Hispanic Business Rescources and Technology Center opens in Kenner
Contact: Rene Abadie
3/13/06
Southeastern is one of four area organizations combining resources to organize and run the Hispanic Business Resources and Technology Center, an operation focused on addressing the business and educational needs of the Hispanic community in post-Katrina New Orleans.
Officials with the Jefferson Parish Public School System, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana (HCCL), Southeastern and Catholic Charities of New Orleans Hispanic Apostolate officially dedicated the center, which is housed at Roosevelt Middle School in Kenner.
With a grant of $20,000 from the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce serving as seed funds for the center, the partner organizations intend to offer business-related education programs, including a bi-lingual certificate program for small businesses; training in modern business technologies; assistance in job placement and workforce development services; help in accessing and processing disaster relief and other business and social services; and tutoring and mentoring services for young Hispanics.
Under arrangements developed by the four organizations, the HCCL is providing overall coordination of the center; Southeastern will coordinate business seminars and workshops through its College of Business, as well as provide tutoring and mentoring services for 9th – 12th graders by the university’s Upward Bound program; Jefferson Parish Public School System is providing the facility and language training for Hispanics through its English as a Second Language program; and the Hispanic Apostolate will coordinate general social services, including some health services.
The Hispanic population in Louisiana is now estimated at between 175,000 to 200,000 with most living in south Louisiana. The building at Roosevelt Middle School is located in an area of heavy concentration of Hispanics but will service the post-Katrina region to include Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Baton Rouge parishes.
At a press conference and dedication ceremony on Monday (March 13) – which featured remarks by Parish President Aaron F. Broussard and Kenner Mayor Phil Capitano – the four organizations stressed the value the new center will provide for the region.
“The need for this kind of program is obvious,” said HCCL President Manny F. Blanco. “Many businesses in our area have been affected by Katrina and it is our job to help them any way we can. In addition, we are seeing many more Hispanics coming to work in the area. They need assistance with housing, education, language skills. I can’t think of a better way to help them than this center.”
“Even the most flourishing business would have difficulty recovering from a disaster like Hurricane Katrina,” said Randy Moffett, president of Southeastern, which provided computers and other equipment for a modern computer lab. “Our businesses and our people are struggling to get back on their feet. We look forward to working cooperatively with our partners to provide some much needed services for business as well as school children. This assistance is important for the region’s full recovery.”
“This endeavor shows the true partnership that the Jefferson Parish School System has with the Hispanic Chamber and Southeastern in working together for the well-being and success of our students and parents. It marks a new way of reaching our common goals,” said Jefferson Parish Public School Superintendent Diane Roussel.
“Catholic Charities continues to expand the services that the Archdiocese of New Orleans, through the Hispanic Apostolate, has provided to the Hispanic community,” said Gordon Wadge, president of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. “This center will be a valuable vehicle that will further our goal of service and outreach.”
The center is governed by a board – chaired by Aristides Baraya of Southeastern’s College of Business and director of its Latin American Business Initiative – with representatives from the partner organizations serving as directors. Director Karla Sikaffy will be on-site at Roosevelt Middle School to handle general operations of the center. Other organizations serving as cooperative members include the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the University of New Orleans.
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