The mission of Adelante Latina is to help Latina girls in Baltimore overcome the socio-cultural, economic and academic barriers they face in pursuing a college career. The program strives to improve high school performance through interaction with expert teachers and caring tutors, with an emphasis on reading comprehension, vocabulary, writing skills and SAT preparation. Students participate during their sophomore-senior years of high school. During senior year, Adelante Latina provides guidance with the college decision process, and college and scholarship applications. In the 11 years it has been in operation, 100% of students have been accepted to college and 97% have attended. This program provided core operating support.

The Tahirih Justice Center exists to support courageous immigrant women and children who are survivors of gender-based violence–including human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, and other crimes–who are seeking safety and justice. The immigrant survivors of gender-based violence that Tahirih serves are particularly vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic because they lack healthcare, work low-wage hourly jobs, have no paid sick leave, and are ineligible for public benefits. With few agencies specializing in service to immigrant survivors, Tahirih staff are setting up emergency funds, increasing safety planning, educating clients in their native language, coordinating mental health sessions, and responding to other requests expeditiously. This grant provided operating support for Tahirih’s Baltimore office.

The Hopkins, Esperanza, Asylee Women and Loyola (HEAL) Refugee Health and Asylum Collaborative is a collaboration among Johns Hopkins University, the Esperanza Center/Catholic Charities, Asylee Women’s Enterprise, and Loyola University Maryland to increase access to forensic physical and psychological evaluations, mental health care, and other services to survivors of torture and trauma seeking refuge in the United States. The first such dedicated physical clinic in the Baltimore area, HEAL works to address the needs of Baltimore’s burgeoning population of asylum-seekers. Services are located at the Esperanza Center, a comprehensive resource center whose mission is to welcome immigrants by offering hope, compassionate services, and the power to improve their lives. This grant provided operating support.