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1999 Dr. Anne Marie Foley invites Eduardo Crespi to the Civic Leaders Internship Program serving at the Missouri Office of Minority Health

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1999 Dr. Anne Marie Foley invites Eduardo Crespi to the Civic Leaders Internship Program serving at the Missouri Office of Minority Health

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Crespi's internship experience provided the genesis of the concept for "Centro Latino."

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Today's issue of Parade magazine, the annual survey of "What People Earn" includes a face familiar to anyone who knows anything about the Latino community in Columbia - that of Eduardo Crespi, director of the Centro Latino.

Parade says "What People Earn" is one of its most popular articles among readers. But when the phone rang in Crespi's office, he didn't know what they were talking about.

"They said 'Parade', I said 'What is that?'" Crespi said. He said a photographer arrived later and took photos.

Although he doesn't get a cover position (the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants does), his smiling face is among those inside.

His job title and salary? "Public Health Administrator, $25,000."

Crespi compared his salary to others' as he skimmed the magazine last week. "Look," he said, pointing to a community organizer from Rhode Island who makes $49,000 per year. "I bet he is not even bilingual."

In Parade's annual survey, Wayne Burton, a NASA scientist, can be found next to Lola Paterson, a flower shop owner. Professions listed include everything from actress to tow-boat captain.

For more than five years, Crespi, 47, has been the director of the Centro Latino, which offers health services, translation and language courses, among other things, to Columbia's Hispanic population. And it's all free, except the language courses.

Crespi estimated that he works 65 hours per week for the Centro, making an equivalent of less than $8 per hour.

Lisa Brininstool, a Centro volunteer, said she thinks Crespi is underpaid. He sometimes works 12-hour night shifts as a nurse in area hospitals to support his wife, Barbara Brockman, and daughter, Nicole.

He said that with the combined income from the Centro and hospitals - about $50,000 last year, he "doesn't worry about money." But for Crespi, the Centro is more than making a living.

Crespi came up with the idea for the Centro as a project for MU's Civic Leaders Internship Program. He started recognizing the need for an institution that would help Missouri's growing Hispanic community adjust to American life. After accepting a volunteer position with the Office of Minority Health, he said he was given a cubicle and a desk.

But Crespi isn't fond of staying in one spot for long. "I said, 'I cannot sit here. I need to go out and do the work,'" he said.

After leaving the Office of Minority Health, Crespi drew up plans to create the Centro in Columbia. On April 1, 2000, Crespi opened Columbia's first and only Hispanic resource center in Parkade Center.

Today, the Centro continues as part of Crespi's desire to have a "physical presence" in serving the community. The organization recently moved its offices from the Parkade Center to 206 Austin Ave.

"I am committed to myself, mainly, and I want to see this succeed," he said.

He likes the nature of the work. "It is stressless," he said. "When you do good, what kind of stress is there? Nothing."

Crespi wrote the book on how to start a resource center - kind of. The evidence is in a tattered, bright yellow and purple notebook containing scribbled doodles and notes that document how the Centro got its start.

"It's a model for other communities to follow. It's a whole new movement for health, education and social justice," he said. So far, Crespi has used his Columbia model to help start similar centers in Milan, Marshall and Lake of the Ozarks.

Funding has always been a problem. Crespi said there was a time when he ran the Centro and received no salary. Two years ago, he invested $15,000 from his own pocket to keep it running. No matter what, he said, he will always find a way to provide free health services to the Hispanic population in Columbia.

"That will always happen, as long as I am alive," he said.

As busy as he is, Crespi doesn't own a cell phone or a personal organizer. "I tried that once," he said. "It didn't work out."

He prefers meditation to help him prioritize throughout the day. "I meditate two and a half hours a day," he said. "It's the first thing I do (in the morning) and then the last thing I do."

As for the attention in Parade, Crespi doesn't mind telling people how much money he makes. "I don't care," he said. "People can know that. I wish I could say that I make more."

As he looked through the magazine, Crespi joked about changing professions. "Angelina Jolie, $27 million," he said. "I should become an actor."

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Today's issue of Parade magazine, the annual survey of "What People Earn" includes a face familiar to anyone who knows anything about the Latino community in Columbia - that of Eduardo Crespi, director of the Centro Latino. Parade says "What People Earn" is one of its most popular articles among readers.

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Marshall Centro Latino opens February 2003

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Marshall Centro Latino opens February 2003

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Carrie Tyler, Directora de CLARO
(Centro Latino de Apoyo, Recursos y Oportunidades) in Marshall, Missouri
https://www.marshallnews.com/story/1178495.html

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Centro Latino joins the CoMoGives Fundraiser Challenge 2014!

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Centro Latino joins the CoMoGives Fundraiser Challenge 2014!

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Centro Latino Tamale Dinner Pop-up @ Lucky's Market Cafe December 2014

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Centro Latino Tamale Dinner Pop-up @ Lucky's Market Cafe December 2014

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Community Fundraiser Dinner for Alfredo Jimenez

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Community Fundraiser Dinner for Alfredo Jimenez

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Live music and dinner in remembrance of Alfredo Jimenez of Columbia band, Del Alma.

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Benefitting:
True North
Sacred Heart Church
Centro Latino

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"Food for Freedom" Guest Charity Fundraiser Dinner February 2015

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"Food for Freedom" Guest Charity Fundraiser Dinner February 2015

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Benefitting Central Missouri Stop Human Trafficking Coalition

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Celebrating 15 years of Centro Latino

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Big Nate's at Centro Latino June -August 2015

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Big Nate's at Centro Latino June -August 2015

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"This summer, Centro Latino has the opportunity to employ Nathan Roberts, through City of Columbia's CARE Program. Nathan is learning the ins and outs of running a kitchen and as part of his training he will be preparing and selling fresh veggie food daily!
Support Centro Latino's Youth Kitchen Initiative and a local Columbia student!"
"Thank you City of Columbia CARE program for giving Nathan Roberts an opportunity to work at Comedor Popular (People's Diner) this summer."
https://www.facebook.com/265897163449285/posts/thank-you-city-of-columbia-care-program-for-giving-nathan-roberts-an-opportunity/931748793530782/

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Stove/Oven Donation from Woodcrest Chapel September 2015

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Stove/Oven Donation from Woodcrest Chapel September 2015

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Upgrade to double ovens, 6 top gas burners, plus griddle

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Salsa Night Fundraiser Dinner for Centro Latino September 2015

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Salsa Night Fundraiser Dinner for Centro Latino September 2015

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Thanks to David Aguayo for sharing his birthday celebration as a fundraiser to support Centro Latino's programs! VIP Volunteer

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Centro Latino Comedor Popular Pop-up at Clovers Natural Market 50th Anniversary Party October 2015

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Centro Latino Comedor Popular Pop-up at Clovers Natural Market 50th Anniversary Party October 2015

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Benefitting Centro Latino.
Big THANK YOU, Patty!

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Community Fundraiser Dinner November 2015

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Community Fundraiser Dinner November 2015

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Thanksgiving Dinner Benefitting local artist, Morli. Visit Centro Latino to see Morli's Mural

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Madeline Brozka, Kitchen VIP Volunteer

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Centro Latino Tamale Pop-up @ ARTLandish in the Catacombs First Friday March 2016

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Centro Latino Tamale Pop-up @ ARTLandish in the Catacombs First Friday March 2016

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Guest Charity Fundraiser Dinner with Happiness Now March 2016

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Guest Charity Fundraiser Dinner with Happiness Now March 2016

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"Proceeds from the dinner will go to Happiness Now to raise funds for their work with Haitian Refugees in the Dominican Republic."

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Prevention through education: Centro Latino's after-school program teaches kids about domestic violence

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Centro Latino Tamale Pop-up @ Columbia Area Earth Day Festival April 2016

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Centro Latino Tamale Pop-up @ Columbia Area Earth Day Festival April 2016

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"Gracias, Katelin! Bye-bye" After School Program May 2016

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"Gracias, Katelin! Bye-bye" After School Program May 2016

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One of our long-time ASP volunteers, Katelin Coonce, saying good-bye to all of the children.

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Centro Latino Tamale Pop-up @ Clovers Natural Market July 2016

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Centro Latino Tamale Pop-up @ Clovers Natural Market July 2016

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Selling Cookies for Change & Veggie Wraps as a fundraiser for Centro Latino's After School Program.

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"A Heart for Jake" Community Fundraiser Dinner August 2016

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"A Heart for Jake" Community Fundraiser Dinner August 2016

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Benefitting Jake Gonzales.
"Jake is recovering from heart surgery and is in need of a heart transplant. @aheartforjake"

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Benfitting Resident Arts
"Dinner from Comedor Popular (The People's Diner) is $15 per person and features food from their menu that helps educate the community about diabetes and other diet-related health problems. And it's really yummy!"

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Guest Charity Fundraiser Dinner September 2016

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Guest Charity Fundraiser Dinner September 2016

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Centro Latino hosts the Amazon Youth Cello Choir for dinner!
Benefitting Amazon Youth Cello Choir and Centro Latino.

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Eduardo's Birthday Celebration and Latin@ Heritage Month Fundraiser Dinner October 2016

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Eduardo's Birthday Celebration and Latin@ Heritage Month Fundraiser Dinner October 2016

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Guest Charity Dinner & A Show Fundraiser November 2016

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Guest Charity Dinner & A Show Fundraiser November 2016

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Benefitting Mobility Worldwide

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Tara Vincenc, Health Sciences Intern, VIP Volunteer
Implementing Kids in the Kitchen & FitTastic

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Centro Latino hosts the Missouri High Steppers.
Concert by The Miller Brothers band.
Benefitting Missouri High Steppers and Centro Latino.

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Celebrating Diversity Fundraiser Dinner June 2017

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Celebrating Diversity Fundraiser Dinner June 2017

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Centro Latino is Celebrating Diversity with a delicious dinner made by our latest kitchen interns, Megha Verma, Li and Ella Boyt!
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10154778563646446&set=a.314568526445

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Art as Refuge Fundraiser Dinner April 2017

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Art as Refuge Fundraiser Dinner April 2017

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Sponsored by Artists for Social Justice
"We will be exhibiting works by the community, for the community, in our community. Proceeds will benefit a different non-profit each time. We will do art and also schedule workshops for children and adults most affected by social injustices.
For our spring benefit efforts we have chosen to focus on immigration, by supporting an important organization in our community who work hard supporting so many families of immigrants right here in our own community. We want you to discover them, know about them, and continue to support them long after our introduction.

We are hosting a benefit dinner, an art show and sale. There will be tamales for sale, and live music by The Miller Brothers."

Benefitting Centro Latino

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Hot, fresh tamales available for pick up at Clovers Natural Market on Chapel Hill 2017

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Hot, fresh tamales available for pick up at Clovers Natural Market on Chapel Hill 2017

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Thank you Nellie Boyt & Patty!

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Celebrating Summer Fundraiser Dinner & Birthday Party! July 2017

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Celebrating Summer Fundraiser Dinner & Birthday Party! July 2017

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Happy birthday to our Programs Coordinator, Nicole!

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Fundraiser Dinner FRIDAY: Meet the Board of Directors 2017

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Fundraiser Dinner FRIDAY: Meet the Board of Directors 2017

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We're flipping the script and you're invited! Come to Centro Latino's Comedor Popular for an All American Dinner served by our Board of Directors.

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Fundraiser Dinners Featuring Dessert by Ella of Just Cheesecakes! 2017

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Fundraiser Dinners Featuring Dessert by Ella of Just Cheesecakes! 2017

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Un Baile - A Dance Fundraiser for Puerto Rico and Mexico Relief November 2017

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Un Baile - A Dance Fundraiser for Puerto Rico and Mexico Relief November 2017

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Sponsored by Latin@ American Students, Cambio Center, Voz Latina, Latino/a Graduate and Professional Network, Tiger Hotel, Centro Latino, Blue Diamond Events, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc.

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1st Global Public Health Initiative: La Cena - A Fundraiser Dinner for Puerto Rico November 2017

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1st Global Public Health Initiative: La Cena - A Fundraiser Dinner for Puerto Rico November 2017

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Centro Latino's first Global Public health Initiative is to collaborate with Global First Responder, a local non-profit organization by supporting their upcoming travel to Ponce, Puerto Rico on December 3! "While in Puerto Rico be will be working to assist in hurricane relief efforts with both health care and construction crews. Potential construction projects while in the country include solar panel installation at clinics, provision of medical services at a shelter, and demolition at a clinic or housing."
To learn more about Global First Responder and to sign up for a trip, contact Donna at info@globalfirstresponder.com. Visit the website: https://globalfirstresponder.com

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Raised $5,240 CoMoGives Fundraiser December 2017

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Raised $5,240 CoMoGives Fundraiser December 2017

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Free Soup Friday at Centro Latino.
Fundraiser tamales and quesadillas for sale.

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Sponsored by Mizzou Association of Latin@ American Students (ALAS)

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Centro Latino Tamale Pop-Up at Earth Day April 2018

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Centro Latino Tamale Pop-Up at Earth Day April 2018

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YAAL Rock Volunteer After Party August 2018

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YAAL Rock Volunteer After Party August 2018

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Hosted at Centro Latino and catered as a fundraiser for community programs. Karaoke included!

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Vicki's Birthday Happy Hour Celebration!

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Vicki's Birthday Happy Hour Celebration!

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Celebrating the President of Centro Latino's Board of Directors, Vicki Boyd-Kennedy. VIP Volunteer

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CoMoGives.com Campaign Raised about $5000 for Centro Latino during the month of December 2018

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CoMoGives.com Campaign Raised about $5000 for Centro Latino during the month of December 2018

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Guest Charity Fundraiser Dinner March 2019

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Guest Charity Fundraiser Dinner March 2019

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Benefitting City of Refuge and Centro Latino

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"Hello! My name is Byumungo. The one in the middle. You can call me Oliver.
Jessica and Daniel are my sister and brother. There are 10 of us at home. We are organizing a fundraiser dinner with Centro Latino to support our family of 12!
We come to the tutoring program at Centro Latino after school.
The Director, Eduardo, will cook African food. It will be good food. I have tried his tamales and they are very good too :)"

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Mortgage for community center building at 609 N. Garth Ave. paid back to the bank! April 2019

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Mortgage for community center building at 609 N. Garth Ave. paid back to the bank! April 2019

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Guest Charity Fundraiser Dinner November 2019

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Guest Charity Fundraiser Dinner November 2019

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Benefitting Mizzou Global Medical Training and Centro Latino

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Tacos for Good Fundraiser Dinner December 2019

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Tacos for Good Fundraiser Dinner December 2019

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Sponsored by Coco's Taco Bar with Guest Chef Colin Enslin.
Benefitting Centro Latino

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Jazz & Friends Gender-Inclusive Community Reading February 2020

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Jazz & Friends Gender-Inclusive Community Reading February 2020

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Centro Latino Spanish Teacher, Blanca Kelty, reads Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love.

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First 20 Kids Meals ready for pick up October 2020

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First 20 Kids Meals ready for pick up October 2020

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"COVID-19.

Supporting our Latino and non-Latino children.

First 20 Kids Meals ready for pick up. More to come.

Quesadillas with beans, rice and pico de gallo. Thank you Board members and volunteers for your dedication to Centro Latino. Juntos Se Puede! Together We Can!"

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Centro Latino in Times of COVID-19 December 2020

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Centro Latino in Times of COVID-19 December 2020

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"The public and friends who have donated would like to know what we're doing these days:"
Kids Meals with curbside pick-up.
Zoom Classrooms (English & Spanish Classes).
Zoom Board Meetings :)
https://www.facebook.com/eduardo.crespi.9/posts/10157860475731446

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Our Community Raised more than $5000 for Centro Latino through CoMoGives.com during the month of December 2020

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Our Community Raised more than $5000 for Centro Latino through CoMoGives.com during the month of December 2020

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Celebrating April 2021, the Anniversary of Centro Latino, with a Special collaboration with Main Squeeze Natural Foods Cafe.

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After School Program Coordinator Meeting April 2021

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After School Program Coordinator Meeting April 2021

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"Thank you for your dedication to our kids."
Meeting hosted virtually as a precaution against COVID-19 transmission.

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Centro Latino Welcomes VU Immersion Interns Summer 2021

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Centro Latino Welcomes VU Immersion Interns Summer 2021

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Updating the community center at 609 N. Garth Ave. "Before and after...March 2011 and June 2021"

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Updating the community center at 609 N. Garth Ave. "Before and after...March 2011 and June 2021"

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Thank you Friends of Centro Latino!!!

Juntos Se Puede! Together We Can!

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CoMoGives.com Online Campaign Raised more than $8,500 for Centro Latino in the month of December 2021

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CoMoGives.com Online Campaign Raised more than $8,500 for Centro Latino in the month of December 2021

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Centro Latino hosts Day of the Dead November 2022

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Centro Latino hosts Day of the Dead November 2022

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CoMoGives.com Online Fundraising Campaign Raised more than $7000 for Centro Latino in the month of December 2022

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CoMoGives.com Online Fundraising Campaign Raised more than $7000 for Centro Latino in the month of December 2022

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Centro Latino hosts Veterans United Volunteers for Tamale Making Day Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month 2023

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Centro Latino hosts Veterans United Volunteers for Tamale Making Day Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month 2023

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COLUMBIA - A Columbia community center served up a taste of Latin-American culture as a part of Hispanic Heritage Month, which started Sept. 15 and ended Sunday.

While celebrations happened across the nation to honor Hispanic culture, Guadalupe Ortiz, a Columbia mother, went to Centro Latino de Salud for a tamale-making workshop.

"I think when we have other backgrounds and other cultures involved, it just opens up a bigger door for [them] to get to know more about us," Ortiz said. "Especially right now, during Hispanic Heritage Month, and being proud of where we came from."

Centro Latino's mission of a balanced plate

Gina Overshiner, the kitchen manager at Centro Latino, led the workshop, which coupled as a fundraiser with Veterans United Home Loans.

"We got a lot of tamales made in a really quick amount of time, when you have that many people making them," Overshiner said.

Part of Centro Latino's mission is to empower Latinos and their families and the general public through service and guidance in navigating health, according to the center's website. So, the kitchen at Centro Latino is vegan and vegetarian.

Overshiner said people can still learn about their culture while having a balanced plate.

"It's nice to be able to share plant-based foods to help carry on that focus in the kitchen that you can make healthy, delicious, familiar foods," Overshiner said.

Ortiz and her family lived on the North Side of Chicago, near Humboldt Park, before moving to Columbia in 2011.

Both Ortiz and her husband's parents are Mexican immigrants.

"Tamales, that's something that you resonate with the Mexican culture," Ortiz said.

But she said the doughy and savory dish, often wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves, comes from several other cultures, like the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, among others. Tamales are made with masa, which is a maize dough that comes from ground nixtamalized corn. Overshiner also had beans and rice to stuff the tamales, along with spicy salsa verde and pico de gallo.

Eating or making tamales with family is known to be a special holiday tradition in the Latin culture, Ortiz said.

"It's something that's a tradition. It might be the ugliest, sloppiest tamales, but they're the tastiest ones that you'll probably have that season because you know your 8-year-old made it," Ortiz said.

Centro Latino's after school program

Ortiz has brought her children to Centro Latino's after-school program for nearly 12 years. The center's volunteers pick up students from their schools and bring them to the center, Edwardo Crespi, the executive director of the center, said.

The kids have 30 minutes to play and hangout, and then for the next 30 minutes, they get what the center calls "tutor time." That's when volunteers help answer questions the students may have on their homework, Karan Kommu, a volunteer for the after school program, said.

"We have students from all sorts of cultures and all different backgrounds," Kommu said. "I think it's really cool that they all get to mingle and learn from one another."

The last 30 minutes of the after school program is dedicated to play time or any activities the kids were doing at the beginning of the program.

CPS Hispanic enrollment, City of Columbia Hispanic and Latino population grow

Crespi said all of the students in the after school program go to schools in the Columbia Public Schools district. Enrollment records from CPS show more Hispanic kids are going to school in Columbia.

1,409 Hispanic students went to the district's schools during the 2022-23 school year, making up 7.5% of the student population. That was a 0.4% increase from when the district had 1,315 Hispanic students in the 2021-2022 school year.

CPS's enrollment data that included the racial composition of student populationwent back to the 2013-2014 school year. The historic enrollment, tallying the student headcounts from 1956-present, did not include a racial composition.

Looking at a larger scale, the City of Columbia's Hispanic population has also seen a steady increase. There were 3,729 Hispanic or Latino people living in Columbia when the 2010 decennial census was collected, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

However, in 2020, that number jumped to 6,195 Hispanics or Latinos calling Columbia home. The population estimates, which were released on July 1, 2022, shows Columbia's overall population increased to 128,555 residents. But there was not a full racial demographic breakdown.

'It was a long time coming:' Ortiz describes feeling out of place after experiencing culture shock

When she first moved to Columbia from Chicago, Ortiz noticed she would feel unfamiliar stares and presumed judgement when she spoke Spanish to her children in public. At first, it discouraged her that she didn't feel accepted. But over the years, she realized how important it was to help her kids be bilingual and share their Hispanic culture.

Ortiz said she felt frustration about not feeling welcomed in her community.

"I kind of felt out of place," Ortiz said. "It was a long time coming, definitely. ...[But] I wanted to teach my kids Spanish, teach them their culture, take them back home, and let them know where our family comes from."

On top of the frustration, she described feeling some shame before she decided to teach her children about their history.

"Why am I not teaching them where they come from, what our family's about, what our culture's about? Now, it's more of pride now and showing it off," Ortiz said.

She said she wants to take after her mom's footsteps and become a dual citizen in Mexico, then pass it on to her children.

The tamales made at the workshop will go back to the center. Overshiner said they will be used as snacks for the after school programs and for other fundraisers the center has.

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Columbia community center celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

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Centro Latino de Salud, located in central Columbia, hosted a tamale-making workshop to share part of the Hispanic culture.

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Sparky's Profit-Share Fundraiser for Centro Latino

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Sparky's Profit-Share Fundraiser for Centro Latino

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August 29, 2023

By Fletcher Mantooth

Photos By Sam Cox

Sparky's Homemade Ice Cream is donating half of all sales on Wednesday, Aug. 30 to Centro Latino as part of a monthly fundraising initiative.

Half of Sparky's Homemade Ice Cream's sales on Wednesday, Aug. 30, will go towards empowering Latinx and Hispanic communities through Columbia's Centro Latino.

Sparky's announced the 50/50 benefit via Instagram, stating that Centro Latino, "provides assistance to immigrants as they become acclimated to their new environment with its different laws, customs, and language."

In addition to donating half of sales, Sparky's will be providing a donation bucket, from which all of the collections will go to Centro Latino. This event is a part of a recurring 50/50 day program, which has previously included fundraisers for scholarships for local high schools, and a fundraiser for The Center Project, a Columbia-based LGBTQ+ community center.

Tony Layson, the general manager of Sparky's, organized the 50/50 day program in order to draw attention to these other organizations and encourage people to check them out and donate. He believes that as a central member of downtown Columbia's community, and as an organization with a significant social media presence, Sparky's is obligated to help give back to the community.

Notable services of Centro Latino include legal assistance for naturalization "El Comedor Popular" - meaning The People's Diner - which is a kitchen providing meals to the community. The organization also provides healthcare literacy, translation services and after school programs for community members.

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Sparky's to donate half of Wednesday's sales to Centro Latino - The Maneater

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Sparky's Homemade Ice Cream is donating half of all sales on Wednesday, Aug. 30 to Centro Latino as part of a monthly fundraising initiative.

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Centro Latino de Salud, Educacion y Cultura Founded April 1, 2000

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Centro Latino de Salud, Educacion y Cultura Founded April 1, 2000

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“BYLAWS

Article I-NAME

The name of the organization shall be The Centro Latino de Salud, Educación, y Cultura (Latino Center of Health, Education, and Culture) known in this document as the Centro. It shal incorporate under Missouri statutes for not-for-profit corporations.

Article II-PURPOSE

The corporation is organized exclusively for educational, charitable, scientific, and literacy purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended) to provide health and education services to the Latino/Hispanic population of mid-Missouri, to organize cultural events to raise awareness about the latino culture in mid-Missouri and to do any and all things which may be necessary or proper in connection with these purposes. In furtherance of its permitted purposes, the Corporation may exercise any, all, and every power that a corporation organized under the General Not-For-Profit Corporation Law of Missouri may exercise.”

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Opening of Centro Latino at Parkade Plaza April 2000

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Opening of Centro Latino at Parkade Plaza April 2000

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Health community outreach center serving Latino families (health education, cultural/legal services). Offices on the lower floor of Parkade Plaza (conference room, social work office, public health/director's office)

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Milan Centro Latino opens community center 2001

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Milan Centro Latino opens community center 2001

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Valentina Mensa, Directora, Milan Centro Latino in Milan, Missouri
"Centro Latino, began in 2001, and is a multi-service referral program.  They help people obtain resources in language, GED, filing citizenship papers, and health services.  They provide direct services to Hispanics.  For example they accompany people to the Doctor’s office to provide translation so that they don’t have to use a family member.  Centro Latino hosts events and activities that bring people together.  In December of 2001, they hosted a pre-Christmas multicultural event.  They are planning to host a series of mini-conferences on diabetes awareness, domestic violence, alcoholism, and other topics.  Centro Latino is launching a new “Parents as Teachers” program.  They also have a couple of projects with Truman State University.  On Tuesday evenings students from the campus ministries come to work with the youth. The Spanish honor society will be performing a play with scripts in both English and Spanish.   In the spring, a legal aid group from St. Joseph will be at Centro Latino to provide some legal assistance with immigration papers.  There are lots of things going on at Centro Latino."

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Established "Latino Link" services for pregnant Latinas October 2001

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Established "Latino Link" services for pregnant Latinas October 2001

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Collaboration with Columbia/Boone County Health Department, Family Health Center, Doors to Health. Began officer WIC services at Centro Latino offices (federal pass-thru funding via Missouri Office of Minority Health).

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Centro Latino Office Expansion with Los Tres Hermanos Mexican Grocery Store at Parkade Plaza 2002

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Centro Latino Office Expansion with Los Tres Hermanos Mexican Grocery Store at Parkade Plaza 2002

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Larger office space upstairs in Parkade Plaza includes: Public Health Office (monthly WIC services schedule), computer lab

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Centro Latino serves as community partner for "Improving Family Planning among Hispanics" 2003-2006

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Centro Latino serves as community partner for "Improving Family Planning among Hispanics" 2003-2006

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Collaboration with the University of Missouri School of Social Work and MU Department of Family & Community Medicine.
Funded by Missouri Foundation for Health.

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Sponsored 1st Cycle-Recycle event with Columbia's PedNet Coalition 2003

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Sponsored 1st Cycle-Recycle event with Columbia's PedNet Coalition 2003

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"Cycle Recycle started in 2001 by Eduardo Crespi, director and founder of Centro Latino. He conjured up this idea to find ways to get affordable bikes for low income people." -Manas Vedula, Missourian

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COLUMBIA - PedNet has some bikes on its hands. As part of Bike, Walk & Wheel Week, the Cycle Recycle program is giving away bikes Sunday for the ninth year.

Cycle Recycle started in 2001 by Eduardo Crespi, director and founder of Centro Latino. He conjured up this idea to find ways to get affordable bikes for low income people.

These bikes are donated by whoever feels like giving them up. Windmoeller said that bike donations have been down recently. The last Cycle Recycle was held in October.

"We started collecting the day after the last one ended," Windmoeller said.

The program will take just about any bike, but program assistant Larry Simonson and Windmoeller both said there have been a couple of bikes that came in on their death beds.

"Sometimes it is that this bike is too far gone," Simonson said.

If a bike comes in beyond repair, it is usually stripped for parts to fix other bikes.

"They are recycled in a different kind of way," Windmoeller said.

Simonson helped coordinate volunteers to help fix the bikes to make them fit for riding. Volunteers have been steadily working Thursday nights since January and will be meeting again Sunday morning for last minute tune-ups.

Bikes are given away on a first-come, first-served basis, one bike per person. Windmoeller said the goal is to give bikes to those who can't afford to have cars and need other forms of transportation, but there is no official screening process.

"People need transportation options," Windmoeller said. "Some people can't afford to drive a car. We want to get people where they need to go."

It isn't just an adult affair either, children can get pedaling on a new bike Sunday, too.

"It's a really fun thing when kids come to get a bike," Windmoeller said, "The smiles on their faces are just so fun."

This is the last Cycle Recycle that will operate in this manner. A new program, "Create a Commuter," will be a long-term bike program to educate people how to be a good commuter. The program will seek to get those interested on higher quality bikes and give them bike safety and mechanics training.

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Cycle Recycle giving away bikes, get residents pedaling through Columbia

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COLUMBIA - PedNet has some bikes on its hands. As part of Bike, Walk & Wheel Week, the Cycle Recycle program is giving away bikes Sunday for the ninth year. Cycle Recycle started in 2001 by Eduardo Crespi, director and founder of Centro Latino.