[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8334]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            COMMEMORATING 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF CENTRO ROMERO

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 2004

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 20th 
anniversary of Centro Romero, a community-based organization that has 
been serving Salvadoran immigrants in the Chicago communities of Rogers 
Park, Edgewater, Ravenswood, and Uptown. Since its founding in 1984, 
Centro Romero has served Latino immigrant and refugee populations by 
providing services to adults and children to help them overcome 
barriers of integrating into U.S. society. last year, Centro Romero 
served over 5,600 clients through its adult education, women's 
empowerment, youth learning and leadership and legal assistance 
programs.
  Centro Romero was founded by a group of Salvadoran refugees living in 
Chicago who wanted to assist other incoming Central American refugees 
arriving in the United States to seek safe haven from the political and 
civil repression and human rights abuses that were plaguing the region 
during the 1970s and 1980s. Centro Romero is named in honor of 
Archbishop Oscar Romero, a Salvadoran Roman Catholic cleric, on behalf 
of his service of the poor and oppressed people. Archbishop Romero was 
assassinated in 1980 for his outspoken denunciations of the ruling 
elite and his defense of human and civil rights during El Salvador's 
civil war.
  Centro Romero began its work in Chicago communities by providing 
basic services such as food, job placement, housing orientation and 
immigration procedures. Today, Centro Romero provides these services 
and has added a women's program and youth program to address additional 
needs in the growing Latino community.
  Today, in the House of Representatives, I would like to extend my 
congratulations and appreciation from the grateful communities of 
Chicago to the dedicated staff and volunteers of Centro Romero for 
their many contributions providing vital information and essential 
services for the Latino communities. All of us who live in the Chicago 
area are fortunate to have Centro Romero in our midst and we all 
benefit from its unparalleled commitment to improving our community.

                          ____________________