Mission Statement
La Casa de Amistad's mission has evolved through the years to fit the changing needs of the community. Nonetheless, it continues to do its best work in empowering individuals and families. La Casa de Amistad, through its programs, services, and activities, assists in strengthening the larger community by acting as a catalyst within the Latino community, with a particular emphasis on youth and family issues. It is a place of friendship, welcoming all.
La Casa strives to empower individuals through programs and activities that promote cultural appreciation and identity, moral values, education, healthy living, and leadership development.
La Casa de Amistad's objectives are focused on the goal to unify the Latino community and bridge it with the larger society, thus helping to enrich and strengthen the community as a whole. We achieve these objectives through collaboration with other agencies and the generous long standing involvement of our local community.
Our Story:
La Casa de Amistad is a charitable organization that functions as a community center on the west side of South Bend. It was founded by Fr. John Phalen in October of 1973 as a youth outreach program in response to the many needs of Hispanic teenagers. La Casa offered various programs in an effort to train Hispanic youth in leadership skills, to increase their knowledge and appreciation of their own culture, and to help them develop a strong self-esteem.
In 1975, the organization incorporated as a not for profit corporation and proposals were submitted to acquire additional funding for full-time staff. As a result of various grants and numerous private donors, La Casa de Amistad moved its operations to its current location in 1980 from a home on South Warren Street. In 1985, La Casa began receiving funding from the United Way.
Many local Hispanics and community leaders have either been the beneficiaries of La Casa’s services or have helped to implement and guide programs. Throughout the past 30 years, La Casa has modified its programming in order to address the changing needs of the Hispanic Community. As a result, La Casa currently not only provides programs for youth; it also offers services for adults, migrants, seasonal workers, the elderly, and community members in general.
In keeping with its original mission, La Casa continues to offer opportunities for Hispanic and other youth, in order to help them succeed in society and maintain a strong cultural pride. At the same time, La Casa is always expanding its services to include the current trends in educational and informational needs, to better serve its clients and to help them prepare for the workforce in our community.
