Centro Latino, Inc.

Centro Latino, Inc. is a multi-service community-based organization that serves primarily, but not exclusively, Latinos in Chelsea and the Greater Boston area. Centro Latino was founded in 1989 'to improve the quality of life and self determination of Latinos in Chelsea and surrounding communities through economic development, education, health and social well-being strategies.'

Description:
Centro Latino is one of the largest and most well-known Latino-directed human services providers in the state, and serves over 5,000 individuals annually. The organization's services are organized into four primary program areas: Workforce Training and Education, HIV/AIDS Counseling and Support, Immigration Assistance, and Family & Community Development. Since its inception, Centro Latino has maintained a focus on providing quality educational and training services to assist the area's growing Latino and immigrant populations to achieve upward mobility in their employment, better provide for their families, and fully integrate into the civic and cultural fabric of their new communities.

History:
Centro Latino was founded in 1989 by a group of visionary community leaders that had convened to address the unmet needs of the fast growing Latino population in Chelsea. Since its inception, the agency has maintained an Education Department that has evolved to meet the growing needs of new immigrant populations. It has coordinated many successful programs, which function on two main premises: a growing local labor market that demands bilingual workers who are representative of the minority populations, and the vast educational opportunities available to Latinos who have professional training in their native country but lack proficiency in English. As a community-based organization with bilingual/bicultural staff, Centro has been extremely successful at providing direct services and has attracted a great diversity of clientele. The programs currently offered include: English as a Second Language, Native Literacy Instruction, Computer Literacy (taught in Spanish), Spanish for English speakers and Citizenship Preparation.
The Health Services Department was started in 1991. It was the first in the area to offer linguistically and culturally-appropriate HIV/AIDS prevention and education services to Latinos. Centro Latino has also had an ongoing program which assists immigrants in their application for worker authorizations and citizenship status. In 2003, Centro established an innovative Workforce Development Program, that works with business partners to enhance the employability, retention, and promotion of its workers.

Contact people:

Emma Mendez, Director Of Operations, Education And Training, (phone), (email) Mauricio Rodriguez, Director Of Operations, Health & Community Services, (phone), (email) Juan Vega, Executive Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (617) 884-4646

Address:

267 Broadway Chelsea, MA 02150 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.centrolatino.org

Directions:

Centro Latino's main office is located at 267 Broadway in Chelsea, Massachusetts, a few miles just north of Boston. The agency occupies a historic bank building that is situated at the corner of Broadway and Congress Avenue. Chelsea is. . . (more)   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Haymarket Station (Green Line) or Maverick Station (Blue Line),   Walk distance (in minutes): NA   Nearest Bus Stop: Park Street Stop in Chelsea (111 Bus from Haymarket) or (116/117 Bus from Maverick), 3 minute walk For maps or information, please see http://www.mbta.com

Last updated on August 28, 2009