Minority rule

Part 5

by Kristen Lombardi

In Retrospect, several members of now defunct ALPA see its demise in the organization's altruistic attempts to satisfy everyone within the Latino community. The group, run by one person and volunteers, managed a food bank, provided youth counseling, and sought affordable housing. As the community grew, and ALPA struggled to meet more needs, its leaders lost legitimacy in the eyes of city Latinos.

"ALPA got itself into this dilemma of trying to do so much that it couldn't do enough," says Judge Luis Perez. "People lost faith in the organization."

Many Latino activists draw parallels between ALPA and Centro Las Americas today. Some Hispanics believe Centro should focus more on economic development. Some want the agency to bolster its Institute of Latino Arts and Culture, returning to its original role as a cultural center. Not surprisingly, the loudest gripes concern Centro's "lack of a political voice." Activists warn Centro needs to narrow its mission, provide fewer services more effectively than now, before it, like ALPA, sacrifices its reputation.

"If Centro says yes to the global picture, it will fail," says Perez. "It has no capacity to deal with all the problems of this community. People are pushing [the agency] in all directions, but Centro has to redefine itself and focus to survive."

So, while Centro staff and board members are reveling in its 20th anniversary, they are also grappling with solutions for survival. The board has hired a consultant to map out a strategic plan. And Eubanks has asked for more direction, particularly regarding the issue of advocacy. No one expects Centro to end as ALPA did.

"We don't want to be the kind of city that cannot support at least one [Latino] agency," says Rodriguez-Parker.

But if Centro wants to remain an agency built by and for the city's Hispanics, it may need to perfect diplomacy. If only, say activists, to hold Worcester's white-dominated institutions accountable for meeting the needs of 20,000 of its residents.

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Kristen Lombardi can be reached at klombardi[a]phx.com.