El Centro empowers Latinos

It began in 1976 with a $10,000 grant from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Since then, El Centro, Inc. has strived to be a leading nonprofit to help Latinos lead better lives.

It hasn’t always been easy. Irene Caudillo, the president and CEO, said many of the nonprofit’s clients are hesitant to reveal their personal information.

“Many are undocumented and live in fear of reprisals,” Caudillo said.

Fortunately, however, El Centro has worked diligently to develop trust among its clients, and it is now seen as an integral source for information and services in the communities it serves.

El Centro will celebrate its 40th anniversary this month. A gala is scheduled for Nov. 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Olathe Hotel and Conference Center, located at 10401 S. Ridgeview Road in Olathe, Kan.

The event will celebrate the past, present and future of El Centro.

A strategic planning effort is currently underway to chart future initiatives. Caudillo said the community often submits requests for El Centro to implement workforce development and English language courses to continue in its mission of “strengthening communities and improving lives of Latinos and others through educational, social, and economic opportunities.”

Caudillo added the nonprofit “will also work to develop a marketing and fundraising plan that helps with sustainability for our future in the community.”

Current programs offered by El Centro aim to help Hispanics in a variety of ways. The nonprofit serves those in Wyandotte and Johnson counties, and its target population is low-income, uninsured or underinsured individuals and families.

These groups are often vulnerable to language and cultural barriers, Caudillo said, and face educational, economic, social and health disparities when compared to other groups.

El Centro works to overcome those disparities, and it served nearly 18,000 people last fiscal year.

El Centro’s services include:

Academy for Children — All-day, year-round, dual-language, pre-Kindergarten school for children aged 2½ to 5 years old.

Economic Empowerment — Interactive program working with families to give them skills in budgeting, asset building, saving for a home and retirement.

VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) — Volunteers assist moderate- to low-income people in filling out and filing their tax returns.

Promotoras de Salud — Community volunteers, trained in healthy lifestyles and healthy living, inform the community about issues relating to health, El Centro services and available resources.

Health Navigation — Works with people who are underinsured or uninsured in getting them the healthcare they need. Navigators set up appointments, provide translation services, assist with billing questions, safety-net insurance programs and assisting people in finding a medical home.

Advocacy — El Centrol provides OSHA certified training for workers, voter registration and education, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and citizenship clinics and advocacy for issues important to the community.

“El Centro is uniquely prepared with special expertise to integrate and serve Hispanics and Latino immigrants in our communities,” Caudillo said. “El Centro focuses on this population and their unique needs with the understanding not only of the language but being culturally competent and knowing how to meet the ever-growing needs of our clients.”

To learn more about El Centro and its programs, contact 913-677-0100 or visit elcentroinc.com.