The Center for Latino Studies in the Americas contributes to the understanding of Latin@ communities in the United States and throughout Latin America and promotes scholarly communication across national boundaries. CELASA fosters the interdisciplinary analysis of the social, economic, political, and cultural realities of Latin Americans and of Latin@s in the United States.

sans-serif">CELASA bridges USF's academic, community, and international programs focused on Latin America and Latin@s in the United States. It supports research, teaching, and service opportunities for faculty, students, community members, and visiting scholars. It functions as a central coordinating unit for academic majors and minors, study abroad and international exchanges, a visiting scholars program, student organizations, faculty research initiatives, and the Pan-American Society. CELASA connects USF to the San Francisco Bay Area community and to Jesuit networks throughout Latin America.

The Centro Altagracia is dedicated to faith in action; promoting social justice through active collaboration with parishes, community organizations, and individuals and through initiatives that serve the needs of the community as those needs have been identified by the Hispanic community of northern Manhattan. We seek to awaken awareness within individuals of how their Catholic, Christian faith calls them to be aware of the issues impacting their community and to be engaged in action to address these issues. Among the Centro's programs are: Social/Pastoral Ministry Teams that serve as coordinators and catalysts for social awareness and action within parishes; H.E.L.P. (Hispanic Evangelization Leadership Program) that trains young adults for leadership roles within their parishes; and G.R.A.C.E. (Gaining Respect and Awareness through Community Education) which addresses the issue of domestic violence. The Centro also maintains a library of books and DVDs for community use.

The Dominican Outreach Center or Centro Altagracia de Fe y Justicia (Altagracia Center for Faith and Justice) was formed by the New York Province of the Society of Jesus in response to the unmet needs of the Dominican community of the Washington Heights area. In a period of slightly more than one year the Centro Altagracia has been able to make incredible strides in establishing itself in the community through its work with the ten parishes of the North Manhattan vicariate, various community organizations, and elected officials.
 

Dolores Mission School is a parochial school educating students in grades Kindergarten through Eight in the heart of Boyle Heights in East Los Angeles. We strive to serve the families of the greater parish community by offering their elementary school age children the academic and extracurricular programs necessary for them to achieve their fullest human potential in a safe and nurturing environment. By providing a variety of academic and enrichment activities, we hope to develop well-rounded children who are prepared academically, spiritually, physically, socially and emotionally.

Formerly known as the Dolores Mission Women’s Cooperative, Proyecto Pastoral’s Early Childhood Education Centers began in April 1988 when a concerned group of mothers formed the neighborhood’s first child care cooperative. In response to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, the first early learning site was formed as a means for amnesty-eligible women to seek employment and relinquish their public assistance. Today, our two centers—La Guarderia and Centro de Alegria—provide quality free to low cost early childhood education services to over 100 toddlers and pre-school age children. The children and families served by our centers are residents of the Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles community.

GHP was on December 12, 1988. The shelter opened its doors to address an issue that was most neglected in the community: emergency shelter for the homeless. For more than 20 years it has been providing 90-day temporary shelter and meals to homeless men. The Guadalupe Homeless Project is the only men’s shelter in East Los Angeles and responds to the needs of a particularly vulnerable segment of society. A majority of GHP clients are immigrants who come to the United States looking for work, opportunity, and a way out of poverty.

Hollywood Interfaith Sponsoring Committee, a community organization in the PICO network (www.piconetwork.org) which facilitates empowerment activities, leadership training and community organizing in conjunction with Sacred Heart Parish.

IMPACTO (Imaginando Mañana Pico Aliso Community Team Outreach) is an after-school academic enrichment program serving at-risk youth ages 6-18 in the Boyle Heights community. In an area plagued with poverty, a suffering public education system, and the threat of gang violence, the youth served by the IMPACTO program are provided with more than merely an after school program; they are given hope, encouragement, alternatives and a safe haven. The goal of IMPACTO is to motivate and inspire youth of Boyle Heights to develop as leaders in pursuit of education. Additionally, recognizing the importance of parent support to ensure our students complete high school and go on to college, IMPACTO provides personalized assistance for parents so that they are better equipped to deal with the often daunting educational system.
 

The Jesuit Urban Service Team provides educational, medical, legal and social services to the working poor and underserved families living in Camden and South Jersey. These ministries include Holy Name School and the High School Scholars Program, St. Luke’s Catholic Medical Services, the Camden Center For Law and Social Justice and Guadalupe Family Services.

Since 1997, Poder has responded to the educational needs of immigrants in the primarily Latino areas of Pilsen/Little Village and Back of the Yards, on Chicago’s southwest side.  In less than ten years, 4,500 students have attended our tuition free classes.

Proyecto Pastoral at Dolores Mission was founded in 1986 by community residents and the California Province of Jesuits. It has grown into a highly effective community - building organization. Proyecto Pastoral is committed to involving local community members in the planning, design and implementation of its programs. One third of the Proyecto Pastoral Board of Directors is comprised by local community residents responding to community identified needs enabling Proyecto Pastoral to make a significant impact in the lives of local families. Anticipating the needs of the community enables Proyecto Pastoral in being an ever evolving organization that whose success lies not only in being dynamic but understanding the real issues. Proyecto Pastoral serves over 2,500 children, youth and families annually through its five programs.

Proyecto Pastoral at Dolores Mission is a community building organization whose mission is to provide training, education and social services with the Pico- Aliso/Boyle Heights district of East Los Angeles. Proyecto Pastoral coordinates five community based programs.

Formerly known as the Dolores Mission Women’s Cooperative, Proyecto Pastoral’s Early Childhood Education Centers began in April 1988 when a concerned group of mothers formed the neighborhood’s first child care cooperative. In response to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, the first early learning site was formed as a means for amnesty-eligible women to seek employment and relinquish their public assistance. Today, our two centers—La Guarderia and Centro de Alegria—provide quality free to low cost early childhood education services to over 100 toddlers and pre-school age children. The children and families served by our centers are residents of the Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles community.