Latiné Heritage Month 2022 - Todos Pincluidos Fund

Yaaj Transformando Tu Vida A.C.

"Yaaj: Transformando tu Vida A.C." (Yaaj Mexico) is a civil society organization based in Mexico committed to promote, defend, and guarantee the sexual, reproductive, and human rights of the LGBTI+ community, all from a gender and youth approach.
With almost 15 years of experience, Yaaj Mexico works along 4 main axles:
Work with LGBTI+ populations through different programs:
"Jovenes LGBT Mexico": A peer support group for LGBTIQ+ youth from 16 to 29.
"Mujeres Diversas Yaaj": An intersectional feminist program that offers support and empowerment to LBT women and non-binary individuals aged 14 to 35, while taking action on gender issues and transphobia.
"Salud Positiva": A program focused on guaranteeing access to healthcore without discrimination, focusing on HIV and other STIs.
"Fortalecete LGBT": A nationwide fellowship program that trains new leaders through high-level meetings with legislators, international organizations, opinion leaders, among other similar profiles. It is a high-level residence for the exchange of good practices in the defense of human rights, in which participants develop their skills in leadership, research, communication and project management for democratic participation in favor of the LGBTIQ+ community (the program lasts 2 weeks and 6 young people from different parts of the country are selected).
"Programa Nacional de Jovenes Lideres LGBTI+": A one-year program that, in addition to strengthening new activists (selected nationwide) through bimonthly workshops, intends to create a community among its participants, foster a professional network, influence activism in the local communities of the participants (with an average of 50 young LGBTIQ+ participants each year), and encourage the exchange of good practices among them, as well as promote community projects of those who make up the cohort.
Research: We conduct relevant research that helps us promote public policies and have political and legislative influence; in addition to making visible the different realities within our community through data.
Political advocacy: We are pioneers in political advocacy work in Mexico. We have successfully influenced policies that define and prohibit the so-called "Efforts to Correct Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity" (ECOSIG) -gender and sexual conversion therapies-, managing to collaborate hand in hand with legislators, policy-makers, political actors, institutions, and survivors. On July 24, 2020, these cruel, inhuman, and degrading practices were prohibited by the Mexico City Congress. We are currently supporting a similar law initiative in the Mexican Senate.
Awareness campaigns: Trainings (workshops, conferences, cultural exchanges, etc.) in high schools and universities, consulting and evaluation of LGBTIQ+ initiatives for companies, festivals and cultural activities, among other similar activities.
We are present nationwide through different chapters ("vocerias") in the following federal states of Mexico: Baja California Sur, Zacatecas, Puebla, Chiapas, Jalisco, Yucatan, Campeche, among others.
Yaaj has formed a network of more than 300 volunteers who have collaborated with the organization over the years. It has benefited thousands of users and their families.

Latino Union Inc

The Latino Union of Chicago collaborates with low-income, immigrant and U.S.-born workers to develop the tools necessary to collectively improve social and economic conditions.

Latino Center for Prevention \u0026 Action in Health \u0026 Welfare

Latino Health Access partners with communities to bring health, equity and sustainable change through education, services, consciousness-raising and civic participation.

Youth Represent

Youth Represent uses legal services, policy advocacy, peer education, and other tools to build power and opportunity for Black, Latiné, and other youth of color who the criminal legal system and other systems of oppression harm the most. We envision a world where the racist legal system has been dismantled and BIack, Latiné, Indigenous, and other youth of color have the freedom and power to live their full lives.