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CONTENTS
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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 Proles CARECEN Staff

A Message from the Board of Directors 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 organization was there for many individuals and families who needed competent bilingual services to solve their immigration cases, housing counseling needs and other support 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 Representatives 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 Capital Immigration Coalition, which had been created four years before. The coalition attracted new energy and nancial 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 familybased 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 members, CARECEN continues the work of building a strong and active community. Your generous support makes a difference. Saul Solorzano Milly Rodriguez
Board of Directors Milly Rodriguez, President American Federation of Government Employees* Ana Maria Delgado, Treasurer Ofce of Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez, D-MD Michael Foley, Secretary Catholic University Members: Jorge Granados Realty Executives Ricardo E. Campos Arlington Public Schools Hugo Carballo Laborers International Union Denise Gilman Center for Applied Legal Studies, Georgetown University Law Center Jennifer Hara Taylor-Dejongh Lino Martinez Board of Education, Public Schools Saul Solorzano Executive Director Member Ex-Ocio *Afliations listed for identication purposes only.

Executive Director
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Chair of the Board of Directors

History and Mission

The Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) was founded in 1981 to provide services for and protect the rights of Central Americans eeing their war-torn home countries to seek refuge in the United States. While CARECEN still serves a primarily Central American community, today the organizations 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 services, life-skills and leadership training necessary for Latino immigrants to attain a safe and stable environment for their families while comprehensively promoting the communitys development. CARECEN seeks to attain these goals through three interrelated strategiesdirect services, community organizing and advocacy and community development and asset creation. Structuring itself with several departments, CARECEN forms a team of well-rounded services to successfully provide for the achievement of their goals. This report will bring its readers up-to-date on the important programs and activities at CARECEN, and outline the successes of the year 2006.

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

Where, after all, do human rights begin? In small places, close to home...
-Eleanor Roosevelt
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Immigration Legal Services

CARECENs Immigration Legal Services Program defends the legal rights of Central Americans and other Latinos residing in the DC metropolitan area by providing quality, low or no cost, bilingual legal services including legal counseling and assistance in applying for a variety of immigration benets, including temporary protected status, work authorization documents, permanent residence and citizenship. Facilitating Understanding, Protection, and Stability in 2006 The Legal Department exceeded its goal of assisting 100 clients in lling out their N-400 citizenship applications by 47%, totaling 147 legal permanent residents who were helped in applying 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 reregistering for Temporary Protected Status were provided with letters to their employers, preventing 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 existing laws and the proposed reform. 196 individuals were informed about current and proposed legislation.

Citizenship and Civic Participation

As part of CARECENs 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 opportunities for engaging in advocacy.

Encouraging Leadership, Responsibility, and Learning in 2006 In 2006, 171 students were enrolled in citizenship classes. CARECEN educated 2050 Latinos on issues of importance to the community through printed materials, press coverage, and radio appearances. 2006 was an active year for the Latino Tenant Coalition, a community action group. Members participated in immigration reform advocacy efforts, 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 rst 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 Citizenship Course 2006 graduates, proudly displaying her certicate of naturalization.

Housing Services
The Housing Services Program at CARECEN works to provide Latinos with affordable housing, offer counseling in housing-related issues, organize tenant associations, and legally resolve tenant/landlord 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.

In 2006 CARECEN assisted hundreds of tenants to organize, form and incorporate their tenant associations.
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Community Economic Development

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 rst 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 Affordable 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 rst-time homeowners. Creating Affordability, Self-Sufciency and Economic Strength in 2006 Converted the Randolph Towers Association into a Cooperative and established its new bylaws. Identied, 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 reservation for their unit. Completed various pre-construction phase activities: environmental, mechanical, electrical studies, obtained permits, dened the scope of work, nalized drawings and architectural plans, condominium 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.
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Community Support Services

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

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

Fostering Connection, Accessibility, and Condence in 2006 With a goal of providing entry-level nancial 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 Latinos. 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 provided 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 Ofce of Police Complaints, and the DC Ofce 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, employment, 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.
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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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Advocacy
Extension of the TPS Program Early in 2006, CARECEN intensied their efforts to successfully extend the Temporary Protective Status for Central American immigrants nationwide. This extension beneted roughly 327,000 families across the United States. Hoy marchamos, maana 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 citizenship 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 education, 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 celebrate 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.

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2006 Financial Report

Statement of Activities Unrestricted Net Assets Revenues Gain on Sale of Affordable Condos Service Fees Income Government Contract Income Grants Randolph Towers Development Project Management Contributions Interest Income Membership Miscellaneous Total Revenues Expenses Program Expense Legal Services Community Support Services Housing Citizenship and Civic Participation Economic Development Total Program Expense Supporting Services Management and General Fundraising Total Supporting Services Total Expenses Increase/Decrease in Unrestricted Net Assets Temporarily Restricted Net Assets Grant Income Net Assets Released from Restriction Increase/Decrease in Temporary Restricted Net Assets Increase/Decrease in Net Assets Net Assets Beginning of the Year Net Assets End of Year 47,500 (56,100) (8,600) (67,890) 1,148,182 1,080,292 Net Assets Unrestricted Temporarily Restricted Total Net Assets 1,032,792 47,500 1,080,292 30,189 163,358 337,498 76,000 406,618 10,358 2,338 965 9,605 1,036,929 Statement of Financial Position Assets Current Assets Cash and Cash Equivalents Construction Escrow Bank of America Contracts, Grants and Other Receivables Randolph Towers Development Project Receivable Inventory of Affordable Condominiums Prepaid Expenses Total Current Assets Noncurrent Assets Land and Building/Ofce, Furniture, Computer Equipment and Software Rental Security Deposit Total Noncurrent Assets Liabilities And Net Assets Current Liabilities Current portion of Long Term Debt Accounts Payable Construction Costs Payable Accrued Vacations Humanitarian Relief Funds Held for Others Total Current Liabilities Long Term Liabilities Note Payable (Mortgage) Raza Development Fund Total Liabilities 89,807 71,405 30,110 111,342 187,160 9,046 498,870

194,946 34,705 248,465 94,027 338,185 910,328 163,851 78,140 241,991 1,152,319 (59,290)

897,739 1,500 899,239

10,963 7,214 71,361 6,599 3,648 99,785

218,032 317,817

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Giving Thanks
CARECEN is grateful to all those who help in so many ways... Individual Donors Volunteers

Anonymous Alejandro Vallejo Ana Flores Aurelio Paulino Carlos Zabala Carol Wolchock Cornelius De Stigter Don Blumenthal Dorothy & Robert Pohlman Eleanor Hofkes Erich Schimps Evelyn Wrin

Hector Rodriguez James Gibson James Rogers Janet Brown Jenny Mendoza John Gegner John Mack John Moore Luis Segovia Manuel Rivera Maria Ventura Matt Abrams Michael Samuelson

Michele Moran Clancy Myron Steves Nathaniel Baldwin Nelson Martinez Nemecio Coto Pedro Ochoa Robert Doan Sonia Foronda Victor Ramirez Virginia Showalter William Gorman

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

Bank of America Clark Construction Combined Federal Campaign D.C. Bar Foundation D.C. Public Safety and Justice Ofce D.C. Dept of Housing & Community Development Fabrangen Tzedakah Collective Inter-American Development Bank Internal Revenue Service LUL Gamma Epsilon Meyer Foundation National Council of La Raza D.C. Ofce of Latino Affairs Secondary Hilt Gift Fund The Jovid Foundation

Ruth Galvez Agnes Poveda Ruth Echaverria Lisl Hershberger Paula Mans Brayan Arias Roberto Lizama Leilani Smith Win Keller Carni Klirs Alejandra Argueta Harvin Alvarez Megan Logsdon Laura Taylor Carmina Galvez Jerry Limones Ty Mitchell esq Hannah Flamm Jorge Campos Alanna Hughes Rodolfo Alvarez Gabriela Chamorro Liz Black Charlotte Oliver Paloma Panessi Gladys Cisneros Charles Barrett Win Keller Angela Milton Guadalupe Tovares Nathan Marks Harris Flax

- G.T. Smith

Donors dont give to institutions. They invest in ideas and people in whom they believe.
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CARECEN Proles
The people at CARECEN are what make its work so important and effective. 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 nds 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 CARECENs 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 CARECENs 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 planning CARECENs rst theatre fundraiser and community event - a special showing at Teatro Gala of Elliott: A Soldiers Fugue. While I am now happily 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-present As 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 rst-hand about the dynamics of small, nonprot organizations, the importance of collaboration and the ins-and-outs of political advocacy. However, the most dening 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.
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CARECEN Staff

Saul Solrzano , 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 OKelly, 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 ofce)

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Main Ofce: 1460 Columbia Rd. NW, Suite C-1 Washington, DC 20009 Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 9pm - 5pm Citizenship/ESL Classes: Tuesday: 6pm - 8pm Wednesday: 6pm - 8pm Saturday: 10am - 12pm, 12:30pm - 2:00pm, 2pm - 4pm Phone: 202-328-9799 Fax: 202-328-7894 www.carecendc.org
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Produced by : Kelsey Anderson, CCP Intern Editing by: Ana Negoescu, Staff Hilary Burger, Staff Design by: Mun-Bae Kim, Volunteer