Latinos in Virginia Empowerment Center

Our organization relies on the support of our volunteers, who have been an essential part of our team for years. This program organizes and trains bilingual and bicultural Spanish speakers and allies from the community who are committed to taking action that supports the LIVE Center's mission. Our training program consists of three levels, and as each volunteer progresses through each level of training, they are able to perform more tasks. Monolingual Spanish and English speakers are also welcome.

Depending on the level of training they receive, our volunteers are able to:
• Support to those who call La linea de Ayuda
• Support, lead, and implement community action projects that reflect important topics for Spanish speaking victims and their families in Virginia.
•Provide court accompaniment for clients seeking protective orders or civil remedies related to violence.
• Provide access to resources for Spanish-speaking victims
•Provide administrative/office support
• Participate in outreach and education activities

To learn more about our volunteer opportunities, please contact [email protected]

We invite members of the Latino community to become advocates for victims of violence, and no previous experience is necessary! This program builds on the natural strength of the Latino community and creates an opportunity for Spanish speakers to actively participate in creating change within their own community.

Advocates who complete this program are able to:

• Support victims who call La Linea de Ayuda.
• Lead and implement community action projects that reflect important topics for Spanish-speaking victims and their families.
• Connect and access to resources that will help victims.
• Participate in outreach and education activities.

This is a 4-part-training that is held twice a year. Participants receive certificates upon completion. Through this program, the center can not only provide better direct services, but it can also expand the level of impact on both program participants and the community by training and supporting them to raise awareness about violence.

All of our services are free and confidential, and provided by bilingual and bicultural trained advocates. These services include:
Helpline in Spanish (La Linea de Ayuda, 804-658-3341)
Safety planning
Shelter placement
Support and reflection groups
Counseling
Legal advocacy
Case management
Financial Assistance
and more

The Center is committed to transforming the whole community by helping to improve the way they address the issues of violence in the Latino community. Our team members have provided and continue to provide training in a broad array of topics, including but not limited to:

-Formal co-advocacy partnerships for monolingual English-speaking domestic violence service providers
-Culturally informed trainings for monolingual English-speaking domestic violence service providers
-Organizational assessment of services provided for the Hispanic/Latino community
-Language plan implementation
-Interpretation and Translation Services
-Assessment of language skills of Spanish speaking candidates
-Presentations and information sessions about Victims Rights

Please contact [email protected] for more information about our Parters Program and other technical assistance opportunities.

Is a free, shared resource, created to lower the language barrier experienced by Spanish-speaking victims navigating systems in order to help them to acquire happiness, safety, and self-sufficiency.

Latinos in Virginia Empowerment Center's SEIB program strives to ensure that monolingual Spanish-speaking victims of violence do not hear the phrase “I’m sorry, I don’t speak Spanish” when seeking services. The SEIB team will work with service providers to achieve this for their clients at no cost.
What we offer: Easy web-based scheduling, Free access to trauma and culture informed interpreter team who are familiar with settings with which victims often interact (legal, law enforcement, social services, etc.), Virtual, Phone, and In-person services.