According to the National Education Association (NEA), the Hispanic population in America of 41.8 million is estimated to grow by 20% by the year 2050. Kentucky is one of the states listed as “experiencing a 100 percent growth rate in Hispanic population in the last decade.” Kenton County, KY is home to nearly 5,000 Hispanics mostly located in the city of Covington. The NEA also states, “According to the U.S. census, 22 percent of Hispanics are living in poverty, nearly double the national average of 12.6 percent.”

 Two professionals from Northern Kentucky University realized this underserved population could benefit from several services and decided to open a resource center in the heart of the Covington centered around Latinos but also open to everyone. The Esperanza Latino Center of Northern Kentucky opened in January of 2019 with the esperanza (hope) of providing resources to the growing Latino community. The center is completely operated by volunteers. No one, including the people who started the center, receives a salary. The local Cooperative Extension Service bilingual Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) assistant immediately became involved with the new center. The EFNEP assistant coordinated activities with the Cooperative Extension Service to host a youth nutrition program through a 2-day summer camp for 19 youth participants. Thirty volunteer hours were utilized in coordination of the day camp. These volunteers have extended EFNEP’s education to reach limited resource audiences. Using the value of $24.69 per hour for volunteer service established by the Independent Sector, these leaders have contributed over $740 in tangible revenue to teach this special interest audience.

Plans to start an adult nutrition education series are underway in addition to connecting the center with the Free Store Foodbank specialists who help people through the process step-by-step to complete Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program forms to receive food benefits. 

The EFNEP Assistant quickly became an integral part of the leadership team and is now a member of the Board. The partnership between the Cooperative Extension Service and the Esperanza Latino Center will continue to strengthen as more of the Latino community is reached through needed resources and educational programming. 

https://datausa.io/profile/geo/kenton-county-ky#demographics

http://www.nea.org/home/15536.htm