SER AmericaSpring 2021 Serving over 1,000,000 annually. La Familia de SER Cultivating America’s Greatest Resource: PeopleTM TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 Message from the Chairwoman of the Board 7 Message from the President and CEO 9 Honoring Legacy and Showing Up for Community - Centro Latino 13 Protecting Families from Homelessness for Decades - NAICA Team is Committed to the fight 17 42 Years of Service and Counting – A SER Afilliate’s promise to serve 20 Pueblo y Salud: Civic activists and advocates 13 for L.A. Latinos 23 Seeing the Unseen - The Promise of Mi Centro 26 SER Network Directory 28 New Board Member: Brigadier General (R) Sylvia Rubalcaba Crockett 29 SER National Board of Directors 30 57th SER National Annual Conference 31 SER STEM Community Day SER America is a publication of SER Jobs for Progress National, Inc. Direct all editorial and advertising inquiries and correspondence to: SER America c/o Raul Santa 100 E. Royal Lane, Suite 130, Irving, TX 75039 Tel: 469-549-3600, Fax: 469-549-3687 20 [email protected] Website: www.ser-national.org Reproduction of articles is permitted only if reprinted in its entirety with credit given to SER and/or author. It is requested that a copy of the reprinted materials be sent to SER Jobs for Progress National, Inc. SER Jobs for Progress National, Inc., acknowledges the support of the U.S. Department of Labor and the advertisement support of corporations who made this publication possible. Publisher SER Jobs for Progress National, Inc. 100 E. Royal Lane, Suite 130, Irving, TX 75039 Tel: 469-549-3600, Fax: 469-549-3687 Website: www.ser-national.org SER National President & CEO Ignacio Salazar SER America Managing Team 23 Raul Santa, Cynthia Gomez SER America Freelance Writer Lauren Dugger B:8.75" T:8.5" S:8" B:11.25" S:10.5" T:11" No one is born a rocket scientist. We’re committed to supporting those who support you. That’s why General Motors is a proud sponsor of SER and STEM Community Day. Because we know the journey to the top requires those who believe in you. everybody in. gm.com ©2021 General Motors. All Rights Reserved. 11505257T_SER_National__402348543A01.indd 1 4/27/21 6:28 PM 360 West Maple Road • Birmingham • MI • 48009 • 248-203-8000 APPROVALS: INITIAL/DATE Client: GM Corp. Division: Goodwill MAC ARTIST ACCT COORD PROOFREADER A R T D I R E C T O R Job #: 11505257 Ad #: 11505257T Ad Description 21GM- Goodwill- SER National Creative Director Rob Legato Media Type Print Live 8" x 10.5" Ratio 1" = 1" Art Director Ally Bonello Copywriter — COPYWRITER PRODUCT SPEC ART BUYER LEGAL Unit Page Trim 8.5" x 11" Live 8" x 10.5" Acc’t Executive Amanda Macielak Line Screen None Bleed 8.75" x 11.25" Trim 8.5" x 11" Acc’t Coordinator Randi Tate Color 4 Color Bleed 8.75" x 11.25" MAC Artist Craig Lyons Caption None Production Robin Kujawa 248-203-8833 CREATIVE DIR EXEC CREA DIR ASST ACCT EXEC ACCT EXEC Images 21GMCP0027_a.tif, GM_Outlined_OneColor_Brandmark_White_CMYK_PrintOnly.eps Page Number Pubs None 1 Saved at 4-27-2021 4:28 PM by craig.lyons / craig.lyons Route Pre Press Schawk Inks CMYK SR ACCT EXEC ACCT SUPER ACCT DIRECTOR PRODUCTION 1 Printed at None Fonts Overpass NOTES: Ship: 04/27/21 SPELLCHECKED HIGH RES. APPROVED APPROVED EMAIL UPLOAD & ART PLACED UPLOAD PRINTOUTS 402348543A01 NC 1 1st_Assembly 04/27/2021 EDITORIAL Message from the Chairwoman of the Board e’ve had a rough year. SER was not alone in this. We’ve had We’ve lost jobs and loved corporate, government, and community ones during a global partners stand with us through thick and pandemic, all while facing thin, and they deserve to be commended for growing disparities and that dedication. I’m grateful for partners that historical division in our are willing to continue to come to the table nation. And yet, we are blessed to be alive and help us continue our mission – educate Wand still serving those who need us. and employ as many of our people in this While several century-old nonprofit country as possible. agencies were forced to close their doors SER National is very fortunate to have permanently, SER National has not only a strong board of committed community, survived but thrived. Let us acknowledge the corporate, and government leaders. Strong importance of that fact: SER National is still leadership has ensured SER National Jane Garcia here and going strong! remains a well-oiled machine that continues Chairwoman The past year has widened gaps to move forward. Our virtual programs will MGM Partner, Detroit MI to chasms, particularly in the Hispanic continue. Our outreach to immigrants and AGIF Representative communities we serve. SER is a bridge to veterans remains a top priority, as well as services over those chasms. Despite each educating our children after they have lost 2020 obstacle trying to impede our success, more than a year of academic and social we stayed strong and committed to our growth. goals. Let’s celebrate our endurance and SER has been providing solutions that success, but also recognize the work is not work for decades – solutions that stand the over. The message of empowerment, hope, test of time and catastrophe. We’re a trusted and education that SER provides as well agency that more than 1 million people a as the outcomes of life-changing programs year turn to for support, resources, and are what matter in the end. Please join hope. me in supporting SER as we serve the Our people and network are a communities, families, and individuals that differentiating factor. Dedicated volunteers rely on us so heavily to move beyond the give selflessly their time to meet people where obstacles that hold them back. they are. From more than 200 locations, we Thank you so much for your support of are a true part of the communities we serve, SER. Please enjoy the conference! allowing them to understand changing needs and maneuver as needed. Our corporate and government partners have stood alongside us, understanding that flexibility to shift funding priorities was crucial during these very dark times. People who were afraid to seek help because of a multitude of barriers and circumstances came to SER, and we lifted them up in a very bad time. Affiliates made sure technology and information devices were available for schoolwork, unemployment applications, and medical paperwork. SER AMERICA - SPRING 2021 5 La diversidad, la equidad y la inclusión son nuestras bases para la innovación e impulsan nuestro negocio. They also inspire a deep connection to the Latino community, and to all the communities we serve. Comcast NBCUniversal and Telemundo are proud to support the 57th SER National Annual Conference. COMCASTCORPORATION.COM/DIVERSITY SER AMERICA - SPRING 2021 6 EDITORIAL Message from the President and CEO hank you for joining us during our CDC to create low-cost housing using 3D 2021 SER National Conference technology, and as a result, reduce housing and Community Day. Given construction costs by up to 50 percent. the continued challenges and SER entrepreneurship programs such opportunities of our nation, as SER MUJER remain imperative after this conference is an important so many small businesses were forced to convening of leaders and advocates that close during the pandemic. We foresee an Tsupport the vision of SER National. Your increased need for reliable information and support is greatly appreciated as we guidance to help our entrepreneurs get back continue to help and elevate more than one on their feet and grow their businesses. It is million people across the country through critical for a resurgence in the economy. innovative solutions and collaboration. Today, we see so many young people As a nation we need to focus on the crippled by student loan debt, so financial Ignacio Salazar inequality in America, particularly related literacy is at the top of the list to help younger President & CEO to employment. Systemic inequities have generations avoid financial barriers as they SER Jobs for Progress National, Inc. brought our country to its current situation, grow older. Choosing to go to college and where one-third of our working population receive financial aid should not prevent does not earn a living wage. SER has students from purchasing a car or home one solutions to these workforce issues – we day. simply need to broaden our impact and We remain committed to offering free amplify our collective voice. We are talking training webinars every week for anyone able with our affiliates about skills acquisition to join. Our online webinars have covered and job training, focusing on technological topics such as financial literacy, early networking, programming, cybersecurity, childhood development, entrepreneurship, and other fields where well-paying jobs and STEM. are available. We are expanding our Cisco Network Academy program offerings across Our affiliate network has done the country. Cisco’s support has allowed outstanding work during the pandemic and us to teach these skills, and for that, we continues to do so in addressing the needs are extremely grateful. We know there are of so many who lack the resources that we additional opportunities that can have an take for granted. Without our boots-on-the- impact, and we are diligent about making ground affiliates, so many community needs them a reality. would not have been addressed across the country. Reducing the digital divide as well as providing high-quality early childhood We are excited to virtually host 1,500 education are crucial as we serve the students during the SER STEM Community most at-risk populations with extensive Day as they hear from dynamic speakers compounded barriers.