TheBuzz
TheBuzz
Hawaii's only full-time nonprofit, bilingual Hispanic referral and support organization is to receive a $10,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation. A new grant
for old friendsA $25,000 grant from Verizon predecessor GTE Hawaiian Tel infused necessary operating funds into the center after its humble establishment in 1997.
Centro Hispano de Hawaii -- the Hispanic Center of Hawaii -- is at 2044 S. Beretania St. where volunteers provide a range of services including translators and interpreters, a database of Spanish-speaking professionals such as doctors and lawyers, a statewide listing of Hispanic organizations and bilingual materials on local health care, legal, immigration, educational, domestic violence, at-risk youth, and senior citizen community services.
The center was founded by Hawaii Hispanic News Editor Jose Villa, broadcaster Nancy Ortiz, Mercado de la Raza owner Martha Sanchez and Super Printers II owner Mary Lou Brown. Villa said the funds will help keep the center's doors open.
"We have run that center for three and a half years on the $45,000 (in grants) that we've received," Villa said. "We've operated full-time five days per week, the only bilingual Hispanic center in the state, run by volunteers."
Villa said while Hispanic buying power is now estimated at $450 billion nationally, in terms of computer literacy it is among the nation's most challenged ethnic groups.
He said they don't charge for 95 percent of the services offered, and that more than 60 percent of their requests for help come from undocumented Hispanics.
"If a lady is eight months pregnant and needs medical care for herself and her unborn child, whether or not she has papers or not she still needs medical care. Our issue is the human condition, not the legal status," Villa said.
The center is searching for 2,000 square feet in which to establish the Hispanic Technology Center.
Villa said the 20 donated Gateway computers and a network printer need a home where Hawaii's Hispanic youth, adults, and senior citizens can attend classes in everything from computer basics to job-readiness skills to Web design and html.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com