Bertha Yungure says that the services provided by the Immigration and American Citizenship Organization in Paterson — from business courses to citizenship classes — have changed her life and the lives of her husband and three children since coming to the U.S.
The organization, which has served the Latino community in Paterson for several decades, has seen a growing need for social supports. And so, with funding from the Latino Action Network Foundation, it expanded last year and launched a series of women’s programs.
But the Latino Action Network Foundation is facing an 80% cut, or $2.5 million, in state funding for the upcoming fiscal year. The Immigration and American Citizenship Organization is not the only organization that Latino Action Network supports. It distributes grants throughout the state to established nonprofits. It’s calling on the Legislature, especially the Legislative Latino Caucus, to reinstate its funding.
“This is a program that particularly targets Hispanic women and has been doing so for decades,” said Jesselly de la Cruz, executive director of the Latino Action Network Foundation.
“This is not really the time to back down on … supporting immigrant women, mothers, who are looking to learn English, take citizenship classes, find employment, maybe take some interviewing classes. It’s not just about getting a job, but keeping a job, being able to sustain that, and what are the supports you need to be able to do that. So this is the time New Jersey really needs to stand up and say this is how we truly help people be a better and healthier New Jersey.”
NJ Spotlight News reached out for comment to several members of the Legislative Latino Caucus, but none were available before this story was broadcast.
The Latino Action Network faced similar cuts in Gov. Phil Murphy’s budget proposal last, but the funding was restored in the final budget.
This report is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
