Mission and Values

Since 1981, CARECEN has remained true to its long history of facilitating the process of transition for immigrants to an integrated life in their new home and equipping them to play an essential role in the advancement of the community.

Mission
Our mission is to foster the comprehensive development of the Latino population by providing direct services while promoting grassroots empowerment, civic engagement, and human rights advocacy.

We envision a Washington metropolitan region where all communities thrive in solidarity and dignity, enjoy a prosperous life, and work towards achieving social justice and political empowerment.

Values
Empowerment
We promote the self-actualization of immigrants— especially the undocumented and refugees. We believe that the immigration reform movement inspires and empowers immigrants and natives alike.
Solidarity
In addition to our mission and services, CARECEN strives to strengthen a collective feeling of unity between people who have the same interests, goals, and struggles.
Self-reliance
We promote and strengthen immigrants’ capacity to rely on their own efforts, abilities, and talents for their self-actualization and development.
Diversity/ Inclusion
We value having people who are different in different ways— race, gender, ethnic origin, religion, culture, etc. and that such diversity and inclusion become assests and strengths of the organization.
Excellence
We strive to maintain our reputation for quality services through ongoing monitoring and evaluation of facilities and the various aspects of a project or service to ensure that standards of quality are being met.
Innovation
We strive to become a model organization which continuously introduces new ideas, approaches, models, and tools to provide services, advocate for immigrant rights, and empower community.



Improved Quality of Life
for an Empowered Latino Community
Since 2019:
369
Citizenship Students
434
Naturalized Citizens
2172
Legal Cases