Latino V.O.I.C.E.S. will be holding a silent auction in celebration of Dia de Los Reyes (Feast of Three Kings) event on Jan. 5 from at their its Chaska office located at 123 W. Third St. Visitors and community members can come for a rotating presentation on Dia de los Los Reyes, snacks, and to bid at the silent auction.
Like many events by Latino V.O.I.C.E.S., the focus is not just on a Latin American cultural event, but on its sociological impact. According to Grecia Lozano, the executive director of Latino V.O.I.C.E.S., the idea of such events is to showcase, "not just what it is, but what it does for the family."
In many Latin American countries and even Spain, children receive presents not only from Santa on Christmas, but from the wise men, or kings, on Dia de Los Reyes, making Dia de los Reyes an equal, if not more anticipated holiday in some places.
Latino V.O.I.C.E.S. started with a focus on one-on-one casework with immigrants in Carver County. "We just wanted to make sure people had someone to help with that basic stuff," says Lozano. From that initial casework, one issue often led to another. Issues in housing led to healthcare which led to insurance which led to schooling.
"Little by little we start pulling to find all these other issues in the community," says Lozano. From there Latino V.O.I.C.E.S. branched out in order to address all concerns.
The secret behind Latino V.O.I.C.E.S. is confidentiality. "To us, that is more important than anything else," says Lozano. When discussing cases, volunteers never use the names or details of the case to ensure identities remain confidential. That confidentiality is what has gained them the trust of the community and allowed them to help those that might otherwise be reluctant to seek assistance.
Since moving beyond just one-on-one casework, Latino V.O.I.C.E.S. works to figure out what's most needed in the community, says Lozano. Recently that work has been in assisting others to get driver's licenses, access to a notary, and becoming certified translators to be able to officially translate documents for their clients. But even those needs change month to month, says Lozano.
This proximity and attention to exactly what the community needs is a point of pride for Latino V.O.I.C.E.S.
"If you don't understand the people you are supposed to be serving, you can't serve them properly," says Lozano. Latino V.O.I.C.E.S. often acts as a resource between the Latino community, the city or police, as well as "a touchstone for the Latino experience," says Lozano.
According to Lozano, much of the messaging through traditional channels doesn't reach immigrant communities. That leaves many isolated from the larger community and out of the conversation when it comes to future plans. Of specific note are the plans for the new library facility which is set to begin construction in 2028. Construction for the new library will demolish the City Square Center strip mall, which according to Lozano, acts as a community hub for the immigrant community of Chaska. The City Square Center is so important because it is a walkable mall that has several amenities like a grocery store, bakery, and laundry, all in close proximity. While the city has worked with these businesses to relocate, according to Lozano, it may be difficult to recreate the convenience of having those businesses situated close to each other.
Latino V.O.I.C.E.S. has always been a "family effort," says Lozano. This year, both of Lozano's sisters, Evelyn and Melody, have joined as volunteers and all of them cite their mother, Mary Fuentes, as the visionary of the organization. It is the family's own experience with coming to Chaska, working with the community, and dealing with deportation and racism, that fuels the work done by the organization. "We know what it's like to not have support," says Lozano.
Learn more about Latino V.O.I.C.E.S. at their website https://www.latinovoicesmn.org.