Our Programs
Community engagement are at the core of our strategy. We invest heavily in supporting and delivering reliable tools to those who need them most. Discover more about our innovative campaigns below and get in touch to stay up to date regarding our latest efforts.
Program 1
Justice Kids is a program to address the overabundance of asylum seekers that have overwhelmed the small number of immigration attorneys in our area. We created a list of lawyers with expertise in other areas who wish to provide pro bono services in this area. We then provide them mentoring services from immigration attorneys as well as Spanish translation. Working in conjunction with the JusticeKids program, GLAD helps the asylum seekers to work with their attorney, whether that means filling out paperwork for them to pursue asylum claims, connecting them with local attorneys to handle their legal cases, practicing with asylum seekers to better express their claims, conducting research, assisting to prepare asylum seekers for trial, and providing support services to the asylum seekers.
Program 2
GLAD has organized numerous forums on issues of immediate interest to local Latinos, such as immigration policy, law enforcement, and public education. These events introduce Latino community members to Lane County government officials, mentor people towards leadership positions, and build networks and partnerships with other local organizations. Speakers at these forums include chiefs of police or sheriffs, elected officials, immigration attorneys, school board members, etc. We also held a number of immigration informational meetings to disseminate information on this topic and to help people to know their rights. We provide interpreters so that people can participate in Spanish. These events, therefore, educate
the audience about these issues and also give them an opportunity to meet and debate with experts and authorities. For people accustomed to remaining silent or invisible in the presence of authorities, these forums offer essential training in civic engagement and inspire people to take on leadership roles.
Program 3
GLAD has built strong partnerships with other non-profits throughout the
Eugene-Springfield area, and has strong connections with the UO campus. We have built a reputation as an organization that unites the Latino community around common causes and is in solidarity with other under-represented groups. In the coming years, we will continue to provide support for asylum seekers, though in a more limited scope. We will also continue to promote civic engagement through educational forums, direct political action, leadership development, as well as providing mentorship to and building professional skills for youth.