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Centro de la Familia de Utah -- October 17, 2007

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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.

The Latino population across our state and nation increases every year. But according to Gonzalo Palza, the achievement gap between Latinos and other students is also increasing. One Utah non-profit agency is working to bridge this gap.

Gonzalo is CEO of Centro de la Familia de Utah, an agency that seeks to empower Latinos economically, politically and financially through self-sufficiency. A group of Hispanic youth started the agency in the early 1970s to address the unmet needs of the Latino community. They created the non-profit agency to offer services to fulfill Latinos' needs. In the 32 years since, the agency's services have changed along with the needs of the community.

The agency has three main focuses: preschool children, students in kindergarten through their first two years of college and those who are no longer in school.

Gonzalo tells me the success of Centro's Head Start Program can't be matched. The migrant Head Start program is geared for children ages six months to five years, and the regular program serves children 2-5. It's designed to prepare children to start school by giving them an educational base. Parent participation is an important aspect of the program, and last year the agency logged close to 90,000 parent volunteer hours. Through strategic community partnerships, Centro has also begun to develop community learning centers to bring families and the educational institutions together.

For girls ages 9-12, Nuevo Dia, or New Day, is a life skills program to supplement their education and help them avoid substance abuse. Adult education is another important initiative at Centro de la Familia with efforts that involve Centro's financial literacy and micro-entrepreneurial development programs.

Gonzalo says Centro de la Familia de Utah does wonderful work quietly to help Latino families improve their circumstances.

For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.

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