Diversity Enhances Community
At the Hispanic Alliance, we are committed to championing inclusion in all aspects. As one of the six core values of our organization, we celebrate diversity of people, culture, and perspective in everything we do; our different experiences and backgrounds are an asset to strengthening the fabric of our communities in South Carolina.
As we celebrate Black History Month, we invite you to join us in celebrating the culture & history of African Americans across our nation. Devote a few minutes of your time to reading about the 44 African Americans that shook up history from Andscape.com, volunteer at the Urban League of the Upstate, participate at one of the event series from Greenville County Library System, get to know the stories from our neighbors that have shaped the future of our community in Greenville to advance equity by empowering the Black community.
As a valuable member of the Hispanic Alliance network, we depend on your voice and your actions to enhance prosperity for all residents of South Carolina. Thank you so much for participating in inclusion!
Volunteer Spotlight: Yenli Gaytan
Vice Chair, Legal Team
We are honored to feature Yenli Gaytan as the first Volunteer Spotlight of 2023.
Yenli was a member of the 2018-2019 class of the Student DREAMers Alliance and is an active member of the Hispanic Alliance Community. This year, Yenli is serving on the Legal Team of the Hispanic Alliance as the Vice-Chair. As she completes her studies at Limestone University, Yenli is pursuing her dream of ensuring equality in the immigration system as a paralegal at Bannister, Wyatt, & Stalvey.
She is an exemplary community member, supporting others and working towards equality for all South Carolinians.
Greenville Jewish Film Festival
The Greenville Jewish Film Festival seeks to strengthen the Upstate through film by entertaining, educating, inspiring, and highlighting the diversity and, perhaps most importantly, the commonality within our community. The collection of films chosen for the 2023 Festival explores what it means to be human, to interact with not only our physical world (Dead Sea Guardians), to understand our personal internal journeys (Moos), and to recognize our differences while still finding ways to live together (The 90 Minute War).
Festival Passes or Single Day Tickets can be purchased on their website at: https://
HA Community Teams Meetings & Updates
Our Community Teams will start meeting again next month! Click here to see the full schedule of meeting and registration.
Please note that each team has a designated schedule.
January Network Meeting
If you weren’t able to join us last week at our Network meeting, don’t worry! You can find below the meeting minutes and in-detailed information on upcoming events and resources.
Become a spotlight presenter for an upcoming Network meeting! These spots are available to nonprofit organizations and programs that have resources to our Greenville County neighbors and surrounding. We have a few spots left for Q3 and Q4. Please email Debbra Alvarado for more information.
Education
Scholarship alert!
AHAM scholarship application is now open until March 15th. The applicants must be a senior in a high school located in 1 of the 9 counties in the Upstate: Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenwood, Greenville, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, and Union. The scholarship is available to US Citizens, Residents and DACA students.
Greenville County Library System has lots to offer to our community this Spring!
- Adult Winter Reading is here! From now until March 17, all adults (ages 18 and up) can register for Winter Reading. Log your progress online, and pick up (or download) an activity booklet to complete fun masquerade-themed activities and reading challenges. Winter Reading booklets can be picked up at any library location until March 17. Complete the challenge by achieving Bingo: one straight line—down, across, or diagonal—on the Winter Reading Bingo card. Everyone who completes the challenge earns a completion prize and is entered into a grand prize drawing!
- Pop-Up Seed Library Visits are coming to all Library locations in February and March. See the Seed Library page for a complete list of Pop-Up visits and for more information about the permanent Seed Library that lives at the Berea branch.
- VITA Tax Assistance is available at Anderson Road, Fountain Inn, Travelers Rest, and Taylors branches throughout tax season.
Financial Stability & Business
Cap to predatory lenders in SC
SC Appleseed, in collaboration with South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development and Village Engage, have published a statewide map of community banks and credit unions that do provide affordable small dollar loans. These loans, found across our state, do not charge the interest rates of these predatory lenders and have affordable terms. To see the list of local banks providing affordable small dollar loans please click here.
File your taxes with VITA
VITA provides free income tax preparation assistance to individuals and families with a household income of $60,000 a year or less.
VITA helps taxpayers obtain all eligible tax credits and deductions, especially the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Education Tax Credits and Child Care tax deductions. Click here to learn more and start filing.
Legal & Advocacy
DOL-Timesheet App Now Available in Spanish
The Wage and Hour Division is pleased to announce the free DOL-Timesheet App is now available in Spanish on Android and Apple devices. Workers and employers can download this updated app to record regular work hours, overtime hours, breaks and more. Click here for more information.
Parole update for Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua
DHS has announced processes through which nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, and their immediate family members, may request to come to the United States in a safe and orderly way. Qualified beneficiaries who are outside the United States and lack U.S. entry documents may be considered, on a case-by-case basis, for advanced authorization to travel and a temporary period of parole for up to two years for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. To participate, eligible beneficiaries must:
- Have a supporter in the United States;
- Undergo and clear robust security vetting;
- Meet other eligibility criteria; and
- Warrant a favorable exercise of discretion.
For more information click here
Health
Mental Health Forum at Furman University
The Institute for the Advancement of Community Health (IACH) is hosting their Community Health Forum: Mental Health Across the Lifespan and will focus on how policy and politics influence mental health outcomes. This free forum will take place on February 24th starting at 9am at Furman University Younts Conference Center. For more information and registration please click here.
Mental Aid Certification
Walt’s Waltz is hosting: Adult Mental Health First Aid Certification Course on February 23rd at 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. The topics that will be covered in this courses are: depression and mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, psychosis and substance use disorders. There is a $25.00 fee. Click here for more information and registration.
Don't lose your Medicaid coverage!
South Carolina will soon begin reviewing who is eligible for Medicaid for the first time in three years. It is important to ensure your information is updated and changes are made in order to continue with your coverage. You can schedule a time with the team over at New Horizon Family Health Services to verify your eligibility at no cost. For more information contact:
- Beatriz Navarro – 864-918-7460 (Work Cell) Certified Application Counselor
- Beulah Phillips – 864-238-4845 (work Cell) Certified Application Counselor
- Yeelys Ramos- 864-982-3875 (work Cell) Certified Application Counselor
Community
Luncheon featuring New York Times Bestselling author Stephanie Land!
United Ministries is hosting their 2023 Uniting for Change Luncheon featuring New York Times Bestselling author Stephanie Land! The keynote speaker, Ms. Land will be sharing her own personal journey in overcoming the barriers people living in poverty face with regard to economic mobility. Her book, “Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay and a Mother’s Will to Survive” inspired the popular Netflix series, which was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. Please join on April 12 at the Greenville Convention Center from 11:30-1:00. Click here for tickets.
Join Upstate International at one (or more) events this Spring!
Upstate International is gearing up for their popular series Salsa at Sunset. In addition you can get involved with Upstate International Month: Upstate International Month (UIM), English language learning at a discounted fee and Beyond the Headlines Series. Click here for more information. Please download our February network meeting minutes for an in-depth explanation of all events.
