Historic Reflections 2015

We opened an office on Franklin Street in Hempstead. This office was just a few doors down the street from where we have our office at 91 North Franklin Street today. The Hempstead office started with adult education programs. We held English as a Second Language classes and courses to help individuals obtain their General Equivalency Diploma or GED. We later expanded our domestic violence program to this site as it was currently operating out of our Long Beach office. After several years, we moved to a larger office at 91 North Franklin where we expanded our adult education programs as well as our new HIV and AIDS programs. C reation of HIV P rogram In response to the death of a close and very loved family friend and relative, Mr. Bernardino found out more about HIV/AIDS and realized that it was a very serious problem in the Hispanic community. As a result he worked to get a grant to implement services for that population in the areas of education and prevention with bilingual English/Spanish speaking staff. The Program was funded by the New York State Department of Health. Círculo began offering case management, education and prevention activities to adults as well as youth.

program. This was also in response to community needs. Part of our vision was to provide alcohol prevention education to respond to the high rates of alcoholism in the Hispanic community. We were not able to follow through with this vision at the time because of many other priorities. However substance abuse services, treatment and prevention continue to be a great need for the Hispanic and non-Hispanic population.

H ousing P rograms

Círculo also filed an amendment to its incorporation papers in December of 1990 to operate housing programs to address unmet needs in the community including discrimination in housing, a lack of affordable housing for individuals, especially those who were homeless seeking to rebuild their lives. Círculo de la Hispanidad’s Board consisted of Tony Nadal, President; Marisa Lamarre, Treasurer; Olga Montenora, Secretary; and Board Members Celia Arias, Héctor Maldonado, and Esperanza Pereztegui.

1991

P rograms in 1985

Programs we provided included youth and adult education, recreation and cultural programs for youth, domestic violence, HIV and AIDS services. We also offered educational programs to at-risk youth.

P rograms

Throughout 1991 we continued implementing youth, domestic violence, adult education and HIV and AIDS programs. We also were working to actively start permanent affordable housing programs. Much of our efforts and work was stunted by the events of 1992.

1986 - 1989

D uring these years Círculo continued to respond to community needs. The agency provided a lot of support to families struggling with issues in the local school district in Long Beach. There were no Spanish speaking counselors at that time and the dropout rate was very significant. Most Hispanics did not graduate during these years. We operated our youth programs as well as services for victims of violence, and individuals living with HIV and AIDS. Círculo also explored ideas to expand and offer additional services as well to meet emerging needs in the area of housing, and drug and alcohol addiction.

1990

F or its tenth anniversary, Círculo held a dinner to raise funds and recognize leaders in the community. We honored Pearl Weill, a supporter of Círculo. Ms. Weill was a well-known and respected woman in the Long Beach community.

In early February 1990, Círculo submitted an amendment to its articles of incorporation to operate a substance abuse

21

20