 When the U.S. Border Patrol arrived in New Orleans in early December to conduct “Catahoula Crunch,” El Centro was ready. Recognizing that the Latino community would be devastated by the immigration sweep, our organization focused on preparing local businesses, ensuring Latino individuals and families knew their rights, and making sure the greater community were aware of the catastrophic effects the raids would cause. Starting in November, the El Centro began alerting local Latino business owners about the upcoming immigration sweeps and what proactive steps they could take to protect their businesses and employees. “We wanted to make sure owners and staff members knew their rights when it came to immigration control,” says El Centro’s Founder and Executive Director Lindsey Navarro. “We partnered with Broad Community Connections and we went directly to these local businesses, providing them with handouts and signage in Spanish and English.”  Navarro also made several appearances on CNN and local media outlets to talk about how the sweeps were causing heightened anxiety in the Latino community. Navarro explained that many Latino residents were staying at home regardless of immigration status because of the fear of detainment, numerous businesses had closed temporarily, many construction projects were stalled, and that the economic impact would be felt across the New Orleans metro area.
El Centro also used the power of social media to notify our followers and clients about the sweeps and what they could do to protect themselves and their families, available resources and what steps to take if someone is detained. December has been hectic at El Centro with staff fielding many requests from clients who have been directly affected by the sweep. In some cases, staff have connected the client with legal counsel, and also introduced them to community partners including ECCO Centro Communitario, Familias Unidas en Accion, and Puentes who are able to provide food to those most in need. December is also a planning month for El Centro, and Navarro says that the plans for 2026 have to include the immigration sweep and how the Latino entrepreneurial community can move forward. “These are frightening times for the Latino community, but we must remember that the sweep hurts all of us, the entire New Orleans community,” Navarro says. “Right now, we are doing all we can to support the immigrant community, which in Louisiana provides $2.1 billion in tax contributions from more than 223,000 immigrant residents. And we are planning for what we can do once the sweep has concluded.”
0 Comments
2025 Cumbre Empresarial: The Only Spanish-Language Business Summit for Latino Entrepreneurs11/8/2025  On Saturday, November 8th, we hosted our 4th annual Cumbre Empresarial (Latino Business Summit). This all-day event brought 160+ attendees, 20+ volunteers, and featured over 50 guest speakers and community partners. The summit featured a comprehensive program including a plenary session, three simultaneous breakout sessions, and a focus on leadership development. Participants had the opportunity to learn from expert-led sessions on a variety of topics, including immigration, asset protection, improving financial statements, and leveraging business initiatives to positively impact the community. The event also included a "Lunch and Learn" session dedicated to personal and business credit, providing valuable insights into building creditworthiness and accessing capital. Additionally, discussions highlighted the economic power of the Latino community and strategies for increasing access to capital with perspectives from equity investors. Here are some highlights from the summit:         Our Cumbre was made possible through the support of key community partners, including SBDC (Louisiana Small Business Development Center), the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana Foundation, ECCO Community Center, Families United in Action, La Voz NOLA, and Dress for Success. Their dedication and contributions are essential in helping us build a future full of opportunities for all.   Recognition goes to our 2025 vendors, whose creativity, dedication, and unique products brought vibrancy and energy to the Summit. Their presence truly enhanced the experience, adding color and flavor that made the event memorable.   From setup and registration to logistics and crowd management, our volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure every aspect of the event was executed flawlessly. Their selflessness, teamwork, and can-do spirit were truly inspiring.  We were excited to collaborate with L.U.N.A., an initiative of Puentes, for their social media takeover with real-time coverage of our social media, bringing you closer to every moment of this wonderful event. Check out our live coverage from La Cumbre!   Meet the Team behind the Magic! Client Spotlight: Guillermina Perez  Guillermina Perez arrived in the U.S. with little more than hope—and soon found a calling that would reshape her future. An experienced marketer, she moved to the United States five years ago from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and took a job at a flower shop. With little knowledge of floral arrangement, she spent late nights studying — not out of obligation, but out of passion.
What began as curiosity soon became a calling. She’d watch tutorials, practice endlessly, and push herself to improve. Those nights were not easy. Between long shifts and caring for her family, Guillermina often found herself exhausted, surrounded by beautiful flowers. But with every bouquet there was victory and proof that with patience comes virtue. “God has put art in my hands,” she happily recalls. Soon after, Guillermina and her husband began selling floral arrangements from home. Around the same time, she discovered El Centro through her church and joined a free eight-week program, Camino Financiero, hosted in Spanish to learn about financial management and business. Through this program, the Cumbre Empresarial (Business Summit), VITA, and personalized coaching, she was able to open an account at Chase. This allowed her to access credit cards and start planning a secure financial future. The couple’s combined passion has turned into a growing business, and they are currently planning to open their first storefront. They specialize in arrangements for a variety of occasions– birthdays, baby showers, weddings, and more– showcasing what creativity and dedication can turn into. Guillermina’s goal is to become one of the best florists in New Orleans. During her busy season, she creates jobs for others while also inspiring surrounding immigrant entrepreneurs. Through her consistent dedication and discipline with the support of El Centro, she is evolving her dream into a blooming and resilient business.  El Centro is proud to highlight the success of IMPÚLSATE, a free, intensive 7-week accelerator program in Spanish designed to equip Latino entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to build scalable and sustainable businesses.
Supported by Capital One, the program combines interactive classes and personalized one-on-one business coaching, focusing on practical skills such as business registration, digital marketing, accounting, and access to capital. The initiative is breaking barriers for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs and small business owners across the Greater New Orleans area by providing education in their native language and connecting them with trusted local resources. “I’ve learned to better organize my business,” said Mariano Alvarado, owner of VILU Consulting, at the Impulsate graduation ceremony. This Fall 2025, El Centro proudly celebrated the graduation of its 8th IMPÚLSATE cohort with more than 25 students—a significant milestone for participants who have worked diligently to formalize their businesses, expand their client networks, and build long-term growth strategies. “It was exciting to witness such a diverse group of entrepreneurs this year. Participants ranged from electricians to those launching hair care product lines and providing special needs day/night care. Our entrepreneurs will be equipped to hit the ground running, truly creating opportunities not only for themselves but for the communities they serve.” Lindsey Navarro, founder and executive director of El Centro, says. As a result of this course, three students were able to register their business, five students obtained their occupational license, and three entrepreneurs began collecting and remitting sales taxes. Their success represents not only personal achievement but also a collective step forward for the Latino business community in New Orleans. Beyond just training, the program delivers value in community impact — empowering local business owners to strengthen their operations and contribute to the regional economy. Graduation is the beginning of an ongoing relationship with program participants. Graduates are encouraged to participate in bi-annual roundtables and to complete 6-month and 1-year surveys to ensure El Centro is able to gauge the impact of programming. Interested in supporting this initiative?
NOLA.com: New Orleans business incubator helps Latino entrepreneurs ‘control their own destiny’8/21/2025  NOLA.com Business Reporter Rich Collins published a story on El Centro's work in New Orleans Latino community. Collin's comprehensive article showed the positive difference El Centro is making with Latino entrepreneurs: conducting workshops, classes, income tax preparations and more. Check out the full article.
Empowering New Orleans Hispanic/Latinx Business Owners: Addressing Unique Needs and Challenges2/3/2024 Our Executive Director's Interview with the National League of Cities From the bustling French Quarter to Mardi Gras to the amazing food scene there is no shortage of great things that come to mind when thinking about New Orleans. However, even with the city’s vibrant culture and businesses community, there have been significant barriers preventing members of its Hispanic/Latinx community from fully engaging in the city’s economic opportunities. Borne out of this need in 2018, Lindsey Navarro, founder and executive director of El Centro, sought to address the lack of diversity and representation in city government agencies, as well as build a bridge to support Hispanic/Latinx entrepreneurs looking to start a business. Clic here to read the full articuleNew Orleans is giving $5M in COVID money to 10 nonprofits for new economic mobility project1/11/2024  "New Orleans is handing out millions in federal American Rescue Plan Act money to 10 local nonprofits as part of a new economic mobility project, the city announced Wednesday. Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration will direct $5 million to 10 community-based organizations s as part of the city’s Economic Mobility in Motion project. ... El Centro - $450,000 for wealth-building programs for 400 Latino residents of New Orleans each year. The programs provide language-accessible and culturally competent education on financial wellness, small business development, tax preparation and first-time home buyer training."
 La Organización sin fines de lucro, El Centro, realizó su evento mensual de "Las Musas" para celebrar a Las Madres en su mes, con un evento de pijamas en que las invitadas aprendieron de panelistas en el área de Salud, belleza y estilo para empoderar a la mujer latina en Estados Unidos. Haz clic aquí para ver la entrevista completa  |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
December 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed