- Esperanza Unida, Inc.
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Esperanza Unida International Building
Esperanza Unida, Inc. is a non-profit first organized by Ted Uribe in 1971 to represent Latino workers in worker's and unemployment compensation hearings. Esperanza Unida's founder and long time executive director was Richard Oulahan. Rich was the voice of the South Side Hispanic families, he improved their lives giving them the right help; "training and jobs." Oulahan’s mission was to provide training for steady, family-supporting jobs, from asbestos removal to car repairs to welding to child care. Along the way, he helped to develop a new job-training model, one that was self-sustaining because the labor done during training not only taught workers new skills, but brought in revenue to Esperanza Unida. The organization then reinvested that revenue in new job training and educational programming. The model was studied and implemented around the country and held up as a success story, even when some of the ventures—such as a restaurant—didn’t work out as planned. Richard Oulahan gave all his effort, caring and love to help and improve the Hispanic Community life. Richard Oulahan was 61 years old, died on May 9, 2008. He had suffered an aneurysm three years ago (2005) and never recovered. Oulahan founded Esperanza Unida in 1971 as a non-profit geared toward helping people find family-supporting jobs. It has provided counseling, job-training and job-placement services for thousands of residents. Mayor Tom Barrett released a statement reading: "Rich really was the voice of progressive Milwaukee. His contributions to our community leave a lasting impression of his dedication. Rich will be dearly missed."
Currently, the agency is headed by Robert Miranda.
Miranda is a national award winning columnist, is the only American citizen writing a column for a national newspaper in Turkey, and is publisher of the Milwaukee Spanish Journal. In 2007, Esperanza Unida, under the direction of Miranda, established a sister city economic agreement between Turkey and Milwaukee. Several trade projects are under way promising economic opportunities for the two countries. In recent month's Miranda has moved to establish a medical Charter school at the agency. The school is expected to open in September 2010.
[1] Presently, it provides job training and placement to unemployed minority workers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There is an emphasis placed on empowerment and in jobs that pay family-supporting wages.
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Esperanza Unida International Building
The Esperanza Unida International Building is located on the city's near south side on the western edge of the Walker's Point neighborhood. The building had been abandoned and fell in to disrepair when the organization acquired it from the city in 1990.
Mural of Peace
The building features Wisconsin's largest mural on the side facing Interstate 43 north. Called the "Mural of Peace," it depicts an eagle and dove with a sunburst rainbow of flags. Artist Reynaldo Hernandez designed the mural, while community volunteers painted the four by eight foot aluminum panels, which make up the 60 by 152 foot image. The mural was completed in 1994.
References
- ^ Our History - esperanzaunida.org
External links
Categories:- Wisconsin stubs
- Organizations established in 1971
- Non-profit organizations based in the United States
- Organizations based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Murals
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