DURHAM -- Latinos in the Triangle are having difficulties finding work in the economic recession that is gripping the nation, so El Centro Hispano of Durham plans to open a Carrboro branch to fill the gap left by the closing of El Centro Latino in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area last month.
"While the economy took its toll on the Orange County organization, the Latino population of both Orange and Durham counties has also felt the consequences of the economic recession," stated a news release issued by Susan Denman, chairwoman of the board for El Centro Hispano and Torin Martinez, chairman of the El Centro Latino board.
"As employment opportunities become scarce, the Latino population is crossing county lines for employment, thus furthering the need for a collaborative effort in establishing an organization to serve the growing needs of both counties," the release said. "Following collaborative discussions between the two boards of directors, the board of the Durham group has voted to support expansion of services to Orange County."
Denman said that the Durham agency's board is committed to fill the gap left by the closing of the Orange County nonprofit organization.
"We are working well together already, and although the transition will take time, with the help of the current El Centro Latino board, and most importantly the support of the community, we can reinstate at least some of the valuable community services previously offered," Denman said. "However, it is the goal of both boards to see that this change leads to enhanced services for Latinos in Orange and Durham counties. In this work, we all have the same goal."
A public meeting to talk about the collaboration and meeting the needs of the Latino community in Orange County will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 16, in the auditorium of the Seymour Senior Center on Homestead Road in Chapel Hill.
