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CONTENTS

A Message from the Board of Directors

History and Mission

Immigration Legal Services & Citizenship and Civic Participation

Housing Services

Community Economic Development

Community Support Services

Advocacy

2006 Financial Report

Giving Thanks

CARECEN Profiles

CARECEN Staff

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A Message from the Board of Directors

Saul Solorzano Milly Rodriguez

Executive Director Chair of the Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Milly Rodriguez, PresidentAmerican Federation of Government Employees*

Ana Maria Delgado, Treas-urer Office of Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez, D-MD

Michael Foley, SecretaryCatholic University

Members:

Jorge GranadosRealty Executives

Ricardo E. CamposArlington Public Schools

Hugo CarballoLaborer’s International Union

Denise GilmanCenter for Applied Legal Studies, Georgetown Uni-versity Law Center

Jennifer HaraTaylor-Dejongh

Lino MartinezBoard of Education, Public Schools

Saul SolorzanoExecutive DirectorMember Ex-Oficio

*Affiliations listed for iden-tification purposes only.

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Thank you for your support during 2006. With your help, CARECEN was able to be present and active in efforts to push for immigration reform. Our organiza-tion was there for many individuals and families who needed competent bilingual services to solve their immigration cases, housing counseling needs and other sup-port services. The human services we offer as well as our policy advocacy provide a safety net to Latino immigrants and the low income community. Following are some highlights during the year.

Before adjourning for their Christmas recess in 2005, the US House of Repre-sentatives approved an immigration bill that could have turned social workers, priests, drivers and hospital staff into criminals. Why? A proposal submitted by Congressman Sensenbrenner would have turned any contact with undocumented immigrants into a legal infraction. Not much effort was needed to get people to mobilize against the proposal. The immigrant community and other US citizens were appalled and took to the streets to ask for comprehensive immigration reform and not enforcement-only measures. The proposals did not prosper, however they did instigate a more open confrontation between those who wanted an even-handed approach to immigration and those who wanted an all out attack against undocumented workers.

Along with other local organizations, CARECEN reinvigorated the National Capi-tal Immigration Coalition, which had been created four years before. The coali-tion attracted new energy and financial support to organize large demonstrations. Mobilization was coupled with educational efforts to push the US Congress to deal with comprehensive reform. Although not much was accomplished because the mobilization effort split into many uncoordinated actions, a clear image of the richness and frailty of the nascent movement was painted by these efforts.

CARECEN continued to provide much needed help in individual and family-based cases. We assisted many members of our community to reregister for their Temporary Protected Status (TPS), family based petitions and US citizenship applications. Our housing staff continued to serve many families. CARECEN assisted the tenant association of a multifamily building (3900 14th street, NW) to purchase their building. This was a milestone for CARECEN and our efforts to support affordable housing and wealth creation for low income families. The residents, now members of a newly formed cooperative, want to rehabilitate the building to increase its value and their equity.

Again, thank you for your support. Together with the staff, volunteers, and mem-bers, CARECEN continues the work of building a strong and active community. Your generous support makes a difference.

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“Where, after all, do human rights begin? In small places, close to home...”-Eleanor Roosevelt

History and Mission

Located in the Nation’s Capital, CARECEN is in the heart of the neighborhood Columbia Heights. While most of CARECEN’s clients reside in the District of Columbia, the organization also serves Latinos in the entire Washington Metropolitan Area, including Maryland and Virginia.

The Central American Resource Center (CARE-CEN) was founded in 1981 to provide services for and protect the rights of Central Americans fleeing their war-torn home countries to seek refuge in the United States. While CARECEN still serves a primarily Central American com-munity, today the organization’s primary goal is to facilitate the transition of Central Americans and other Latino immigrants to an integrated life in the United States. CARECEN serves as an advocate for the Latino community in addition to providing the information, access, direct serv-ices, life-skills and leadership training necessary for Latino immigrants to attain a safe and stable environment for their families while comprehen-sively promoting the community’s development.

CARECEN seeks to attain these goals through three interrelated strategies—direct services, community organizing and advocacy and com-munity development and asset creation. Structur-ing itself with several departments, CARECEN forms a team of well-rounded services to suc-cessfully provide for the achievement of their goals.

This report will bring its readers up-to-date on the important programs and activities at CARE-CEN, and outline the successes of the year 2006.

Facilitating Understanding, Protection, and Stability in 2006

• The Legal Department exceeded its goal of assisting 100 clients in filling out their N-400 citi-zenship applications by 47%, totaling 147 legal permanent residents who were helped in apply-ing for citizenship.

• Additionally, 2213 clients received assistance in applying for work authorization documents, temporary protected status, or legal permanent residence for themselves or a family member.

• 410 Hondurans and Salvadorans who were re-registering for Temporary Protected Status were provided with letters to their employers, prevent-ing their wrongful dismissal. • CARECEN conducted a series of individual consultations and educational workshops to present useful information to those who wanted to know their chances for legalization under ex-isting laws and the proposed reform. 196 individ-uals were informed about current and proposed legislation.

Immigration Legal Services

As part of CARECEN’s goal of facilitating the integration of Latinos into the wider community, our program offers various forms of community education and outreach, including preparatory classes for the citizenship exam and opportuni-ties for engaging in advocacy.

Citizenship and Civic Participation

Encouraging Leadership, Responsibility, and Learning in 2006

• In 2006, 171 students were enrolled in citizen-ship classes.

• CARECEN educated 2050 Latinos on is-sues of importance to the community through printed materials, press coverage, and radio ap-pearances.

• 2006 was an active year for the Latino Tenant Coalition, a community action group. Members participated in immigration reform advocacy ef-forts, as well as testifying in several DC Council hearings for important community issues.

• CARECEN held a community voting forum to educate new Americans and all those voting for the first time, on the importance of their vote and to inform them about candidate platforms, the local election process and casting the vote, all in the light of November local elections.

Blanca Hernandez, one of CARECEN Citizen-ship Course 2006 gradu-ates, proudly displaying her certificate of naturali-zation.

CARECEN’s Immigration Legal Services Pro-gram defends the legal rights of Central Ameri-cans and other Latinos residing in the DC metro-politan area by providing quality, low or no cost, bilingual legal services including legal coun-seling and assistance in applying for a variety of immigration benefits, including temporary protected status, work authorization documents, permanent residence and citizenship.

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The Housing Services Program at CARECEN works to provide Latinos with affordable housing, of-fer counseling in housing-related issues, organize tenant associations, and legally resolve tenant/land-lord disputes.

Nurturing Opportunity, Participation, and Ownership in 2006

• Through housing-related counseling and workshops CARECEN provided education and assistance to 467 Latino clients.

• In addition to organizing 8 new tenant associations, 751 clients were informed of their rights as renters.

• CARECEN provided technical assistance on behalf of 3 buildings where the tenant associations are at various stages in the process of purchasing and helped ensure the completion and approval of 46 HPAP (Home Purchase Assistance Program) applications initiated with partner organizations, in order to guarantee the success of their efforts to purchase their buildings. Other tenants have been documented for future applications.

• CARECEN reached 523 tenants in the form of assistance in legal proceedings with landlords, in comparison to our original goal of serving 250 community members.

Housing Services

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In 2006 CARECEN assisted hundreds of tenants to or-ganize, form and incorporate their tenant associations.

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CARECEN serves as development consultant for the rehabilitation of affordable housing in D.C.’s Wards 1 and 4, where low-income tenants can exercise their ‘first right of refusal’, allowing them to make an offer to purchase the building through their tenant association. CARECEN assists them with the acquisition and rehabilitation of the property, keeping the individual unit price below market price. The ultimate goal of the program is wealth creation and achievement of economic stability for low and moderate income families, as well as preserving the valuable social and cultural diversity of the area.

In the case of Randolph Towers, CARECEN assisted the tenant association in obtaining a $9.3 million loan in public (DHCD), private (Adams Bank), and gap funding (Unitarian Universalist Af-fordable Housing Corporation) for the purchase of their 146-unit building and covert it from rental property into condominium. The property is located on the border between the Columbia Heights and Petworth neighborhoods, only blocks from the re-developments in the area, and is currently fully occupied by families of diverse ethnic backgrounds, predominantly Latino (85%) who are eager to become first-time homeowners.

Creating Affordability, Self-Sufficiency and Economic Strength in 2006 • Converted the Randolph Towers Association into a Cooperative and established its new bylaws.

• Identified, analyzed, and signed the management agreement with a new property management company.

• Helped with providing the necessary documentation to certify that the majority of residents earn below 80% of median income, so they could purchase and hold the building over the next few years without an undue tax burden.

• Helped 76 residents of Randolph Towers to initiate the saving process in order to secure a reserva-tion for their unit.

• Completed various pre-construction phase activities: environmental, mechanical, electrical studies, obtained permits, defined the scope of work, finalized drawings and architectural plans, condomini-um conversion, created construction budgets, and applied for construction loans.

Blanca Diaz (President of the Board of Directors of the Randolph Towers Tenant Association) and Mauricio Santa Maria (Treasurer) signing the purchase documents and thus becoming owners of their building, on July 13, 2006.

Community Economic Development

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Fostering Connection, Accessibility, and Confidence in 2006 • With a goal of providing entry-level financial education to 50 low-income Latinos, CARECEN made an impact with the education of 75 clients.

• The program provided education on tax-payer rights and responsibilities to 937 low-income Lati-nos.

• CARECEN met and resolved translation needs and consumer and employment-related issues for 171 clients.

• The Crime Assistance Program informed 1208 Latinos on their rights as crime victims, and pro-vided direct service to 27 crime victims.

• In September 2006, CARECEN partnered with the Equal Rights Center, the Latino Liaison of the DC Metropolitan Police, DC Office of Police Complaints, and the DC Office of Victims Services and organized a “Know Your Rights” community forum. The forum and follow up activities aimed at educating our constituents about civil rights violations such as discrimination in housing, employ-ment, public services, police abuse, labor laws and workers’ rights.

• CARECEN also directly assisted 14 clients with consumer related issues and provided outreach to 150 community members about public energy assistance as part of the DC Reach Campaign. In October CARECEN held a one day campaign sign-up event for our community members.

Community Support Services

Representatives of the MPD Latino Liaison and DC Office of Police Complaints conduct the “Know Your Rights Forum”.

Focused on connecting Latinos with limited English skills and the resources the community offers, the program provides financial literacy education, translation of basic documents, and coordination of low-income tax clinics, as well as assistance with consumer and employment issues.

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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”

- Margaret Mead

Rafael Alfaro leads the marchers as they advocate for comprehensive immigration reform.

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Extension of the TPS Program

Early in 2006, CARECEN intensified their efforts to successfully extend the Temporary Protective Status for Central American immigrants nationwide. This extension benefited roughly 327,000 fami-lies across the United States.

¡Hoy marchamos, mañana votamos!

The 2006 year saw many efforts on behalf of comprehensive immigration reform, and CARECEN took an active role in mobilizations that drew approximately 1.25 million participants across the country. In March and April our community joined rallies organized to oppose Congressional Bill HR-4437. CARECEN helped inform constituents on key issues such as legalization as a path to citi-zenship for the undocumented, worker rights, civil rights and civil liberties, and the DREAM Act. In May, our members participated with constituents from across the country in National Lobby Day for Immigration Reform.

Day of Solidarity

The National Capital Immigration Coalition (which CARECEN is a part of) initiated a day of educa-tion, advocacy, and cultural celebration on May 1. This event gave immigrants in the metro DC area a chance to register as voters, sign petitions advocating for policy issues that concern them, and cel-ebrate International Workers’ Day.

Language Access initiative

CARECEN became involved with the Language Access Coalition in support of the Language Access Act passed in 2004, ensuring language services for low-income immigrants in DC. This multiethnic Coalition serves to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the Act, and seeks to keep the city accountable to the law and its measures.

Advocacy

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Statement of ActivitiesUnrestricted Net Assets

RevenuesGain on Sale of Affordable Condos 30,189Service Fees Income 163,358Government Contract Income 337,498Grants 76,000 Randolph Towers Development Project Management 406,618Contributions 10,358Interest Income 2,338Membership 965 Miscellaneous 9,605Total Revenues 1,036,929

ExpensesProgram ExpenseLegal Services 194,946 Community Support Services 34,705Housing 248,465Citizenship and Civic Participation 94,027Economic Development 338,185Total Program Expense 910,328Supporting Services Management and General 163,851Fundraising 78,140Total Supporting Services 241,991Total Expenses 1,152,319Increase/Decrease in Unrestricted Net Assets (59,290)

Temporarily Restricted Net Assets

Grant Income 47,500Net Assets Released from Restriction (56,100)Increase/Decrease in TemporaryRestricted Net Assets (8,600)

Increase/Decrease in Net Assets (67,890)Net Assets Beginning of the Year 1,148,182Net Assets End of Year 1,080,292

Statement of Financial PositionAssets

Current AssetsCash and Cash Equivalents 89,807Construction EscrowBank of America 71,405Contracts, Grants andOther Receivables 30,110Randolph Towers Development Project Receivable 111,342Inventory of Affordable Condominiums 187,160Prepaid Expenses 9,046Total Current Assets 498,870

Noncurrent AssetsLand and Building/Office, Furniture, Computer Equipment and Software 897,739Rental Security Deposit 1,500Total Noncurrent Assets 899,239

Liabilities And Net Assets Current LiabilitiesCurrent portion of Long Term Debt 10,963Accounts Payable 7,214Construction Costs Payable 71,361Accrued Vacations 6,599Humanitarian Relief Funds Held for Others 3,648Total Current Liabilities 99,785

Long Term LiabilitiesNote Payable (Mortgage)Raza Development Fund 218,032Total Liabilities 317,817

Net AssetsUnrestricted 1,032,792Temporarily Restricted 47,500Total Net Assets 1,080,292

2006 Financial Report

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CARECEN is grateful to all those who help in so many ways...

Institutional Supporters: Government, Faith-Based Organizations, Foundations, and Corporations

Bank of AmericaClark ConstructionCombined Federal CampaignD.C. Bar FoundationD.C. Public Safety and Justice OfficeD.C. Dept of Housing & Community DevelopmentFabrangen Tzedakah CollectiveInter-American Development BankInternal Revenue ServiceLUL Gamma EpsilonMeyer FoundationNational Council of La RazaD.C. Office of Latino AffairsSecondary Hilt Gift FundThe Jovid Foundation

Donors don’t give to institutions. They invest in ideas and people in whom they believe. - G.T. Smith

Giving Thanks

Volunteers

Ruth GalvezAgnes PovedaRuth EchaverriaLisl HershbergerPaula MansBrayan AriasRoberto LizamaLeilani SmithWin KellerCarni Klirs Alejandra ArguetaHarvin AlvarezMegan LogsdonLaura TaylorCarmina GalvezJerry LimonesTy Mitchell esqHannah FlammJorge CamposAlanna HughesRodolfo AlvarezGabriela ChamorroLiz BlackCharlotte OliverPaloma PanessiGladys CisnerosCharles BarrettWin KellerAngela MiltonGuadalupe TovaresNathan Marks Harris Flax

Individual Donors

Michele Moran ClancyMyron StevesNathaniel BaldwinNelson MartinezNemecio CotoPedro OchoaRobert DoanSonia ForondaVictor RamirezVirginia ShowalterWilliam Gorman

AnonymousAlejandro VallejoAna FloresAurelio PaulinoCarlos ZabalaCarol WolchockCornelius De StigterDon BlumenthalDorothy & Robert PohlmanEleanor HofkesErich SchimpsEvelyn Wrin

Hector RodriguezJames GibsonJames RogersJanet BrownJenny MendozaJohn GegnerJohn MackJohn MooreLuis SegoviaManuel RiveraMaria VenturaMatt AbramsMichael Samuelson

CARECEN Profiles

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The people at CARECEN are what make its work so important and effec-tive. In all areas, each individual makes an impact and a difference through their involvement with CARECEN.

Sonia Foronda, 2006 Citizenship Client “The immigration process is long and arduous. Moreover, it makes life very stressing. However, when one finds in their path organizations such as CARECEN that care about the immigrants and are willing to guide us in the long immigration process, our life becomes easier. I spent 15 years of my life worrying about immigration matters, now I can honestly say I feel free. Free of worrying and being scared. Free to exercise my right as a U.S. citizen and to vote. Thanks to CARECEN for guiding me through this thorny path. I know that I am one of thousands that have come through CARECEN’s doors and they feel the same. I hope that CARECEN keep working with my community and keeps helping all the immigrants.”

Denise Gilman,CARECEN Board Member“It was a real pleasure to serve on CARECEN’s board of directors in 2006. The energy and commitment of the staff motivated us to work harder as a board to achieve the ambitious goals of the organization. I recall very fondly the hours I spent helping with naturalization workshops and plan-ning CARECEN’s first theatre fundraiser and community event - a special showing at Teatro Gala of Elliott: A Soldier’s Fugue. While I am now hap-pily esconced in Austin, Texas at the University of Texas Law School as a Clinical Professor with the Immigration Clinic, I miss the camaraderie and passion that characterized the board at CARECEN.”

Alanna Hughes, Volunteer, 2006-presentAs a student at Georgetown University, Alanna takes time out of her busy school schedule to volunteer as a citizenship instructor at CARECEN. Her school pursuits have given her a passion for languages and intercultural exchange, making CARECEN a great community to be a part of.

Lisl Hershberger, Intern, dates spring 2006“As an intern at CARECEN, I had the privilege of learning first-hand about the dynamics of small, nonprofit organizations, the importance of collaboration and the ins-and-outs of political advocacy. However, the most defining part of the experience, and the key to all that I learned, is the fact that the CARECEN staff accepted me as a valuable part of their team and required me to participate fully in the organization.”

CARECEN Staff

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Saul Solórzano , Executive Director

Ana Negoescu, Director of Outreach and Advocacy

Kathy Doan, Esq., Immigration Attorney, Legal and CSS Program Director

America Calderon, Program Manager: Housing & CCP

Lidia Orellana O’Kelly, Randolph Towers Development Project Manager

Eileen Rosin, Development Director

Margarita Suarez, Fundraising Coordinator

Elmer Campos, CCP Coordinator

Rebecca Karli, CSS Coordinator

Rina Reyes, Immigration Paralegal/ CSS Case Worker

Virginia Showalter, Immigration Paralegal

Anabell Martinez, Housing Paralegal

Raul Rodriguez, Housing Counselor

Rafael Alfaro, Housing Specialist

Rosa Rivas, Receptionist/ Case Worker

Juana Marquez, Receptionist/Case Worker

Jose Ramos, Community Outreach (VA office)

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Main Office:1460 Columbia Rd. NW, Suite C-1Washington, DC 20009Hours of Operation:Monday-Friday9pm - 5pmCitizenship/ESL Classes:Tuesday: 6pm - 8pmWednesday: 6pm - 8pmSaturday: 10am - 12pm, 12:30pm - 2:00pm, 2pm - 4pmPhone: 202-328-9799Fax: 202-328-7894www.carecendc.org

Produced by :Kelsey Anderson, CCP InternEditing by:Ana Negoescu, StaffHilary Burger, StaffDesign by: Mun-Bae Kim, Volunteer