NWLA RASA

There is no other stand-alone Latino/Hispanic-specific educational & social services organization in Northwest Louisiana to our knowledge.

Some services are available piecemeal via various programs including religious organizations, a handful of South Louisiana-based agencies, and some state-run agencies.

RASA will effectively serve as a centralized hub for educational, social service, and community resources for the Northwest Louisiana Latino and Hispanic communities. We are working with multiple community partners and agencies throughout the region in order to reach more clients and serve a broader population of our NWLA community.

RASA will offer educational, community outreach, social services, and entrepreneurship services to our clients. Clients will not be charged a fee for these services.

Specific RASA client services include, but are not limited to:
• Translation services in person and via Zoom
• English classes
• Spanish classes for English-speaking people who wish to volunteer with RASA or learn Spanish for other reasons
• Scholarship program(s)
• Assistance with and referrals to social services provided by local community partners/providers/organizations
• School-based services including an after-school program and school supplies
• Immigration and legal services
• Entrepreneurship and job training
• Economics, long-term financial management/goal setting skills, and building and establishing good credit

RASA will also implement the following initiatives to serve the local Latino/Hispanic community:

• Community partnerships with existing outreach and wellness organizations to facilitate better general health & wellness, maternal health and wellness, children’s medical care, vaccinations, and nutrition education in the Latino/Hispanic community
• Engagement with local government officials and law enforcement to provide awareness and education about the local Latino/Hispanic community
• Community/cultural events, social gatherings, and networking opportunities to benefit the Latino/Hispanic community and Northwest Louisiana
Clients will receive all services from RASA free of charge.

In the future, as we discover specific needs that align with our mission statement, we will consider implementing a program to address them.

RASA's Board of Directors includes:

• Mario Villafuerte – nationally-recognized journalist and longtime community activist
• Lupita Soto - bilingual educator for 10 years, and Spanish HISEP program pioneer in North Louisiana
• Gabriel Balderas - entrepreneur and restaurant owner with 20+ years of experience as a community organizer
• José Cardenas - works for a major healthcare provider and is a successful entrepreneur
• Dr. Deborah Smith, BSN, MPH, PhD - Assistant Professor at the LSUHS School of Allied Health Professions in the Department of Public Health
• Dr. Axel Rosa – Shreveport physician and Puerto Rican native
• Dr. Bruno Alvarez - Academic Hospitalist at Ochsner LSU Health
• Jesús and Ely Bulnes – husband and wife team working in the church ministry and private education sectors

Our Board of Directors has 100+ years of experience in working with outreach & education in the Latino and Hispanic communities.

RASA has at least three distinct advantages in Northwest Louisiana:

• There is a perpetual need for our service in the region due to the growing population of Latino/Hispanic people who are choosing to live/work in Northwest Louisiana.
• RASA is the only nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a comprehensive range of community services to the Latino & Hispanic community here.
• Our founding Board of Directors have 100+ years of experience in community outreach, advocacy, activism, entrepreneurship, and education.

Our Board of Directors and volunteers market RASA’s services to their exhaustive list of existing contacts in the regional social service, nonprofit, educational, and employment sectors. These include Ochsner LSU Medical Center in Shreveport, the MLK Health Center, Bossier Parish Community College, Shreveport Police Department, Caddo Parish School Board, City of Bossier City and City of Shreveport administration, and Legal Aid of North Louisiana, among others. Our contacts extend into all parishes in the State of Louisiana.

RASA has established a partnership with the MLK Health Center & Pharmacy to provide medical translation services.

RASA is in the initial stages of planning a program to serve all Latino and Hispanic families in need in the Caddo Parish School System.

RASA has hosted one successful fundraiser to date, and has another planned for Cinco de Mayo. Our Board of Directors plans to host a community event/fundraiser every quarter.