Founded in 1969, Junta for Progressive Action, Inc. (JUNTA) is the oldest Latino, community based non-profit organization in New Haven, Connecticut. Its mission is to provide services, programs and advocacy that improve the social, political and economic conditions of the Latino community in Greater New Haven, while nurturing and promoting its cultural traditions as it builds bridges with other communities. Junta has been at the forefront of local, state, and national projects to promote immigrant rights; improve access to health care; expand levels of literacy and access to higher education, and develop grassroots leadership around issues of concern to our communities.
1. The Neighborhood Place
In collaboration with Yale Child Study Outpatient Services, JUNTA provides a free Afterschool Arts program to children in New Haven. Children attend a variety of classes 5 in the afternoon including dance, photography, guitar, drama, painting and storytelling.
Schedule: M, T, W, 3:30-5 pm.
Responsibility: Assistants to Art Teachers: Two students support The Neighborhood Place program by working with the Art teachers. This involves participating in the program one afternoon a week minimum, from 3:30-5 pm. Students obtain materials for the activities, and work with the teachers and children. Verbal Spanish required.
2. Advocacy and Community Organizing Program
Research project: Students work on compiling local immigration and Hispanic statistics at a local and state level, as a comparison. The goal of this would be to not only give a better picture of immigrants and Hispanics in New Haven, how it relates or is specific to New Haven. From the data, they create one page fact sheets that we use for fundraising, on our website and as a tool for advocating for state funding.
Responsibility: meeting with program directors, designing research project, and developing materials.
3. Worker Center Program
Research project: Students review files from the Worker Center Program, in order to categorize and assess the different kinds of cases brought to Junta about labor violations affecting community members. Students also create profiles of the workers who brought their cases to Junta. This report is useful for Junta to circulate with funders and to provide an assessment of community need.
Responsibility: meeting with program directors, designing research project, and developing materials.