcare, tech, the arts, or any other industry, our students would love to learn from you! Sign up here to participate: https://lnkd.in/gy3ENd6J Let’s work together to spark curiosity and open doors for our future leaders! #CareerDay #ParaLosNi?os #InspireTheFuture

Para Los Ni?os is seeking a transformational Principal to accelerate growth and sustain a positive academic culture, social emotional support and safe school climate for all. This is a special opportunity to lead a community school that works in concert with partners to provide comprehensive, integrated services and support for scholars and their families.? To learn more and apply:?https://lnkd.in/gY5VkEtk

We are so proud to announce this year's PLN Familia Award Honoree: Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard! Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard was born and raised in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles and was the first Mexican-American woman to be elected to congress in 1992. Her deeply personal work has meaningfully improved conditions for children and families in the communities PLN serves. Roybal-Allard has been recognized for spearheading legislation that has improved maternal and newborn health, her advocacy on creating a legal pathway for immigrant youth as one of the original authors of the DREAM Act and advancing women’s rights and environmental equity. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating this legendary advocate and our shared commitment to improving the lives of children, youth and families in our Los Angeles community at our 2025 Annual Benefit, May 8 at the Beverly Hilton. Learn more at paralosninos.org/gala

This past weekend, ABC's Director of Policy and Advocacy, Erika Cervantes, presented at Para Los Ni?os' Youth Summit, engaging youth in a discussion about digital equity, advocacy, and the importance of using their voices to drive change! We were also proud to see ABC parent leader, Maria, share her story on a panel, highlighting the digital inequities in Southeast LA and how she has advocated alongside ABC for affordable, reliable, and high-quality internet access for her community. Thank you Para Los Ni?os for creating a space to uplift youth and community voices in the fight for #DigitalEquity! ??

? Empowering the Next Generation of Digital Equity Advocates ? This past weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to speak at the Para Los Ni?os Youth Advocacy Summit, where we engaged young leaders from across LA County in a critical conversation about digital equity—what it means, why it matters, and how they can take action in their own communities. We explored how digital inequities impact daily life, from job opportunities (92% of jobs now require digital literacy!) to education, healthcare, and civic engagement. But we didn’t stop at identifying the challenges—we equipped these students with the tools to become advocates, teaching them how to: ? Craft public comments for city council meetings to make their voices heard ? Use storytelling as a tool for change, amplifying real experiences to push for policy solutions ? Find balance in advocacy, recognizing that rest and joy is essential to sustain advocacy The most powerful moments came from the students themselves: ?? "I now understand the importance of ensuring affordable internet access and digital literacy programs to bridge the technology gap for underserved communities." ?? "This event deepened my understanding of digital equity by highlighting how systemic barriers—like access to devices and internet infrastructure—must be addressed alongside digital literacy to truly empower marginalized communities." Hearing their reflections reminded me why this work is so urgent. Digital equity isn’t just a policy issue—it’s about power, opportunity, and justice. A huge thank you to Para Los Ni?os and all the partners who made this summit possible! A special thank you Liam Arnade-Colwill and Dr. Carla Lopez-Valdes for hosting and organizing such an impactful summit - and our DELA partners at Alliance for a Better Community, Everyone On, and Arts for LA for joining us on the panel and presentations! Let’s keep building momentum and pushing for a world where digital access is a right, not a privilege. #DigitalEquity #YouthAdvocacy #CivicEngagement #StorytellingForChange #BridgingTheDivide #ParaLosNi?os

Thank you for having us! Educators are essential to ensuring students have pathways to higher learning, critical skills that build confidence, and resources that support their families. We appreciate all who choose this career path and make a difference in the lives of children, youth and families.