JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

HOMIES UNIDOS INC. ORGANIZATION’S MISSION:

Homies Unidos (HU) is a qualified 501(c)(3) formed in 1996 to address the problems of urban violence and the internationalization of gangs. HU was created when a group of youth, mainly gang members deported from Los Angeles, met in San Salvador, El Salvador to discuss methods and means of reducing gang-related violence. In 1998, current and former system impacted members in the predominantly Central American communities within Los Angeles aligned themselves with Homies Unidos in El Salvador to achieve the same objective.
The community served by HU covers the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Pico-Union, Westlake, and Koreatown districts as well as the West-Adams District and some South-Central areas. HU works to end violence and promote peace by empowering youth and their families to become advocates for social justice rather than agents of self-destruction. Accordingly, the organization provides culturally competent access to alternative education, leadership development, self-esteem building, and health education linked to impactful social justice advocacy programs. Since 1998, HU has served over 7,950 youth, parents, current and formerly incarcerated people through a multi-faceted suite of programs and services. Services include tattoo removal, presentations and workshops in schools, community centers, and at conferences. Participants learn to take control of their lives and neighborhoods, and advocate for social change. HU’s current programmatic focus is on newly arrived immigrants fleeing the violence in Central America as well as incarcerated immigrants in the prisons of California.

JOB POSITION: ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

We are looking for a responsible Administrative Assistant to perform a variety of administrative and clerical tasks. Duties of the Administrative Assistant include providing support to our managers and employees, assisting in daily office needs and managing Homies Unidos’ general administrative activities.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
• High School Diploma; additional qualification as an Administrative assistant or Secretary will be a plus but not a must.
• Prior participant of Homies Unidos programs or a youth organization will be a plus.
• Life experience working with formerly incarcerated youth or adults a plus or had been system impacted.

Experience: (Required)
• One-year experience in a social service setting working or volunteering in a non-profit organization, with knowledge of and experience with immigrant youth or adults incarnated.
• Bilingual English/Spanish (Required) able to write and translate in both languages
• Word, Excel and Microsoft Office, Social media
• Reliable, honest and responsible

Licensure/Certification:
• Upon hiring, Administrative Assistant will be required to attain office management certification.
• Willing to be certified in programs curriculums to implement or facilitate when needed.

Travel:
• Some travel for trainings and staff development once or twice per year.
• Represent Homies Unidos in special events, presentations, organizing volunteers for tabling in resource fairs or events.
• Opportunities to facilitate presentations in schools, community centers, or especial events with program facilitators.

In order to establish Accountability, the Communications/Administrative Assistant:
• Works directly for and under the supervision of Executive Director.

In order to establish Administrative Assistant Responsibility:
• Answer and direct phone calls
• Organize and schedule appointments
• Plan meetings and take detailed minutes
• Write and distribute email, correspondence memos, letters, faxes and forms
• Assist in the preparation of regularly scheduled reports
• Develop and maintain a filing system
• Update and maintain office supplies
• Order office supplies and research new deals and suppliers
• Maintain contact lists
• Book travel arrangements
• Provide general support to visitors
• Act as the point of contact for internal and external clients
• Liaise with executive director to handle requests and queries from employees.
• Manage community service volunteers.
• Sets up bi-monthly staff meeting

In order to establish Financial Responsibility, the Administrative Assistant:
• Collect program service donations
• Maintains employee hours and schedules.
• Collect time sheet in a timely manner.

General-The Administrative Assistant will also:
• Collect monthly program reports
• Arrange and schedule all consultant services.
• Work with Executive Director/Development Director to compile all materials for board meetings.
• Maintains work are clean at all times,
• May be responsible for special events that publicize the organization and its programs to the community
• Work office management systems and procedures
• Working knowledge of office equipment, like printers and fax machines
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize work
• Attention to detail and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with participants and staff
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task
• Casual dress appropriate to an office environment.
• Willing to work as a team.

Contact Information:
Interested candidates are requested to submit their CV or resume with a cover letter at:

Homies Unidos Inc.
2105 Beverly Blvd Ste. 203
Los Angeles CA 90057.
Tel: 213-383-7484
Or by email at: khenao@homiesunidos.org

We strongly urge Youth, People of Color, Women and all qualified persons to apply for this position. Homies Unidos, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited category.

Centro Cultural Techantit Presenta:

Primer Festival de Música de Marimba Mayas

Facebook Page

Central American Youth Leadership Conference
September 19, 2015
9AM-5PM

Central American Youth Speak at la Fiesta Juliana in MacArthur Park in Los Angeles

If you know a youth who will benefit from the resources that will be provided at the conference you can now register at:

Youth must register to receive a free lunch, t-shirt and event bag at the event

More to come… email us if you would like to be a sponsor at pguadron@homiesunidos.org

Central American youth and families from various schools will benefit from the resource fair, health resources, educational workshops and cultural activities provided by organizations and the youth themselves.

We want to thank HIPGive and all who have supported our fund drive.
If you want to be a sponsor for the conference, please contact us for

Sponsorship Opportunities

In solidarity with Central American Refugees (CAR), Homies Unidos is proposing to put together the first locally-accessible Central American Youth Leadership Conference. The main purpose will be to ensure that these refugee youth feel welcomed, to celebrate and promote Central American art and culture, provide health resources and on-the-spot referrals, facilitate a legal resources workshop, showcase their stories and experiences, build a supportive community, and create opportunities for positive feedback and self-esteem-building.

Porque una conferencia?

• With your support we will be able to:
  Provide training for 15 CAR youth this summer through our Youth Leadership Training to learn about how tell their stories and advocate to elected officials and community about their experience to gain support and start healing.
• Youth Leadership graduates will spearhead the organizing of the Central American Youth Conference In September 19, 2015 at Santee Educational Complex.
• Facilitate a preventive holistic health process of integration of the youth, which will be launched within the youth conference.
• Youth will enjoy Central American art, culture and music to address issues of identity.

MAKE YOUR DONATION
Homies Unidos started reaching out to schools and community service providers to refer CAR youth who needs mental health or legal services. As part of a preventive strategy we began implementing the National Compadres Network’s Joven Noble curriculum, character development program to provide a safe space where they can express themselves with indigenous traditional tools. Even though, with limited resources we have served over 58 youth in four different schools: Santee High, Hawthorne High, Hawkins High and L.A. River. Through this Conference we will address the need to bring youth from other schools where to a place where they can share experiences and be introduced to health and legal services providers among other resources.

Please give!
LETS MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

Participating Collaborating Partner:

More to come… email us if you would like to be a sponsor at pguadron@homiesunidos.org

“PLACAS: The Most Dangerous Tattoo” a play by Paul Paul S. Flores, directed by Michael John Garces and starring Ric Salinas of Culture Clash will go on a six city U.S. Tour this coming spring including dates with the GALA Hispanic Theatre in Washington, DC, Salinas, Laney College Theater in Oakland, Los Angeles Theater Center,Su Teatro in Denver and the Traveling Puerto Rican Theatre Company presented by Pregones in New York City.

Played by Ric Salinas from Culture Clash
Inspired by true events and in part in the life of Alex Sanchez  of Homies Unidos

Thursday April 3 Benefit event  after performance for Homies Unidos Q & A with cast and Alex Sanchez. To buy ticket for play and benefit event call Alex Sanchez for info. 213-793-1050 or follow link: Homies Unidos Benefit

Friday April 4 @ 6pm pre-performance conversation “Healing From Violence” with Father Greg Boyle, Jerry Tello and Alex Sanchez Saturday

April 5 post performance party and reception with cast and crew Sunday

April 6 @ 1pm Youth Voice for Change featuring youth presentations from Boyle Heights

For details on dates in each city, click on the website links below

Placas on Facebook

GALA Hispanic Theatre, Washington, DC
Friday – Saturday March 14-15
http://bit.ly/1mtvN4E

Alisal High School, Salinas, CA
Wednesday – Saturday March 19 – 22
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/603046

Laney College Theater, Oakland, CA
Wednesday – Saturday March 26-29
www.sfiaf.org/placas_2014

Los Angeles Theater Center, Los Angeles, CA
Thursday – Saturday April 3-6
www.thelatc.org

Su Teatro, Denver CO
Thursday – Sunday April 10-13
http://suteatro.org/201314-season/

Traveling Puerto Rican
Wednesday April 16
http://www.pregones.org/

English Information Below:

Homies Unidos les invita a una noche de música y diversión en apoyo a nuestra familias encarceladas. 

Homies Unidos y el Consulado de El Salvador les invita a una noche de música y diversión para apoyar la Asociación Salvadoreña De Apoyo a Privados De Libertad En El Exterior (ASAPLE) es una organización en El Salvador que aboga para los derechos humanos de familiares Salvadoreños detenidos en las prisiones de California. Homies Unidos se ha unido a coordinar el trabajo de la Directora de ASAPLE, Elisa Jurado en Los Ángeles.
Hay cientos de gente en las prisiones en California y muchos de ellos ya cumplieron sus sentencias, pero no los dejan salir, Unos se encuentran con enfermedades terminales y no reciben tratamiento apropiado, otros sufren violaciones de sus derechos humanos. La Sra. Elisa Jurado por más de ocho años ha estado luchando ganar la libertad de estos ciudadanos Salvadoreños.
En un crimen hay más de una víctima, la familia de la víctima y el victimario sufren el dolor de perder a su ser querido. Únanse con nosotros el sábado 4 de mayo y escuchen a Elisa Jurado y las historias de nuestras familias mientras recaudamos fondos apoyar este importante trabajo.

Central American Resource Center (CARECEN-LA)
2845 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, California 90005
6PM-12AM
$5 Donacion Minima
Checkes se pueden hacer a Homies Unidos Inc.
Baile, Comida y Bevidas estara diponible

English: Homies Unidos Invites you to a night of music and dancing in support of our incarcerated families.
Homies Unidos and the Consulate of El Salvador invites you to a night of music and fun to support the Salvadoran Association in support of freedom deprived in the Exterior (ASAPLE) is an organization in El Salvador, which advocates for the rights of Salvadoran relatives incarcerated in the prisons of California. Homies Unidos has joined to coordinate the work of the Director of ASAPLE, Elisa Jurado in Los Angeles.
There are hundreds of people in prisons in California who have completed their minimum require sentences, but they continue in prison year after year, some are with terminal illnesses and do not receive appropriate treatment, others suffer violations of their human rights. Ms. Elisa Jurado for more than eight years has been fighting to win the freedom of these Salvadoran citizens.
There is more than one victim in a crime; the families of the victim and the aggressor suffer the pain of losing their loved one. Join us on Saturday, May 4 and listen to the stories of our families while we raise funds to continue the very important work of Elisa Jurado.

Central American Resource Center (CARECEN-LA)
2845 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, California 90005
6PM-12AM
$5 minimum donation
Checks can be made out to Homies Unidos Inc.
Dancing Food and beverages will also be available

Vigil: Commemorating 100 Days of the Gang Truce In 

El Salvador

Sunday, 17th 2012

CARECEN form 6PM to 8PM

Contact: Rodrigo Vasquez at 323-667-8297 

2845 West 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90005

Press Release

                                                        Press Kit

The gangs have made good will gestures to the community by declaring that the schools are now “Safe Zones” and no force recruitment will take place, to gain community support. Although this is not the answer that we would expect from our men and women who have been killing themselves over letters and numbers, this is a positive step forward as supporters of the peace process we ask for a total stop to all illicit activity. We cannot say that the zero tolerance initiatives pushed by the former president and continued by our current president in El Salvador has reduced violence because repression tactics have made this problem bigger. As such we need to understand that the gang members have been part of the problem, in so, they should be part of the solution.

The time is now to invest in our youth and bring economic development programs to El Salvador. Programs that will hire our youth who are living in poverty and stop our youth from joining gangs.

There have been over 700 deaths prevented since the truce started. So let’s give this historic gang truce a chance.

*Bring several candles*

Recent articles read here:

Peace Is Breaking Out Among Salvadoran Gang Members:

http://www.thenation.com/article/167875/peace-breaking-out-among-salvadoran-gang-members

Support Mounts for Salvadoran Gang Truce:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-hayden/salvadoran-gang-truce_b_1551638.html

Press Release
Contacts:
Alex Sanchez: (213)-383-7484 asanchez@homiesunidos.org
Walter Magana: (626)-500-3604 wmagana@homiesunidos.org

Vigil for the 375 incarcerated people Killed in Honduran Prison

WHAT: Organizations representing our community in human rights will have a vigil in front of the Consulate of Honduras denouncing the prison system in which prison guards participated in the death of more than 375 human beings in the prison of Comayagua, Honduras.

WHEN: Friday February 17th, 2012. 4pm
WHERE: Honduran Consulate of Los Angeles
3550 Wilshire Blvd #320
Los Angeles CA 90010
WHO: Speakers include:
– Policarpo Chaj, Mayavision
– Javier Staring, L.A. Archdiocese
– Union De Salvadorenos Estudiantes Universitarios(USEU)
– Alex Sanchez, Homies Unidos
– Ron Gochez, Union Del Barrio

Interviews available immediately following the press conference

WHY: Honduras for the third time is involved in human rights violations in the prisons of its country. On February 14, in the Comayagua prison in Honduras, more than 376 incarcerated people lost their lives in a fire within the prison. This has not been the first time; in 2003, 69 people were killed riddle with bullets and set on fire and 107 more in 2004 died in a fire in San Pedro Sula.

Homies United along other human rights organizations are outraged by this tactic on the part of Governments to solve the dilemma of violence affecting our countries in Central America. Every human being has their human right to live free of violence even if incarcerated.

We demand:
1. The Government put a Commission of non-governmental organizations to supervise the investigation.
2. That the Government will help affected families
3. the Government of the United States stop monetary aid until is stop human abuses and Zero Tolerance policies which has led to mass incarceration of our youth
4. A dismissal of all guards in the prison system of the Honduras including Security Minister Pompeyo Bonilla.

A weekend of solidarity with the indigenous people of El Salvador…

Fri, Jan 14 – Hip Hop Concert
Sat, Jan 15 – Indigenous Dancers, speakers, food and community award ceremony
Sun, Jan 16 – Mayan Ceremony

Details below:

FRIDAY – January 14, 2011

– HIP HOP POR LA PAZ –

8:00pm-12:00pm

@ Women’s Building

3543 18th St., San Francisco, CA 94110

$10 donation

Performing:

Reyes del Bajo Mundo – O.N.S. El Sonador – Amazon Blew – Geo Kiburym – Rap Squad – Santos – Inner City Dwellers Conflikto Armado – El Comandante Izalco – Wanako – Kingz & Marmota Fu – Browny Loco – Lirico Dios

Also included:

Alex Sanchez-Executive Director of Homies Unidos live via Skype, – Homies Unidos Callejeros Graff & Visual Art – Coperativa Cuscatlán via www.ustream.com

TV Channel/Cooperative Cuscatlán Radio Subersivar – Cinema Feliciano Ama – Question Everythink  – Tigres Y Violetas  – El Jorge

SATURDAY – January 15, 2011

– SPIRIT OF MEMORY –

14^TH Annual Commemoration of La Matanza

2:00pm – 7:30pm

@ Women’s Building

3543 18th St., San Francisco, CA 94110

$6 donation

After the tragic events of La Matanza in 1932, an unknown number of Salvadoran indigenous people perished, estimated between 10,000 and 30,000 people.  As a result, native communities in El Salvador took their ceremonies and culture into hiding.  78 years after these events, communities have re-emerged and are being recognized officially by El Salvador’s government.  We gather our collective Spirit of Memory with our Bay Area community and utilize it to discuss traditional culture and bi-nationality through discussion, song, and ceremonies.

Program:

Opening Prayer – JR Leywa, Wailaki, Round Valley Indian Reservation – Lenca-Poton Passage Song – Guanajuato Purepucha Dancers – Lenca Emplumado Dancers – Film: ‘Discovering Dominga’

Presentations:

• Julio Leyva—Comite de Izalqueños
• Dra. Concepcíon Saucedo-Martinez, Comisión De La Verdad 1932
• Dra. Robin Maria DeLugan, Assistant Professor-Anthropology, UC Merced

Community Honorees:

• Miguel “Gavilan” Molina – KPFA Radio “La Onda Bajita”
• Lizbett Calleros – Central American Resource Center (CARECEN)
• Tory Canby, Teacher & Artist
• Alejandra Calderon – former Executive Director, HOMEY

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday, January 16, 2011 (9am)

– Mayan ceremony –

Conducted By: Pascual Yaxon Saloj & Maya Caqchiquel

@ Pine Lake Park – Sloat Blvd & Vale Avenue, San Francisco (by Stern Grove)

Free

************************************************************************************************************

Dear Friends,

As the New Year approaches I have reflected on the past 12 years since Homies Unidos first opened its office in Los Angeles with the dream of helping youth affected by war and gang violence.  We developed programs specifically for these youth hoping that they may find empowerment in positive action, the support to transition out of gangs and a platform to address and change the inhumane treatment of the immigrant community.

We have maintained our doors open to serve over 6,500 youth and their families from the Los Angeles Pico Union’s Central American community.  What, began as a dream has become a reality and today Homies Unidos stands as a nationally recognized organization at the forefront of gang violence prevention and intervention.

As we witnessed through this last election cycle, our immigrant communities have once again become the scapegoat and trigger point for political fear tactics and gangs have been framed as the scary poster child of this debate.  Over the past two years there has been a 23% increase in suppression in our immigrant community by ICE, FBI and local law enforcement agencies, leaving countless families separated from each other and children parentless.

With the assistance of your generosity, Homies Unidos has successfully developed exceptional programs to challenge the effects of this violence. The Epiphany Project, Libertad Con Dignidad and Family Wellness programs brings together youth and their parents, affected by gang violence or deportation, to advocate for their rights. Together we helped strengthen their ability communicate and improve their family relationship to over 130 family members this year.

“Homies Unidos has helped me change my life around and has giving me the opportunity to give back to other youth, I now volunteer in organizing the Art activities and outreaching to over 15 artist so far”, Said Juan Canizales, a former graduate of our Epiphany Project program.

We are convinced that through Epiphany Project classes we our helping to create a new generation of peacemakers committed to a building a better world. The process of those transitioning into a better life is not simple; after completing our 12 week program, graduates endure a minimum of 6-10 laser tattoo removal treatments to shed the last of their former lifestyles off their bodies.

In the past year, our ongoing programs have expanded and include a youth leadership and art program as an alternative to gang activity. We have developed these programs for inner-city youth and young adults as we also embark on a campaign to bring awareness of immigration and criminal justice issues affecting our community. Th e “Hip Hop for Peace” was launched on December 7, 2010 and will continue throughout 2011 with a series of events, bringing together local artist in music and art.

In these critical times, your support will greatly help in the success of our youth. Your ongoing support allows us to continue to provide our youth and their families with the skills and tools needed to overcome the obstacles they face in our community. As a non-profit organization, we rely on the generosity and compassion of our donors, like yourself, without whom we would not have the capacity to create peace in the schools, and keep families united in the community we serve. Please join us as a partner in making 2011 a better and more successful year for Homies Unidos.

Homies Unidos wishes you have a joyful holiday season,

Sincerely,                                                                                                                   Sincerely,

Alex Sanchez                                                                                                            Troy Garity                                                                              Executive Director                                                                                                Board Chair

The title of 18th Street Art Center’s ambitious group exhibition, “Love in a Cemetery,” comes from artist Allan Kaprow, who said, “Life in the museum is like making love in a cemetery.” Kaprow attempted to escape the museum’s sepulchral air with “happenings,” open-ended, participatory events that blurred the line between art and everyday life.

In this spirit, the exhibition presents works that take place within and outside the gallery, seeking to reevaluate the relationship between cultural institutions and the communities they serve. It succeeds, not so much in reinvigorating the gallery space, but in raising questions about how such works might best be presented within its walls.

Organized by curator Robert Sain and artist Andrea Bowers, the show is supposedly structured around a series of questions on the relationship between “cultural institutions” and “community,” both of which are ill-defined. People have scrawled various answers, ranging from glib to smart-alecky, in chalk on the walls of the gallery. Although broadly participatory, it’s the least compelling part of the show.

The rest of the pieces were created by Bowers and eight graduate students from the Public Practice Program at the Otis College of Art & Design. The students, in pairs or individually, teamed with five community organizations to create projects that would both have a positive impact on their respective communities and produce a work to be shown in the gallery.

Rodrigo Marti and Felicia Montes worked with gang intervention program Homies Unidos to develop art workshops, a panel discussion, and a poster and sticker campaign supporting the legal case of the program’s director, Alex Sanchez, who was indicted in a gang-related case in 2009. In the gallery, posters, fliers and protest signs line one of the walls and visitors can contribute to the cause by purchasing T-shirts, stickers and jewelry at a makeshift self-serve kiosk. The work successfully turns the gallery into an information and fundraising center, even if its traditional activist aesthetic — high contrast graphics, long columns of text and slapdash construction — loses some of its urgency on the gallery walls.

Less effective are the results of Rachael Filsinger and Ella Tetrault’s project with My Friend’s Place, a drop-in center for homeless youth in Hollywood. Filsinger and Tetrault ran workshops with the center’s young clients, encouraging them to record all the places they had lived or visited on conventional printed maps. Mounted on sheets of plywood, some of the maps are annotated with expressions of frustration or political conviction, but the scrawled lines and dots are often so cryptic that one can’t help feeling that the real work lies elsewhere. The maps are the byproduct of a process that hopefully has had some positive influence on its participants; it’s too bad we don’t know more about it.

Projects like these point to some of the difficulties of representing community-based work within the walls of the gallery. Should artists behave more like documentarians? Or should activism and art remain separate? On the other hand, is it enough to simply move the signs, T-shirts and stickers indoors?

Jamie Crooke’s partnership with the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic provides one possible answer. Crooke walked the streets around the clinic pushing a cart selling health-related items–bandages, apples, wheat grass seed, Emergen-C packets — in exchange for a dollar or a bit of conversation. In addition to examining the cart itself, gallery visitors can watch a video and flip through a photo book documenting the project. The cart also features a price list including the above mentioned items as well as the cost of one year of employer-provided health insurance (about $13,000) and the annual compensation of United Health Group’s CEO (more than $9 million). With this sly, humorous gesture, the piece makes its critical point about inequities in healthcare spending, whether one sees it on the street or in the gallery.

It’s impossible to ascertain whether Crooke’s project had a greater impact than the rest; she simply presented it more thoughtfully. It is more than enough to go out and help others or fight injustice, but communicating that accomplishment — giving one’s vision a life beyond the immediate moment — is where the institution, whether a museum, an archive or, ahem, a newspaper, plays a role. Yes, the museum is often a mausoleum, housing the remnants of more vital activity, but how else will the rest of us know what happened?

18th Street Arts Center, 1639 18th St., Santa Monica, (310) 453-3711, through March 26. Closed Saturday and Sunday. www.18thstreet .org