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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

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AccomplishmentsReport 2018

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The Hispanic/La no Commission of Michigan (HLCOM) worked to accomplish its statutory goals, and in doing so, helped improve the quality of life for Hispanic/La nos across Michigan. Over the past 12 months, Execu ve Director Felipe Lopez Sustaita and staff drove more than 12,000 miles across the state visi ng communi es and engaging in dialog about the needs that exist within each community.

We have established signifi cant rela onships with community leaders, community members, farmers, nonprofi t organiza ons, businesses, health organiza ons, law enforcement, K-12 ins tu ons, colleges and universi es, local, state/federal government organiza ons, and other ins tu ons.

HLCOM has been working toward becoming the focal clearinghouse for informa on on the Hispanic/La no community in the state of Michigan, as no other organiza on in the state has the capacity or resources to undertake such a task. Our small staff crea vely explores ways to partner with various organiza ons and community resources, for a be er understanding of our cons tuents’ needs.

Our team is pleased to report another impressive return on taxpayer investment with respect to the funds Gov. Rick Snyder recommended and appropriated by the Michigan Legislature. Our commission is an indispensable link between the government and our growing community, and we are commi ed to develop and implement policies addressing the needs of Hispanic/La nos in Michigan.

More than 2,600 individuals a ended our events this year, and we expect this number to con nue to grow in subsequent years. Over 50 public and private partners allowed us to organize and lead programs, trainings, celebra ons for the Hispanic/La no community.

On behalf of all the commissioners and our dedicated staff , thank you for your support, and we look forward to con nue our service to the people of Michigan.

Respec ully,

Felipe Lopez Sustaita Sonya HernandezExecu ve Director Chairperson

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND COMMISSION CHAIR

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HLCOM hosted a “Meet & Greet” session with the Michigan Hispanic Legisla ve Caucus. Topics discussed included future collabora ons between HLCOM and the Caucus, strengthening communica on, and the possibility of planning HLCOM and Caucus joint tri-annual mee ngs.

HLCOM staff a ended the 2018 César Chávez Day of Celebra on event at Eastern Michigan University where HLCOM Execu ve Director Felipe Lopez Sustaita was the keynote speaker, reaching out to an audience of more than 300 a endees about our work with the community.

The HLCOM a ended the Michigan Interagency Migrant Services Commi ee (IMSC) mee ng at the Telamon Migrant Head Start in Watervliet, Michigan. We had the privilege to par cipate in the fi rst outreach event of the season where we visited various camps in Watervliet, Benton Harbor, Dowagiac, and Decatur. We had the opportunity to interact with various people living in the camps, and help distribute supplies for families in need.

We had the opportunity to a end a Capital Area Migrant Resource Council mee ng at Lansing Community College. The Mexican Consulate discussed strategies and collabora ons to enhance support for Michigan Hispanic/La nos.

HISPANIC CAUCUS MEETING CÉSAR CHÁVEZ DAY OF CELEBRATION

IMSC MEETING & OUTREACH CAMRC MEETING

WORK AROUND THE COMMUNITY

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The Hispanic/La no Commission staff traveled to Kalamazoo Michigan, to meet with the Kalamazoo Community Founda on and El Concilio. Throughout the mee ngs, we got an indepth look into what each organiza on is doing for the Hispanic/La no community, and furthermore discussed how we can collaborate in the future.

HLCOM collaborated with Laurie Briseno, educa onal program coordinator at Michigan State University, to bring Hispanic/La no high school students from Adrian and Ba le Creek to see the play Paige in Full, while also providing an opportunity for students to tour the MSU campus and learn more about a ending college.

HLCOM execu ve director visited Bay College in Es-canaba to connect with Hispanic and La no communi- es in the U.P. and make sure the students are aware

of the resources available to them for their educa on.

“Making it: La no Students’ Pathways to College” serves to support and encourage our Hispanic/ La no cons tuents in higher educa on. MSU Camp and Detroit’s Cristo Rey School are featured in the documentary and share their success stories as well as off ering advice on how others can excel in higher educa on.

HLCOM met with offi cials from ICE at their Detroit, MI branch. The purpose for the mee ng was to develop further connec ons between the federal government immigra on ac vi es and HLCOM community’s concerns.

HLCOM helped sponsor this event recognizing statewide media outlets for keeping our Hispanic/La no cons utents informed and involved. These outlets con nue to serve as communica on channels, especially for those with a language barrier.

KALAMAZOO VISITS WHARTON CENTER PARTNERSHIP

UPPER PENNINSULA OUTREACH REL MIDWEST DOCUMENTARY

MEETING WITH ICE HONORING HISPANIC/LATINO MEDIA

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2018 COMMISSION MEETINGS

The Hispanic/La no Commission of Michigan is mandated to hold six commission mee ngs across the state. In 2018, the mee ngs were hosted in the following ci es: Detroit (two mee ngs), West Olive, Dearborn, Saginaw, and Wyoming. These mee ngs provide HLCOM with a pla orm to inform cons tuents of the commission’s work, while also receiving direct input from community members in their respec ve ci es. HLCOM uses this to understand the issues and concerns within the state’s Hispanic/La no communi es from fi rst-hand sources and adjust their areas of focus accordingly. In addi on, the last mee ng of the year is combined with the commission’s strategic planning session, where the HLCOM priori zes its goals for the upcoming year. Since last year’s implementa on of the strategic planning session, HLCOM has also experienced a higher turnout of cons tuents during its events.

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COMMISSION MEMBERS

Keysha CampsSaginaw County

Jessica CruzMarquette County

Jeremiah HernandezIngham County

Angela BaldwinOakland County

Juanita Bocanegra Ottawa County

Jose Antonio LopezWayne County

Carlos E. Pava Kent County

Anthony Rubio Kent County

Ivonne M. SolerWayne County

Jesse Venegas Oakland County

Esperanza F. CantuOakland County

Juan Marinez Saginaw County

Sonya Hernandez Muskegon County

Monica B. Reyes Saginaw County

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TINO COMMISSION OF MICH

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STATE OF MICHIGAN

19 75

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STATEWIDE HISPANIC/LATINO COLLEGE GRADUATION CEREMONY 2018The annual Statewide Hispanic/La no College Gradua on Ceremony focuses on celebra ng the academic achievements of Hispanic/La no College and University students across the state of Michigan, and the people who supported them throughout their journey. In 2018, more than 350 people a ended, and nearly 80 graduates walked across the stage to be recognized, exponen ally exceeding last year’s a endance.

Among these graduates were students from 15 diff erent ins tu ons in the state of Michigan:Davenport University, Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, Lake Michigan College, Marygrove College, Michigan State University, Mo Community College, Northern Michigan University, Palmer College of Chiroprac c, Siena Heights University, University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and Western Michigan University.

HLCOM is already se ng next year’s gradua on ceremony into mo on, which will be held in the Dart Auditorium at Lansing Community College, as we begin looking for new sponsors and partners to help the event grow even further.

EVENT MADE POSSIBLE BY

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2018 HLCOM HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION

As part of our mandate, HLCOM holds a Hispanic Heritage Month event, where various community members are introduced to an audience of more than 450 a endees. This year, HLCOM recognized the achievements of 50 La nas from across Michigan, as a way to celebrate their impact on the Hispanic/La no popula on. Ten $1,000 scholarships were awarded to college students across Michigan, as part of HLCOM’s con nuing eff orts to promote success in higher educa on. Six community members were also recognized for their outstanding contribu ons to the state of Michigan. EVENT MADE POSSIBLE BY

Consumers Energy | Comcast NBCUniversal | ABC Michigan | Hilliard Lyons | College of Social Science at MSU |

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2018 NEW AMERICANS APPRECIATION GALAThe second New Americans Apprecia on Gala (NAAG) was a joint eff ort of the three Michigan ethnic commissions: The Hispanic/La no Commission of Michigan (HLCOM), Asian Pacifi c American Aff airs Commission (MAPAAC), Commission on Middle Eastern American Aff airs (CMEAA), and Michigan Offi ce for New Americans (MONA). We joined together to celebrate and acknowledge the tremendous contribu ons of immigrant business owners to the employment of thousands of Michiganders and to the state’s economy.

COMMUNITY SNAPSHOTS

Camp visits with IMSC in western Michigan.MANA de Metro Detroit Annual Brindis Luncheon. EMU César E. Chávez Celebra on Luncheon

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebra on in Saginaw. Commission mee ng in Detroit.Visit to El Concilio, non-profi t in Kalamazoo.

LARA is an equal opportunity employer/program611 W. OTTAWA P.O BOX 30004 LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909

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