top of page

ABOUT US

Our History

 

El Centro Latino was founded in 1969 by a small group of Puerto Rican migrants seeking to address the immediate needs of members of their community as they adapted to life in a new country, and in most cases, to a new language.

1950  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 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 St.​​

​​

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.​​

​​

2006 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).​​

​​

2009 El Centro Latino turns 40! Has a budget of over 5 Million and offers almost 50 programs.

​Management Staff

Maria Matos
President & CEO
Emilio Rana.jpg
Emilio Rana
Chief Financial Officer
Wanda Burgos
Director of Youth Development
Karen Hartz
Director of Early Childhood Services
1516992914282.jpg
Alicia Dominguez
Director of Life Empowerment
Kelly Scanlan.jpg
Kelly Scanlan
Director of Development and Communications
Board of Directors

Jose Lopez, Chair
Wilson A. Gualpa, Esq., Vice Chair

Cristina Brounce, Secretary
John Morton, Treasurer
Michael Hare, Treasurer
Ubel Velez, Esq., At-Large

Carlos de los Ramos, At-Large

Frankie Bonilla, Member

Rosa M. Colon-Kolacko, Ph.D., Member

Zelivette Gonzalez Feliciano, Member

Victor Herrera-Cervantes, Member

Héc Maldonado-Reis, CPA, Member

Rebecca Nazario, Member
Kate C. Riera, Ph.D., Member

Luis E. Santiago, Member

Rosalyn Washington, Ph.D., Member

 

Maria Matos, President & CEO

Main Building
403 North Van Buren Street

Wilmington DE, 19805

Phone: (302) 655-7338

Manuelita Olson Building
301 North Harrison Street

Wilmington, DE 19805

Phone: (302) 655-7338​​

La Fiesta II Infant

and Toddler Center

402 N Van Buren Street

Wilmington, DE 19805

La Fiesta III Infant

and Toddler Center

239 Christiana Rd.

New Castle, DE 19720

The Latin American Community Center is  a  member  of  the  UnidosUS  Affiliate  Network,  collaborating  on  programs  and  advocacy  to  address  the  social,  economic,  and  political  barriers  faced  by  the  Latino  community.

To view our 2022 Annual Report, please click on the image.

2022 Annual Report FV_Compress_1.jpg
bottom of page