¿Quiénes somos?
The Latinx Advocacy Team & Interdisciplinary Network for COVID-19 (LATIN-19) is a multi-sector collaboration that brings together community leaders and organizers, clinicians and healthcare providers, researchers and academic partners, policy, legal, and public affairs partners, public health professionals, community-based organizations (CBOs), community members with lived experience, representatives of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and beyond.
LATIN-19 was established during the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen coordination, information-sharing, and access to health-related resources, with a primary focus on Hispanic/Latinx communities where the impacts of the pandemic were especially pronounced. While LATIN-19’s work is designed with these communities in mind, participation in LATIN-19 initiatives is open to all individuals and organizations seeking to support health and wellness efforts.
Nuestra Visión
Health and wellness for our Hispanic/ Latinx community.
Nuestra Misión
LATIN-19 advances health and wellness with a primary focus on Hispanic/Latinx communities by strengthening collaboration, shared leadership, and access to information and resources. Our work is grounded in community knowledge, cross-sector partnership, and a commitment to ensuring that programs designed with Hispanic/Latinx communities in mind remain open and accessible to all.
We accomplish this through:
Centering shared responsibility, community-informed decision-making, and collaboration across individuals and organizations.
Working alongside partners across health, education, social services, and advocacy to strengthen coordination and impact.
Creating space for dialogue, learning, and shared understanding that reflects the experiences of those closest to the work.
Designing outreach and programming informed by long-standing gaps in information, services, and systems.
Building on cultural knowledge, resilience, leadership, and existing community assets.
Supporting changes in practices and partnerships that make programs and resources easier to navigate and use.
While LATIN-19’s work is designed with Hispanic/Latinx communities in mind, participation in LATIN-19 programs and initiatives is not limited by race, ethnicity, or any other legally protected characteristic. All programs and resources are open to individuals who may benefit.
"LATIN-19 es una caja de resonancia, una charla, un lugar seguro al que acudir para hablar de los verdaderos retos a los que nos enfrentamos en nuestras comunidades, con nuestros pacientes, clientes, estudiantes, familias, etc., un espacio en el que se establecen conexiones y, a partir de ellas, se producen cambios reales. LATIN-19 se enfrenta a la desigualdad, al racismo sistemático y a la injusticia de una manera honesta y abierta, pero sin evitar las conversaciones difíciles."
- Anne Fields, MPH, MSW, LCSW, Trabajadora Social Clínica
Nuestra Historia
LATIN-19 was founded in March 2020 by Drs. Viviana Martinez-Bianchi and Gabriela Maradiaga Panayotti in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a primary focus on supporting health and wellness efforts within the Hispanic/Latinx community. The group held its initial meeting on March 18, 2020, and has continued to meet regularly to share information, identify challenges, and explore opportunities related to health and access to care.
What began as a small group of approximately 20 participants quickly expanded as interest and participation grew. Today, LATIN-19 includes more than 1,000 individuals and organizations engaged across sectors.
LATIN-19 recognizes and builds upon the strengths of Hispanic/Latinx communities. Our platform creates space for dialogue, learning, and collaboration, allowing community members, practitioners, and decision-makers to engage in open and constructive conversations about how health systems and related services are navigated and experienced.
Through these conversations, information is shared, policies and regulations are explained, and legal and technical language is clarified. This exchange supports mutual understanding and helps inform practical improvements in coordination, communication, and service delivery.
Members of LATIN-19 organize into committees and working groups to respond to identified needs, examine gaps in access, and develop recommendations aimed at strengthening health and wellness efforts. While this work is informed by the experiences of Hispanic/Latinx communities, participation in LATIN-19 activities is open to all individuals and organizations interested in contributing to these efforts.