Hispanic Advisory Council
Currently, approximately 50% of children in foster care are Hispanic - however there is a great need to increase volunteer diversity as less than 10% of CASA advocates are Hispanic. CASA recognizes that a diverse and culturally competent team of staff, volunteers and board members is central to advocating effectively for children with a broad range of backgrounds.
In support of CASA's mission working with foster youth, the Hispanic Advisory Council is dedicated to expanding community awareness with a primary objective of increasing the number of Hispanic volunteers involved with CASA at every level.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) provides quality advocacy for children through a unique one-on-one relationship between a trained and supervised court-appointed volunteer and an abused, abandoned or neglected child. CASA is dedicated to providing the guidance, skills and resources necessary for helping children in foster care to overcome an abusive past and achieve a self-sufficient future.
Become a CASA mentor-advocate. We are always in need of more volunteers to invest in the lives of Hispanic children in the foster care system.
Help connect CASA with opportunities within the community for building awareness - at companies, churches, community or professional groups, etc.
Inform family, friends, work associates, foundations and the community at large about CASA - the need, the CASA approach, the remarkable results of CASA's life-changing work.
Attend and invite others to Hispanic Advisory Council annual events (1-2 per year).
Make a donation or assist with raising funds specifically to build awareness in the Hispanic community.
October 2010
October 2008
Hispanic Advisory Council reception featuring Professor Judith Baca, University of California at Los Angeles, a native Angeleno, visual artist, arts activist, community leader and professor of visual art. Join us as we hear from Professor Baca about the many public art displays she has created including the new Cesar Chavez Monument, The Great Wall of Los Angeles, The Martin Luther King Memorial, and prominent pieces for the Durango Latino Education Coalition, Olvera Street and Venice Boardwalk.
October 2007
Renowned author and speaker, Victor Villasenor, joined the Hispanic Advisory Council and about 100 community members for an intimate afternoon at the Floral Park home of Rick Kagasoff. Mr. Villasenor treated guests to many personal stories rich in Hispanic culture as well as his views on the importance of investing in the lives of at-risk youth. He then spent time one-on-one with guests signing books and conversing. The event also featured a successful silent auction, hosted refreshments and a taco bar. Among Mr. Villasenor's works, Rain of Gold and Burro Genius are required reading in Chicano Studies at many California universities. Generous donors for the event included Premier Commercial Bank, Pacific Mercantile Bank, Southern California District Council of Laborers and Griffith Company.
Judge Fredrick Aguirre
Orange County Superior Court
Charlotte DeVaul
Community Volunteer
Marci Ferguson
Community Volunteer
Lydia Gonzales
Hoag Hospital
John Lopez
Northrop-Grumman
Linda Lopez
Orange County Healthcare Agency
Founder of Hispanic Advisory Council
Rick Kagasoff
A-1 Automotive Core Supplier Co
Jack Koenig
Community Volunteer
Laura Martinez
The Office of Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez
After being invited to participate as a member of the Hispanic Advisory Council, each member makes an initial one-year commitment and agrees to attend quarterly council meetings. Each member also commits to (1) helping connect CASA with opportunities within the community for building awareness - at companies, churches, community or professional groups, etc., (2) informing family, friends, work associates, foundations and the community at large about CASA - the need, the CASA approach, the remarkable results of CASA's life-changing work, (3) attending and inviting others to Hispanic Advisory Council annual events (1-2 per year), and (4) assisting with raising funds specifically to build awareness in the Hispanic community.
