Junta for Progressive Action
Steady employment is one of the pillars of family and personal stability. A well paying job enables people to care for themselves and their families and provides them with an opportunity to contribute to the civil and political life of their community.
JUNTA helps individuals in the community analyze their capabilities, develop skills to facilitate placement and form strategies to find employment. As part of the program, the coordinator meets with clients to do a comprehensive assessment and then tailors an employment plan that takes in to consideration the client’s needs and skills.
The Program includes training on resume writing, job searching, interview skills and direct placement. In addition, JUNTA has worked to create partnerships with some of New Haven’s largest employers who have expressed an interest and commitment to diversifying their workforces.
To learn more about this program, please contact Laura Huizar, Economic Development Program Director at (203) 787-0191 or click here to email the coordinator.
Predatory lending and lack of knowledge about credit, savings and spending pre-empt wealth building for Latino families, lessening their opportunities for social and economic advancement.
In order to address this, JUNTA offers free financial literacy classes for neighborhood residents. Classes cover topics such as credit and debt management, savings, banking, homeownership, and redlining. It is free and offered every other month.
To learn more about this program, please contact Laura Huizar, Economic Development Program Director at (203) 787-0191 or click here to email the coordinator.
Many individuals have fallen prey to companies that exploit the average citizen's limited knowledge of the tax code by charging exorbitant prices for tax preparation services. Often, the tax payer loses much of his or her returned income tax in fees to such companies.
JUNTA provides free income tax declaration assistance during the tax season. The Earned Income Tax Credit is a progressive tax measure that incentivizes work by returning more money to working taxpayers than non-working taxpayers in the same income bracket. Helping families take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit helps retain wealth in the community and can provide a much-needed windfall for working families. JUNTA also helps individuals who wish to report income but do not qualify for a Social Security number with ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) applications.
To learn more about this program, please contact the Economic Development Programs Coordinator at (203) 787-0191 or click here to email the coordinator.
JUNTA believes in the transformative power of the entrepreneurial spirit and is dedicated to fostering it in disempowered communities.
In 2005, JUNTA initiated a small loan program to help people who are interested in starting their own small businesses but typically have difficulty accessing capital.
Our Micro-Loan program offers a 7 week course that covers topics such as business licensing, taxes, basic accounting, marketing and more. Individuals who complete our course may apply for a loan of up to $1,500.
Classes start in February, May, and October and are free of charge.
To learn more about this program, please contact the Economic Development Programs Coordinator at (203) 787-0191 or click here to email the coordinator.