HISPANIC INTEREST COALITION OF ALABAMA

The Empowering Communities Program works to develop civically engaged individuals in a socially just community through organizing and leadership development. Moreover, it conducts programs designed for youth Latinx to access higher education by increasing graduation rates, college admissions, and further success in the workforce.
In 2021, this program assisted 180 individuals and their families. The college readiness program reached 62 students through 33 sessions in the Escalera project including 21 FAFSA completed and approved applications ($341,969 awarded). ¡HICA! awarded three $1,000 scholarships to Hispanic youth accepted into colleges. ECP conducted relevant work efforts on Voter registration and education about the importance to vote, reaching 951 individuals through posts, social media, and educational presentations. The program is leading the workforce development initiative geared to assist Hispanics to succeed in being prepared for and competitive to access good-paying job

The Citizenship and Immigration Program provides legal immigration services with information, guidance, and benefits, with assistance to those on the path to citizenship and other immigration needs, including Naturalization to those who are eligible. In 2021, this program provided case screenings to 960 individuals (690 families) presenting options for immigration benefits; filed 51 naturalization applications with 35 approved, 2 denied, and 14 pending, filed 13 humanitarian visa applications (visas for victims of hardship/crimes), 13 Green card applications, and 50 new and 177 renewal DACA applications. These services reached 56 counties in AL and 20 other states.

The Strong Families Program, ¡HICA!'s gateway program, provides information, referrals, and services that support families in times of crisis.
In 2021, this program provided 2,135 direct constituent services through Family advocacy (226 families); assisted 465 individuals (victims of crimes) through Victim advocacy; filed 35 PFAs for victims of crime; sustained a weekly support group for victims of crimes; provided 394 mental health counseling sessions to 72 constituents, provided 7 presentations related to Language Access and Cultural Humility, and distributed 985 printed informational flyers. Constituents from 40 AL counties were served.
This program led HICA’s initiative on the Emergency Assistance Fund created in March of 2020 to assist client's needs as the result of the Covid-19 pandemic. By the end of 2021, ¡HICA! had deployed $259,919 to 875 families, including 1,801 individual household members, 958 children under the age of 19, and 142 single parents’ households, all residen