Saturday, October 11, 2014

El Centro Marks 30 Years


(Plaintalker is publishing this news release from El Centro. The anniversary event will be at Spain Inn and tickets are $40. Call (908) 753-8730 for reservations.)

El Centro Hispanoamericano, a nonprofit 501c3 organization located in Plainfield, NJ, will mark the 30th anniversary of its founding at a dinner on October 24, 2014.

Created in 1984, El Centro provides legal and humanitarian assistance to needy immigrant families and individuals. While El Centro’s clients come from throughout New Jersey as well as Eastern Pennsylvania and New York City, the majority of those served reside in Union, Somerset and Middlesex Counties.

In the past year, nearly 1,800 recent immigrants came to El Centro seeking legal assistance in securing immigration status and relief for which they are eligible under USCIS policies resulting in 1460 cases before federal immigration authorities. Of these cases, more than 40 involved domestic violence and 30 represented individuals seeking asylum.

El Centro was created to provide relief to those fleeing the violence and human rights abuses taking place in Central America in the 1980s. “Civilians were caught in the middle of the killing waged by governments against their own civilians,” recalls Ivan Flores, a student in El Salvador at the time. “The worst case was the killing of Bishop Oscar Romero, while he was saying mass.” Flores, after arriving in the Plainfield area, was one of the original founders of El Centro.” Flores adds, “It was terrible. Parents were terrified about their kids being killed or disappeared.

Founded in 1984 originally as the Plainfield Area Committee on El Salvador and Central America, the organization was created as an alliance of local church leaders, community activists, and refugees. A number of these founders will be in attendance at the October 24th celebration. The group opened its doors as the Center for Central American Refugees, moving to its current location on Front Street in 1988. The name was changed to El Centro Hispanoamericano in 1998.

“Hundreds, then thousands of people were fleeing the Central American wars in the early eighties and coming to the Plainfield area,” explains Rev. Brooks Smith, an El Centro founder and, at the time, pastor at the Watchung Avenue Presbyterian Church.

“Families were showing up on our doorstep. A humane and compassionate welcome was our only considered response to the plight of those seeking our help,” Smith adds.

EL Centro Hispanoamericano has been an organization recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) of the United States Department of Justice since 1993. BIA accreditation of its staff enables El Centro to represent aliens in immigration proceedings before the immigration courts of the US Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) or its appellate component, the Board of Immigration Appeals.

“The efforts of El Centro Hispanoamericano and the other fine organizations assisting immigrants in Plainfield, are very important to the quality of life here in our community” stated Adrian O. Mapp, Mayor of the City Plainfield. “In Plainfield we celebrate our diversity and extend a hand to those in need who seek opportunity for themselves and their families.” The Mayor will be attending the October 24th celebration and offering welcoming remarks.

El Centro also provides an educational program including English as a Second Language, Adult Spanish Literacy, and Citizenship classes. Needy individuals and families are also able to receive food assistance through the organization’s Emergency Food Pantry and used clothing though its boutique. El Centro is a member of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

“Violence, extreme poverty, out of control gangs, violence against women, dispossession of small farmers at the hands of multinational corporate agra-businesses, and many other factors still drive emigration north,” explains Silvia Hernandez, El Centro’s executive director. “Every day,” she adds, “we receive new people at our door who simply want the opportunity to provide for their families.”

Those seeking assistance should call (908) 753 8730.


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