| 1950’S |
Puerto
Rican migrants come to the “Hilltop” following employment opportunities
at local tanneries and other companies. |
| 1967 |
The Puerto Rican Association is formed
and meets in the basement of Saint Paul’s Roman Catholic Church.
|
| 1969 |
The
Latin American Community Center is founded and incorporated by a group
of Puerto Ricans in a red brick row house at 1202 West 4th Street. The
first programs addressed immediate family needs - employment opportunities,
housing, referral and information services. |
| 1970 |
The La Fiesta child care center opens. |
| 1971 |
The
facilities at 1202 West 4th Street are destroyed by a fire. The Agency
moves temporarily to space at 7th and Adam Streets before returning
back to this site. |
| 1977 |
El Centro Latino moves to 7th and Harrison
Street. |
| 1985 |
The
Agency is destroyed by a fire, again. It returns to 1202 West 4th Street.
Soon thereafter it expands its operations to the adjacent building –
1204 West 4th St. |
| 1990 |
El Centro Latino moves to its new facility,
a three story, 30,000 square foot building at 403 North Van Buren Street,
three blocks from its original location. The Agency operates with a
$680,000 budget and offers a number of programs. |
| 2001 |
Los
Jardines, a 24-unit, low-income Senior Citizen housing complex is funded
with $2.9 million in federal funds and grants. |
| 2002 |
Agency receives a three year, $220,000
mentoring grant and a 5-year $1.3 million educational Federal grant
(administered by the State’s Dept. of Education) under the auspices
of the “Leave No Child Behind” program. |
| 2003 |
The
Agency operates with a $2.2 million budget and offers over 40 programs
to the community. |
| 2004 |
Los Jardines opens its doors with 24
low income seniors living in the residential complex. The Agency grows
30% versus the prior year. |
| 2007 |
El Centro Latino operates with a $4.2
million budget and a staff of 85 employees (55 full-time and 30 part-time). |
