The violence unleashed at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando shook our community but not our resolve. The majority of the shooting victims and Hispanic Federation knew that their unique needs could only be served by the Latino nonprofit sector in Orlando. Working through our newly-established Orlando, Florida office, Hispanic Federation spearheaded the Somos Orlando campaign to provide support to the victims and their families and the community-based organizations we knew could help them.
Hispanic Federation is now leading an effort to raise funds and provide long-term culturally competent wrap-around services to victims and their families through Proyecto Somos Orlando, in partnership with Hispanic Family Counseling, Florida Immigrant Coalition, the Puerto Rican Bar Association and other service providers. This multi-service hub will provide case management, individual and group therapy, art therapy, immigration legal assistance, education workshops on homophobia, hate crimes, gender identity, PTSD, among other topics. HF has also initiated a major communications campaign to inform the media and public narrative, which had been omitting the fact that the majority of the victims were Hispanic and bring to light their unique needs, and the Latino organizations on the frontlines of servicing our community.
Through the help of global superstars Jennifer Lopez and Lin-Manuel Miranda, Somos Orlando has received worldwide attention. Their new hit single, “Love Make The World Go Round,” debuted on iTunes at #2, and all proceeds will go to benefit Somos Orlando. To download the single, visit http://smarturl.it/LMTWGR or to donate directly, visit www.hispanicfederation.org/SomosOrlando
