Los Amigos De La Comunidad Inc

In partnership with the County of Imperial, the organization has been conducting the Imperial County Lithium Valley Outreach and Education program since July 2023. The ongoing project aims to inform the community about the Lithium Valley Development and its potential impacts on the impoverished Imperial County. The program has reached over 2,000 people through various forms of engagement and collected 357 surveys. The organization has been actively involved in public forums, community activities, and Lithium Valley presentations in collaboration with community partners and trusted voices to explain the details of the opportunities and possible impacts as the development moves forward. The outreach continues into 2024 as the County of Imperial, the State of California, and the industry work together to create this development. The organization's goal is to raise awareness, gather the community's concerns and vision, and convey this message to the county, state, and industry stakeholders. By doing so, they aim to help limit the impacts that residents fear most, such as air quality deterioration in an already damaged air basin, uncontrolled environmental impacts on the Salton Sea, and traffic congestion and pollution that could further degrade the community instead of uplifting it.

The organization's general outreach program focuses on providing direct support to residents, including undocumented individuals, in accessing resources and services they may be unaware of or unable to obtain due to various barriers such as language, difficulty navigating systems, self-imposed barriers, and distrust of systems. The program assists eligible residents in signing up for Medi-Cal, Cal-Benefits, Covered California, Cal-Fresh, and utility discounts, which are often neglected by underserved communities. Annually, the organization meets with over 1,000 people to discuss different applications, assess their eligibility, and help them apply for and receive benefits. Hundreds of applicants successfully receive benefits each year, while others gain an understanding of their eligibility status and potential future opportunities. The organization also provides references to additional resources for those who may not be immediately eligible.