 CARECEN protesting at the Federal Building in Downtown, Los Angeles, the passage of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. |
1996 In June, CARECEN adjusts its mission to reflect the long-term vision for creating sustainable services and programs for Central Americans who are firmly rooted and significantly participate in the social fabric of Los Angeles. CARECEN’s mission is: "The Central American Resource Center is dedicated to the empowerment of Central Americans in Los Angeles; to the defense of their civil and human rights; and to building bridges between the Salvadoran community in the United States and the people of El Salvador." CARECEN implements this mission through immigration & legal services and advocacy, education & leadership development, and civic & cultural participation. Youth education programs develop further to include a partnership with the City of Los Angeles Community Development L.A. Bridges program in Pico-Union. A strategic community plan is created to include twelve community-based organizations, which collaborate and implement after school education programs for middle school youth in Pico Union. With funds from ARCO, CARECEN purchases a four-story building at 2845 W. 7th Street in Pico-Union. In November, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRAIRA) eliminates suspension of deportation and over 250,000 American Baptist Church (ABC) class members -- Salvadorans and Guatemalans who have lived legally in the U.S. for at least seven years -- are suddenly at risk of deportation. As a response, CARECEN along with the Central American Coalition of Los Angeles and the SAAN launches a national emergency campaign including marches and visits to Washington to speak with legislators to regain lost rights. The ABC Emergency Campaign educates ABC class members about their rights as they face INS hearings. Latino media, including KMEX Channel 34, La Opinion, and Channel 52, in collaboration with CARECEN, aid significantly in informing Central Americans and Latinos about immigration issues with public service announcements. KMEX supports the publication of 20,000 ABC information manuals created by CARECEN’s legal department. The manuals are distributed by the SAAN in more than 10 cities nation-wide. Univision produces the documentary Hora Cero. CARECEN joins the the Leadership Development in Interethnic Relations Program (LDIR) with Asian Pacific American Legal Center and the Martin Luther King Dispute Resolution Center of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. LDIR is designed to support community leaders exploring interethnic collaboration in Los Angeles. Proposition 209 threatens to dismantle affirmative action, which has leveled the playing field for minorities and women throughout California. Many civil rights organizations, including CARECEN, come together to defend the rights and opportunities of communities of color. Prop. 209 passes in November. The 1992 Peace Accords and anti-immigrant sentiments in Los Angeles accelerates the repatriation of Salvadorans to El Salvador. Hardest hit are the youth who came years earlier fleeing war and economic hardship and have affiliations with Los Angeles gangs. These youth have spent their childhood in the United States, and are sent back to a society that fears and despises them. On November 2, 1996 in San Salvador, a group comprised of rival gang members from La Mara Salvatrucha, 18th St., Lennox, 41st Street, an others comes together to form a unique organization called Homies Unidos to address this transnational youth issue. Homies Unidos works to diminish violence and reaches out to gang members in both Los Angeles and El Salvador. CARECEN supports the work of Homies Unidos by providing fiscal sponsorship. |