The Instituto is a nonprofit advocacy and workers' resource center with offices in San Francisco and Oakland. We provide labor rights education and economic empowerment tools to help the working poor emerge from cycles of poverty that endanger themselves and the families they support. Most of our clients are immigrant workers from Mexico, Central America and South America.

Description:
The Instituto Laboral de la Raza provides critical labor educational and legal advocacy services to the large population of working poor families of Northern California through its "In Defense and Support of the working Poor" program. We have offices located in San Francisco and in Oakland. The Instituto advocates without charge to collect denied wages or file for workplace injury benefits, and to pursue claims of discrimination or harassment in workplace. Our staff are Spanish and Portuguese bilingual. We also translate important documents, and help families upgrade their immigration status while helping them open accounts with banks or credit unions. A major portion of our services is devoted to networking effectively with other community-based organizations to assure that other legal, civic and social needs are met. Our clients are 95% Spanish-speaking immigrant workers from Mexico, Central and South American countries comprise, yet the Instituto is widely known for helping all low income families in need. Our services extend to all Bay Area counties and beyond as we fight for workers to secure unpaid wages and unpaid benefits from employment (500 annually), from workplace injuries & benefits (400 annually), contractual breeches (200 annually), personal injuries (100 annually) and unemployment benefits (100 annually). The offices of the California Labor Commissioner, Superior Court of California, Workers Comp Appeals Board (assisted by Bay Area attorneys), and California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board are venues for our advocacy. The majority of these workers, 90% secure awards for wages & benefits vital to the support and stabilization of their families. Another 400-600 workers are effectively assisted through (1) referral services in matter dealing with employment wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment, family law, landlord-tenant issues and (2) educational services including workers rights and economic empowerment workshops. Referral agencies are listed with the San Francisco Bar's Homeless Advocacy Project, and through other Bay Area resources (Human Relations Resource Directory of Oakland, Legal Services Directory of Contra Costa County Bar Association, etc.)

History:
1982: Jose E. Medina and Labor leaders found the Instituto Laboral de la Raza. Presented "Latina Women in the Workforce" conference, endorsed by the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women. The Conference highlighted the accomplishments of Latina Women and the Problems and issues encountered in their quest for justice, equality and dignity in the working world.

2002 - 2008: Instituto Laboral de la Raza celebrates 20 years of serving the community. Numbers of unorganized working poor families directly assisted with legal problems now exceed 2,000 per year through its San Francisco and Oakland offices. Total outreach through conferences and workshops reaches 3,000 per year.

2008 Instituto's annual fundraising Labor Community Award Dinner is now the largest labor awards dinner in the country.

Contact people:

Sarah M. Shaker, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Brian Webster, Project Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Main office number: (415) 431-7522
Office fax number: 415-431-4846

Address:

2947 16th Street San Francisco, CA 94103 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.ilaboral.org

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?
	Spanish
What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?
	16
Is your agency wheelchair accessible?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 10?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 20?
	No