Seattle’s El Centro de la Raza standing up for Latinos

Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in Seattle and across the country, and a local organization is striving to make sure they someone is looking out for them. Whether it’s speaking out against police brutality or helping a homeless family find a place to live, Seattle’s El Centro de la Raza has been there for 40 years to help.

“I first got involved with Centro when I was a troubled kid in school and I ended up getting a case manager and she really helped me to stay in school and kept me busy and out of the streets basically and getting into programs at Centro such as art or poetry or doing community service,” said 18-year-old Janet Jaime-Rodriguez. She’s one of thousands supported by the non-profit group that started in protest as local Latinos sought a place of their own in the community.

El Centro de la Raza provides children and youth programs, human and emergency services, education and skill building programs and advocacy and community building work from its Beacon Hill offices.

The organization also provides a voice. Executive Director Estela Ortega was one of many local leaders at the forefront of an effort to reform the Seattle police department after findings of discriminatory policing targeting minorities.

“People are intimidated by that and they’re not going to be taking firm stands about that, so it’s important for an organization like El Centro to be able to stand up and tell those stories,” she said.

While El Centro is primarily known as a Latino advocacy group, Ortega says the organization strives to work for all people who need a hand, especially in Seattle’s Central District.

“I mean we have helped so many people in terms of providing homes for people who have been homeless, feeding people, giving seniors a place they feel they can be connected to a community, young people who can be proud of themselves who can do community service,” said Ortega.

The organization is in the midst of an ambitious expansion, aiming to build a $38 million mixed-use development with housing, retail, office and performing arts spaces. It has plenty of backing, relying extensively on donations and volunteers to provide all of its services, with over 1,200 people pitching in to help last year alone.

For Jaime-Rodriguez, it’s nothing short of a “life-saver”.

“El Centro has really been there for me and my family from the beginning, when we needed shelter or when I needed help in school,” she said.

That’s why Bonneville Seattle, The Seattle Seahawks and Les Schwab Tire Centers are proud to honor El Centro de la Raza as September’s Charity of the Month.