Hispanics United of Buffalo

Hispanics United of Buffalo is a non-profit organization based in Buffalo, New York, founded in 2007 by Geovaira Hernandez and Luis Diaz to provide support and services to the Hispanic and Latino American community in Western New York. The organization has been involved in various initiatives, including healthcare access, education, and job training programs, often in collaboration with other organizations such as the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County and the Catholic Charities of Buffalo. Hispanics United of Buffalo has also worked with local government agencies, including the City of Buffalo and the Erie County Government, to address issues affecting the Hispanic and Latino American community.

● History

The history of Hispanics United of Buffalo is closely tied to the experiences of its founders, Geovaira Hernandez and Luis Diaz, who were both involved in various community organizations in Buffalo, New York, including the Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York and the Buffalo Hispanic Community. In 2007, they founded Hispanics United of Buffalo to address the specific needs of the Hispanic and Latino American community in Western New York, often in partnership with other organizations such as the National Council of La Raza and the League of United Latin American Citizens. The organization has since grown to become a prominent voice in the Buffalo, New York community, working with local leaders such as Byron Brown, the Mayor of Buffalo, and Mark Poloncarz, the Erie County Executive.

● Organization

Hispanics United of Buffalo is a 501(c)(3) organization governed by a board of directors that includes community leaders such as Geovaira Hernandez and Luis Diaz. The organization has a small staff and relies on volunteers from the Hispanic and Latino American community in Western New York to carry out its programs and services, often in collaboration with other organizations such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Hispanics United of Buffalo has also established partnerships with local businesses, including M&T Bank and KeyBank, to support its initiatives and provide resources to the Hispanic and Latino American community. The organization has received funding from various sources, including the New York State Department of Health and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

● Controversies

Hispanics United of Buffalo has been involved in several controversies over the years, including a dispute with the City of Buffalo over funding for its programs and services, which involved negotiations with Byron Brown, the Mayor of Buffalo, and Mark Poloncarz, the Erie County Executive. The organization has also faced criticism from some members of the Hispanic and Latino American community in Western New York who have questioned its leadership and decision-making processes, including Geovaira Hernandez and Luis Diaz. Additionally, Hispanics United of Buffalo has been involved in a controversy surrounding the DREAM Act, a United States Congress bill that would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, which has been supported by organizations such as the National Immigration Law Center and the American Civil Liberties Union.

● Impact

The impact of Hispanics United of Buffalo has been significant, with the organization providing support and services to thousands of Hispanic and Latino American individuals and families in Western New York each year, often in collaboration with other organizations such as the Catholic Charities of Buffalo and the Jewish Family Service of Buffalo and Erie County. The organization's initiatives have addressed a range of issues, including healthcare access, education, and job training, and have helped to promote economic development and social justice in the Buffalo, New York community, with the support of local leaders such as Kathy Hochul, the Governor of New York, and Letitia James, the New York State Attorney General. Hispanics United of Buffalo has also played a key role in promoting cultural diversity and inclusion in Western New York, often in partnership with organizations such as the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Category:Hispanic and Latino American organizations