Based out of Knoxville, Centro Hispano de East Tennessee is the leading resource for East Tennessee’s Latino community, as well as the leading resource for East Tennessee to learn about the Latino community. Through a variety of initiatives, including education, workforce development, youth and family engagement, and community strengthening, Centro Hispano promotes civic participation, empowerment, and a sense of community.
For more than 15 years, Centro Hispano has served as a community and resource center by and for the Latino community in East Tennessee. From support for small businesses to youth and family engagement programs to workforce development classes and more, the center is dedicated to actively investing in Latino success.
Workforce development classes and workshops help members of the community with English proficiency, financial literacy, computer skills, and other areas where resources elsewhere tend to be lacking. There are even specialized courses for those seeking high school equivalency diplomas. Centro Hispano’s education services don’t stop there: their post-secondary support includes college access counseling, the L.E.A.D. (Latinos Empowered to Advocate and Dream) program for high school students, parent education, and educational equity and advocacy work. And, according to president and CEO Claudia Caballero, they are developing a program geared at supporting small businesses in the Latino community – the only Spanish-speaking program of its kind in the area.
“To our Latino community, to know that we are here to develop programs and services to meet needs as the community evolves,” says Caballero. “It’s important that we have a close relationship with the people we work with, so we can continue to offer relevant services. Come to us, tell us what your questions and your needs are, and we’ll work with you… We’re not a “handout” organization; we help build capacity and use the services we offer so we can create a thriving community.”
Centro Hispano also focuses on community and family engagement, with programs designed to empower youth and ensure that childcare is not an obstacle to adult education. These programs include afterschool programs at elementary schools, parent education workshops, on-site children’s programming during adult education workshops, and much more. It’s an approach that works to address systemic barriers, provide necessary skills and education, and truly build a community for all ages.
“I have a personal passion for this organization that is proactively linking the Latino community in East Tennessee with educational, civic, and economic opportunities in the area,” said Ruben Moreno, Founder and HR/Diversity Executive Search Practice Leader at Blue Rock Search. “Centro Hispano offers a unique focus on enabling Latinos to positively impact their communities.”
Blue Rock is proud to highlight the incredible work of Centro Hispano de East Tennessee!
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