Who we are

A strengths-based approach

At Esperanza United, we honor the family-centered lives of the Latin@ community. We know Latinas are strong and acknowledge—with our actions—that each woman knows what is best for her and her family. 

We believe in the strengths and power of communities and recognize the obligation we have as a Latina-based organization to uphold these strengths as well as address the challenges shared to ensure we can work together to end gender-based violence.  

"When you focus on needs you get programs When you focus on strengths you get possibilities"

-Lupe Serrano
Executive Director, Esperanza United, 2001 - 2007

Latina grandmother smiling and holding smiling young grandson

Core values

 

  • Latin@ leadership
  • Entrepreneurial spirit
  • Organizational excellence

  • Living free of violence

  • Community-driven solutions

     

Programmatic collaborations

Esperanza United knows no single organization or person is going to end gender-based violence alone – it will take communities, working together. With that in mind, we are proud to be part of many coalitions, including:

 

  • The Alliance for Immigrant Survivors (AIS) is a national network of organizations, advocates, and allies dedicated to ensuring that immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and other gender-based abuses have access to life-saving protections that all survivors of violence deserve. We coordinate the immigration subcommittee of the NTF, ensuring that the needs of immigrant survivors are addressed in policy initiatives and efforts to end sexual and domestic violence.

  • The Domestic Violence Resource Network (DVRN) informs and strengthens domestic violence intervention and prevention efforts at the individual, community, and societal levels. DVRN member organizations are funded by the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) Program and consist of two national resource centers, four special issue resource centers, three culturally-specific resource centers, five emerging issue resource centers, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline. We work collaboratively to promote practices and strategies to improve our nation’s response to domestic violence and make safety and justice for all families a priority.

  • National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) was established in 1991 as a nonpartisan association of major Hispanic national organizations and distinguished Hispanic leaders from all over the nation. NHLA’s mission calls for unity among Latin@s around the country to provide our communities with greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s affairs. NHLA brings together Hispanic leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latin@ community and the nation as a whole.

  • The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (NTF) is focused on the development, passage and implementation of effective public policy to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. We are comprised of a large and diverse group of national, tribal, state, territorial and local organizations, as well as individuals, committed to securing an end to violence against women.

  • Violence Free Minnesota (VFMN) is the statewide coalition of programs working together to end relationship abuse. Together, we can end domestic violence. Their mission is to represent survivors of relationship abuse and member programs; challenge systems and institutions; promote social change; and support, educate, and connect member programs. Esperanza United is proud to be one of their 90 members.

Thank you to our funders

 

  • 3M Foundation

  • Allstate Foundation

  • Hugh J Andersen Foundation

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Minnesota

  • Bush Foundation Board of Directors Fund

  • Otto Bremer Foundation

  • Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation

  • Eau Claire Community Foundation

  • Collective Future Fund

  • Fidelity Charitable

  • Greater Twin Cities United Way

  • HRK Foundation

  • Individual donors

  • Minnesota Department of Health

  • The Nash Foundation

  • U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women

  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau

  • Wells Fargo Foundation

  • Women’s Foundation of Minnesota