LATINO PERSPECTIVE-This past Sunday, Bienestar Human Services celebrated its 10th benefit fashion show. Latin Factory X is a fashion show showcasing exclusive collections of Latino and Los Angeles based designers, as well as renowned names of the fashion industry.
It was a great event. I am very proud to be on the Board of this organization which has served and continues to serve the Latino Community of the city of Los Angeles and other communities and cities in Southern California for the past 26 years.
Unlike other organizations like the LGBT Center or HRC, where tickets for their gala events go for $400 and up which only the wealthy can afford, tickets for Bienestar’s gala are only $75 for VIP and $25 for general admission. They don’t have fancy honorees either -- just individuals who have made a difference in our communities.
This year Bienestar honored Los Angeles Supervisor Hilda Solis. She has been there for us since she was a member of the California Assembly, and continues to be a champion for the issues that are important to our community.
Hernan Molina was also honored for all the work he has done to advance LGBT equality and advocate for HIV/AIDS issues.
BIENESTAR is a unique non-profit social service organization dedicated to positively impacting the health and well-being of the Latino community and other underserved communities in Southern California.
Founded here in Los Angeles in 1989, it is under the leadership of Oscar De La O who serves as the President of the Board of Directors. The organization uses an innovative and compassionate peer-to-peer model that is 100% culturally relevant to its constituents. Clients are met with understanding and acceptance that builds trust and fosters a unique sense of family.
There are nine Southern California community centers strategically located in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties to reach the Latino population and link them to health and social services agencies. BIENESTAR’s Outreach Teams are deployed to clubs, colleges, parks and other locales where the target population congregates within the community.
BIENESTAR is an expert voice on emerging health issues. Key to its success is health education and awareness regarding HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and drug prevention. It primarily targets the Latino gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender segments of the community. BIENESTAR’s approach empowers its clients to improve their physical and mental health and become productive members of society.
BIENESTAR advocates for human rights and social justice on a local, statewide and national level and serves the community at large by shedding light on emerging Latino issues and engaging with political and social service leaders. It empowers clients to participate through community mobilization and to become “agents of change”, thereby building awareness of critical issues, policies and legislation that require political action and funding.
The City of Los Angeles should be proud to have an organization like Bienestar within its borders.
(Fred Mariscal came to Los Angeles from Mexico City in 1992 to study at the University of Southern California and has been in LA ever since. He is a community leader who serves as Vice Chair of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Coalition and sits on the board of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council representing Larchmont Village. He was a candidate for Los Angeles City Council in District 4. Fred writes Latino Perspective for CityWatch and can be reached at: [email protected]) Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 13 Issue 93
Pub: Nov 17, 2015
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