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.