Welcome Center expanding its reach beyond Latino community
Published 10:09 am Thursday, March 1, 2012
The Welcome Center is taking its first steps toward expanding its influence and getting more public support.
The nonprofit was recently recognized for its accountability under the Charities Review Council, which means the Welcome Center meets all 27 of the council’s accountability standards.
“This is a great way to build awareness and also helps to increase public confidence in the Welcome Center,” said executive director Jake Vela. Vela, who joined the Welcome Center in 2010 after several leaders in several years, has put great effort into steadying and retooling the local organization’s services for people new to the community.
Contrary to its popular image, the Welcome Center helps all kinds of people connect to services they need, not just the growing Latino population in Austin. Though 1,068 residents, or about 91 percent of the 1,170 people the Welcome Center served in 2010 were Latino, white residents made up the next highest group served, with 51 new residents coming to the Welcome Center for help that year.
The Welcome Center hopes the Charity Review Council’s “Meets All Standards” seal will create new funding opportunities and expanded services for residents, as the nonprofit annually serves 1,000 to 1,300 people. The award means the Welcome Center is now listed as a reviewed organization on the council’s online charity guide, www.smartgivers.org, and the council’s Smart Giver newsletter. The listing helps a nonprofit demonstrate its commitment to accountable and ethical practices.
Vela said the Welcome Center is busy with a number of initiatives, including expanding its advocacy and client services for groups like the Karen population, a group of Burmese refugees slowly but surely moving into the area. Vela hopes to have a Karen interpreter hired by the summer and expanded transportation offerings as well.
“We’ll help anyone who walks through our doors,” he said. “We’re proud to say that.”
The initiatives come as the Welcome Center completes its strategic plan for this year. Vela said the Welcome Center’s board will meet later this year to discuss the nonprofit’s one-year and five-year goals.