Detroit Latin@z

Detroit Latin@z is a Michigan based nonprofit organization for Latino/Latina lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight allied leaders representing and supporting Detroit, Michigan and the surrounding metropolitan area.

The group aims to build a visible and influential Latino/Latina LGBT and straight allied community through outreach, leadership development trainings, advocacy, shared resources, and social events and activities.

The organization is a member of the Michigan LGBT Community Centers Network.

History
Detroit Latin@z was formed through a project organized by the Michigan AIDS Coalition (formerly Midwest AIDS Prevention Project — MAPP) in July 2008 from existing projects using support from Arcus Foundation’s Michigan LGBT Rights Program. The name “Latin@z” represents the masculine and feminine tense of the ethnic classification term Latino/a.

In April of 2011, Detroit Latin@z received legal recognition as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

In 2012, the organization established their headquarters in the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation and a satellite office inside Affirmations. They partnered with the University of Michigan School of Public Health's Sexuality and Health Lab on the United for HIV Integration and Policy project, a community-based participatory research project in southeast Michigan, received foundational support from the Arcus Foundation and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan HOPE Fund, and hosted their first annual Detroit Latin@z Open House.

Programs
Through an information collection process, using both surveys and focus groups, along with research, a program training model was designed and entitled: "Si Se Puede: Leadership Development and Empowerment”. The model includes disciplines for effective peer outreach, coalition building, substance abuse prevention and education, HIV/AIDS and STI 101, resource development, event planning, media communications, civic engagement and advocacy.

The group commenced training workshops in March 2009.

In 2012 they hosted their first annual Detroit Latin@z Open House.