This is about equitable representation across all sectors—education, healthcare, housing, labor, and beyond”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Kansas City, KS
As we close out Hispanic Heritage Month and proudly step into our 50th year of service to Latino communities across Kansas, El Centro is thrilled to announce the launch of a transformative, yearlong initiative: The State of Latino Kansas – Community Assessment.
This long-overdue project will focus on creating a comprehensive, community-led portrait of the Latino experience in Kansas—through data, stories, and lived realities. It is the right time, and this is the right project.
“As I celebrate my 24th year with El Centro today, this project feels like a powerful culmination of my journey,” said Erica Andrade, President & CEO of El Centro. “When I was entrusted with the leadership of this organization over two years ago, I shared a three-point vision with our board. Each point centered on strengthening and expanding our service to the Latino community. Today, I’m proud to say we are on track.”
The three pillars of that vision included:
Homeownership Access:
Earlier this year, El Centro launched Bienvenido a Mi Casa—a pilot program helping first-time Latino homeowners through education, savings, and support. In just six months, the program has helped five families achieve the dream of homeownership.
Expansion to Western Kansas:
In 2024, El Centro hired a Promotora Lead in Garden City and began offering community education in Spanish, reaching more Latino families in western Kansas. Long-term, El Centro plans to establish a full-service location in the region.
Equitable Representation in Data:
“The third point is why we’re here today,” said Erica Andrade “For too long, Latinos in Kansas have been underrepresented—or misrepresented—in data. Early in my career writing grants, I struggled to find relevant data on Latinos in the Midwest, let alone Kansas. And when data was available, it didn’t always reflect the realities of the families we serve.”
Part of the problem lies in undercounting, driven by fear around data collection and confusion over racial and ethnic identifiers. (Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity—not a race—leading to gaps in demographic reporting.)
El Centro is taking a bold step forward by investing its own resources to develop The State of Latino Kansas – Community Assessment—a project built by the community, for the community.
The project led by El Centro will bring together Latino-serving organizations and community leaders to form an advisory group that will provide input, feedback, and recommendations throughout the project. The ultimate goal is to ensure the assessment reflects the rich diversity and lived realities of Latinos across the entire state.
“This will not be a top-down process,” Erica Andrade emphasized. “We will be opening a Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify a research team that not only reflects the community but is committed to our model of collaboration and authenticity. We’re not interested in what’s already been done—we’re building something new, led by community voices from start to finish.”
While El Centro’s Board of Directors has committed to fully funding the launch of this initiative, the organization welcomes support from local and statewide funders to grow and sustain this work.
“At a time when the contributions of Latinos to our country are growing but too often overlooked or misrepresented, this initiative is not just timely — it’s essential,” stated Dr. Graciela Couchonnal, El Centro’s Board Chair. “This initiative is a bold step toward truth and justice. It’s about honoring voices, identifying strengths, confronting disparities, and building a Kansas where every Latino is seen, valued, and supported. The Board is proud to support El Centro’s leadership in this work.”
“This is about equitable representation across all sectors—education, healthcare, housing, labor, and beyond,” Erica Andrade added. “At El Centro, we believe that everyone—regardless of language, birthplace, or documentation status—deserves full inclusion in the communities where they live, work, and dream. That includes how we’re represented in data and how our stories are told.”
About El Centro, Inc.
Founded in 1975, El Centro is a trusted Latino-led organization committed to building strong communities through advocacy, education, and direct services. For five decades, El Centro has stood beside Kansas’s Latino communities in pursuit of equity, justice, and opportunity for all.
Media Inquiries:
Justin Gust, Vice President of Community Engagement