Through our youth programs -- Juventud (middle school), Escalera (high school), and [Re]Generacion -- Centro focuses on shaping a better life for young Latinx. Our goal is to see Latinx youth prepared to succeed in life by finishing school prepared for post-secondary education. Centro’s youth programs provide services for an estimated 250 youth grades 6-12 in the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD). Students progress as a cohort through the pathway we have setup between middle and high school, improve their academic performance, graduate on time, and attend college while forging a strong sense of personal identity. Centro is also a bilingual host site for Play & Learn, a free program offered by MMSD for children 0-5 and their parents or caregivers. The Juventud Program, embedded in the MMSD middle schools, allows youth to explore their cultural identity and build self-esteem while providing one-on-one academic support. The Escalera Program, also embedded within MMSD high schools, works with students focusing on career awareness, higher education, and preparation for life after high school. 100% of our Escalera students are working and attending school and 100% have graduated from high school in the past 5 years. Finally, [Re]Generación works with youth to develop leadership, advocacy and self confidence through discussions, workshops and personal expression. |
While youth are our future, we do not forget that youth cannot succeed without strong families. At Centro we offer services to provide our families with the basic support and resources they need to address a variety of issues affecting their everyday lives such as fraud, unemployment, legal issues, healthcare and much more. Centro also has case-managers who provide specialized bilingual assistance with immigration and criminal justice cases. Each case manager works with hundreds of clients and families per year. Our adult Caminos (Career) Pathways focuses on building career tracks for Latinx in the fields of healthcare and finance through free 10-week training courses to become a Certified Nursing Assistant or Teller respectively. Our Wellness Program brings our community together around issues and activities related to food, nutrition, and well-being. |
Throughout the year Centro provides a constant space for Latinx of Dane County and their allies to gather. We hold over 100 community events a year that bring together local leaders and community members to shape the future for Latinx in Dane County, celebrate our cultural identity, and engage with each other. Our weekly Mercadito, ongoing workshops and wellness classes make Centro a popular location for people to come to throughout the year. We also hold community forums where community members can help shape what type of programming Centro creates in the future. Our 18,000 square foot facility, two parking lots and community gardens offer plenty of unique spaces to accommodate a variety of activities and events simultaneously. |
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contact usMain Madison Office
810 West Badger Rd. Madison, WI 53713 Ph. (608) 255-3018 Fax. (608) 255-2975 Sun Prairie Office (Sunshine Place) 1632 W. Main St #150, Sun Prairie, WI 53590 Ph. (608) 640-7411 |