HOW WE IMPACT
THE LIVES OF our
ClientS
Nancy's life had always been busy, balancing the needs of her two children while trying to juggle everything else. But for the past three years, our Mami y Yo program has been a beacon of support. It was a time for her to unwind and for her kids to socialize and prepare for school. At first, she hadn’t realized how important it would be. Now, looking back, Nancy appreciates how much the program has helped her connect with other mothers, ask questions, and gain valuable resources.
When she needed diapers or couldn’t afford something, the program was there. The community of moms supported each other, and the organization always found ways to help.
Nancy’s story didn’t end with just the children’s needs. She recalled how the program had helped her with speech therapy, dental care, and eye exams—things she couldn’t have managed on her own. When her daughter struggled with speaking clearly, Nancy discovered there was help for that, too.
Her daughter would soon begin speech therapy, thanks to the resources the program provided. Nancy couldn’t be more grateful for the support she received, and she shared everything she learned, knowing it could make a difference in someone else’s life.
"Isabel" received a difficult diagnosis of gestational diabetes late in her pregnancy. At a recent doctor's visit, she learned she would need to undergo a C-section, sparking feelings of anxiety and stress. As a single parent to a six-year-old son, Isabel immediately began to worry about how she would care for her son while in recovery. She worried about who would help with meals, transportation, and school, as she was unable to drive. To help ease Isabel’s concerns, one of our promotoras stepped in to offer personalized support. She encouraged Isabel to speak with her son’s teacher to request schoolwork he could complete from home and helped her notify the school office about his expected absence for at least a week. The promotora also coordinated with our supervisor and accounting team to request emergency grocery support. As a result, Isabel received grocery assistance. Our team purchased easy-to-prepare foods her son could eat on his own or with minimal help, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, oatmeal, yogurt, milk, fruit, and corn dogs.
Isabel was deeply moved by the support and sent us this heartfelt message of gratitude: “Estoy muy agradecida con todos los servicios ofrecidos, y por toda la comida que le dieron a mi niño en estos momentos difíciles. Muchas gracias.” “I am very grateful for all the services offered and for all the food you gave my son during this difficult time. Thank you so much.” This kind of thoughtful support not only helps meet a family’s basic needs but also provides peace of mind during some of their most vulnerable moments.​
In 2024, Mrs. Estrada had a total of 8 emergency room visits by the time she met the Latino Leadership Council. Mrs. Estrada had struggled with severe anemia, repeatedly needing blood transfusions. Her only solution was an urgent surgery with a specialist. However, this became extremely difficult to schedule since she did not have insurance, and to her knowledge, she was outside of the Medi-Cal eligibility window. Her condition made it difficult to continue working and perform daily activities, which caused much stress on her and her family. With the help of her Promotor, Bryan, she was able to get approved for Medi-Cal benefits, establish a primary care doctor, and schedule her urgent surgery with a specialist. Mrs. Estrada is feeling back to her energetic self and is excited to continue supporting her son, who is studying to become a doctor!
"I am looking forward to be able to have a voice for the youth in Sacramento. The LLC has helped me to network and has always been very helpful with providing opportunities and support whenever needed."
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One of our Entre Amigos Youth Leaders, Citlalli Beltran Aceves, was selected to serve as a Youth Action Committee member with the Sac Kids First coalition. In this position, Sofia will work towards making positive change for youth in the City of Sacramento.
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Leadership development is at the forefront of all our youth activities. We hope to continue to see Latina/o youth grow their leadership capacities and become agents of change in their communities!
Maggie, originally from Chile, was living with her daughter’s family in a crowded home. She searched for a place of her own, but navigating the complex rental process was proving to be a challenge. With a limited income from her Chilean retirement plus family support, Maggie needed assistance to secure an affordable apartment.
The lack of affordable housing for vulnerable individuals like Maggie was evident throughout her search. With rising rents, finding a place within her budget seemed nearly impossible. Many apartment complexes require tenants to earn 2.5 times the rent, leaving Maggie without many options. She wasn’t alone; others in her community, especially those with limited incomes or language barriers, faced similar challenges.
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“En mi caso, toda la orientación y explicación a cada pregunta que yo tenía siempre me ayudó mucho y así pude cumplir mi sueño de estar en mi propio lugar.”
"In my case, all the guidance and explanations to each question that I had helped me a lot, and so I was able to fulfill my dream of being in my own place."
Helping Maggie gain a new lease on life
The LLC received an urgent referral for a full-time Sacramento State student who was chronically homeless and who had recently become the guardian for her two teen brothers. The LLC quickly placed them into a hotel while working with local partners to find transitional housing.
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Through the collaborative efforts of the LLC, Sacramento States Cares, Lilliput Wayfinder, and PCOE Family Outreach, the siblings were successful in finding emergency housing through Home Start. However, it was discovered that while the teens had become attached to their sister’s dog, the dog could not remain with them as it was not a certified service animal. More calls to PIRS, Placer County Probation and Placer County Animal Services resulted in the family being able to keep the dog with them as the family’s clinician determined it met an emotional support need of the teens.
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We are happy advocate for our families and to partner with so many to meet the diverse needs of our families, no matter how complex the situation may be!
"I know I can count on the LLC if ever I find myself in need of assistance in the future. I am so incredibly happy and thankful for all the services I received, and I want to thank my promotora and the LLC for helping me through this difficult time in my life. I am forever grateful that I was referred to the LLC by a friend."
Maria Elena is 74 years old and suffers various health issues. Despite these health issues, she had never received regular medical services including dental or eye care. Her untreated health issues and her being recently fired from her job of 30 years as a farm worker, caused Maria to fall into a deep depression.
Maria’s promotora immediately prioritized assisting her in applying for medical and dental services through Sacramento Covered. She is now scheduled for her first medical appointment at the County Clinic and has also been referred to specialists including a dietician to begin managing and treating her health issues. The LLC also assisted Maria in scheduling her COVID-19 vaccine and as March 6th, she is fully vaccinated. Maria is also scheduled to receive dental and eye services, has been connected to California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation for legal assistance, and referred to Rincón de las Comadres for support and a sense of community so she may find a new purpose in this phase of her life.
Guiding Maria Elena to physical and mental health
Due to the uncertainties and stress of the pandemic, Ms. Hernandez rapidly put on weight and was advised by her doctor to lose weight for her health. She was unsure of how to go about losing weight in a healthy manner until she heard about the ongoing Nutrition & Diabetes classes the the LLC was offering. She completed the Eatfresh Mini Curso, participated in 4 diabetes nutrition classes, and attended the cooking demonstrations. At the end of the 4th diabetes class she shared the following:
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"So far, I have lost 10lbs and gone down one pant size in 5 weeks by applying what I have learned in these classes. After establishing goals in the first nutrition class, I made it a point to stick to mine: I go for walks every weekday, I make sure to stay hydrated by drinking 80 ounces of water daily, and I eat healthy and balanced meals. I feel great with these changes that I have made to my daily lifestyle and I am thankful for all the gratuitous help I received, thank you for everything!"
Ramón was battling Stage 4 cancer and had been on disability. With no other family in the area, he struggled to find a place to live. He and his mother became homeless.
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“Having cancer and being homeless, it doesn’t feel like you’re gonna’ make it, but they helped me get a place until I was able to find a place of my own. They went the extra mile, even when they got off of work.”
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During the COVID-19 crisis, Promotores took care packages of food and grocery gift cards to Ramón and his mother, who is serving as his caretaker while he undergoes chemotherapy.
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“I didn't think that was possible, but you never really know when you need the help. They called me and asked, 'Do you need anything?’ They’re more attentive to me than I expected. They’re just there.… it gives you some kind of hope.”