Latino Advocacy Coalition
El Centro Comunitario del Condado de Henderson

A conversation with the Concejo of the Latino Advocacy Coalition

In the last ten 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 grantwriting, financial management, and leadership development.

A conversation with the Concejo (Council) of the Latino Advocacy Coalition

CPC's Jeannette Butterworth interviewed the Concejo, or council, of community leaders who have helped establish the Centro Comunitario in Henderson County. Their responses, in Spanish, are followed by English translations.

Jeannette: Hábleme un poco del Concejo.
Jeannette: Tell me a little bit about the Concejo.

Martha: Pienso que el Concejo es la base del Centro. Somos un grupo de personas que asistimos en El Centro, que estamos siempre en las reuniones que hacemos cada mes para compartir y discutir las ideas del Centro. El Concejo es la manera en que, realmente, se puede empezar a canalizar lo que piensa cada uno, o lo que esperamos y queremos para el Centro y la comunidad. Definitivamente, sin el Concejo, El Centro, no seria otra figura mas que un edificio.
Martha: I think that the Concejo is the base of the Centro. We are a group of people that help the Centro - that always come to monthly meetings to share and discuss ideas for the Centro. The Concejo is a way, really, for people to start to channel what they think, hope or want for the Centro and the community. Definitely, without the Concejo, the Centro would be nothing more than a building.

Simón: Yo creo que una de las razones por la cual La Coalición Latina y El Centro se ha desarrollado de esta manera, ha sido mas que nada por que tanto hispanos como anglos tomaron la iniciativa de hacer algo juntos para ayudar a los hispanos. Y ahora yo veo aquí (el señalar alrededor del cuarto), sudamericanos, centroamericanos, mexicanos, unidos, junto con los anglos, con una misma visión, una misma fuerza, y cariño por un mismo lugar.
Simon: I believe that one of the reasons that the Latino Advocacy Coalition and the Centro have developed as they have to this point has been because Hispanics, as well as Anglos, took the initiative to create something together to help Hispanics. Right now, I see (pointing around the room), South Americans, Central Americans, and Mexicans, united, together with Anglos, with the same vision, the same force, and the same affection for the same place.

Antonio: Todos somos del espirito de uno.
Antonio: We are all of one spirit.

Jeannette: ¿Por qué fue importante para ustedes estar involucrados en este proyecto?
Jeannette: Why was it important for you all to be involved in this project?

Antonio: Yo siempre he estado interesado en participar en proyectos para ayudar a los demás. También, es lógico que al ayudar algo que esta a mí alrededor yo también obtendré un beneficio de ello.
Antonio: I have always been interested in participating in projects that help others. Also, it makes sense that you too will benefit when you work to make something around you better.

Martha: Desde que yo estaba en mi país, que es Colombia, siempre me ha gustado ayudar, servir. Pienso que nosotros no estamos solos en la tierra. Nosotros somos personas naturalmente sociables. Y como personas sociables, tenemos que unirnos, tenemos que ayudarnos, tenemos que escucharnos, y tenemos que salir adelante, en grupo. Decimos que 'la unión hace la fuerza.' Y siento que todos deberíamos tener siempre el compromiso de ayudar. Somos humanos y estamos juntos en la tierra.
Martha: Including when I was in my country of Colombia, I have always liked to serve. I think we are not here alone on this earth. We are people who are naturally social. And as social people, we need to unite together, we need to help each other, we need to listen to each other, and we need to prosper, as a group. We say that 'there is strength in unity.' And I feel that we should all be dedicated to help. We are human, and we are here together on earth.

Jeannette: ¿Cuales son sus sueños para el futuro del Centro?
Jeannette: What are your dreams for the future of the Center?

Antonio: Creo que empieza el trabajo ahora. La apertura del centro no es él ultimo logro - solamente es una comienza. Realmente El Concejo no ha comenzado su trabajo toda villa. Hasta ahora, todos lo que hemos hecho son planes.
Antonio: I believe that the work starts now. The opening of the Center is not the ultimate achievement - it's only a beginning. For the Concejo, really, the work has not yet begun. Up until now, all we have accomplished are plans.

Juan: Me gustaría que los hispanos estuvieran más unidos y se ayudaran los unos a los otros. También, [aquí en el Centro] necesitamos enfocarnos en áreas primordiales como inmigración, abusos hispanos, la cuestión de quien nos defienda - cosas de relevancia.
Juan: In ten years, I would like for Hispanics to be more united, and see to each other's needs. Also, [here in the community center] we need to focus on the basic issues, like immigration, abuse of Hispanics, and advocacy.

Pablo: Mas que nada, debiéramos ser responsables de nosotros mismos y ayudarnos los unos a los otros.
Pablo: More than anything, we should be responsible for ourselves, and help one another.

Mona: La importancia de este Centro es trabajar por la unidad de la gente. Para que dentro de diez años, por ejemplo, seamos una fuerza en el condado. Cuando seamos fuertes, nos van a oír. Todos contamos juntas. ¡Cantaremos mal, pero es la voz de todos!
Mona: The importance of this Centro is to work for the unity of the people. So that when, say, ten years have passed, we will be a force in the county. When we are strong, people will hear us. We all sing together - we sing poorly, but it's the voice of everyone!

Simón: Yo he estado hablando de tres cosas: Unión, Visión, y Trabajo. Porque si tenemos eso, bien claro, yo creo que de aquí a diez anos, El Centro verdaderamente puede ser la voz de Hispanos en este condado. Tenemos una voz bien importante y debemos ser escuchados.
Simon: I keep talking about three things: Unity, Vision, and Work. Because if we have these three things well established, I believe that in 10 years, the Centro truly can be the voice of Hispanics in this county. We have a very important voice, and we should be heard.

Martha: Para mi seria ideal que estuviéramos muy unidos. Yo sé que vamos a tener éxitos. Estoy totalmente segura. Pienso que es el momento de unirnos e ir caminando juntos.
Martha: To me, it would be ideal if we were very united. I know that we are going to be successful. I am completely sure. I think this is the moment to unite and walk together.

 

 

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