[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 56 (Monday, April 7, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN HONOR OF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF LA PLAZA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANDREE CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 7, 2014

  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor La Plaza, 
whose tireless work over the past ten years has blessed thousands in my 
hometown of Indianapolis.
  La Plaza exists to serve, empower, and integrate the Latino community 
of Central Indiana. The organization was founded in 2004 through the 
merger of Hispanic Education Center, Fiesta Indianapolis and El Centro 
Hispano. By bringing together the separate resources and services under 
one organizational umbrella, La Plaza committed to provide strong 
programming under a more efficient model. Today, La Plaza continues to 
fulfill this charge through its mission of strengthening Central 
Indiana by advocating and preparing Latino students for educational 
success and by connecting Latino families to health and social 
services.
  La Plaza is Central Indiana's largest provider of culturally and 
linguistically appropriate services to Latino families. The 
organization's work is increasingly important as the Latino population 
in Indianapolis continues to grow. Data from the 2010 Census shows a 
154 percent increase in the number of Hispanics in Marion County, 
increasing from 33,000 to more than 84,000 in the last 10 years.
  Serving as a trusted liaison between Central Indiana Latinos and the 
community at large, La Plaza connects over 5,000 individuals each year 
to over 20 community partners to deliver high-quality health and social 
services. The range of services spans from providing a pediatric and 
dentistry clinic to case management and basic needs assistance. La 
Plaza's educational initiatives additionally serve over 2,000 
elementary to college-aged students. These programs help encourage and 
support Latino youth to excel in school and to pursue a post-secondary 
education. La Plaza also provides many of these first-generation 
college students with scholarships to ease the financial burden of 
college.
  Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring La Plaza for its 
efforts to strengthen and integrate the growing Latino community in 
Central Indiana by providing them with vital educational and social 
services.

                          ____________________