Crystallizing one of its greatest dreams as a community-based organization, Círculo de la Hispanidad (Hispanic Circle) held a Foundation Stone Ceremony on May 4th, presenting the project of constructing a new Community Center, the first in our region certified as ecologically friendly, which will measure around 30,000 square feet and will be located at 605 Peninsula Boulevard in Hempstead, Nassau County.

The modern building will have the distinction of being “green,” since the construction will include energy-saving materials and will reduce pollution, the first of its kind in New York State constructed by the non-profit organization, registered as a 501(c)(3).

Círculo de la Hispanidad said that, annually, 100,000 participants would benefit from the variety of programs that will be offered in the new Community Center. “It has been a dream a long time coming, full of problems, frustration, rejection, disappointment and discrimination. But with perseverance, passion, vision and struggle, we achieved this dream and incredible triumph,” commented Gil Miguel Bernardino, executive director of Círculo.

Since it is a “green” building, the organization will design an educational curriculum for students and for the community in general about the importance of saving energy and ways of saving our planet’s resources.

“We will use the same building and materials with which it was built, as well as the ‘green’ spaces inside, to design this program,” said Bernardino.

The Center will have:

* child care for around 100 children (3 months to 4 years old)

* a multipurpose room with capacity for 625 people

* a cafeteria

* a second floor with offices to provide educational programs, social services, and economic development. There will also be classrooms, a library, and a dance studio that will hold 200 participants.

“The great social, cultural, civic, political and economic impact that this Community Center will have for the Latino community across the generations is impossible to imagine now. I know it will be huge. This is the most important moment in our history and we want to thank the members of our Latino and American community for their support through the years,” said Bernardino.