Thrive: Spotlight Guadalupe Centers

Thrive: Spotlight has been LISC Greater Kansas City’s effort to show how individuals and organizations have helped our city navigate a pandemic and racial inequities. We end this series with Guadalupe Centers, a multi-faceted organization named after the patron saint of Mexico. Guadalupe Centers is one of the first social services organizations for the Latino community and continues to be that pillar of support today. “Stable families make stable communities”, said Cris Medina, CEO. That mission toward stability is bolstered with a credit union, educational centers, programs for seniors and kids, food pantry services, and a Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) with forklift and CDL training programs.

COVID-19 has hit communities of color the hardest and the staff at Guadalupe Centers have been working longer days and expanding services to address growing need.

Guadalupe Centers staff also address racial inequality and discrimination. “Being a big part of the Latino community, we’ve had to deal with a lot of uncertainties and questions in regards to immigration”, said Gladys Jaggers, the FOC financial coach. “We always try to help everyone, regardless of immigration status. This is a safe haven”.