Empowering Latino Futures, formerly Latino Literacy Now, is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization founded to promote literacy in the community in all forms: educational, financial, reading, health, and community awareness. Empowering Latino Futures (ELF) is a goal-driven organization focusing on education, community building, and content issues affecting underserved communities and working with authors. Since 1997, when Edward James Olmos and Kirk Whisler co-founded Latino Literacy Now, over a million people have been impacted by our organization’s four program areas: 1) Award Programs: International Latino Book Awards, and Latino Book into Movie Awards 2) Education Programs: Latino & American Indian Scholarship Directory, and Empowering Students website. 3) Community Building Programs: Latino Book & Family Festivals, and Education Begins in the Home 4) Empowering Content Programs: Latino Reads Podcast, and Latino Events eNewsletter.