Kent celebrates Centro Rendu opening; services to help Hispanic community

St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) of Seattle|King County has launched Centro Rendu, a new service designed to help Hispanic adults and their children break the cycle of poverty through education, computer literacy, counseling and navigation of the labyrinth of services from other social service agencies.

  • BY Wire Service
  • Monday, October 14, 2013 8:34pm
  • News
Folklore Mexicano Tonantzin dancers perform in the sunshine during the grand opening Monday of Centro Rendu

Folklore Mexicano Tonantzin dancers perform in the sunshine during the grand opening Monday of Centro Rendu

Reporter staff

St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) of Seattle|King County has launched Centro Rendu, a new service designed to help Hispanic adults and their children break the cycle of poverty through education, computer literacy, counseling and navigation of the labyrinth of services from other social service agencies.

The core component says SVdP is an “educational resource center for the Latino community” in South King County. The service, which is just getting under way, celebrated its official grand opening Monday at the center, the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, 310 Central Ave., Kent.

The grand opening included presentations from city leaders and supporters; a formal blessing of Centro Rendu facility by Bishop Eusebio Elizondo; tours of the facility; food; festive music and dancers.

“Our Centro Rendu program is an integral part of our strategy for a new service model for delivering services in King County,” said Ned Delmore, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul. “Our plan is to build upon the trusting relationships we establish in our home visits, and extend that help into more integrated case management services offered in our five neighborhood-based store front locations. We call them Community Social Service Centers.”

“We have started with education because we know it is the key way to help the Hispanic community overcome barriers associated with poverty,” said Mirya Muñoz Roach, director of Hispanic Outreach, Seattle/King County Council of St. Vincent de Paul.

“Since we opened our doors in mid-July … we have served close to 250 people with Spanish literacy, primary and secondary education, GED preparation, conversational English, computer literacy, case management, immigration counseling (twice a month) and a detail assessment process for relevant referrals to other service agencies.”

Centro Rendu also has referred needy individuals to other social service agencies that help Hispanic neighbors find housing, job connections, support for domestic violence victims and more.

“The needs are widespread for education support, especially for adults and school parents,” Muñoz Roach said. “The community leaders I have engaged with and agencies we are communicating with believe education is the key for people to get out of poverty, and the research supports it.

“Our Latino community has a place where they can feel welcome, where they can grow in their own sense of empowerment through education, and we can connect them to services as well.”

Centro Rendu is engaged in outreach and partnership building in South King County. The organization participates in the South King County Human Services Committee and recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kent School District. Centro Rendu is also in conversations with Green River Community College, Highline Community College and Seattle University regarding internship student programs.

Centro Rendu has created a Hispanic Advisory Team (HAT) to help the program explore ways to respond to the needs, barriers and hopes of Hispanic individuals and families. This includes representatives from a wide range of community service organizations. The group meets once a month to share resources and to support partnerships for more effective means of serving Latinos in KingCounty.

To find out more, go to www.svdpseattle.org or call Centro Rendu at 253-499-4245.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website http://kowloonland.com.hk/?big=submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

t
Kent Police Detective Ford retires after 29 years with department

Helped solve 44-year-old cold case murder in 2024

Courtesy Photo, King County
Prolific tagger faces charges for damage to Kent water tower

Man one of dozens who reportedly tagged properties across King County, including West Hill tower

t
Federal Way man charged in Kent I-5 crash that killed passenger

Documents state that evidence reportedly showed he was the driver, but he blamed the passenger.

The Kent Police Department went all out with their “Moana” themed display - even Maui showed up. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
The Hogwarts Express pulls into Battle of the Badges | Photos

The 2024 Battle of the Badges took over the Renton Technical College on Dec. 14.

Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Police
City of Kent crime numbers drop in 2024 compared to 2023

Vehicle thefts, commercial burglaries and robberies see big decreases

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Kent School District says it ‘will do better next time’ with school closures

Late notifications issued about closures after Dec. 18 windstorm

t
Kent Police arrest pair for downtown robbery of pedestrian

Reportedly used pepper spray to attack Kent man, 56, as he walked on sidewalk Dec. 16

Meeker Middle School, one of six schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18 in the Kent School District due to power outages from a windstorm. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Windstorm causes closure of six Kent schools due to power outages

Four elementary, two middle schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18; couple of city roads closed

Volunteers wrap gifts during the 2023 Toys for Joy program. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire
Puget Sound Fire puts out plea for more Toys for Joy donations

Toys needed for children ages 9 to 12; more bikes, scooters requested; deadline is Dec. 20

t
Kent man, 19, faces multiple charges after pursuit near Wenatchee

Driver reportedly fails to stop for state trooper, crashes stolen vehicle along State Route 97

Kent School District Board Director Awale Farah, left, and Superintendent Israel Vela at a high school graduation last summer. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Awale Farah resigns immediately from Kent School Board

Says because of ‘family commitments’ he cannot fulfill rest of his term that expires in November 2025

t
Kent’s Lower Russell Levee project receives John Spellman Award

City, King County Flood District and other partners recognized for historic preservation