Esperanza United
Martha Hernandez-Martinez serves as the Director of Research and Capacity Building at Rainbow Research Inc. since April 2021 and has held the role of Senior Research Associate. Since August 2016, Martha has been the Research Program Manager at Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network, focusing on original research for non-profit organizations, law enforcement, and human services agencies. A notable achievement includes the development of a community engagement tool for domestic violence homicide prevention. Martha's prior experience includes positions at the National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families & Communities, Casa de Esperanza, All Parks Alliance for Change, Organizing Apprenticeship Project, and Project SAREM in Nicaragua. Educational credentials include a Master of Public Affairs from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, a Bachelor of Arts in American History and Women's & Gender Studies from Winona State University, and a Licenciada en Psicologia from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Nicaragua.
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Esperanza United
Founded in 1982 as a women's shelter in St. Paul, Minnesota, Esperanza United has grown into the national institute on domestic violence in the Latin@ community. We provide training and consultations to practitioners and activists throughout the United States as well as in Latin America. ' We root our work in the St. Paul, Minnesota community, offering a range of critical services in Minnesota from enhancing safety for Latin@ survivors of gender-based violence to strengthening youth leadership. We ground everything we do in the lived realities, hopes, and dreams of Latin@ communities. Our public policy initiative engages in federal and state public policy advocacy efforts and our national research center conducts research on issues that affect Latin@s in the United States and abroad. Our organization seeks input from members to inform policy advocacy efforts on key legislation impacting Latin@ families experiencing domestic violence and gender based violence. From highlighting the need of immigration reform to ensure protections for immigrant survivors to documenting the health impact of violence, we encourage communities to share stories of human rights violations, discrimination, community concerns and successes that will be brought to policy makers to help shape our laws.