November 6, 2003
CFD: ‘Centro’ meets variety of community needs
Editor’s Note: Throughout the Combined Fund Drive campaign, which runs through Nov. 21, University Week will feature University employees who volunteer at CFD agencies.
Name: Ramon Soliz
UW Job: Assistant Director, Health Sciences Human Resources
Volunteer Activity: President, Board of Directors, El Centro de la Raza
Organization’s Mission: El Centro de la Raza is a social service and civil rights organization. In the area of social services, we have a food bank (including evening distribution), hot meals for the homeless, congregate and home delivered meals and social activities for the elderly, infant mortality prevention education, homeless assistance for families with children, emergency shelter vouchers, rental subsidies, transitional homes, tenant/landlord information, El Patio low-income apartments, advocacy and enrollment for food stamps.
We also offer homeownership education and financial literacy, job readiness and employment placement, a citizenship program, civics classes, legal clinic referral, and English as a second language courses.
We have a child-development center serving infants to age 12. We offer an after-school tutoring and mentoring program, youth poetry, history leadership program and a computer lab.
How long a volunteer? 25 years.
Why this activity? The organization primarily serves the Latino community and I wanted to help make a difference. I also saw it as a way to share some of my time and talent and work with an organization committed to confronting problems of racism, sexism and other forms of inequality. El Centro de la Raza is committed to treating all of its clients with dignity for their individuality, needs and condition and to do so creatively with warmth, cultural sensitivity, fairness, enthusiasm, compassion, honesty, and optimism in all areas of work.
Memorable experiences while volunteering: Over the years there have been many amazing memories. I recently spoke with a family who purchased their first home after becoming involved with our homeownership education program. It was an incredible joy to me to see the family’s pride and self-esteem and sense of hope emerge from despair and hopelessness.
Satisfaction in volunteering: I enjoy seeing children/youth reach their full potential. When I visit El Centro I am always happy to see the beautiful smiles of the elderly who come there for perhaps their only hot meal of the day or simply to share their day with other adults. I am simply glad to be able to help make a positive difference in other peoples’ lives.
