Afro-Latino Institute

04/07/2026

04/05/2026

The Museum JEDI, 2.0, Ep21 featuring Dr. Justin Hopkins a clinical psychologist and thought leader on diversity and trauma. Also 2025 AACHAF Fellow ✊🏾

04/02/2026

Building Community, Creating Institutions

Luna’s legacy is etched into the very fabric of Washington, D.C., through the organizations she helped establish. Her vision touched every generation:

For the Elderly: She co-founded the VIDA Senior Center, originally known as Educational Opportunities for Latin Americans (EOFULA), which continues to serve older adults in the Latino community .

For Youth: She was instrumental in creating the Latin American Youth Center, providing essential services and support to young people navigating life in a new country .

For Housing Justice: As president of the Imperial Apartments Tenant Association in Adams Morgan, Luna led her neighbors in a fight against their landlord during the gentrification of the late 1970s. Their efforts not only improved living conditions but ultimately resulted in the purchase of the building, transforming it into an affordable housing cooperative .
For Political Representation: Luna played a crucial role in the creation of the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA), ensuring that Latino voices would have a permanent place in local governance .

She was also among the organizers of Washington’s Hispanic Festival—long before it became FiestaDC—and founded Latina Women In Action.

One Hundred Years of Dignity: Celebrating Casilda Luna A Centennial Invitation The Afro-Latino Institute, the DC Afro-Latino Caucus, GALA Hispanic Theatre, Friends of Casilda, and the Luna Family invite you to celebrate a historic milestone: the 100th birthday of Casilda Luna, a pioneer, advocate of...

04/01/2026

April 4, 2026 - From 4pm-8pm at GALA Hispanic Theatre
3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
A Voice for the Voiceless
Casilda Luna arrived in Washington, D.C., in 1962 at the age of 36, leaving behind the oppressive Trujillo dictatorship in her native Dominican Republic . She came with little more than her faith—represented by a metal crucifix she brought with her, now part of the Smithsonian's collection —and an unwavering commitment to helping others. Trained as a social worker, Luna found in the United States what she could not find at home: the freedom to organize, to counsel, and to advocate for those in need .
In the decades that followed, she became a trailblazer for the Latino community, working as a bilingual social worker in Columbia Heights while building institutions that continue to serve the District today . Described by the DC Afro-Latino Caucus as "a dedicated advocate for the voiceless in the Latino community who has committed herself to helping and mentoring others," Luna's impact has been profound yet largely unrecognized in official histories

The Afro-Latino Institute, DC Afro-Latino Caucus, GALA, Friends of Casilda and the Luna Family invite you to celebrate a historic milestone:

04/01/2026

April 4, 2026 - From 4pm-8pm at GALA Hispanic Theatre
3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
A Voice for the Voiceless
Casilda Luna arrived in Washington, D.C., in 1962 at the age of 36, leaving behind the oppressive Trujillo dictatorship in her native Dominican Republic . She came with little more than her faith—represented by a metal crucifix she brought with her, now part of the Smithsonian's collection —and an unwavering commitment to helping others. Trained as a social worker, Luna found in the United States what she could not find at home: the freedom to organize, to counsel, and to advocate for those in need .
In the decades that followed, she became a trailblazer for the Latino community, working as a bilingual social worker in Columbia Heights while building institutions that continue to serve the District today . Described by the DC Afro-Latino Caucus as "a dedicated advocate for the voiceless in the Latino community who has committed herself to helping and mentoring others," Luna's impact has been profound yet largely unrecognized in official histories
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrating-casilda-luna-one-hundred-years-of-dignity-tickets-1986462490784?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

04/01/2026

Across these conversations, participants examined critical issues about the Second United Nations Decade for
Afrodescendants, including women’s rights, cultural and religious protections, and land and environmental justice for Afro-descendant communities in the Americas. The dialogue underscored both the progress achieved and the urgent need to move from commitments to concrete action in this Second Decade. https://afrolatinoinstitute.com/2026/04/01/second-un-decade-for-people-of-african-descent/

04/01/2026

Celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month 🌙

🗓️ April 18 | ⏰ 11 AM – 4 PM
📍 MLK Library

Fashion, food, music, a traditional souq, family activities + a special performance by Muath Edriss 🎶 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4ddDiAO

04/01/2026

https://ci.ovationtix.com/35923/production/1245626

03/31/2026

The Future of Afrodescendants in the Americas
Experts and advocates, including Laura Gil, Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Ceelstino Barrera Afro Latino Institute, Roberto Rojas Davila - OEA, Carlos Quesada Institute on Race and Equality, gathered at AUWCL to reflect on the first UN Decade for People of African Descent and discuss priorities for the decade ahead.
https://www.auwclphotos.com/2025-2026-Events/WOLA-OAS-Event

03/31/2026

The Future of Afrodescendants in the Americas
Experts and advocates, including Laura Gil, Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), gathered at AUWCL to reflect on the first UN Decade for People of African Descent and discuss priorities for the decade ahead.

Experts and advocates, including Laura Gil, Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), gathered at AUWCL to reflect on the first UN Decade for People of African Descent and discuss priorities for the decade ahead.