NATIONAL LULAC HISTORY:

With approximately 115,000 members throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC is the largest and oldest Hispanic Organization in the United States. LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 600 LULAC councils nationwide. The organization involves and serves all Hispanic nationality groups.
Historically, LULAC has focused heavily on education, civil rights, and employment for Hispanics. LULAC councils nationally provide more than half a million dollars in scholarships to Hispanic students each year, conduct citizenship and voter registration drives, develop low income housing units, conduct youth leadership training programs, and seek to empower the Hispanic community at the local, state and national levels.

LOCAL HISTORY:

Presently, the only council in Ohio, #39000 started with Hispanic leadership motivated in working with and organizing the growing Hispanic community in the Dayton and surrounding areas. The founding members were Alma Sherouse President, Alexandra Jimenz Vice President, Rosa Caskey Secertary, Yolanda Doylet, Treasurer, and Chaplain Jayne Ruiz. There was an organizational meeting held in Nov. 2001 and #39000 was finally chartered in January 2002. Our mission is to have a LULAC in Ohio uniting Hispanic/Latinos in common causes says President Alma Sherouse. We dream of having Educational centers in Ohio someday to assist Latinos in competive technology in today's society. "I know the leadership is here in Ohio and we just have to find each other," says Rosa Caskey, Secretary of the council.
Last year they raised money for the youth scholarship fund. At the Hispanic Heritage Festival they helped to register Hispanic/Latino voters. In the fall co-sponsored with Safety Alliance of Cincinnati OSHA Spanish training for over one hundred Spanish-speaking workers. Currently the organization trains and provides volunteers as translators for Reach Out Clinic of Montgomery County which is for the underserved and uninsured populations.