After closing its doors in late November, the Carrboro-based nonprofit El Centro Latino is working to reopen.
El Centro Latino’s board will discuss tonight how to collaborate with other local Latino-serving nonprofits to provide the community with resources it needs, supported by some Carrboro town officials.
After more than 10 years of providing the Carrboro-based Latino community with ESL and computer classes, career advice and immigration support, among other services, El Centro was forced to close due to difficult leadership transitions and a shortfall in grants and donations.
The agency’s future could lie in El Centro Hispano, a Durham nonprofit with a similar mission.
If the agencies pooled resources, said Torin Martinez, chairman of El Centro’s board, it could help both groups stay afloat and serve their respective communities during what he called financially difficult years for nonprofits.
“Many Latino nonprofits have gone through a roller coaster of a time since the last few years and changes of leadership,” he said.
El Centro Latino’s board is hoping to open a single site in the Carrboro Plaza that would house services from El Centro Latino, El Centro Hispano and the Durham-based N.C. Latino Community Credit Union.
This way, Martinez said, needs could be met in one place.
“There is a draw in our community to collaborate to work regionally,” he said. “There is more funding; there’s less overlap of resources.”
The center in Durham also has a much larger budget than El Centro Latino, although it does serve a much larger community.
According to 2008 tax returns, Durham’s El Centro Hispano reported about $1.6 million in fiscal year 2008 revenues, while Carrboro’s El Centro Latino reported $211,838.
According to 2008 U.S. Census estimates, Durham has a Latino population of about 32,300, about four times that of Orange County’s in that year.
Pooling those resources could help to keep both agencies open.
Whatever the final plan might be, Carrboro town officials are hoping to coordinate with El Centro Latino’s board prior to a town meeting tentatively scheduled for Feb. 18.
Carrboro Community and Economic Development Director James Harris said he hopes the final decision will be fiscally responsible.
He said the town gives $4,000 to $6,000 to each of about 36 nonprofits yearly, with El Centro Latino receiving about $4,000.
The Inter-Faith Council for Social Service receives the largest amount at $8,000 a year.
Harris said he would like to see the Latino community to participate more in relaunching the center in the coming months.
“If we could coalesce those folks to work together, it would be better, because we don’t have a lot of money,” he said.
Alderman Sammy Slade said he hopes town officials stay involved.
“The process is just now beginning,” Slade said.
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
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