About Us

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ABOUT OHLA

Organization of Hispanic / Latin Americans

OHLA was founded in 1998. The oldest organization in our county established specifically to serve our Hispanic and Latino community members, OHLA has provided integral services to over 3000 neighbors each year.

We have strong allies and an engaged board of directors and volunteers to be able to provide services in Spanish to our Latino community. We hire trusted community members to run our programs, ensuring that we can work with and within vulnerable communities, eliminating barriers in access to care and fears of stigma. Our staff is 100% bilingual and provides most services before traditional working hours by opening early in the mornings so people who cannot afford to miss time at their jobs can receive services.

OUR VISION

Our vision is for our Hispanic/ Latin American neighbors to be safe, healthy, and thriving.

OUR MISSION

We strive to be able to provide wraparound services and simple solutions, understanding that addressing barriers in access to any services can positively impact the health and well-being of an individual and their family.

OUR GOAL

Our goal is to bridge gaps in access to services needed by the Hispanic community, by providing a safe and trusted space for Latinos / Hispanics to arrive and get connected to services. We work towards an inclusive community, by addressing the needs, spotlighting the barriers, lifting up our community and working with our allies and neighbors to make positive change where we live.

MEET OUR TEAM

Lots Of Reasons To Work With Us

Anthony Gamboa is an accomplished lawyer in general practice, who joined OhLa as board president in 2014 and has worked to continue the organization’s mission by rolling up his sleeves and working side by side with staff and volunteers to orient Hispanic neighbors on matters of law. Every Thursday morning, he provides free legal council and support to neighbors, and has been critical to ensuring the sustainability of the organization. Mr. Gamboa also integrates the immigrant affairs commission of Anne Arundel County and is a passionate advocate for immigrant rights.

Emanuel Fernández joined the OHLA team in 2022 with the vision of helping to restore the organization and grow in its capacity. Of Argentine nationality, he arrived in the US four years ago with his family and worked in agriculture. In Argentina, he worked for the City of Lanus in communications department and later in the department of athletics. He also served in the city council as an advisor, and later joined the Department of Protection of Citizen’s Rights as one of the three advisors to the department. With ample experience in organizing and addressing barriers in access to services, Emanuel joins OHLA as we work towards recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that disproportionately affected Hispanics and Latinos.

Jenny O’Neill came to the US in 2001 and has lived in Maryland since then. She has been dedicated to her family completely since she came. In 2016, she started volunteering with a nonprofit organization helping the hispanic community in Anne Arundel County, where she was later employed part-time. There she met a member of the OHLA Board who was looking for an administrator in the OHLA office for the Department of Social Services in Annapolis. From then on she worked for many years helping the community– especially during the pandemic to bring assistance to our most vulnerable groups. She now continues to help as part of two nonprofit organizations, contributing in both social and immigration services ares.

Josee Molavi is a filmmaker and multimedia journalist from Anne Arundel County. Molavi is passionate about visual storytelling and creative advocacy. She formerly worked in legal aid and community organizing with immigrants in Washington, D.C., and Madrid, Spain, after graduating from American University in 2020. She pursues projects and collaborations that explore interconnected socio-cultural themes, such as environmental justice, cultural and artistic expression, immigration, and modern colonialism.

Ivis Hernandez is 22 years old. She was born and raised in Colombia and arrived in the US in 2018. She was one of the youngest latinas to be recognized by the Anne Arundel County Black Leaders Caucus of 2022, introduced by County Executive Steuart L. Pittman. She has a passion for helping and understanding the needs and problems of the Hispanic community. As an immigrant, it is not easy to start a new life from scratch in

Eva Polanco Vera was born in Yucatán, Mexico, and started to work as a volunteer with OHLA in October 2020. She studied Law in Mexico and enjoys helping out the hispanic community. She seeks to provide adequate information and tools to those with social services needs so that they can learn to overcome the challenges faced by immigrants in American society.

WANT TO HELP?

Interested in joining our team or volunteering?

Email us your resume and cover letter at INFO@OHLAMD.ORG with the subject line: job/internship opportunity.

Our Partners

Companies and organizations helping Hispanics Thrive