Building Community Power Across Maryland
Maryland Latinos Unidos works alongside community leaders, advocates, organizations, and families across the state to address the barriers Latino and immigrant communities face every day. From healthcare access and educational opportunity to environmental justice and economic mobility, our work connects people with resources, leadership opportunities, and collective action that creates lasting change. We believe communities closest to the challenges should help shape the solutions. Through advocacy, partnerships, and grassroots engagement, MLU helps amplify voices that have too often been overlooked in statewide conversations.
Our work
Key Focus Areas:
- Higher Education Access: Expanding scholarships, financial aid, and mentorship.
- Bilingual & Multicultural Education: Supporting policies that reflect Latine identities.
- Family Engagement: Providing workshops and resources for parental advocacy.
- Educational Equity: Addressing disparities in funding, graduation rates, and advanced coursework.
- Early Childhood Education: Ensuring access to quality early learning programs.
- Leadership Development: Training Latine educators and school leaders.
- Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs): Advocating for HSIs to enhance equity and workforce growth.
Key Focus Areas:
- Air Quality: Reducing pollution exposure in high-risk areas.
- Water Access: Advocating for clean drinking water through Agua es Vida.
- Cumulative Impacts: Addressing pollution, poor housing, and lack of green spaces.
- Health & Environment: Connecting pollution to chronic health conditions.
- Climate Resilience: Preparing Latine communities for climate-related challenges.
- Futuros Verdes: Educating and empowering local environmental leaders.
- Community Advocacy: Training Latine families to push for healthier environments.
Key Focus Areas:
- HIV Prevention: PrePárate provides education and care access.
- Maternal Health: Project AMOR supports Latine mothers’ well-being.
- Environmental Health: Addressing pollution-related illnesses.
- Chronic Conditions: Preventing and managing diabetes, heart disease, and asthma.
- Mental Health: Expanding access and reducing stigma.
- Health Literacy: Helping Latine families navigate healthcare.
- Pandemic Response: Providing accurate info, vaccinations, and resources.
- Community Health Workers (CHWs): Training Promotores to lead health initiatives.
Key Focus Areas:
- Economic Mobility: Workforce development and financial stability programs.
- Wealth Creation: Promoting savings, homeownership, and business funding.
- Financial Literacy: Offering culturally relevant workshops and resources.
- Small Business Support: Latino Leadership Series provides funding and mentorship.
- Social Entrepreneurship: Empowering Latine-led businesses with social impact.
- Networking: Connecting professionals and entrepreneurs to opportunities.
- AI and Technology: Opening pathways to deeper connection to ensure innovation strengthens community power, representation, and real-world impact.
Key Focus Areas:
- Policy Advocacy: Fighting for equitable access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.
- Civic Engagement: Encouraging voter participation and leadership roles.
- Community Organizing: Empowering Latine individuals to drive change.
Driving Change Across All Levels of Government
MLU advocates for policies that promote equity, inclusion, and opportunity for Maryland’s Latine community. Our work spans municipal, county, state, and federal levels to ensure their voices are represented in decision-making.
Key Advocacy Initiatives
- Municipal & County Advocacy: Partnering with local governments to improve housing, transportation, healthcare, and education.
- State-Level Advocacy: Advancing policies on health equity, economic empowerment, and environmental justice.
- Federal Advocacy: Engaging in national coalitions for immigration reform, healthcare access, and workforce development.
Signature Projects
- People’s Policy Series: Roundtables uniting policymakers and community leaders.
- Latino Health Equity Alliance: Advancing policies for equitable healthcare. www.lheamd.org
- LSI Leadership Training: Training and empowering community advocates.
Leadership & Capacity-Building
MLU strengthens Maryland’s Latine community through leadership training and professional development.
Programs:
- Leadership and Sustainability Institute (LSI): Equipping leaders with strategic skills.
- Community Health Worker (CHW) Training: Professional development for health equity advocates. For more information, contact: LSIinfo@mdlatinosunidos.org
- Project AMOR: Training Maternal Health Ambassadors to support new mothers.
Research & Data Collection
MLU drives informed decision-making through research highlighting the experiences and needs of Maryland’s Latine community.
Research Initiatives