[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 140 (Thursday, October 9, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2008-E2009]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING CHARO FOR 30 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING AND INVALUABLE SERVICE TO 
                             THE COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ESTEBAN EDWARD TORRES

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 9, 1997

  Mr. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize CHARO Community 
Development Corporation on the occasion of its 30 Anniversary. For 30 
years, CHARO has provided exemplary service to the greater East Lo 
Angeles community.
  Incorporated as a non-profit in 1967, Richard Amador, then Chief of 
Field Operations, Office of the President and Federal Coordinator, 
President's Committee on Manpower, took a leave of office from the 
President Johnson administration to start CHARO. CHARO is an innovative 
and progressive community organization that seeks to develop self 
sustaining economic development initiatives that create jobs and wealth 
for the community.
  Its first program was initiated to bridge Federal, State, and local 
government agencies with community based organizations. CHARO developed 
the Manpower Information and Technical Assistance Services Program 
(MITAS) to more effectively provide human resource development services 
to communities. Since its inception it has continued to expand and 
develop the services it offers to address the needs of the community.
  In 1969, CHARO created HEART (Hospital Employment and Related 
Training Project). HEART was the first program to design and develop 
new job classifications and on the job training in non-certified 
positions in health services. This was the first program of its kind to 
link community residents with training in the health care profession.
  In 1970, CHARO was the first non-government entity to develop an On 
the Job Training (OJT) Program in the private sector with support 
services called Instant Job. Previously OJT was only available through 
a trade union. This program expanded the opportunities for the 
community to learn a trade through apprenticeship.
  In 1971, with the assistance from the Carnegie Foundation and the 
PEDR Corporation, CHARO developed the Institute for Leadership 
Development, a certificate Management Development Program. Through the 
certificate program, Hispanic business professional were empowered with 
the tools to succeed in business and become community leaders.
  CHARO developed the first Vocational Training with English as a 
second language program to serve non-English and limited English 
proficient clients. VocESL was established in 1972, opening the doors 
for Latinos, stymied by a language barrier, to gainful employment.
  CHARO Industries, established in 1972, addresses the lack of 
vocational opportunities for the developmentally disabled population. 
CHARO met this need by establishing the first bilingual/bicultural 
sheltered workshop for developmentally disabled adults. CHARO 
contracted assembly, packaging, and fulfillment services with private 
and public entities.
  In 1973, CHARO created the first non-government employment and 
training center, CHARO Career Center. For over 20 years, the Center has 
facilitated in the placement of over 10,000 individuals. CHARO has been 
a leader in fixed price contract services, often placing long term 
unemployed and those formerly on welfare assistance or recently 
released from correctional facilities in to full time employment.
  To serve families visiting relatives or friends in the hospital, 
CHARO established in 1976 an emergency drop-in child care center at the 
U.S.C.-Los Angeles County Medical Center. And in 1978, CHARO created 
the Child Development Center to address the child care needs of the Los 
Nietos-Whittier School District. Now serving over 150 pre-school 
children, the program operates as a child development center, providing 
educational enhancement exercises and food service program to local low 
income families. Seeing a rise in latch-key children, the Los Nietos-
Whittier School District again called upon CHARO to meet the needs of 
working families. Using its own funds, in 1983, CHARO established two 
before and after school care facilities. Both programs provide homework 
assistance and tutoring programs for the after school youth program.
  Addressing the need for affordable housing, in 1989, CHARO developed 
one of the first complexes in East Los Angeles, Morengo Apartments, 
comprised of 24 one, two, three, and four bedroom units for low and 
moderate income families. In 1991, AMCAL, a subsidiary of CHARO, 
developed Arroyo Villas, a 22 unit complex of one, two, and three 
bedroom units for very low, low, and moderate income families in 
Highland Park.
  In 1990, the CHARO Industrial Park was established on 2.7 acres in 
East Los Angeles for economic development. Recognizing that CHARO could 
provide competitive quality services, employing local residents, CHARO 
became the first non-profit to contract with Los Angeles Department of 
Water and Power, providing environmental services and installation of 
energy and water saving devices in home located in the City of Los 
Angeles. In 1993, CHARO created the Mid City Property Management to 
provide design and remodeling services to CHARO subsidiaries and 
divisions, and property management.
  Since 1993, CHARO has trained over 400 Angelenos through the 
Entrepreneur Training Center. Utilizing the Cornell University/Wharton 
School of business, CHARO established the first bilingual/bicultural 
entrepreneur training program, resulting in over 110 new jobs and over 
102 new businesses. The Los Angeles Career Center was established in 
1994 as one of the first One Stop Employment and

[[Page E2009]]

Training Center serving East Los Angeles. Over the last two years, the 
Center has assisted over 700 residents in re-employment, generating 
over $18.5 million in new wages. This year, CHARO implemented the East 
Los Angeles Business Assistance Center. Close to 100 clients received 
services, totaling over 500 hours of technical assistance, with a 
number of businesses referred to lenders for banking and financial 
services.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with pride that I rise to recognize the 30 years 
of dedicated community service and exemplary leadership CHARO has 
provided the residents on my congressional district and throughout the 
greater East Los Angeles area. I ask my colleagues to join me in paying 
tribute to Richard Amador and the men and women of CHARO Community 
Development Corporation on its 30th Anniversary.

                          ____________________