The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
El Centro pushes help for students
El Centro will begin a new community improvement initiative to help the youngest students in 2018, the organization’s leader said.
About 400 people came out for the 43rd anniversary gala of El Centro de Servicios Sociales Inc., held Nov. 4 at DeLuca’s Place in the Park.
In the next year, the Spanishlanguage social service agency has five target projects, including creation of a bilingual early childhood education program for
Latino children so they are not left behind when they start school, said Victor Leandry, El Centro executive director.
The agency already has strong connections with Lorain Schools, Lorain County Community College and Lorain County JVS to help students, he said.
El Centro staff and board members considered forming a separate organization to address needs of the community in Lorain, Leandry said. However, they recognize El Centro does not have the funding or expertise to create a new agency, he said.
Community improvement programs already fit within El Centro’s mission, so it will create a community improvement program that will take off in 2018, Leandry said.
El Centro will hire two new staff members, a community organizer and a housing specialist, and
has support from the Nord Family Foundation and Third Federal Savings and Loan, Leandry said.
Speaking to the crowd, Leandry prompted laughs when he recalled that he stated the idea of a community improvement corporation three years ago, but thought no one would remember.
In his address, Leandry became emotional when he called for Lorainites and agency supporters to lend their aid to Puerto Rico.
Several years ago, El Centro staff and its gala planning committee planned to celebrate Puerto Rican culture in 2017, Leandry said. This year marks the 100th anniversary of American citizenship for island residents, he said.
But Sept. 20, Hurricane Maria devastated the island, Leandry said.
Even now there are Puerto Ricans without running water or electric power, Leandry said.
Residents wait in line three hours a day for bags of ice, Leandry said. He added he knew this not from news
reports, but from speaking to his sister, Sandra, about the situation there.
At times, Leandry’s voice choked with emotion and he paused to take a brief cellphone call from his mother, Carmen Vazquez, who is still in Puerto Rico. Communications there are difficult, he said, but the island has adopted the motto, Puerto Rico will stand again.
“These people are resilient, strong and they’re fighting,” Leandry said. “They’re making it happen. They’re like, we’re going to stand again.”
Leandry encouraged everyone to send prayers and boxes of food to the island. People also should use social media to spread the news about recovery efforts, and call Ohio legislators to make them aware about Puerto Rico’s plight.
Closer to home, Leandry introduced Lorain Schools Chief Executive Officer David Hardy Jr. and called for everyone to read the Lorain Promise plan posted online.
“Get behind the Lorain City Schools,” Leandry said.