Centro Civico Colombiano - We Love Elmhurst!

Summary

Centro Cívico Colombiano, founded in 1978, serves as a long-standing cultural and social hub for the Latin American community in Queens. Though it primarily attracts Colombian-Americans, the center is open to all nationalities and continues to adapt to the evolving demographics of Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Woodside. Here we sit down for a quick interview with newly-elected president, Maribel Giraldo.

Can you tell us about Centro Civico Colombiano?

Maribel Giraldo: Yes, the organization was founded in 1978 by a group of Colombian entrepreneurs that wanted to create a center to, like, get together on, you know, certain occasions, or, like, Fridays, things like that. It started in Woodside, and it just emerged into, like a regular social club on a regular basis, meeting up on a monthly basis. And then they started getting members and raising money. Everybody saved their money and they contributed. Then they ended up buying this location in 1982 and they’ve been here ever since. And then organization ended up doing events and it paid itself off.

Is it fully self funded?

Yes, we are a non-profit and self-funded through memberships and our programs. At times, there have been events that they we had sponsorships. At the moment, we don’t have that.

So what kind of services do you offer?

So right now, we’re offering English classes, guitar classes, computer classes. Citizenship classes are happening as we speak downstairs. We are also offering a course for caregivers dealing with family or patients with Dementia. They’ve had OSHA classes in the past. We’re planning to bring in Taekwondo, and also possibly some type of exercise like yoga or Zumba classes. And also some programs for kids, like art and helping kids with their Spanish so they don’t lose it.

There’s still still a large Colombian community. I believe there was more before, but, you know, it’s still very vibrant.

Do you find people coming from out of the Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Woodside area to participate?

Yes, yes. Since the center has been established for such a long time, and has roots here, people know of it for a while. There are shifts, because people move out to different places, but at the end of day, they still know the name of the center and many come back eventually.

How did you get involved? And why were you elected?

I lived across the street for over 30 years. I currently don’t live here at the moment but I lived here for 30 years. I grew up here. My mom was a member when I was a young, so she’s been a member for 30 years herself. So I’ve always had some type of connection and have been part of the center and I officially joined two years ago, as a secretary for the board, and then got elected to be president this year.

I know Colombians established a community here many decades ago, but now many other Latin American communities are settling in the area. Are your programs strictly for Colombian-Americans?

You do see other groups coming in from different countries now. It is all nationalities, and we welcome it. It’s something great. Granted, because the name does say “Colombiano,” it gravitates to the Colombian community, but it’s everybody. It’s open to everybody, all nationalities.

Do you have any plans for more outreach or anything to get more members and participants?

Yes, we definitely want to grow the membership so we can have more volunteers and possibly have more hours available for everybody. The Covid pandemic affected us, like it affected everybody, and the transition since then has been hard. So getting back up to speed as it was before has been a little difficult.

So we’re just trying to be creative in how to find new ways and even technology and like, trying to find new ways to, like, grow and make it more approachable to everybody, to have more people come in, come back to us.

What do you like about the Elmhurst?

What do I love about Elmhurst? Well, Granted, first food! And since I grew up here, it’s just home to me. I may be living in a different place at the moment, but I always gravitate back to here, especially now that I’m in the community even more obviously. So I guess food, people, it’s just home. It’s home to me.