New state-wide Latino coalition kicks off with summer mixer at America’s Most Beloved Ballpark
By Tim Estiloz | Photos by Cesar Ziegler
As the old saying goes, “it’s a whole new ballgame”. This ballgame, however, had nothing to do with the Red Sox playing last Sunday at Fenway Park.
Instead, the new game was aimed at garnering greater empowerment, civic representation, advocacy and much more benefitting Latino communities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and their people.
The key players meeting at Fenway to kick off this bold new initiative called “Unidos in Power” were comprised of dozens of prominent Latinos; making up one of the largest concentration of Latino leadership in Massachusetts this year.
“Unidos in Power” made its formal debut during a gathering on Fenway Park’s third floor Truly Terrace, hosted by El Mundo Boston during its “Tu Salud” Latino Health and Wellness Fair, which brought together more than 4,500 Latinos for a festive, free celebration, focusing on the mental and physical health of Latinos in the Greater Boston area.
Latino civic and business leaders from cities across the state such as Springfield, Worcester, Lawrence, Quincy and many more were in attendance at this inaugural event. The gathering was designed to consolidate the collective power of the people and organizations in these numerous communities to effect positive change, representation and greater advocacy for the state’s significant Latino population.
“From Springfield to Worcester to Lynn, Boston, Chelsea, this is likely one of the largest congregations of Latino leadership in the Commonwealth. We are here today for an afternoon of strategic networking, and to talk more about our mission to unify the voice of the Latino community across the state”, said Juan Carlos Morales, a member of the group’s founding executive committee.
“The beauty of ‘Unidos in Power’ is that it’s not just Boston”, said Grace Moreno, also a member of the group’s founding executive committee.
“We know that we have many, many Latinos across the Commonwealth that are not represented. So, we are extending our network to those communities beyond Boston. We believe that there are many organizations that serve Latinos throughout the state; but we are bringing all those organizations together to put one amplified voice behind the issues that matter to our people”.
Moreno is Executive Director and founder of the Massachusetts LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce.
Statistics show that the Latino population in Massachusetts is steadily growing across the state. Latinos and Latino owned businesses contribute significantly to the state’s economy. Civic representation by Latinos has also been on the rise over recent years.
“The one thing that is missing is a state-wide coalition”, said Dr. Joseph Betancourt, Unidos in Power Founding Chair.
“And really, it’s more of a movement to unify our assets and then, we will be able to strongly advocate for the needs of our community. Our communities remain challenged socio-economically, in access to education and health equity and more. “Unidos In Power” aims to garner all that energy, potential and leadership in support of those issues,” added Betancourt, a nationally and internationally recognized expert in health policy, diversity, and cross-cultural medicine.
Betancourt is currently the President of Commonwealth Fund, a national philanthropic organization that supports independent research on health care issues and makes grants to improve health care practice and policy.
According to Betancourt, the goal of “Unidos in Power” is to create an advocacy platform that leverages Latino community based and civic organizations to do three things initially.
First, to increase the socio-economic empowerment of the Latino community. Second, to support Latino elected officials and their agendas in support of their communities. Third, to increase Latino leadership in support of their communities.
“We Latinos contribute to Massachusetts”, said Betancourt, “We are powerful, and we are part of its future. As such, we want to be heard, respected, and be included and we want to make sure our communities get the things we need to grow and prosper.”
Josiane Martinez, Chair of Governor Maura Healey’s Latino Empowerment Council said this new organization is totally different from her group in its function.
While the Latino Empowerment Council members have been appointed by the Governor to provide recommendations to implement potential programs to lift up Latino communities, «Unidos in Power» will be “a broad-based coalition of Latino leadership and groups from across Massachusetts to directly advocate for effective change, representation and advocacy across a wide spectrum of issues and concerns,” added Martinez.
Martinez is CEO & Founder of Archipelago Strategies Group (ASG), a Massachusetts-based marketing firm specializing in marketing, communications, public and government affairs and social responsibility.
As part of this coalition rollout, “Unidos in Power” officials urged Latinos across the state to sign up as community members on the organization website www.UnidosInPower.org, then click on the “Stay Involved” button and fill in your information.
Their goal is to get 3,000 community members to sign this month and ask that people share with five Latino friends to also sign in.
The event was held during the same time as thousands of Latino families from across the Commonwealth poured into Fenway Park for “Tu Salud”, a free, first-of-its-kind Latino Health and Wellness Fair catered to Latino families in Massachusetts.
“Tu Salud” provided a unique opportunity for the community to connect with health care providers, services, and health care coverage information.
The unique celebration was organized by El Mundo Boston and presented by The Massachusetts Health Connector, who actively enrolled and provided critical information in Spanish to attendees; including people who may have lost or will lose MassHealth eligibility over the next year.
In what can only be described as a clear example of one of the many challenges facing the Latino community, hundreds stood in line as Goya Foods and El Mundo Boston teamed up to provide over 10,000 lbs. of food for those in attendance – another indicator of the significant food insecurity many Latino families face in Massachusetts.
