The Spanish American Center was founded 60 years ago to address the needs of the growing Hispanic and Latino population in the Leominster and Fitchburg area. Initially established as an information and referral network, the Center has expanded into a multifaceted organization providing wraparound social, health, educational, and cultural services. The Center’s vision is that every person live in a safe, healthy, peaceful, and prosperous community to enjoy the full benefits of society. 

Neddy Latimer, the Center’s Executive Director for more than 40 years, plays a key networking role to ensure residents get the support they need. “You could bring up any agency or nonprofit in the area,” says Melanie Trottier, Resource Development Manager, “and Neddy knows somebody there.” After Hurricane Maria, the Center leveraged this networking role to coordinate support for individuals and families who were displaced from Puerto Rico and relocated to Massachusetts. In 2023, the Center supported emergency efforts related to the influx of migrants to the state by providing food and other resources to local shelters.

In addition to crisis response, the Center has steadily expanded ongoing programs that strengthen families and promote community wellbeing and connection. The food pantry provides reliable access to fresh and shelf-stable food for residents in need, offering a large box of supplies to 25 families each weekday. Youth in grades 4-12 attend Crossroads, a hands-on, STEM-based after school program which prioritizes youth mental health through therapist-led activities; Verano Alegre welcomes kids ages 5-13 for summer fun, meals, and academic enrichment. 

The Center takes a data-driven approach to shaping its programs, including efforts to address gender-based violence through awareness-raising and community based services for survivors. Rocio Varela-Bravo, who coordinates the Center’s new E.A.R.S. (Emitting a Resilient Spirit) program, explains, “Even though domestic violence cuts across all communities and socioeconomic strata, Latinos and other minorities in Massachusetts experience the highest rates of abuse.”

The Center already offers a long-standing domestic violence program, which provides one-on-one advocacy, safety plans, and referrals to emergency shelters for those in need. This new education program provides culturally sensitive workshops on topics like healthy relationships and emotional and psychological abuse, with materials available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Portuguese.

Across its programming, the Center has seen growing demand and a broader client base, including more English speakers. “When SNAP benefits were on hold, we had a lot of first-time clients coming to the food pantry,” says Melanie. “We are here for the community: the doors of the Spanish American Center are open to everyone.”

This story was originally published in our 2025 Annual Report.