Tag: Grace Huerta

An Important and Momentous Day for California’s Latino Disability Community

By Grace Huerta, Vice President, The Arc of California Board of Directors and Chair, El Arc de California Advisory Committee

Attendees of El Arc de California’s Latino Disability Leadership Summit held on August 24, 2023 in Sacramento, CA described how they felt after the event as determined, empowered, inspired, equipped, energized, and informed.

The evening before the summit we hosted a welcome reception that included a variety of guests who are advocates for the Latino disability community, including several members of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, as well as statewide professionals and family members of individuals with developmental disabilities.  All attendees share in the vision of creating a world where all Spanish-speaking individuals with disabilities and their families have full access to supports and services.

The Department of Developmental Services disparity data continues to show that we must identify and reduce barriers for Spanish-speaking families of children with disabilities.  El Arc de California was established to give Spanish-speaking parent leaders, professionals, and individuals with disabilities an action-driven platform to get involved, exercise their leadership and shape policy.

We kicked off the Latino Leadership Summit at the California State Capitol, where I proudly accepted a Resolution by Assembly Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon and presented by Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula, recognizing El Arc de California and its coalition members for their outstanding work in leading the disability rights movement to advance inclusion and equity for all Latinos with developmental disabilities and their families.

A special thank you to Assemblymember Arambula, who has been a long-time champion of disability rights in California. As I stood on the Assembly Chamber floor to receive the Resolution, I “spiritually” brought with me the thousands of Spanish-speaking families and individuals with disabilities who are counting on us to keep leading the charge.

Following the presentation at the State Capitol, Ana Garcia-Ashley, Executive Director of Gamaliel, facilitated the first in a series of California Latino Disability Leadership Summits across the state, leading discussions on building a powerful coalition and taking action.

The Latino disability rights movement has begun, and we aim to eliminate the many barriers to access and equality for the Spanish-speaking community. I hope that being part of this extraordinary event has inspired everyone in attendance to continue to get more involved with our advocacy efforts.

The Latino Disability Leadership Summit in Sacramento was made possible by the California Equitable Recovery Initiative, a grant by the California Department of Public Health.

If you want to get involved, please CLICK HERE to Sign up for the El Arc de California news and updates. Sign Me Up!

View images on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set?set=a.791091119686547

 

El Arc de California Recognized by the California Latino Legislative Caucus

On August 24, leaders from the Spanish-speaking disability community across the state joined El Arc de California at the State Capitol to accept a Resolution by Assembly Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon, and presented by Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula,  recognizing their outstanding work in leading the disability rights movement to advance inclusion and equity for all Latinos with developmental disabilities and their families.

Grace Huerta, Vice President of The Arc of California Board of Directors and Chair of the El Arc de California Advisory Committee, accepted the Resolution presented by Assemblymember Arambula, who has been a long-time champion of disability rights in California.

Several members of the California Latino Legislative Caucus showed support by attending a reception the evening prior with El Arc de California and its coalition members.

“I hope that being part of this extraordinary moment has inspired everyone in attendance to continue to get more involved with our advocacy efforts for the Latino community,” said Huerta.

Following the presentation at the State Capitol, Ana Garcia-Ashley, Executive Director of Gamaliel, facilitated the first in a series of California Latino Disability Leadership Summits, leading discussions on building a powerful coalition and taking action. The summit was intended to share ideas and garner alignment on priorities that will spark change and ultimately improve the quality of life for California’s Spanish-speaking disability community.

Click HERE to view more pictures from the special occasion.

Equity and Power are Priorities at Summit of Latino Disability Community Leaders

Last Saturday, September 10th, leaders from across California convened in Sacramento for a summit of leaders in the Latino disability community as a first-of-its-kind effort to organize local and regional activities into a coordinated statewide movement. The summit was a result of a year-long planning by the Advisory Committee of El Arc de California, which is chaired by Grace Huerta, Executive Director of the Exceptional Family Center and Vice-President of The Arc of California.

The day was kicked off by Mike Madrid, a nationally recognized expert on Latino voting trends, and facilitated by Ana Garcia-Ashley, Executive Director of the national Gamaliel Foundation. Attendees were led into a discussion to establish goals, strategies, and actions for the community and entered robust conversations about the needs of the community, the inequities they encounter, and the potential for change. The day was filled with passion, energy, and hope.

The summit will lead to action items and further organizing efforts across the state. CLICK HERE to stay connected with the movement!

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