Centro Cultural of Washington County

Community health and wellness - Centro supports the health and wellbeing of individuals and families in Washington County and beyond with direct service support and by addressing social determinants of health. Centro embraces a bilingual and bicultural community health model to address the disproportionate outcomes that low-income, latino and communities of color experience. Community health workers assist individuals to identify available community resources, navigate complex health systems and programs, and connect to advocacy to improve public health. Wellness programs include pandemic response and other multi-generational programs like our edad de oro senior and disabled program. The edad de oro program serves approximately 120 seniors each year with systems navigation support. Seniors come to edad de oro for social connection, to participate in activities, and for help in securing resources such as health care, nutritious food, and opportunities to give back through volunteering. Centro coordinates statewide programs through the ventanilla de salud program in a partnership with the mexican consulate in portland to reach spanish-speaking individuals throughout the state of Oregon.

Housing - Centro's housing department delivers culturally responsive housing options, along with comprehensive wrap-around and navigation services to help individuals and families achieve stability. Housing and supportive services are a key piece of Centro's vision for an equitable community where everyone can thrive. Centro properties include casa amparo, a 20 unit former motel, transitional facility housing approximately 30 individuals, families and children experiencing homelessness. Centro housing case managers also work with hundreds of families each year with a wide range of services like rapid re-housing, eviction prevention and rent assistance vouchers.

Prosperidad - prosperidad is the economic empowerment center of Centro Cultural de Washington County. Prosperidad empowers individuals to realize their potential toward economic stability. We provide job training and education to low-income, unemployed and underemployed residents to remove barriers to employment and prepare for living wage jobs and self-employment. In 2022, the adult workforce program helped 850 people to prepare for and secure employment. The general education diploma (ged) program helps educate 160 adults per year to attain this certification. Centro's business development program assists 150 people annually to start their own business and increase their revenue. Centro provides information on the us financial system for 500 immigrants on an annual basis access as well as access to health care resources. Centro coordinates the ventanilla de asesoria financiera (financial literacy window) program in partnership with the mexican consulate in portland to deliver financial literacy materials throughout major citiees in Oregon.

Youth education - Centro's steam programs give youth a chance to see themselves as our future scientists, engineers, coders and mathematicians. Youth take part in hands-on, real world invention and problem solving through programs including mesa after school clubs in eight local schools, robotics clubs for elementary, middle and high school students held at Centro; and a month-long summer steam program in which students study a variety of steam topics and connect with local employers to understand career pathways. Through our early escalera program, youth prepare for college and careers through all four years of high school. We provide direct hands-on activities and access to tools in our maker space, where youth and their parents can take weekly classes, learn new skills, and sign up to use equipment like 3d printers, laser cutters, and power tools. Steam also includes the arts: ballet folklorico students in grades 1 through 8 learn traditional latin american Cultural dances and perform at events.

Community engagement - our community has a growing voice in the decisions made by our cities, counties and the state of Oregon. We bring community members together to share their perspectives and lived experience to advocate for economic, environmental, transportation, housing and social justice. At the same time, we help them develop skills for engaging local governments, so that community voice is heard and represented. Local governments, decision makers and nonprofits look to Centro for support in engaging the community in activities and securing community input for a variety of efforts, from recycling reform to the development of middle housing options and more.

Food security,centro mercado/free food pantry - the Centro free food pantry (mercado) provides culturally-specific free food to families and individuals. The free food market, located in cornelius, Oregon is open monday-saturday and is available to everyone in need. The store is open to anyone and serves between 500-600 people weekly. In addition, Centro delivers food weekly for 35 seniors, and in summer and fall, delivers food to eight migrant labor camps, providing food for 8,000 people on a weekly basis. The Centro mercado distributes over 40,000 lbs of food per month as a regional food hub partner with the Oregon food bank and local grocers. The mercado also collaborates with local farms like working theory farm to deliver local organic products to our pantry