SELA Cares

Immigrant and refugee support

South LA East LA Central LA

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

The SELA region is home to one of the most vibrant yet historically underserved Latino/communities in Los Angeles County. Long affected by systemic disinvestment, the area has faced disparities in political representation and access to needed resources. In Southeast Los Angeles (SELA), Latinos/as make up 94% of residents in the Southeast Los Angeles neighborhoods of Vernon, Maywood, Huntington Park, Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Walnut Park, South Gate, Lynwood, and Florence-Firestone. Foreign-born residents make up about 37%, of which the majority are Latinos/as. (USC Neighborhood Data for Social Change).
In today's political climate, immigrants are particularly vulnerable. They are blamed for societal issues, and fear is being used to push hardworking families out of their homes. Every day, we hear more stories of injustices affecting everyday families both in and outside of Los Angeles County. With this center, we aim to provide families with the tools they need to defend themselves.

COFEM is seeking support for our participation in the SELA Cares Resource Center, which was created to equip the community with resources and knowledge to protect themselves from an unjust system. COFEM will provide immigration application support for citizenship, DACA, and residency renewal, as well as "Know Your Rights" information sessions and Civic Promoters workshops series. The SELA Cares Resource Center will also offer support from our partners (Alliance for Better Community, Latino Equality Alliance, Everyone On, New Start Housing Corporation, So Cal Can, and Innovate Public Schools) in areas like mental health resources, student financial aid, resource distribution, and digital equity skill-building. These initiatives empower immigrants to navigate challenges in the U.S. and promote civic engagement.
In response to anti-immigrant rhetoric, COFEM's Immigrant Integration team has created accessible informational materials for "Know Your Rights" sessions. Department of Justice-accredited staff provide up-to-date information on immigration policies, helping community members understand their rights under the U.S. Constitution and effectively respond during encounters with local law enforcement and ICE officers.
Our Civic Promoters program, through a workshop series, equips community members with the tools necessary to identify and address local issues through outreach and education, advocacy, and civic engagement.

SELA Cares is providing a safe space to access essential services and feel included in the community. SELA Cares was created to alleviate community fears and combat misinformation. COFEM joined this collaborative because our mission is to empower immigrant communities. A part of this mission is to help community members exercise their rights and express their concerns when they believe change is necessary.
In today's political climate, it is vital that everyone, regardless of their immigration status, feels empowered to voice their concerns and address issues affecting their communities. Our application support services can help fill the gaps left by larger immigrant-serving organizations that are currently experiencing an influx of clients. Our Know Your Rights information sessions aim to keep community members informed about their rights. Finally, our Civic Promoters program provides community members with the tools they need to identify and tackle local issues.