UnidosUS

Mission - through a combination of research, advocacy, programs, and an affiliate network of nearly 300 community-based organizations across the us and puerto rico, Unidosus simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect latinos. In 2022 Unidosus engaged in a campaign to mitigate the residual economic, education, health, and immigration implications of the pandemic for all latinos. The campaign included: efforts to expand the earned income tax credit and child tax credit, which lifted approximately 1.4m latino children out of poverty; a multi-faceted communications public education campaign that ensured the community was getting important health information from trusted sources; and a national immigration effort to ensure protection from deportation, grant authorization to work, legalization and a path to citizenship for undocumented latinos. In addition, Unidosus focused on racial equity, seeking to establish a latino voice in public discourse by creating, publishing, and amplifying key content, and strengthening institutions and allies to deploy and sustain systemic and simultaneous interventions at all levels.

Health - as the impact of the pandemic began to recede, the Unidosus health team continued efforts to build policies and programs to ensure everyone's right to be healthy regardless of their immigration status, where they live, learn, or play. In 2022 Unidosus continued to capitalize on its expertise as a trusted community partner and worked with its affiliate network to reach latino communities directly with "ground and "air" game strategies around the importance of immunization. Unidosus has implemented a national bilingual multimedia communications vaccine educational campaign; conducted a mobile education tour, engaged key latino influencers; and led a mis/disinformation initiative to disseminate culturally and linguistically appropriate resources in spanish and english, through social and digital media channels, on radio and tv, ad buys, and by going directly into the communities. Through tactics in media relations, social media, digital advertising, content development, virtual events and town halls, the campaign informed communities, built trust around vaccines and immunization, fought misinformation, and provided vaccines logistics for latinos.

Housing and financial empowerment (hfe) - the hfe team works to mobilize Unidosus affiliates that are service providers in their communities to become channels through which low- and moderate-income latinos can access culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate financial coaching services. Through these channels, the financial empowerment network (fen) helps hundreds of people a year access this essential service and make meaningful changes in their financial lives, supporting thousands more to take steps on their own to improve their financial well-being and educating tens of thousands in the process. In addition, the homeownership network advises families in the home-buying process; helps them with their current mortgage; and provides financial, budgeting, and money-management advice. In 2022 hfe provided remote and in-person professional development to housing counselors; continued to provide culturally competent housing and financial coaching; and leveraged new educational technology to meet the needs of affiliates. This work resulted in more families addressing rental eviction threats, foreclosure threats, and/or identifying a path to save more and improve their credit.

Other program services