La Plaza Closing

The Owensboro Latino community has lost one of its major resources. La Plaza community center will close tomorrow. It has served Hispanic immigrants for years but lack of funding is closing the centers doors. Cheryl Norton Meadows is the executive director of La Plaza community center off Mosely Avenue. She says this building is unique. "Its their center they come here they feel welcome, they would be intimidated by others, there they are required to speak English, they dont have bilingual services." The center offered English classes, resources to help find a job, translation services and activities for kids. La Plaza also functioned as a venue for birthday parties, fiestas and even afternoon hang outs. Its helped hundreds. "Last year we served 425 people and as of July 21 we served 60 families weekly." When la plaza closes, all those families will have to turn elsewhere for help. Sister Wilhelm works with Hispanics at the Centro Latino. She s also on the board of la plaza, and she says she used the center as a resource too--sending folks over to use the computers. She says once the center closes her work is more important than ever. "We will continue to try very hard to find jobs and connect people to where they can find jobs, we will try and give them those other services they need." Fox seven tried to reach Hispanics helped by the center, but they were reluctant to go on camera. "They are scared because they feel they will be denied service or their families will be turned in, they fear something bad will happen to them, this fear is bred in the Latino community." She says its because of this fear that la plaza was so important. Now she says the Latino community will suffer until something else comes along. La Plaza hasnt only helped Owensboro Hispanics. People from as far as Arkansas have come for help. And the center doesnt just help Latinos. Immigrants from Russia and other countries have used the centers resources as well.