Betancourt Torres & Associates

GOFUNDME UPDATE: First and foremost, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has donated to or shared our GoFundMe. Words cannot fully convey how thankful we are for your generosity and support. We want to provide you with an update on the funds and the progress of those involved in the accident. Funds Update To date, we have received and disbursed $6,720 to the adults impacted by the accident: • Doña Isabel, her partner, and her son have all been discharged from the hospital. The funds they’ve received have helped cover essential expenses such as food, medical supplies, clinic visit costs, and other necessities to ensure they have what they need during recovery. • The staff member involved remains in the hospital, recovering. Funds have been allocated to cover his rent for the upcoming month, and additional funds to support his needs. We are continuing to visit Doña Isabel and her family at home, as well as the staff member in the hospital, to ensure they’re receiving the ongoing support they require. Privacy and Consent Out of respect for the privacy of those affected, names and detailed medical information have been withheld. All updates shared have been posted with their consent. Next Steps This week, we plan to disburse an additional $5,000–$6,000 to continue supporting the recovery process. We will keep this GoFundMe open as a means for the community to provide financial assistance. Additionally, we are collaborating with community members, local businesses, and organizations to organize events and fundraisers. Details about these events will be posted here to keep everyone informed. How You Can Help The recovery process will take months, and ongoing support will be critical for those involved. If you’re able to contribute or assist in any way, please reach out to Diana Betancourt Macias, M. Ed. Or Eduardo Torres and we will connect you with the appropriate point of contact. Please note that all individuals affected by the accident are currently recovering under heavy medication and may not be able to communicate easily. We ask for your understanding and patience as you reach out to them. Thank you again for standing by these individuals and showing such incredible support during this challenging time. https://lnkd.in/gbU8yynN

Community, we need your support. One of our cherished community members, her family, and her team recently experienced a devastating accident and we are in need of your support. “On Sunday, December 15, 2024, a devastating explosion occurred inside the 4 Caminos Mexican Restaurante food truck while its owner, Isabel, her partner, and an employee were setting up to serve at a posada (community event) at La Casita. All three, and Isabel's son, were inside the truck when the explosion happened, leaving them with serious burn injuries. They were rushed to Legacy Emanuel Hospital, where they are still receiving treatment. While Isabel has insurance to cover part of the medical costs, there are many additional expenses that remain. We are raising funds to help cover essentials such as groceries, uncovered medical expenses, medications, and other bills. Isabel will also need time away from work to care for her son, who suffered the most severe injuries.” This is our chance to show up for someone who has given so much to our community. Every contribution matters, no matter the amount. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this message with your networks is just as powerful. If you have questions about the fundraiser or want to assist with ongoing support efforts, please feel free to reach out to Eduardo Torres , Ana Karen Betancourt Macias , or Diana Betancourt Macias, M. Ed. The link will be in the comments. Thank you for your generosity and care.

Join us for a Posada Navideña! 📅 Sunday, December 15 ⏰ 3–7 PM 📍 La Casita (205 E 16th St., Vancouver) We’re excited to co-host and sponsor this festive celebration. Thank you to City of Vancouver, Washington and Community Foundation for Southwest Washington for collaborating and make this event happen. Hosted at La Casita, this event will feature vendors, delicious food, lively music, and holiday fun for the whole family. 🎅 For the kids: Free photos with Santa, candy bags, and piñatas! A big thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible. We can’t wait to celebrate with you—see you there!

This week, our firm had the privilege of celebrating with the City of Vancouver the successful completion of their inaugural Youth Climate Leadership Program (YCLP)! YCLP is a 10-week program designed for high school students to build leadership skills, deepen their understanding of climate action, and work on community-focused projects. This year’s cohort included an exceptional group of students representing many Vancouver high schools. On Tuesday, the students showcased their incredible work to an audience of friends, family, City staff, and community partners, sharing their projects, lessons learned, and the meaningful impact they’ve made in their communities. Betancourt Torres & Associates is proud and grateful to have contributed to this landmark program. A special shoutout to our co-founder and one of our lead consultants Diana Betancourt Macias, M. Ed. for her role in supporting with facilitation and coordination of the program. Amazing work, Diana! Kudos to the remarkable students and City of Vancouver, Washington for making the Youth Climate Leadership Program a resounding success! #climateaction #youthempowerment #cityofvancouver #VancouverWA #bt_associates #FutureLeaders

Community asked for round 2, after Soul Food Fiesta… so here we are! This holiday season, we're not just celebrating the holidays, we're celebrating the incredible community that makes moments like these possible. Our Neighbor Hood Holiday event on December 20th is a true testament to the power of community. This is what can happen when we all come together: businesses, nonprofits, and neighbors, all united by a shared passion for our community. This event wouldn't exist without the collective energy and support of everyone involved. So come break bread with us, bring your family and come get a picture with our own Santa and his elves. Let's celebrate the spirit of giving, the joy of connection, and the magic that happens when we work together to build something beautiful. We are still welcoming food donations or individual donations should you wish to support, or just come and enjoy community. We are expecting well over 300 community members around our corridor and Vancouver. We hope to see you there.

In partnership with a lot of amazing organizations, we are all excited to present to you Soul Food Fiesta. Join us as we gather in gratitude to celebrate diverse cultures, share a delicious meal, and build unity within our community! 🗓 Date: Monday, November 25th 🕕 Time: 6PM - 8PM 📍 Location: Fourth Plain Community Commons, 3101 E 4th Plain Blvd Ste.101, Vancouver, WA 98661 Calling Community Partners! If you’d like to offer free resources for the community to take home or bring a dish to share, please send us a message. We want to make sure our communities amazing meals and resources not just there but to go all for free. Thank you to organizations that have hired us and allowed us the opportunity to give back. As part of our mission and visions, we aim to give back for every job we acquire. We don’t plan on leaving and making the PNW our forever home. Join us and grow with us. See you there!

We were honored to help facilitate the Communities Together event on September 20th for SWEC. 🙏🏽 This event, led by SWEC's powerful mission to gather and unite communities and leaders of color, was an inspiring moment. The plan was easy to execute with such a dedicated team and a shared commitment to creating spaces where meaningful conversations could flourish. As we continue to grow and master our crafts, we are thankful that our communities trust us to show up, spend time, and build alongside them. This is what happens when you are for the community and led by the community. Thank you to SWEC for the trust and to everyone who attended and contributed to this collective movement. We look forward to what’s ahead! #CommunityBuilding #BIPOCLeaders #Partnerships #TogetherWeThrive #Gratitude #SWWashington

We hope to see our community partners and leaders there! These are important times where there are policies that will affect not only us now, but those after us. Register below,

Betancourt Torres & Associates is a Latine and immigrant owned and led consulting firm located in Vancouver, Washington. Co-Founded by Diana Betancourt Macias, M. Ed., Ana Karen Betancourt Macias and Eduardo Torres. As cultural practitioners, one of our goals is to empower and uplift our Community and clients through culturally-informed strategies and services. More details, website and content to come! Follow us for updates and partnerships. #community #comunidad #juntos