This holiday season, Americans will spend an average of $830 on gifts. And sure, finding the perfect present for your loved ones is a great way to feel the warm n’ fuzzies. But if partaking in our nation’s culture of consumerism and excess is not really your thing, we thought we’d remind you that the holidays are also a great time to give to a worthy cause.
With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the groups who have done great work educating, supporting, and fighting for the Latino community this year. With Christmas right around the corner, it’s a fitting time to get in touch with the true spirit of giving, and give back to the organizations that have enriched our lives this year.
Here are some places you can donate to:
1
CultureStrike
Visions From the Inside, a project that drew attention to the plight of detained migrants by having artists illustrate the migrants’ letters, was just one of the ambitious projects CultureStrike took on this year. In 2015, the pro-migrant artist collective invested in artists of color by funding more than 100 artist projects around the world. Their mission is to disrupt the status quo through art and social engagement, and they have also worked to bring attention to everything from climate change to LGBT issues.
Donate here.
2
Radio Ambulante
This year, Spanish-language podcast Radio Ambulante brought us another round of compelling stories about life in Latin America. From a look into the life of the undocumented Mexican man who was behind-the-scenes for Pimp My Ride, to the tale of the only international correspondent based in Honduras, Radio Ambulante brought our attention to stories big and small.
Donate here.
3
End Rape on Campus
The issue of campus sexual assault – and the subsequent mishandling of these cases by University administrations – was all over the headlines this year. From the Columbia student who dragged her mattress around campus in protest, to the former UNC students featured in The Hunting Ground, a documentary about sexual abuse on college campuses, there were plenty of advocates and survivors raising their voices to make campuses safer for young women.
One such advocate, Andrea Pino, is a survivor of assault and the co-founder of End Rape on Campus, an advocacy group for survivors of campus sexual assault. Her organization is one of several across the country that are demanding meaningful policy reform, both locally and federally.
Donate money or your time to End Rape on Campus here.
4
Cesar Chavez Foundation
Cesar Chavez rose to prominence because he fought for migrant workers. And though the Cesar Chavez Foundation has worked to improve the lives of farm workers for more than 40 years, they also want to help the Latino community in other areas.
Donate here.
5
Voto Latino
Voto Latino are helping young Latinos’ future. “United by the belief that Latino issues are American issues and American issues are Latino issues, Voto Latino is dedicated to bringing new and diverse voices to develop leaders by engaging youth, media, technology and celebrities to promote positive change,” their About Us page states.
This year, Voto Latino got Mana and Los Tigres del Norte to blast Donald Trump during the Latin Grammys. They are sure to be an important organization in mobilizing Latinos to register and get to the polls in the 2016 election year.
Donate here.
6
Latino USA
Latino USA is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective, and this year it continued to be one of our favorite podcasts – covering everything from Jewish communities across Latin America to Latinos’ overlooked role in the birth and growth of hip-hop. The show even won a Peabody award (which is like the Pulitzer for radio) this year for its reporting on gangs, murder and migration in Honduras. It’s not to be missed.
Donate here to make sure they keep telling great stories about the Latino experience.
7
Trans-Latin@ Coalition
The Trans-Latin@ Coalition started in 2009, and since then, they have been working to give a voice to the TransLatin@ community in the United States. Bamby Salcedo, who was featured on this year’s Out100 list, is the founder of TransLatin@ Coalition.
Donate here.
8
National Council of La Raza
From urging Latinos to get health care to calling out Congress for not providing bankruptcy protection to Puerto Rico, in 2015, the National Council of La Raza supported Latinos in a variety of ways. The NCLR has been around since 1968.
Donate here.
9
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Since 1975, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund has been helping Latinos seeking to go to college. According to their website, “HSF has a $50 million-and-growing gap in unmet needs.”
Donate here to help young Latinos on their path to higher education.
10
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
NLIRH works to make abortions more accessible, as well as to find better health and preventive services for Latinas. Started in 1994, NLIRH is “dedicated to advancing health, dignity, and justice” for 26 million Latinas in the United States.
Donate here.
11
League of United Latin American Citizens
This year, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) called for the government to better handle the influx of unaccompanied minors at the U.S.-Mexico border and asked businesses to stop working with Donald Trump after the hate-filled speech he gave when he announced his candidacy.
Plus, LULAC has been fighting for Latinos for more than 80 years.
Donate here.
12
United We Dream
United We Dream is the first and largest national immigrant youth-led organization fighting for relief and fair treatment for all undocumented immigrants. This year, the organization had major national visibility, even teaming up with East Los High‘s production company Wise Entertainment to get the word out and encourage undocumented youth to apply to DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). The PSA featured actors Catalina Sandino Moreno and Carlito Olivero – who play a mother and son on the Hulu show – putting a human face on the policy issue.
Donate to support United We Dream here.