ABOUT US

WE ARE LLEAD!

The Latino Leaders for the Enhancement of Advocacy and Development (LLEAD) is a Michigan 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by concerned Latino and Latina community members to address concerns of advocacy, civic engagement, and awareness of issues relevant in Latinx communities in the state. In November 2013, Latinx leaders from Holland, Lansing, and Saginaw came together and began discussions to create a statewide Latino organization. LLEAD’s goals for Latina/o advocacy and awareness-building identified the following needs:

Access to health services
Bias incidents*
Census, 2020
Immigration
Post-secondary degree retention rates
The school drop-out rate among youth in K-12
School-to-prison pipeline rate
Teenage pregnancy rates
Unemployment
Unfair employment practices
Unlawful discrimination

The creation of a statewide Board of Directors enabled LLEAD to engage Latinx leaders from other parts of the state to help identify issues in other communities with Latinx populations. State Board members also serve to gauge their community’s interest in developing their local LLEAD chapters.

The organization, guided by Bylaws, established the creation of local chapters (Holland, Saginaw, Lansing) including High School Chapters and College Chapters.

MISSION

“LLEAD brings together individuals (and other Latinx organizations) in Michigan to exchange ideas and move unified solutions forward to resolve civil and human rights, health, housing, education and employment disparities at the local and state level.”

LLEAD’s mission is to bring together individuals and other (Latinx) organizations in Michigan Latinx communities to exchange ideas on common issues to move unified solutions forward in resolving challenges confronted on the local, state, and national levels. LLEAD provides a vehicle for local communities to design, develop and advocate for solutions to overcome societal challenges in coordination with and support by State LLEAD in the areas of:

Civil and human rights
Health disparities
Education
Employment
Economic
Housing
Immigrant rights
Civic engagement

PURPOSE

“The purpose for LLEAD is to advocate for Latinx resident and immigrant communities in the state of Michigan providing a safe, discrimination and bias-free environment in health, education, employment and housing. It is a non-partisan organization whose purpose includes informing and educating Michigan citizens and public servants alike of the rights and responsibilities of their neighbors and constituents.”

*The purpose of LLEAD Chapters is to provide the vehicle whereby local communities can coordinate, design, develop and advocate for the creation of solutions to overcome their societal challenges in the areas of civil and human rights, health disparities, education, employment, economic, housing, immigrant rights, and civic engagement in conjunction with the support of the State Board of Directors of LLEAD.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

There are various ways to get involved with LLEAD. Ask about starting a chapter in your community, attend a Crisis Response Training, volunteer at chapter or state events, or support the important work with your donation. If you are ready to join, become a LLEAD member here.