Advocacy

Familias at 2023 Nutrition Oregon Campaign Retreat

Familias Joins Statewide Collaboration to Reduce Risk of Chronic Diseases!

The Nutrition and Food Equity Program participated in a three-day retreat, in October, to discuss program strategies to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and obesity. The retreat was sponsored by the Nutrition Oregon Campaign (NOC), which is part of the OHSU Bob and Charlee Moore Institute for Nutrition & Wellness, whose purpose is to end chronic disease before it starts. 

Since 1990, diabetes rates have tripled, especially among people of color and rural populations. 70% of people with diabetes will eventually get heart disease. This is an epidemic that we can stop! The NOC statewide campaign is driven by communities and grounded in the science of Developmental Origins of Health & Disease. This science shows us how risk for developing chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes and heart disease are established before birth and in the first years of life based on nutrition and exposure to toxic stresses like poverty, racism and abuse.   

Familias worked with the Moore Institute and in 2018, developed a culturally specific curriculum to share with our Latiné families called Abuela, Mama y Yo (AMY) to address this issue. We offer this class, as well as Walk with Ease and other exercise, gardening and cooking classes to share ideas about healthy lifestyles and accessing more fruits and vegetables. The program also includes information on advocacy and accessing government programs such as SNAP and WIC. 

The purpose of the retreat was to connect with the statewide HUBS and share our programs with the Latiné they serve from Yamhill County, Douglas County, Klamath County and the Western Treasure Valley area near Ontario, Oregon and Payette, Idaho.  Familias has a three-year, $299,000 grant from the Ford Family Foundation to serve rural areas with our Nutrition and Food Equity Program. 

For more information, contact Alejandra Gurrola at Alejandra@familiesenaccion.org or go to our website at Nutrition and Food Equity Program. 

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AIDsWalk Northwest – 2023

We have an exciting opportunity to participate as a community partner in this year’s AIDsWalk Northwest, happening on September 9th, 2023.

Help us fundraise and walk with Familias!

AIDsWalk is Cascade-AIDs-Projects (CAP) annual fundraising event. HIV/AIDS continues to impact our community here in Oregon and Nationally. As you know, Familias en Acción started its HIV/STI Sexual Health program in 2020 in order to bring culturally-relevant education and increase prevention efforts for our Latine community. 

We invite you and your families, friends, and other social networks to help support both CAP and Familias by fundraising for this important cause. 60% of all donations will go back to Familias en Acción to support our work and mission! 

Fundraising is really simple. If you’d like to help you have the following options:

  1. Share the Familias fundraising page with your social networks. People can learn more about this fundraiser and donate the amount of their choice.
  2. Create your own fundraising page & share it with your networks (it’s easy + we’re here to help!). Having your own fundraising page is more personal and allows you to include a message about why this work is important to YOU! Join the Familias team here and then create your fundraising page. All funds you personally raise will be linked to both your profile and our Familias team page!  

The Familias team page is now live, so feel free to share this with your networks or make a personal donation to help us get started!  Attached is an example of an email blurb you can use to share with your network (you can personalize it as you choose). 

Interested in walking with us at this year’s event? In addition to fundraising, Familias is inviting staff, board members, friends and other community partners to walk with us! If you are interested in walking, please fill out this form.

Last year’s event was a blast! We hope you will consider joining us for our 2nd Annual AIDSwalk!

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Earth Day Oregon 2023

Support Familias & Earth Day Oregon this spring! 

It’s officially spring and we’re excited to launch Familias’ Earth Month campaign – dedicated to raising funds for our programs, spreading awareness about Familias’ climate & health equity work, and supporting local businesses that share our values.

Join Familias en Acción in creating a more sustainable Oregon and help us raise $5,000 this spring!

Donate Here

This year, we’ve partnered with Earth Day Oregon and inspiring local businesses to help us amplify our impact. Earth Day Oregon unites nonprofits, businesses, and community members statewide to create a groundswell of support for local organizations leading us to a sustainable future.

Learn More About Our Partners & How You Can Support Familias

Donate to Familias en Acción today through April 30, 2023 for the chance to receive artwork by Corinne Lent.

The first 10 people to donate $100 or more to Familias en Acción will receive a custom print.

Anyone who donates $10 or more will be entered into a raffle to win handmade trinket dish (pictured on the right). Raffle winner announced the first week of May.

Donate to Familias!

Fingerprint & Co. is donating $1 for every candle sold from April 1st-30th to Familias en Acción!

Fingerprint & Co. is a PNW-based company and a long-time friend and supporter of Familias en Acción.

Help uplift Familias and Fingerprint by purchasing a candle for your friends, family, coworkers, or treat yourself! They make great gifts for birthdays, holidays, any day.

Shop Candles Here

From April 22nd-29th, Tacovore is donating 50% of sales on a special Earth Day themed cocktail to Familias en Acción. 

Bring your familia and friends and come enjoy delicious food & drinks for a cause!

Familias is proud to partner with KeyBank’s Latinx/Hispanic Employee Resource Group. Together, we’ve hosted three financial wellness workshop with Familias staff and KeyBank employees to help us better prepare. Thank you for your continued support of Familias and for supporting our climate action work for Earth Month!

About Familias’ Climate Action Work

Climate change influences human health and disease in numerous ways. However, not everyone is equally at risk. Latino/x/e community members are more likely to live in urban heat islands, have higher exposure to air pollutants, and are less likely to be able to afford equipment and services to protect them from climate impacts. Climate change health impacts show directly in increased asthma, chronic respiratory diseases, heart disease, diabetes, injuries and premature deaths related to extreme weather events, such as heat waves and snow storms.

The legacy of inequitable public policies has and continues to put Latino/x/e and other vulnerable communities at greater risk of poor health. To ensure that our communities are thriving and healthy, Familias en Acción will continue to:

  • Deliver Climate Disaster & Emergency Preparedness workshops around extreme weather events in Oregon, 
  • Advocate for more culturally specific environmental resources for Latino/x/e communities, and 
  • Host the 2023 Latino Health Equity Conference on the intersections of climate and health. 

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Webinar! Comadres en Acción: A Conversation about Generational Differences

Our families and communities need to come together! The need for respectful dialog is more important than ever.

How can multi-generations talk about issues like, climate change, racial justice, gender and sexuality?  Our panelists will offer their perspectives on generational differences and how together, we can work for our common good. 

About Abuelas en Acción:

(Grandmothers in Action) is an exciting podcast hosted by Marie Dahlstrom and Dr. Rosemary Celaya-Alston! This podcast focuses on health equity and economic justice, climate change and immigration justice. Abuelas en Acción are grandmothers who care about the future of our country.

Listen to all of Abuelas en Abuelas en Acción’s podcasts here!

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Conozca Sus Derechos

Conozca Sus Derechos

The applications are confidential.

The food resources are not part of public charge.

We would like to invite you to join one of our webinars, to learn together how to access food during this pandemic. Check our Training & Community Classes page for more information.

These webinars will be updated quarterly.

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We support House Bills that will benefit Latino Health in Oregon

Familias en Acción officially supports the following two state house bills, HB 4115 and HB 4161. The passing of these bills into Oregon state law would greatly benefit Latino health by improving healthcare access and reducing health disparities with support from the Oregon Health Authority.

HB 4115 is an important bill to support since it would make it a requirement for health care providers to use health care interpreters who are qualified or certified by the Oregon Health Authority. This will help build a bridge of language and culture between a health care professional and a patient whose primary language is not English. HB 4115 Progress + Status

HB 4161 is another important bill to support since it would ensure that the Oregon Health Authority works with community based organizations that are part of  the Regional Health Equity Coalition or who use the Regional Health Equity Coalition model and work together to provide services to priority populations throughout the state in order to improve their health and well-being. HB 4161 Progress + Status

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