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Community Action Agency United Way Agency Affiliate of National Council of La Raza
2524 16
th
Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98144 (206) 957-4634 tel (206) 329-0786 fax
www.elcentrodelaraza.org 501(c)3 Nonprofit Tax ID: 91-0899927







Programs & Services
With over 25,050 volunteer hours,
El Centro de la Raza serves 18,633
individuals and 9,387 families annually
through the following programs and
services:

Basic Healthcare Enrollment
Bebes! Infant Mortality Prevention
Caf con El Centro
Csar Chvez Demonstration Garden
College Readiness
Comadres
Community Meeting Space
Community Service
Crisis Advocacy
Cultural / Political / Social Events
Economic Development
ECR Transitional Housing
El Patio Apartments
Employment
ESL Classes / Spanish Classes
Financial Empowerment
Food Bank
Foreclosure Counseling
Growing & Learning Together
Homeless Assistance
Healthy Cooking Classes /
Nuestras Comidas
Hope for Youth Poetry & Civil Rights
History Classes
HUD Housing Counseling
Immigrant / Human / Civil Rights Social
Justice Advocacy
Jos Mart Child Development Center
Latino Hot Meal Program
Legal Clinic Site
Local, State, National & International
Coalition Building
Luis Alfonso Velsquez Flores
After School Program
Parent-Child Home Program
Plaza Roberto Maestas
Santos Rodriguez Memorial Park
Senior Nutrition & Wellness
Senior Home Delivered Meals
Smoking Cessation
Tax Prep Site
Transit Oriented Parking
Veterans Services
Volunteerism
Youth Case Management & Cultural
Enrichment
Youth Employment
Youth Technology Training
Youth Violence Prevention

The Center for People of All Races
A voice and a hub for the Latino community
as we advocate on behalf of our people
and work to achieve social justice.






J oin El Centro de la Raza for the
Official 9
th
Annual Youth Graduation
Luncheon and Ceremony

For Immediate Release Press Contact: Yunuen Castorena
April 28, 2014 (206) 957-4605

Seattle Students who are struggling academically are currently facing language barriers,
discrimination and the struggles of coming from lower socio-economic status are working
alongside El Centro de la Raza to transition into higher education, who in 2013 graduated 99%
of their students from High School.

We are proud to announce and warmly invite you to attend this years 9
th
Annual Youth
Graduation Luncheon alongside family, Seattle Public School teachers and community
members. The ceremonies will take place on Thursday, June 5
th
, 2014 from 11:30am-1:00pm
at El Centro de la Raza, located on 2524 16
th
Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144.

We will be recognizing our student achievers of the Proyecto Saber Programs of Chief Sealth
International High School, Ballard High School and Denny International Middle School. In
addition, we will be recognizing our partner schools supported by the City of Seattles Families
& Education Levy with partner schools such as: Ingraham High School, Washington Middle
School and Beacon Hill International Elementary.

These celebrations are meant to recognize and empower the youth to sustain the fundamental
purpose of the culture of success in this program. Estela Ortega, Executive Director of El
Centro de la Raza. The recognition of Elementary, Middle School, and High School students
taking the next step towards higher education allows students to perpetuate positive images of
fellow students of color with a cap and gown for the youth. The culture of success with in El
Centro de la Raza and partnership schools have had endless positive influence on
several generations.

Proyecto Saber, City of Seattle, and Seattle Public Schools are empowering and working
alongside each other to bridge the gap in our education system Alex Bautista, Hope for Youth
Program Coordinator. In 2013 as a direct result of our partnerships with the Proyecto Saber
Program, Seattle Public Schools, and funding from City of Seattles Human Services
Department, last years graduating Class of 2013, resulted in 70 out of 76 graduates
successfully transitioned to college and collectively raised $241.362 in scholarship funds for
college. The other students who didnt enroll chose different paths such as military services
and AmeriCorps.

A program like College Readiness does more than increase the number of graduates from our
public schools that go on to higher education. It empowers our individual youth to actively
shape their future and reach for their dreams.

Estela Ortega is available for interviews by calling (206) 957-4605. For more information,
please call (206) 957-4605 or email execasst@elcentrodelaraza.org.