Esperanza United departments

Access to Indigenous languages Changes in demographics in the last few years have shown an increasing number of Indigenous peoples of Latin America arriving at the border and asking for asylum. Although Census data shows increases as well, there are big levels of underreporting due to many factors including the way […]

Take Action – Health sexuality Talking to your children about sex can help prevent sexual abuse because they will be better equipped to understand setting boundaries and respecting those boundaries in themselves and others. Researchers say that conversations about sexuality also lead to less risky sexual behavior, should teenagers choose to […]

Learning community  We thought about this section as a space to build a community in which we can share resources and learn from each other. We know that sometimes it is hard to find a tool or an ingredient that you can use that is appropriate for the kind of work […]

Support women’s and girls’ organizations  You may not know that women and girls are at a disadvantage in most societies, including in Latin@ communities. Women suffer much higher rates of domestic violence than men and a much higher percentage of sexual assault (though boys are also victims of sexual assault perpetrated […]

Share your own story  By a recent estimate, more than 15 million children are exposed to domestic violence in their homes in the US. Many others are direct victims of child abuse. Statistically, half of these children are male. That means that there are millions of men in the US (and […]

Be an active bystander This takes even more courage than influencing other men because it involves intervening when you see violence or the threat of violence. It is a tricky skill because you should not put yourself or others in harm’s way or respond to violence with more violence.  Being a […]

Be a role model for boys One of the most important roles that all men can play is being a role model to boys (and girls!), whether they are your own children or not. Frankly, the only way that we really can eliminate the problem of violence against women is by […]

Influence other men  This is another action that takes courage, but not the kind of courage that often leads to violence. As a man, you have influence and privilege (whether you want it or know it or not). That means that other men (and women) listen to you. Use this privilege […]

Be an ally of women and girls Being an ally to women and girls goes beyond supporting their causes. It is connected with self-reflection because as an ally, you really need to know yourself. It takes a lot of strength to be a good ally, but not the kind of strength […]

Self reflect  This video, by Juan Carlos Areán, former director of the National Latin@ Network, explores dimensions of traditional masculinity that contribute to the ongoing problem of violence within the family and intimate relationships.  It is very important that as you take action, you also take time to reflect about your […]