No Place Like HomeStart

HomeStart, Inc. is a non-profit organization working to end homelessness in the Greater Boston area. The agency's first priority for every client is a stable housing situation. They then work with each client's individual needs to provide services and support to make sure they are able to remain housed. By offering assistance in both English and Spanish, many homeless and formerly homeless individuals and families can depend on HomeStart in their search to obtain housing and their continued journey to maintain it. Elsa Lizarralde, 32, Bilingual Stabilization Advocate, works with the agency's formerly homeless clients. Providing much needed access to other social services, help with budgeting and crisis management, Elsa is able to help clients begin to realize other dreams and goals within the stable environment of their own homes. Learn more in this week's The LatinConnect about the work of HomeStart, Inc. within the community and how their helping hands are changing thousands of lives.

Brand Architect and Youth Adviser Michael Cordero

Michael Cordero, age 24 and Brand Architect of 1 SOUL DESIGNS, sees people and community as his strongest assets before income or financial gain. Launching this independent t-shirt brand in 2004, Michael first turned his classroom hobby into a small business venture at the local flea market. Now three years later, he, and business partner Randy Quiles, works with vendors on both coasts and in the international market as well. His motivation lays in the youth and community around him and how his designs will contribute to their education and uplift. Creating a Youth Apprenticeship program in addition to creating phenomenal fashions, Michael takes time to help New York's high school students development creative skills and business know-how. Learn more in this week's Young & Professional Profile about how Michael and 1 SOUL DESIGNS will enhance your wardrobe and an overall feeling of unity and pride.

Action for Individuals, Communities, and Policy

The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, Inc. (CHCF) celebrates its 25th year in service to others offering educational and health programs for kids and adults, as well as policy advocacy work at the local, state, and national levels. This New York based agency works with individuals to enhance their self-sufficiency, with family groups to enrich the home environment, and with community leaders to eliminate social service disparities pervading many local institutions. Sandra Duque, age 30 and Policy Analyst, says there is never a dull moment at CHCF; from direct service programs to legislative endeavors, the staff here are client focused at all times and full of a relentless energy to continually do more. Read on about The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, Sandra's role in its development, and plans to launch itself into future ventures in this week's The LatinConnect.

Are young professionals influential in the workplace? Yes, absolutely. If you were to ask this same question a decade ago, the answer would be quite the opposite. We're responsible for changing traditional methods of communication (think IM, text messaging, emails at odd hours), we're bolder and more demanding than previous generations and as a population we have a 'smarter than thou' presence (this of course attributed to being immersed in technology since birth). More importantly, we're adaptable to the changing times. Let's take a closer look at the stats and psychographics around Gen Y @ work, shall we?

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Pop Culture Artist, Rene Garcia, Jr.

Meet an Artist who will inspire you, make you laugh, share his insights, and help you love every moment of it. Meet Rene Garcia Jr., age 34, of I Love This World. Taking the lead in pop culture creativity, Rene designs his work to be loud, brilliant, and garnering more attention than previously thought possible. Melding family time and work time, Rene thrives in an environment where he can sit in his home-based work station with colors, shapes, and ideas pouring from his fingertips, or run down the street to observe daily on-goings and absorb ideas for future projects. Rene launched 'I Love This World' in 2006 after leaving the formal work environment . While admitting the switch-over was difficult at first, there's ultimately been no turning back since. For more information on Rene and how he'll inspire you to always make that maximum impact, read more in this week's Young & Professional Profile.

Interplast, the Medical Global Visionary

Providing reconstructive surgery for children with clefts, disabling burns and hand injuries as well as medical education partnerships with local doctors in 16 countries, Interplast is a vital global non-profit working for the betterment of underserved children and underfinanced medical professionals. In operation since 1969, this California-based agency has helped thousands of afflicted children with little to no access to care so that they may maintain normal functioning lives as would be impossible without surgery. Liliana Vazquez, 25, Communications and Technology Coordinator, tells us that in training host-country medical colleagues, Interplast leaves behind a legacy where thousands more children will be able to receive the same advantages as those undergoing surgery by American doctors. Read on and discover more about Interplast's history, future plans, and how you can help these world visionaries achieve their long term goals in this week's Non-Profit Spotlight