Last month Centro Hispano de Frederick & the local community celebrated the organization's new location along the Golden Mile.
We caught up with Maria Shuck - director of the local non-profit - to ask her about the move and the work the organization does within the local business community.
Finding the Right New Space
Centro Hispano's caseload tripled in 2019. As we began to expand existing programs and services, and develop new ones, in response to increased client needs, we realized that we needed a differently configured space.
We are very excited to have relocated to Willowtree Plaza off of Willowdale Drive.The space has a much better layout, allowing us to conduct our classes, workshops and client services more efficiently and professionally. Also, there is ample parking space and we have been enthusiastically welcomed by other businesses in the shopping center who already have made in-kind donations to support our programs and special events. There is a true sense of shared values and community.
Staying on the Golden Mile
The Golden Mile is a vibrant and diverse area of Frederick City. Most of our clients and students live, work, and send their children to school on the west end of the city. It is only logical the we offer our services on the Golden Mile. We are elated to contribute to the revitalization of the Golden Mile, fully supporting the goals of the Golden Mile Alliance.
Supporting Local Business & Local Entrepreneurship
We are extremely proud of the fact that the local Latino community is comprised of a significantly large number of small business owners whose stores, offices and shops are becoming a recognized component of all small businesses in Frederick City as a whole. They contribute heavily to the tax base and to the local economy. We support them with English and citizenship classes, tax and legal advice, notary and application completion services.
On the other hand, we also seek to bridge the gap between Latino and non-Latino business owners — encouraging information sharing and referrals. Our mission for the past 14 years has been to educate, nurture and inform, to create good will, and to help our community members successfully integrate into the mainstream of life in the City of Frederick.
The Importance of the Mission
Centro Hispano de Frederick has been a recognized community anchor in Frederick's Latino community for 14 years. We are a haven of hope and possibility. We build a sense of community among our inter-generational families and clients. We are the "go to" place for assistance, information and connectivity for people who feel blessed to live in our beautiful city, who want to thrive, who want their children to live good lives, and who, with strong positive ethics and values, want to contribute to the City as a whole. In addition to providing a foundation for achievement in all aspects of life in Frederick, we are seeding the next generation of homeowners, academic, business, civic, religious and professional leaders.
To learn more:
Visit our website at https://centrohispanodefrederick.org/