Hello Friends:

It seems not too long ago, in 1991, that a group of dreamers were trying to create a new agency using a $42,000 seed money allocation from United Way. We had a vision to create a model community center. Many doubted that a small agency with no track record or established credibility could achieve such an ambitious goal. But, we had determination, perseverance and faith in God and in our cause.

Twenty years later, the Riverside Community Center model has served as an inspiration to many and has proven that by abandoning turf issues and working together, agencies can provide more efficient and cost effective services. Today, we have outgrown our initial vision and are preparing to launch a second major effort of building a new facility with added partners, services and enhancements.

Our story parallels our Latino culture. We, as Latinos, have experienced adversaries and adversities. However, there are intrinsic values in our culture that will continue to propel us forward. Faith, perseverance, endurance, a strong work ethic and cohesive family life styles are elements in our culture that will allow us to overcome current challenges. Just like the LCDA, Latinos will continue to look with optimism into the future, assisting newcomers to integrate successfully into our society, promoting and supporting the education of our children, promoting political involvement and focusing our efforts on positive endeavors. These are challenging times, but with optimism and the support of our friends, we see a rainbow in the horizon for our agency and for our community.

Patricia B. Fennell

President/CEO