CITY OF FRESNO
_______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ JERRY DYER, Honorable Mayor MIGUEL ARIAS, Councilmember, District 3
_______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ NELSON ESPARZA, Council President, District 7 TYLER MAXWELL, Council Vice President, District 4
_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ ESMERALDA SORIA, Councilmember, District 1 MIKE KARBASSI, Councilmember, District 2
_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ LUIS CHAVEZ, Councilmember, District 5 GARRY BREDEFELD, Councilmember, District 6 Offices of Councilmember Miguel Arias & Councilmember Esmeralda Soria
WHEREAS, Centro La Familia Advocacy Services began in 1972 as a project in a Fresno City College La Raza studies class where students were encouraged to become involved in the community; and
WHEREAS, A small group of students set up a table outside the intake building of the Fresno County Department of Social Services , where they provided applicants with translation services and assistance with forms. In turn, exposing a significant gap in services and helping establish a framework and presence for today’s Centro La Familia; and
WHEREAS, The emerging community -based non- profit was embraced by various individuals and organizations including Fresno County, who provided a small grant allowing Centro La Familia to open up across from the Department of Social Services; and
WHEREAS, Centro La Fam ilia has grown from a small, urban- centered agency providing direct advocacy and intervention services, into a multi -service agency offering social service and education programs in both rural and urban areas of Fresno County; and
WHEREAS, Today’s Centro La Familia offers a broad range of bilingual and culturally sensitive programs and holistic approaches to assist crime victims, support families and children, promote health and wellness, encourage civic engagement, and more; and
WHEREAS, Centro La Familia was honored in 2018 as the Non- Profit of the Year in the 31 st Assembly District, and celebrated that same year in the City of Fresno with “Centro La Familia Day”; and
WHEREAS, Centro La Familia, in addition to its main Fresno office, has establi shed neighborhood resource centers in Highway City, Kerman, and central Fresno to better serve the community. They have also been instrumental in providing education and free vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Annually, Centro La Familia serves more than 15,000 families and reaches 150,000 community members through outreach and education programs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Fresno City Council does hereby honor Centro La Familia Advocacy Services on its 50th anniversary, and hereby proclaims October 1, 2022, to be:
“Centro La Familia Advocacy Services Day”
in the City of Fresno.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands and
affixed the Great Seal of the City of Fresno, California, this 1st day of October 2022.