By Carrie Crespo

Mural painted on the side of the former El Centro Latino building saying, “We are a Nation of many colors. Somos una Nacion de muchos colores.” Photo by Carrie Crespo

Many Latinos come to this country not knowing anyone. They don’t know the language or have anywhere to go. All they want is a better life from the one they left behind. But people in the United States aren’t always quite so inviting.

El Centro Latino, a nonprofit organization serving all of Orange County, offers programs, classes and support to their Latino residents need to help them be more successful in the community.

El Centro Latino incorporated in 1999 when local Latino leaders, the Orange County Hispanic Task Force and the Orange County Partnership for Young Children recognized the growing Latino population. It was originally located on Lloyd Street before moving to the Inter-faith Council building on East Main Street.

The Latino population has continued to increase since its incorporation. By 2004, almost 5 percent of Orange County was of Latino origin. In Carrboro, it was more than 12 percent. Since then, Carrboro has grown to more than 14 percent.

“We like to think it provides a lot of services and educational and cultural programs in an environment that is comfortable to the population we serve,” said Ben Balderas, executive director of El Centro Latino. “They can come into an inviting atmosphere and one of confidentiality.”

Like others working there, Balderas feels El Centro has helped him be more active in the community by giving him an opportunity to form relationships with many individuals from various political and socioeconomic backgrounds.

El Centro Latino provides many programs and classes for Latinos to come in and learn. The center works with the council, the Carolina Women’s Center, NAACP and many other organizations. But more important, it is there to help and answer any questions. More frequent questions concern immigration, taxes, childcare and work.

“Everyone that wants to can come and talk with the staff face to face to give orientation for issues,” program director Johanna Cabeza-arias, who has worked for El Centro Latino for two months, said. “We translate, help fill out applications, make phone calls in English, deal with problems with bills or the government and can interpret.”

Balderas said that a man came to the front desk a few years ago and said he had Alzheimer’s disease. He wanted to tell his family, but he couldn’t remember how to reach them or where they lived. Diego Torres, who is in charge of intake and referral, worked with the consulates to track down his family and send the man back to his country. This is only one of the many issues the center handles daily.

Cabeza-arias wants to do her best to unite the community and help people to be more active in the community.

She began working in this field for six years when she started in Colombia. When she came to the United States, she wanted a job that dealt with the community and social work. Cabeza-areas said this was the best place for her to work with other Latinos and get them involved.

“If you just stay in your house, just work and go to your house, and you are not a good member of your community and do nothing to help support your community, we are going to have a bad society because everybody will be separate,” Cabeza-arias said.

One way to get more involved is to become a member of El Centro Latino, she said. Members work with El Centro employees to create new programs and get more involved. They also receive more benefits such as specific programs just for them or discounts on their taxes. Members are asked to give only as much as they think they can afford.

El Centro Latino has services that don’t cost anything to join.

English as a Second Language classes are provided for adults, as well as computer classes and GED courses. The center also helps people find jobs that best fit them and help fill out job applications. Companies can also call El Centro Latino when they need employees.

Twice a month, an attorney comes to talk with people who have appointments to get free legal advice dealing with immigration, family law and civil law. Any services are done at a discount. The attorney also held a conference in October about immigration issues, deportation and immigration reform.

A women’s group was formed to help women deal with the culture shock and depression of having to work and still raise children. Women feel guilty when they have to leave their kids, Cabeza-arias said. El Centro Latino’s program teaches them that by being responsible mothers, they will have children who are more responsible. They also talk about education, domestic violence and other issues.

A testimonial on the back of El Centro Latino’s pamphlet is of a woman who used to sit in her house and just watch television. Now that she has joined the women’s group, she said she isn’t as stressed and enjoys the friendship of other women, the communication and the company.

For children, El Centro Latino has after-school programs and daycare while their parents are in classes. El Centro Latino works with Toys for Tots and helps provide Christmas presents to those in need. The center distributes the toys and celebrates with a party during the holidays.

The point of El Centro Latino is not for the people to abandon their culture but to work better within their new community so that they are better accepted. Spanish classes are also available for those who wish to learn.

“Latinos don’t need to leave their culture if they know how this country works,” Cabeza-arias said. “If they respect the law and are active, they won’t need to leave their culture but can enrich the community.”