El Centro de la Raza acts as a hub for the Hispanic community providing not only services, but also networking for other opportunities. Their name roughly translated means The Center for People of All Races and the services they provide are available to anyone, and allow the people they serve to improve their situations. The hope is that anyone can come to El Centro with any problem and El Centro will have a program that can help them or they are able to refer them to a program outside El Centro that can. They offer human services that address issues of human suffering such as hunger, homelessness, and healthcare. Their child and youth services programs encourage growth and development in children and teens as well as offer support for parents. Their education and skill building programs empower adults to be independent and informed through education and skill building opportunities. Finally, their community building and development programs encourage civic participation, grassroots organizing and activism to advocate for human liberation on both the local and global levels.
A few weeks ago I went to interview an AmeriCorps volunteer at El Centro de la Raza on Beacon Hill. She is a recent SU graduate and works with their Hope for Youth program, helping high school age students prepare for college.
When asked about educational opportunities for undocumented students, she mentioned funding through private scholarships including those from the Seattle Central Community College Foundation which does not require students to have legal residency or citizenship status as part of the application process.
The DREAM Act is the only way she knows of for undocumented students to have an opportunity to get legal employment when they are done with school by providing them with temporary legal residency.
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