One Stop Career Center Becomes First Ever Puerto Rico-Based Organization Presented with UnidosUS Affiliate of the Year Award

SAN ANTONIO—UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, honored Puerto Rico’s One Stop Career Center with the UnidosUS Affiliate of the Year Award for creating meaningful change for the Latino community. This is the first UnidosUS Affiliate of the Year Award presented to an organization based in Puerto Rico.

The Affiliate of the Year is the highest honor bestowed on an UnidosUS Affiliate for exemplary work in service to their community, as well as its collaboration with UnidosUS and the UnidosUS Affiliate network. UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía presented the award during the Awards Gala marking the conclusion of the organization’s 2022 Annual Conference.

“In just five years, One Stop Career Center is already recognized as a trailblazer offering services and solutions in employment, education, legal issues, housing, and health,” said UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía. “The Center delivers integrated services that are woven into a quilt of success; and their motto, Ayudando a Forjar Caminos, is true to its mission, helping forge paths for the community to move forward.”

One Stop Career Center (OSCC) is an organization dedicated to elevating their community and contributing to a proactive society in service to their island home. OSCC began as the dream of one person, Carmen Cosme, the founder and executive director. While employed by the federal prison system, she saw firsthand the needs of incarcerated youth as they were released into society without guidance or assistance. To combat recidivism, in 2017 Cosme created a safe, quiet, comforting space offering ex-prisoners and high-risk youth the guidance needed to contribute to their communities and thrive.

OSSC has partnered with UnidosUS to increase the community’s financial empowerment, access to housing, respond to COVID-19, and increase access to workforce development resources, including through a Department of Labor project for young adults to re-enter the workforce after being involved with the justice system.

In addition to the Affiliate of the Year award, UnidosUS is recognizing the exemplary work of our Affiliates with regional awards. Our Regional Affiliates of the Year include:

  • California: TODEC Legal Center
  • Far West: Promise Arizona
  • Midwest: Latino Policy Forum
  • Northeast: Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens CDC, Inc.
  • Texas: Mexican American Unity Council

To learn more about our regional Affiliate awardees, click here.

See stories about OSCC:

A second chance at life

 

One Stop Career Center of Puerto Rico: Helping Ex-offenders Gain the Power to Rebuild Their Lives