Volunteers from MetLife completed a volunteer project at
Centro Latino during Community Care Day in Sept. 2006.
Community Care Day
Centro takes part in the United Way’s annual Community Care Day, the goal of which is to bring together corporate volunteers and non-profits to increase awareness of community issues and promote involvement. Volunteers come to Centro for one day to complete a service project, for example, holding job search workshops with Centro’s clients, or participating in conversation circles to Centro students practice their English.
Centro Latino has been fortunate to have been partnered with the excellent personnel of IKON Office Solutions in 2004, Partners+Simons in 2005 and MetLife in 2006.
Hispanic Heritage Celebration & National Latino Aids Awareness Day
Centro Latino holds an annual celebration in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed from September 15 to October 15, and National Latino Aids Awareness Day, observed October 15. The event consists of a variety of activities to celebrate the diversity of Latino cultures, including a display of crafts from many different Latin American countries, presentations by Centro’s students and community members, a buffet of native Latino cuisine, and an activity for kids. In addition, partner health agencies set up tables with HIV/AIDS information to help raise awareness of the impact that the disease has on the Latino community and to disseminate public health information. The event is free and open to the public.
Community Thanksgiving Luncheon
This year will mark Centro Latino’s 11th annual Thanksgiving Community Luncheon. The event was created as a way to strengthen the community by bringing people together to celebrate, while also addressing the needs of low-income families. The luncheon is free and open to the public.
Since 2002, the event has been generously sponsored by the Super Stop & Shop located on the Chelsea/Everett line. Stop & Shop proudly maintains its commitment to working with the community to support the positive development of families and neighborhoods by donating all the food, condiments, and materials. Centro staff and volunteers then prepare, cook and serve a buffet style banquet, utilizing recipes and techniques that combine traditional holiday cuisine with influences from all over Latin America. Over 400 meals are prepared and served annually.
Chelsea Voter Initiative
Centro Latino is proud to partner with the Chelsea Collaborative on this ambitious civic engagement project. The non-partisan effort focuses on voter education, registration, and mobilization, and has resulted in thousands of new voters. Every Election Day, Centro becomes the headquarters of the get out the vote effort through phone banking to remind voters to go to the polls, and arranging transportation and interpretation services.
World Aids Day
Community members gather at Centro Latino every year to commemorate World Aids Day in December and to remind people to keep the promise to continue fighting HIV/AIDS in the community. Centro’s Health Department organizes the event, which includes presentations by Centro staff members, clients and community members. The group then holds a candlelight vigil and silent march down Broadway to honor the lives that have been affected by HIV/AIDS.