Mission:
To protect the civil rights of, and improve opportunities for, Latinos living in the United States.
Founded:
In 1968, by a group of Latino civil rights activists following the model of the NAACP.
Demographics:
The NCLR funds nearly 300 community service organizatons in 41 states, coordinated by eight regional offices. The NCLR also sponsors the live annual ALMA Awards event, which is televised on ABC, and engages in political advocacy and organizing on behalf of the Latino community.
Supporters Say:
The NCLR's programs and initiatives literally help millions of people live better lives, and its political advocacy work provides an organized voice for Latinos.
Critics Say:
A surprising number of conservative talk radio personalities seem to believe that the NCLR is part of a massive conspiracy to reconquer the western United States and rename it Aztlan. This odd and completely baseless claim is not worth taking seriously, and would not even be worth acknowledging if it were not ubiquitously repeated in some quarters.
I Say:
The NCLR does some amazing work. While it is functionally very different from the NAACP, focusing more on funding community programs than grassroots activism, it fills a comparable role in the public consciousness.
