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Hands on Nashville Center for Nonprofit Management United Way 2-1-1 The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Charitable Solicitations Division

Welcome to

Conexion Americas


	Organizational Information

Check Mark-Reviewed profiles have been examined by Foundation staff, including a review of finances and other organizational elements.

Address	800 18th Avenue South, #A

	Nashville, TN 37203

Phone	615-320-5152
Fax	615-320-9845


CEO/Executive Director	Mr. Jose Gonzalez	Web Site	www.conexionamericas.org
Board Chair/President	Mr Jose Mena
		Year of Incorporation	1994

Has your IRS tax-exempt status ever been revoked?	No
If yes, please explain?

Last Updated	03/02/2007

Mission Statement

Our mission is to help Hispanic families realize their aspirations for social and economic advancement by promoting their social, economic and civic integration into the Middle Tennessee community.

Impact Statement

Conexión Américas exists to help integrate Hispanic families into the local community. Conexión Américas strive to ensure that Hispanic and non-Hispanic populations understand each other and live together productively. The vast majority of our efforts and resources are spent on providing services and programs that enable Hispanic families integrate at the social, the civic, and the economic levels. Every program fits under one of these ‘areas of integration’. Specific impact areas are directly linked to programs/strategies and qualitative/quantitative goals within our strategic plan. These impact areas are: Social Integration: Connect Hispanic individuals with the resources, support networks and information they need Economic Integration: 1) Reduce financial vulnerability of Hispanic families, 2) Educate Hispanic families and individuals about their tax rights and responsibilities. 3) Increase homeownership rate among Latino households 4) Support self-employment among Hispanic individuals as strategy to generate income, build assets and enhance skills Civic Integration: 1) Advocate for private and public policies that contribute to the well being of Hispanic families and the community at-large. 2)Educate Hispanic individuals about their rights and responsibilities and connect them with affordable, quality legal services 3) Cultivate Hispanic grassroots leadership through genuine opportunities for participation in organization’s decision-making processes. Because we believe that integration is a two way process, Conexión Américas also reaches out to the ‘host’ community: local government, non-profits and the private sector with support services that enable these organizations to better understand and interact with the Hispanic community. Our programs in this area include: Latino cultural competency training, Spanish or ESL classes, translations, and provide support fr applied research services related to the Hispanic community (such as focus groups).

Needs Statement

Background Statement

Conexión Américas builds upon the experience and history of the Hispanic Family Resource Center (HFRC), a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 to provide information and referral services in Spanish and help Hispanic families and individuals connect with needed resources. In 2002, the HFRC Board of Directors faced the challenge to respond in a comprehensive way to the needs of the growing Hispanic immigrant population of Middle Tennessee. They wanted to broaden the scope of the organization and have greater impact in the community. However, the organization had limited capacity to respond to this challenge. Simultaneously, three Hispanic professionals were articulating a vision and developing a business plan for a new Latino organization that would work to assist the Hispanic communities of Middle Tennesse to improve their living conditions. After learning about the HFRC Board’s desire, they approached the existing organization and proposed to combine efforts: The HFRC would provide the infrastructure and seven-year history; the new group would provide a new vision, new leadership and capacity for implementation. In April of 2002 the HFRC Board embraced this opportunity and a renewed organization was born: Conexión Américas. Since then, the original information and referral service of the HFRC has evolved into the Spanish Help Line for Middle Tennessee in collaboration with the Crisis Intervention Center. New programs in the areas of social, economic and civic integration have been developed and launched. Today Conexión Américas is recognized as a leading Hispanic force and the first organization in Tennessee officially affiliated to the National Council of la Raza.

Statement from CEO/Executive Director

In order to understand the importance that Conexión Américas plays as a critical organization in Middle Tennessee today, one has to consider the historical demographic changes that have taken place in Nashville during the previous decade: The 2000 Census showed a 446% growth of the Hispanic population in Nashville from 1990. The local Hispanic population has reached a significant local presence and nonprofit organizations, public entities and corporations are dramatically challenged by this wave of newcomers. At Conexión Américas we have adopted the principle of teamwork and strategic alliance that was crucial in our beginnings as a pillar of our business model. We don’t ever engage in any new project by ourselves. Any program, any initiative, any project is always a partnership or a collaboration. We have adapted the learning from our initial stages to new circumstances and opportunities. The results our young organization has produced would not be possible without the team effort of our many partners and collaborating organizations. Today Conexión Américas is recognized as a leading Latino force in Middle Tennessee and in the state. Probably the most significant contribution Conexión Américas is making to Hispanic families and to the community at large is our approach of the complex process of integration from its multiple dimensions (socio-cultural, civic, economic) and as a two-way process, where both Latino newcomers and the host community are learning, adapting, contributing, negotiating.

Statement from Board Chair/President

Organizational Category

Human Services - Ethnic & Immigrant Centers (P84)

Geographic Areas Served

Cheatham, Davidson, Rutherford, Dickson, Williamson

Geographic Service Area

Conexion Americas


	Programs

Organization Programs


Information and Referral

Program Description	Connects Hispanic individuals with the resources, support networks and information they need. The services are provided via our Spanish Help Line or by personal appointments at our offices.
Program Category	Information & Referral - Human Services
Target Population Served	Hispanics Immigrants/Newcomers/Refugees Poor/Economically Disadvantaged, Indigent, General

Puertas Abieras/Open Doors Homeownership and Loan Fund (with Nashville Housing Fund)

Program Description	Program that helps Hispanic families purchase their own home. Home counselors provide technical assistance and homeownership classes. Participants are connected with professional lenders and real estate agents
Program Category	Housing Counseling - Housing
Target Population Served	Hispanics Immigrants/Newcomers/Refugees Poor/Economically Disadvantaged, Indigent, General

Negocio Prosepro and AVANCE (Prosperous Business and Moving Forward)

Program Description	Helps entrepreneurs & business owners better administer their businesses. NP is a 3-month class that provides information on how to start business. Avance is a networking & peer forum for business owners and professionals.
Program Category	Small & Minority Business Development Programs - Community Development
Target Population Served	Poor/Economically Disadvantaged, Indigent, General Hispanics Immigrants/Newcomers/Refugees

Consulte un Abogado/Consult a Lawyer (With Nashville Bar Association and Legal Aid)

Program Description	Allows low income families to have face time with an attorney free of charge to explain legal problems or issues they may face. Participants meet for 30 minutes with an attorney that agrees to provide legal advice.
Program Category	Legal Services - Crime & Legal
Target Population Served	Hispanics Immigrants/Newcomers/Refugees Poor/Economically Disadvantaged, Indigent, General

Hispanic Council

Program Description	An effort to cultivate Hispanic grassroots leadership through opportunities for participation in organization’s decision-making process. Comprised of members of the community and past customers of the organization.
Program Category	Personal Enrichment - Human Services
Target Population Served	Poor/Economically Disadvantaged, Indigent, General Immigrants/Newcomers/Refugees Hispanics

Conexion Americas


	Management Governance

Board Information

Board Chair/President	Mr Jose Mena
Company Affiliation	EDS (Electronic Data Systems)

Board List

Mr Sergio Aguilar, HCA

Ms Mabel Arroyo, Stites & Harbison PLLC

Ms Marissa Benchea, Young Leader Intern, Center for Nonprofit Management

Ms Adriana Bialostosky, Vanderbilt Children's Hospital

Ms Gabriela Castillo, Mayor's Office

Rev. Mary "Kaki" Friskics-Warren, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

Mr Wynne James, Waller, Lansden, Dortch and Davis

Mr John W. Lamb Jr, Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry PLC

Mr David Laubie, Bridgestone Firestone

Dr Dan McAlexander, Belmont University

Mr Jose Mena, EDS (Electronic Data Systems)

Mr Tom Negri, Loews Vanderbilt Plaza

Mr Gregg Ramos, North, Pursell, Ramos & Jameson PLC

Mr Jose Rodriguez, Belmont University

Mr Rene Rodriguez, VF Imagewear

Ms Marcela Thornhill, Bank of America

Ms Ellen Tighe, St. Thomas Family Health Clinic

Ms Patricia Totty, Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration

Ms Carrie Ferguson Weir, The Tennessean

Standing Committees

Advisory Board , Community Outreach / Community Relations , Executive , Marketing , Program

Additional Boards

Local - Advisory

Mr Tom Negri, Loews Vanderbilt Plaza

Ms Lynn Pollan, Willis North America Inc.

Local - Constituent

Mrs Mercedez Almaraz, Community Volunteer

Ms Gladys Diaz, Community Volunteer

Ms Teresa Escorcia, Community Volunteer

Mrs Letica Gonzalez, Community Volunteer

Mrs Isabel Ramirez, Community Volunteer

Mr Ruben Romero, Community Volunteer

Mr Rene Tejeda, Community Volunteer

Mrs Elvira Vasquez, Community Volunteer

Mr Alcides Zamudio, Community Volunteer

Mrs Martha Zamudio, Community Volunteer

Organizational Infrastructure

Does Organization have a Strategic Plan?	Yes

State Charitable Solicitations Permit Expiration Date	12/31/2007

Management Capacity

CEO/Executive Director Name	Term Start
Mr. Jose Gonzalez	05/2002

Number of Full Time Staff	5
Number of Part Time Staff	1	Number of Volunteers	50

Is there a whistle blower policy?	No
Is there a document destruction policy?	No
Does your organization have a non-discrimination policy regarding the hiring of staff and delivery of service?	Yes

Related searches:
hispanic community program volunteer conexi

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