ilé, inc.

ilé : Organizers for Consciousness-in-Action (formerly Institute for Latino Empowerment) is dedicated to anti-oppression community organizing and leadership development in the US and Puerto Rico. We work for people’s liberation from racism, classism, sexism, militarism, and other forms of oppression that may lead to organizational, institutional and cultural transformation.

Our goals are: (1) to develop, support, and strengthen the leadership of Latinos/as who struggle against oppression in their communities; (2) to promote integral community organizing as a key process for collective development and self-determination within Latino communities, and; (3) to facilitate effective collaborations, both among Latinas/os, and between Latinos and African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, whites, and others also committed to anti-racist social transformation.

Through all of our efforts, we seek to organize and help people move toward consciousness-in-action. We do this work at home in Puerto Rico, with people in Latino communities in the United States, and with groups internationally. Our work has benefited thousands of people since ilé’s founding in 1992.

ilé efforts include:

  • Anti-racism organizing in the US. Our workshops, Pa’lante Unidos: Latinos Organizing Against Racism (for Latino/a audiences) and Don’t be eRACEd by the Census (for multiracial audiences), engage participants in a critical analysis of power and the destructive impact of racism upon Latino communities. In these workshops, as in our presentations and other organizing activities, we also address: Census 2000 and 2010, and the changing demographics; national and cultural identity, and the “Hispanic or Latino” debate; colorism, privilege, and cross-group hostility; internalized oppression; and the healing power of culture; response-able leadership, integrity and accountability; organizing among Latinos/as; multi-racial alliance-building; visioning and planning.
  • Community organizing in Puerto Rico. Avoiding issue-reactive and fragmented approaches to social problems, we organize against racism, sexism, classism, militarism, and colonialism here at home. Efforts like Campaña de cara al censo 2010, Rompiendo esquemas raciales, África en mi piel… África en mi ser, and Imágenes ancestrales bring people together to examine and challenge racism, eurocentrism and colorism within our own culture. Our community organizing training program prepares and supports local organizers in dealing with the complexities of integral anti-oppression organizing. Meanwhile, projects like the Hilvanando visions de paz quilt, the Alzan su voz children’s speak-out for peace, and others allow community members to directly explore, express and experience the healing power of community.
  • International organizing and networking. We actively collaborate with other activists and organizers in Puerto Rico, in the US, and around the globe. Our associations with groups, such as East Asia-US-Puerto Rico Women’s Network Against Militarism, PeaceWatch/Ireland, The People’s Institute for Survival & Beyond, and the Social Justice Program of the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, help us connect and share with people in struggle in Okinawa, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, South Africa, Northern Ireland, and the United States.

With ilé’s publication of Consciousness-in-Action: Toward an Integral Psychology of Liberation & Transformation, our organizing work has begun to extend to other networks concerned with integral approaches to personal and social transformation that also address spirituality, psychology and consciousness. Presentations and workshops on our consciousness-in-action approach are available.

To support these organizing efforts, ilé also provides:
  • Personal and leadership coaching. Personal counseling and leadership coaching help transformation workers address issues that may be hindering their personal well-being as well as their leadership and organizing effectiveness. 
  • Organizational development consultation. We work with community groups and organizations on program planning, organizational development issues, and with other transformative processes from an anti-oppression perspective.

Visit ilé’s Spanish-language website.