The Progreso Latino Fund was established “to promote the educational and socio-economic well being of Latinos in the City of New Haven and the region, with special attention given to Puerto Rican youth.” Having been established a mere two years ago, it has been an important initiative of the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven.
To date, the initial goal of raising $50,000 has been achieved and matched by CFGNH to bring it to the $105,000 mark. This year, it is hoped that the group will raise another $150,000 and begin the process of making small grants ($500-$1,000) that will be leveraged by collaborations to maximize impact. Additionally, they will continue to host forums in the style of “community conversations” on provocative and timely topics.
The Steering Committee boasts incredible community leadership: Sonia Caban, Financial Advisor; Pamela Delerme, Nurse-Midwife in private practice in New Haven; Juan Figueroa, President & CEO, Universal Health Care Foundation Foundation of Connecticut; Ceferino Lugo, PhD, Assistant Superintendent of Vocational Schools, State of CT; Maria Mojica, Senior Program Officer, Graustein Memorial Fund; Marta Moret, President, Urban Policy Strategies; Michael Negron, President, MJN Associates; Francisco Ortiz, New Haven Chief of Police; Frances Padilla, President, New Paradigms Consulting; John Padilla, Vice-President, New Paradigms Consulting; John Soto, President & CEO, Spacecraft Manufacturing .
Tuesday night, the group and other invitees convened at 500 Blake Street. After a cocktail buffet and socializing, author, journalist, and news analyst Diane Alverio took her place as moderator for the evening. The issue under discussion was whether the Puerto Rican community should take a pro-active role in immigration legislation. The forum was informative and stimulating; the resounding response was affirmative.
Among the attendees were: Attorney Orlando Cordero (Bai, Pollock, Bluewiess & Mulcahey), State Sen. Joe Crisco, Curtis Patton (Yale EPH and African American Legacy Council), Barbara DeBaptise (African American Legacy Council),Blanca Santana, (Executive Director of Spanish Community of Wallingford), Pamela Delerme (Progreso Latino Fund), Dr. Julio Morales( Professor Emeritus, UConn School of Social Work),Rev. Emilio Hernandez (Knowing God Ministries), Angelina Gerena (master teacher at LULAC Head Start)Phil Dwyer, (President, Central Coast YMCA), Juan Figueroa (President, Universal Health Care Foundation), Edna Cruz-Cedeno (United Shoreline Credit Union), Attorney Heidi Avila, Lauri Lowell, Arlene Elovich and Lindy Lee Gold (Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven).
This was another great New Haven evening —¬¶ — ¬¶ALL FOR THE GREATER GOOD!