Latinos in Central Texas earn $28,000 less than their white neighbors (median household income).
Since 2017, Hispanic Impact Fund investors have granted $655,000 to 17 local nonprofits, serving 4,500 Latino families across the region. This includes expanding access to early childhood education with dual-generation programming for over 370 families, providing culturally competent physical health, mental health, and health education services to 2,100 families, and enrolling nearly 2,000 individuals in job skills and entrepreneurship training programs for those looking to advance in the workplace or expand their small businesses.
WHY WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION
Latinos in Austin are 29% of the overall workforce and hold 7% of all executive positions.
Less than half (48%) of Latino children entering kindergarten in Central Texas are deemed “kindergarten ready” at the start of the school year.
Just over 1 in 5 Latinos in Central Texas (22%) do not have health insurance.
The ongoing impact of COVID-19
Latinos represent approximately 50% of the deaths and hospitalizations due to COVID-19, the hardest hit racial demographic in the region. In the second year of this crisis, many Latinos have continued their role as essential workers in the community – paving the way for our region’s recovery but also putting their health and safety at odds with their economic security. Supporting the nonprofits that serve Latino families is vital to ensuring that the opportunity gap facing Latinos doesn’t widen further as we seek to recover from this crisis.
Since the start of the pandemic, the Hispanic Impact Fund has awarded $295,000, with an eye to more equitable grantmaking practices, to meet the urgent and evolving needs of our community. The Hispanic Impact Fund plans to grant an additional $355,000 to 28 Latino-serving organizations in Central Texas in early 2022. We look forward to announcing our process in the coming weeks to collectively invest our one-millionth dollar since our founding!
How the Hispanic Impact Fund makes a difference:
EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION
A child who is prepared for kindergarten is four to five times more likely to pass state assessments by the 3rd grade. By focusing on the youngest children in our community, we can improve educational outcomes for years to come.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Along with access to affordable health care, when armed with accurate and culturally competent information about healthy habits, Hispanics have significantly improved health outcomes.
JOB SKILLS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Access to capital and workforce development training to combat the wages of unskilled labor are vital Latino entrepreneurs and families looking to be part of the economic success Austin has come to be known for.