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CLICK HERE FOR THIS LETTER IN PDF FORM
(PRINTABLE)
If in
agreement with this letter, please mail a signed copy to Ohio’s
Governor.
Governor John Kasich
77 South High Street, 30th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6117
Governor Kasich,
I am writing to ask you to
increase investment in the Ohio Hispanic community through their
state agency – the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs -
in the biennial budget for fiscal years 2014 and 2015. Funding
at the current level is not sufficient to sustain OCHLA’s
execution of its statutory mandates.
OCHLA is a tiny but
impactful state agency. With a staff of just two part-time and
two full-time employees, and on a budget of less than $1 per
Hispanic Ohioan, the Commission works aggressively and
effectively to: connect their constituents to each other and to
Hispanic-serving organizations and state agencies; to advise
your office and the Ohio General Assembly on the challenges and
opportunities facing Ohio Hispanics; and to build the
community’s capacity for educational, professional and civic
achievement. For many in Ohio’s Hispanic communities, OCHLA is
an indispensable asset.
Despite severe cuts in
funding in recent years, the Commission has actually drastically
increased programming, initiatives and constituent services. As
a result, Ohio Hispanics are more engaged than ever before.
Last year, OCHLA hosted their biggest advocacy day ever –
bringing more than 250 Hispanic leaders to the Statehouse -
along with United States Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. An
ambitious voter registration, education and protection campaign
helped as many as 10,000 Ohio Hispanics register to vote in time
for November’s election. The Commission also brought together
health care service providers and professionals to discuss
health disparities among Ohio Hispanics at the first ever Ohio
Latino Health Summit.
The Commission has also
been a tireless proponent of your vision for Ohio, Mr. Governor.
It serves as part of the Human Trafficking Commission under
Attorney General DeWine, and the Commission works hard to
disseminate news and events from your office weekly. OCHLA also
brought together many key Hispanic leaders to meet with you to
discuss implementation of your plan for Ohio’s workforce
transformation within the Ohio Hispanic community, and works to
create jobs for Ohio Hispanics through partnerships with the
Ohio Hispanic Chambers of Commerce and the Small Business
Development Centers. The Commission also hosted Ohio’s First
Lady at last year’s Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan Award gala.
OCHLA has done all of this
on a shrinking budget. The Commission has relied on other
revenue sources, including partnerships with organizations
around the state, as well as seeking and even successfully
finding grants to support specific initiatives. OCHLA’s Chairman
and Executive Director are sharp fiscal stewards, and they have
a specific proposal for how additional investment would be spent
if granted. The Commission requests an increase of just $70,000
– enough to expand two part-time staff positions to full-time.
While such an increase would represent about 21% of OCHLA’s
budget for fiscal year 2013 - $324,922 - but it seems a small
price to pay to allow the Commission to continue to execute its
mandates. The size and need of Ohio’s Hispanic community has
grown explosively. The State’s Hispanic population is up more
than 63% since 2000, and the agency that serves those Ohio
Hispanics in a culturally-competent way has fought dwindling
support from the State during that same period.
Ohio Hispanics will
play a key role in Ohio’s future. We’ll be a critical
contributor to your success in turning Ohio around economically.
With this meager increase to OCHLA’s budget - $70,000 - the
returns on Ohio’s investment in its most dynamic community will
be even greater.
Respectfully,
Sign your name here
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