This Week’s Highlight: Jihobanna Marina Navarro García, Hispanic Family Center. My name is Jihobanna Marina Navarro García. I am 44 years old, Nicaraguan, a lawyer, and a notary. I have two children, a 24-year-old son and an 18-year-old daughter. I emigrated to the United States on February 13, 2022, and arrived in Camden, New Jersey, on February 22 of that same year. The reason for my emigration was the difficult sociopolitical situation my country had been facing since Apri

This Week’s Highlight: Roseline Joseph, Hispanic Family Center. Roseline Joseph, of Dominican and Haitian background, arrived in the United States ready to begin a new chapter in her life. Like many newcomers, she faced uncertainty, but also carried a strong desire to move forward and build a better future. After hearing about a course offered at the Hispanic Family Center, she decided to take a chance and get involved. From the very first day, she was met with kindness and

This Week's Spotlight: Samantha Díaz, Hispanic Women’s Resource Center Background Samantha Díaz, originally from the Dominican Republic, came to the center with a clear goal: to learn English and better adapt to life in the United States. After hearing about the program from her aunt, who had previously taken classes at the center, Samantha felt encouraged to take that first step. Having arrived in the country just three months ago, she was looking for support, guidance, an

Contact: Anthony Campisi Anthony@WalnutLaneStrategies.com (732) 266-8221 (Photo Credit | Governor Mikie Sherrill/Facebook) The Latino Action Network Foundation (LANF) is celebrating a historic victory for New Jersey’s immigrant families as Governor Mikie Sherrill signed the Immigrant Trust Act into law. This landmark legislation codifies protections that prohibit state and local law enforcement from participating in federal civil immigration enforcement, protecting New Jerse

Contact: Anthony Campisi anthony@walnutlanestrategies.com (732) 266-8221 The Latino Action Network Foundation (LANF) today expressed grave concern regarding the potential community-wide impact of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal, which would appropriate just $535,000 for the Hispanic Women’s Resource Centers (HWRCs) — a staggering 80% cut. LANF leadership warns that if this funding level is enacted into law, the resulting service gap would leave thousands of New Jersey

This Month’s Spotlight: Claribel R. Hispanic Women’s Resource Center at IACO (Immigration & American Citizenship Organization) Background: Claribel R. first visited our organization, interested in receiving more information about our English (ESL) classes. She learned about our organization through our social media, where she found valuable information and services that matched her interests. This motivated her to reach out and become a member of our organization. From the be

This Women's History Month, and as we recognize International Women's Day on March 8th, we are proud to launch "Empowerment in Action", a months long series highlighting the transformative impact of our Hispanic Women's Resource Centers. During this months long series, we will share real stories from women who have strengthened their futures through access to education, legal support, workforce development services, and community connection. These stories reflect resilience,

Written by: Jesselly De La Cruz Executive Director, Latino Action Network Foundation Past President, Latino Mental Health Association of New Jersey The first client I ever worked with was at 76 Clinton Avenue in Newark, New Jersey. I was a first-year graduate student in Rutgers’ social work program, placed at a small community center in the Lincoln Park section of Newark. He was a Puerto Rican man in his early 60s, recently discharged from the hospital after a heart attack an

Written by: Carlos Barrera-Gomez, Health Justice Intern Introduction Latino and Hispanic communities represent one of the largest and fastest-growing populations in the United States, yet this expansion is not represented in the physician workforce. Latino physicians continue to be underrepresented in healthcare, limiting access to care, communication, and health outcomes. Representation in medicine is more than just professional diversity; it is also about health equity and

Written by: Gina Ramos, Clean Energy Consultant For Black, Brown, and Latino communities across New Jersey, climate change is not an abstract issue or a future concern. It is something people live with every day — in flooded basements, unsafe housing conditions, extreme heat, power outages, and rising costs that make it harder to stay rooted in the places we call home. These impacts are not accidental. Generations of disinvestment, redlining, and discriminatory land-use decis

Written by: Carlos Barrera-Gomez - Health Justice Intern & Saray Ramos, MPA - Director of Programming What is Public Charge? Public charge is a test used for certain individuals applying for a green card. Immigration officers look at whether a person might depend mainly on government assistance in the future. Public charge is not a benefit or a program–it is a rule used in certain immigration decisions. What is Happening Now In November 2025, the Department of Human Services

Contact: Anthony Campisi anthony@walnutlanestrategies.com (732) 266-8221 The Latino Action Network Foundation today expressed profound disappointment following Governor Phil Murphy’s failure to sign a critical package of immigrant protection bills before leaving office. By allowing these bills to expire via a pocket veto, the Governor has left nearly half a million undocumented New Jerseyans without codified protections at a moment of unprecedented federal hostility towar

Contact: Anthony Campisi anthony@walnutlanestrategies.com (732) 266-8221 The Latino Action Network Foundation today celebrated the historic final passage of a landmark package of immigrant protection bills (A6308/S5036, A6309/S5037 and A6310/S5038) by both houses of the New Jersey Legislature. This decisive action codifies and expands the state’s commitment to protecting its immigrant communities by drawing a clear line between local law enforcement and federal immigration a

Written by: Gina Ramos - Clean Energy Consultant The phrase clean energy has become a staple of climate conversations, policy debates, and corporate sustainability goals. Yet despite its widespread use, the term is often misunderstood or applied inconsistently. Understanding what clean energy truly means — and what it does not — is essential for making informed decisions about climate solutions, public investment, and long-term energy planning. At its most basic level, clean

Contact: Anthony Campisi Anthony@WalnutLaneStrategies.com (732) 266-8221 The Latino Action Network Foundation today applauded the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote to advance a comprehensive package of immigrant protection bills, including A6308/S5036, A6309/S5037 and A6310/S5038. This legislative package represents a historic step toward codifying and expanding the state’s commitment to protecting immigrant communities in the nation’s most diverse state from the r

Written by: Gina Ramos - Clean Energy Consultant New Jersey is pursuing one of the most ambitious climate goals in the country: achieving 100% clean electricity by 2035. This accelerated target was established through Executive Order No. 315, signed by Governor Phil Murphy in February 2023, which moved the original 2050 clean-electricity deadline forward by 15 years. The order directs state agencies to speed up renewable-energy development, reduce emissions, and prepare for a

Written by Raven Diaz With society's mass investment in transportation infrastructure, it is essential to recognize that this favoritism towards highways, cars, and overall personal ways of traveling has left the disability community forgotten and behind. People who cannot afford accessible vehicles or drive are left with limited, equitable options to travel, indirectly excluding them from their communities. According to the AAPD, out of the 2 million people with disabilities

Day 2 of the Working Summit 2025 at Monmouth University — a powerful gathering of advocates and community leaders driving justice reform...

Thank you to everyone who joined our Virtual Lunch & Learn: Equity in Transportation webinar. Together, we explored how transportation...

As part of the Million Voters Project Throughout May and into June, our team at the Latino Action Network Foundation (LANF) has been on...