El Centro

In the early 1930’s, Centro Civico Mexicano (CCM) was formed by proud immigrants from Mexico who migrated to the Salt Lake City area to work and raise their families and with the assistance of a local ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and a local order of Catholic nuns. As the community grew, CCM became a touchstone of Hispanic and other immigrant communities in Utah. CCM currently offers free or low-cost programming and facility rentals to over 10,000 people each year. 

Established in Salt Lake City in 1975, Centro de la Familia has been serving the Hispanic community for almost 50 years. Centro de la Familia was born out of Centro Civico Mexicano and the two organizations will now join together in one building. Centro de la Familia maintains a robust portfolio of community programs that serve over 20,000 people each year. In addition to the community programs, Centro has offered Head Start services in Utah since 1992. Centro expanded in 2020 and now serves 1,200 children in 27 centers throughout Utah, Colorado, and Nevada.

• Utah’s minority population will increase from approximately 20% in 2015 to 35% in 2065
• Half of Utah’s population growth from 2015 to 2065 will come from minority populations
• Utah’s Hispanic population is the fastest-growing demographic group in the state
• Over the next 10 years, the Hispanic population in Utah could increase by 39% — more than 180,000 people
• Utah also welcomes approximately 1,000 refugees every year into the community through the International Rescue Committee and Catholic Community Services. This population now totals approximately 30,000, primarily in Salt Lake County

* Data from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute of the University of Utah

• Most individuals using Centro Civico Mexicano are low-to-moderate income families who have limited opportunities to experience or participate in educational, social, athletic, and cultural programming
• Our current facility is operating at capacity and is simply inadequate to meet the current need, let alone the projected demand for services
• Our current facility is aging (requiring extensive and regular repair) and has a limited ability to act as a true civic center, as it is constructed more as a multi-purpose gymnasium

• Classroom spaces
• Incubator kitchen
• Gymnasium and locker rooms
• Visual art gallery
• Black box theater
• Underground parking
• Childcare center and playground

• Centro de la Familia is seeking to run a much-needed childcare program that serves the west side of Salt Lake City
• Centro de la Familia is seeking a home to strengthen and expand its portfolio of community programs which include afterschool programs, parenting courses, and adult education classes

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Partnerships

• Salt Lake City Library
• Suazo Center
• Salt Lake County
• Zions Bank

Committee

• Keith Atkinson
• Rebecca Chavez-Houck
• Belia Paz
• Robert Rendon
• Dale Salazar

Advisors

• Luz Escamilla
• Lorena Riffo-Jenson
• Angela Romero
• Ross Romero