Ibero Holds Hybrid Luncheon to Celebrate Community Work + Focus On Upstate New York's Housing Shortage

As housing instability plagues families across the state, Ibero's upcoming luncheon partly returns to an in-person model to promote community-driven solutions, celebrate local Latino efforts and unite knowledge, solutions and policy with mainstream efforts and existing law.

By: MMM Editorial Team, Keirah Chen

On October 15, Ibero, a nonprofit organization serving Hispanic, Latino, and underserved communities across New York State, will host its annual State of the Latino Community Luncheon. Transitioning from a virtual format, which began during the pandemic, to a hybrid event, this gathering will be streamed online as well and will focus directly on one of the region's most pressing challenges: low-income housing.

Housing affordability and economic uncertainty remain critical hurdles for families across upstate New York and across the nation as they navigate shifting policy environments.

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"Latino families in general are experiencing uncertainty, economic instability, barriers to healthcare, housing insecurity, language access challenges, and growing anxiety about whether critical support systems will remain available," Ibero President and CEO Angélica Pérez-Delgado said.

To address these pressures, the center of this luncheon will be the release of a Housing Outcome Profile, developed by the Latinx Leaders Roundtable. This report provides a detailed look at housing stability throughout Rochester and surrounding counties, presenting actionable, community-driven proposals designed to positively impact future state and local policy.

The findings align with Ibero's long-term vision to expand its strategic framework across five core pillars: Economic Mobility, Healthy Families, Youth Success, Housing and Community Stability, and Community Leadership and Advocacy. Over the next decade, the organization hopes to achieve several major milestones.

"Our goal is simple but transformational: to ensure that Latino families throughout New York State have the opportunities, resources, and power to build prosperous futures... Success will be measured by whether Latino families and communities are experiencing greater prosperity, stronger representation, and a higher quality of life," Pérez-Delgado said.

In addition to launching new policy data, the event will highlight economic equity in action. Rather than relying on traditional corporate vendors, Ibero is partnering with local Latino entrepreneurs — including caterer Luis Carasquillo of Munchies food truck — ensuring the event directly reinvests into the local business ecosystem.

For leaders and community members looking to help and take part in this work, Ibero emphasizes that lasting progress requires broad collaboration.

"The most impactful way people can support Ibero is to become active partners in building opportunity and belonging for our community," said Pérez-Delgado. "That can take many forms. People can invest financially in programs that change lives, advocate for policies that expand opportunity, hire from the communities we serve, or help create pathways to employment and entrepreneurship that are inclusive, linguistically and culturally."

By bringing together state partners, local leaders, and corporate sponsors, Ibero hopes to expand its proven development model beyond Rochester into new areas, including Montgomery and Albany counties.