Conexion Latina

EWE Spirit Grant Recipient Story:

In September 2025, EWE Spirit Foundation held our first fundraiser in Geoff’s childhood hometown, Newport RI. To honor the occasion, Conexion Latina received a $10,000 grant to help continue the important work they’re doing in their community.

Conexion Latina was founded in 2019 by four local women who recognized a growing need for resources in the fast-growing community of Latinos in Newport. A survey of residents showed Hispanics were not accessing social service agencies for help and not involved in civic life. These women connected with community leaders, solicited input, and began to identify ways to ease the pain points. Just as the ball started rolling, COVID hit in spring of 2020. Many within the community were unable to access information in their language, having no access to the many benefits and relief avenues that others were getting, and had no option to continue to work since the service industry was shut down completely.

Conexion Latina was granted funding, through a backbone agency, to support these families, over 400 of them, with food, information, resources and support, and with a group of volunteers, visited their homes every week for 7 weeks. Since then, Conexion Latina has grown to support between 2500 – 3000 individuals across Aquidneck Island through various programs.

The principal goal is to equip community members with the education and tools that they need to access the services that they require, while at the same time working with service providers to break down the barriers that make their services difficult to access. Each individual client has a different level of education and therefore requires different levels of support. By focusing on 5 pillars, education, health, basic human needs access, community belonging and systems change, Conexion Latina works to empower individuals and give them a roadmap to success.

Community Belonging programs, including Mujeres Poderosas (Powerful Women), a women's empowerment group that meets monthly for a year, aim to provide space to improve self-care, create relationships and develop leadership. A community Advisory Board meets regularly to ensure the community members' needs are met in a way that is helpful and accessible to them.

Support for Conexion Latina comes from local foundations and grantors, along with local religious organizations, generous donors, as well as donations from the very community we serve.  Those interested in getting involved or learning more can sign up to volunteer or join the mailing list.