308 4th Ave. NW

Austin, MN  55912
Tel: (507) 434–2863
Fax. (507) 434–2868
E–mail: lilianasilvestry@welcomecenteraustin.org

A FRIENDLY HAND

The Welcome Center provides a place to welcome our new neighbors

WELCOME CENTER MISSION
The Mission of the Welcome Center is to connect newcomers to the resources and information that will facilitate their becoming part of our community, and to provide programs and services that will promote self-sufficiency and multicultural understanding.

OBJECTIVES:
To provide a place to welcome our new neighbors.

To provide guidance and services to assist newcomers in their transition into the community.

To collaborate with agencies and organizations for a better way to address multicultural issues.

To provide community education for the native population to the economic and social  value in developing a new multi-cultural community.



The Welcome Center, Inc. is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation founded in June 2000.  It was organized by a group of concerned citizens who saw a dramatic change in the area’s work force and demographic composition, most notably a growth among Hispanic people.  Recognizing that the change could produce friction and divisiveness or be the basis for a new and inclusive culture, the founders developed the Welcome Center.

With primary financial support from the Hormel Foundation, and additional commitments of local government, businesses and United Way of Mower County, the Center began operations.

Due to language barriers many families are confronting the stressful reality of being underserved by regular means.  Because of this, the Welcome Center has developed the Community Empowerment Initiative Program



The Community Empowerment Initiative Program is a multi-cultural program that provides assistance to immigrants, refugees and other minorities to help them become self-sufficient and active members of our community.  Welcome Center services benefit the people of Mower county. Based on the most recent census statistics, 86.5% of individuals in our community are Western European descendants, and 8.5%, 3%, and 2% come from Latino, Asian, and African communities, respectively. Among the newcomers, we identify that the Latino and Sudanese communities tend to experience the lowest levels of education and income. It is not unusual, for instance, to witness Latino and Sudanese children in middle and high school classes who are laboring to meet curriculum demands with little to moderate success. Language barriers and ethnic and economic constraints limit not only the educational success of children and adults, but also inhibit access to basic services that promote successful integration and self-sufficiency.
Our services fall into three general categories: services for newcomers, services for agencies serving newcomers, and services for the general community.

After evaluating our programs the Welcome Center’s board of directors approved the expansion of the agency’s current services to includes: Multilingual citizenship classes, Evening and weekend English as a Second Language classes, Job skill development training, Financial literacy classes, and Community education. Collectively, these services are known as our Community Empowerment Initiative Program.



The Community Empowerment Initiative Program is a multi-cultural program that provides assistance to immigrants, refugees and other minorities to help them become self-sufficient and an active member of our community.  Under this umbrella of services and programs, we also offer activities and events that promote acceptance and appreciation of each other’s differences and education and awareness for the newcomers.  Some of these activities are, but not limited to: “Hablando de Todo un Poco” the only TV monthly educational and informative Spanish program on KMSQ-TV Public Television, the Cultural Heritage Festival, Leadership Training, Cultural Diversity discussions and workshops, Fourth of July Parade/Diversity Float.

The Welcome Center supporters:
The Welcome Center wishes to thank all the sponsors and funders for their generous support.  Since  its founding, the Welcome Center has had the  support of Austin Medical Center, Blandin Foundation, City of Austin, Funders Collaborative, St. Paul Foundation, Hormel Foundation, Hormel Foods, Inc., W. Glen Boyd Foundation, Mower County, Quality Pork Processors, St. Bush Foundation, United Way of Mower County, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Margda Foundation, Southern Initiative Foundation.   



The Welcome Center Board of Directors:
The Welcome Center has fourteen active community volunteers as its governing body.

The Welcome Center…  Makes a Difference

The services provided by the Welcome Center are helping the newcomers to learn more about the community they are moving into and to understand the guidelines and laws that exist to be law-abiding residents.  Unfortunately, to become self-sufficient takes time when the newcomers are lacking the knowledge of English.  By the Welcome Center collaborating with other agencies such as Workforce Center, SEMCAC, Human Services, United Way, School District, Community Adult Education, to mention some, we are making sure that the education needed is being provided.  
 


Our services have been changing to meet the demand of the newcomers.  The Welcome Center provides assistance to a multicultural clientele.  We have in our community people from Africa-Sudan, Ethiopia, Madagascar; from Europe-France, Spain, Germany; from Croatia-Bosnia and Serbia; from Asia-China, Laos, Vietnam and Japan; from Northern and Central America-Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama; from South America-Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Argentina and Chile; from the Caribbean Islands-Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Jamaica.