[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 162 (Monday, November 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF EL CENTRO

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                            HON. KEVIN YODER

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 14, 2016

  Mr. YODER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 40th 
anniversary of El Centro in Kansas City, Kansas. El Centro was 
established in 1976 as a place where the Kansas City, Kansas' Hispanic 
population could come together and form a sense of connectedness within 
their communities.
  El Centro began with just a $10,000 grant from the Archdiocese of 
Kansas City in Kansas, and with the hard work and dedication of caring 
community members it has grown to 3 locations in my district, serving 
more than 12,000 individuals and families per year.
  El Centro could not be what it is today without the efforts of its 
President and CEO Irene Caudillo. Irene has a long history of improving 
our community by creating children and youth programs for nonprofit 
organizations, including El Centro and Wyandotte Mental Health 
Association in Wyandotte County.
  I've had the privilege of getting to know Irene over the years during 
my visits to El Centro's Head Start program, Academy for Children, 
which aims to help Pre-K students receive strong early-childhood 
educational opportunities and set them up for success. Irene also 
serves on my Hispanic Advisory Committee, is a school board member in 
Kansas City, Kansas, and a great leader and role model in the Kansas 
City community.
  Mr. Speaker, our community is stronger because of El Centro, where 
their mission is to strengthen communities and improve lives of Latinos 
and others through educational, social, and economic opportunities. I 
look forward to our continued work together.

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