Advocacy Committee

 The role of the Advocacy Committee is to support the mission of MANA de San Diego, organizations and groups that seek our input on issues that impact members, families and community. The Advocacy Committee is comprised of volunteer MANA members. 

MANA de San Diego is a 501c3 and acts independently in advocating for a greater presence in vital conversations for issues facing our communities and the demographic we serve.

Requests for Support

If you would like to request an Endorsement and/or Letter of Support from MANA de San Diego for a cause your organization is looking to advance, please complete the following Request for Endorsement Form and submit to: requests@manasd.org.  You will receive an “auto-reply” letting you know that your request has been received and a MANA staff/committee member will follow up with you, once a decision has been made on your request.

MANA de San Diego Priority Issues

Organizational Background

Since 1986, MANA de San Diego has worked on building a beloved community of support to empower Latinas through education, leadership development, community service, and advocacy. Our purpose is for Latinas to have access to education, participate in civic engagement, and reach their full potential in life.

Priority Issues

MANA de San Diego has identified the following priority issues:

1) Increase Funding and Enrollment at California Universities.  School funding for equitable college preparedness to include access to dual enrollment courses. Only 44% of Latinx graduates were supported to successfully complete the A-G courses.

2) Latina Pay Gap. Latinas Typically Earn $0.43 less than non-hispanic white men. Latinas will need to work 33 years longer than white men to achieve the same lifetime earnings. The average Latina will lose over $1,121,440 over the course of her career due to the pay gap.

3) Caregiving for Children and Elders. The demand for childcare far outweighs the supply available for families. The state is supposed to help families afford childcare. But few qualify for help, and most of those who do are not being served. The same holds true for elderly care. The state also has Medi-Cal programs which only serves the elderly or disabled with limited income and resources. The average cost of assisted living in California is $5,250. 

4) Reproductive Rights and Healthcare. The U.S. Supreme Court decision in June 2022 overturning Roe v. Wade, has raised fears that a change in legal interpretation or partisan control of the now-overwhelmingly Democratic state Legislature could undermine those protections for Californians in the future. Backed by abortion rights advocates and Gov. Gavin Newsom, lawmakers rushed to place Proposition 1 on the ballot to ensure that reproductive health care remains a constitutional right in California.

Help us help Latinas achieve success

Together, through our mentorship programs, scholarships and leadership events, we can make a positive difference in the Latino community.