Posted September 23, 201111:04 am
Cleveland, Ohio -- Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
Legal Aid has a strong focus on serving Northeast Ohio's Hispanic Community. In the past five years, the number of Hispanic clients Legal Aid serves has increased approximately 160% because of outreach and additional staff/volunteers who are bilingual.
Legal Aid's focus on the Hispanic Community in Northeast Ohio includes:
- Frequent Volunteer Lawyers Program clinics at locations such as the Spanish-American Committee, El Barrio and St. Mary's Church,
- Ongoing education about Puerto Rican birth certificate issues,
- Legal Aid attorney Augustin Ponce De Leon serves on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities in Lake County - an organization that serves many Hispanic clients,
- Legal Aid attorney Camille Gill serves in a volunteer leadership position on the Latino Network of Lake County,
- Many of Legal Aid's brochures are now in both English and Spanish,
- Legal Aid attorneys have filed complaints with the Ohio Department of Jobs & Family Services, Bureau of Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services on behalf of Spanish speaking clients to ensure Title VI enforcement, and
- Legal Aid staff attend community events such as La Convención Hispana/Hispanic Convention, to share Legal Aid news and updates on services.