We are incredibly honored to work with fantastic agencies across Minnesota to provide important co-advocacy services, and this month we are excited to highlight our partnership with Esperanza United.
With nearly forty years of success, Esperanza United leverages the strengths of Latin@ communities to end gender-based violence. Founded and led by Latinas, Esperanza United grounds their work in listening to the community and adapting to meet their changing needs. They work with the community, other service providers, and systems to ensure Latinas, their families, and our communities receive culturally relevant advocacy and quality, appropriate, and effective resources.
In addition to being part of our Day One Network, Esperanza United works very closely with our Community and Economic Services (CEES) program. Cornerstone has two transitional housing units reserved for Esperanza United participants, and both Cornerstone and Esperanza United’s housing advocates work closely together, communicating regularly and attending participant meetings together.
During their co-advocacy efforts, Cornerstone and Esperanza United often help provide participants with connections to Bloomington resources and assist with navigating housing systems. The Esperanza United advocate provides a lot of the culturally specific advocacy, keeping participants connected with their cultural communities and offering safety planning or other resources that fit with customs or norms. Plus, Esperanza United has been a great resource for participants around immigration challenges or options. This co-advocacy can also be seen through our financial empowerment efforts, as while Cornerstone can provide English courses, Esperanza United helps connect participants with other courses taught in Spanish.
Most recently, we had two Esperanza United participants move out of Cornerstone’s transitional housing and into new permanent housing, including one into Cornerstone’s permanent housing. We look forward to welcoming two new Esperanza United participants in the coming months and for continued success in our co-advocacy efforts.
Cornerstone is so grateful to have partners like Esperanza United in our efforts to help survivors. For more information and to learn more about Esperanza United and how to get involved with their efforts as well, visit: https://esperanzaunited.org/en/get-involved/.
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