About
In the last years, the Hispanic population in Henderson County has grown by more than 650 percent. With the largest Hispanic population in Western North Carolina, Henderson County is facing all the challenges of a booming immigrant population--language, transportation, education, employment, documentation--the list goes on.
However, some far-sighted community members recognized that the new residents also provide a powerful new resource for leadership and ideas. The Latino Advocacy Coalition of Henderson County (LAC) formed in March 1998, bringing together community members, service providers, educators, and clergy to plan educational and cultural events and provide a venue for information and resource sharing.
LAC promotes participation and leadership in community projects and on local boards, and publishes and distributes nearly 2000 copies of El Contacto, Henderson County's monthly Spanish-language newsletter. In 2000, LAC facilitated a series of community meetings to define its future plans. These conversations focused LAC on one main project: a Latino community center.
One of the highlights in the process of developing the center was the formation of the Latino-led advisory board, or Concejo. This group of active community members provided leadership, guidance and oversight for planning the center and its activities.
The Centro Comunitario del Condado de Henderson (Community Center of Henderson County) held its grand opening on July 26, 2002. The inauguration brought more than 200 people together to celebrate with Latin American dancing, food, drinks and music.
Organized as a partnership between five organizations that serve the Latino community, the Centro's goal is to promote healthy individuals whose education, prosperity and leadership contribute to the well being of the entire community. The Centro also provides a central meeting space for people to come together to share ideas and create new programs and projects.
CPC began its support of LAC by leading a series of strategic planning retreats, and continues to support LAC as they develop their own organizational capacity, including grant writing, financial management, and leadership development.
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