Centro Latino was created to serve Latino families and individuals of all ages that live in the Greater Boston area. Over the years, the agency's service area has expanded in terms of both geography and ethnicity.
THe Latino population, and their need for services is growing. In Massachusetts, the Latino population grew by 46.4% from 2000 to 2010, and now comprises 9.6% of the population. Latinos and immigrants are a critical part of the state’s workforce. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the Massachusetts workforce will be completely dependent on immigrants for all of its growth over the next decade. In fact, if not for new immigrants, the state’s population would have shrunk between 2000 and 2004.
This population has a significant need for education, skills training, immigration and other support services. In spite of their desire to succeed, Latinos face numerous challenges to earning family sustaining wages. A substantial portion of this growing immigrant population has one or more of the following issues to contend with: lack of English language proficiency, limited employment opportunities, high housing costs, and lack of familiarity with local resources and institutions. In a 2007 survey conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center, Latinos cited language skills more frequently than immigration status, income, education or skin color as an explanation for discrimination against them. In addition, the survey found college education closely tied to the ability of recent immigrants to speak and read English. Among Hispanic immigrants with college degrees 62% report that they speak English very well. That number drops to 34% with high school diplomas and 11% among those without a high school diploma.
It is important to bear in mind, however, that the Latino population also has many strengths, and it is these strengths that Centro Latino seeks to encourage and reinforce, such as:
Strong work ethic and self reliant attitude;
Capacity to provide a bilingual/bi cultural workforce;
Economic and social contributions as the fastest growing minority group in the U.S.;
Optimism and resiliency despite the intense changes in moving to another country;
Deep sense of community and commitment to family, especially extended family.
Each year, Centro Latino helps over 8,000 Latinos and immigrants to improve their lives through our Direct Service Programs described above, information and referral services, and community events. The following tables describe the demographics of the individuals that specifically received direct services and for whom we collected participation and outcomes information during fiscal year 2010 (July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010):
Age
Total
City of Residence
Total
Race/Ethnicity
Total
0-5
3
Chelsea
858
African/African American
69
6-18
47
Cambridge
415
Asian/Asian American
2
18-64
2474
East Boston
272
Caucasian
40
65+
45
Revere
186
Latino
2470
Unknown
24
Dorchester
115
Other/Unknown
12
Total
2593
Lynn
115
Total
2593
Everett
96
Somerville
82
Waltham
71
All other communities
383
Total
2593
Founded in 1989, Centro Latino serves more than 8,000 Latinos and immigrants in Eastern Massachusetts every year. We offer the broadest range of relevant, high quality classes and programs delivered in a patient and caring environment that helps Latinos and immigrants seeking to improve their lives to become confident and independent members of the community. We are located in Chelsea and Cambridge.
Our mission is to improve the quality of life and promote the self-determination of Latinos and immigrants in Eastern Mass. through education, health, and social well-being strategies.
Centro Latino • 267 Broadway Chelsea, MA 02150 • (617) 884-3238 | 105 Windsor Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 • (617)661-9406
