About Us
Founded in 1978, the goal of the Hispanic Center is to provide unmet social services to the Hispanic Community in Greater West Michigan.
Located in the heart of the Roosevelt Park, the largest Latino neighborhood in Grand Rapids, the Hispanic Center is able to directly serve more than 10,000 individuals annually. Not limited to Grand Rapids, we seek to address the needs of Latinos in West Michigan. The staff is largely bilingual and multi-cultural. We understand our Latino neighbors, connect with them, and work to achieve self-sufficiency together.
The Hispanic Center of Western Michigan is a non-profit 501(c) (3) community-based organization.
Our Mission
TO EDUCATE, TO ADVOCATE, TO EMPOWER.
The Team
Evelyn Esparza
Mexican
Executive Director
eesparza@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext 562
D (616) 246-0561
Amanda Aguirre
Mexican-American
Workforce Development Manager
aaguirre@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext 560
D (616) 246-0560
Alejandra Meza
Mexican-American
Family Support Services Manager
ameza@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext 575
D (616) 246-0575
Claudia Pohlen
Nicaraguan
Fund Development and Communications Manager
cpohlen@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext 221
D (616) 742-0221
Holly Rea
Italian-French American
Language Services Manager
hrea@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext 566
D (616) 246-0566
Jocelyne Romero
Mexican-American
Accounting Manager
HCWMAccounting@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext 561
D (616) 246-0563
Eloy Baez-Fernandez
Puerto Rican
Language Services Administrative Specialist
ebaez@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext 563
D (616) 246-0562
Erendida Erazo
Salvadorian
Career Development Specialist
eerazo@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext 576
D (616) 649-3713
Omara Espinoza
Mexican
Support to Language Services
interpretations@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext. 194
D (616) 742-0194
Alejandro Esterline
Dominican-American
Translations Coordinator
translations@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext 283
D (616) 246-0936
Alva Favela
Mexican-American
Community Support Navigator
afavela@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext. 570
D (616) 246-0570
Marisol Garcia
Mexican-American
Community Support Navigator
mgarcia@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext 572
D (616) 246-0572
Diana Giles
Mexican-American
Community Outreach Coordinator
dgiles@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext 564
D (616) 742-0564
Maura Jones
Mexican-American
Housing Navigation Specialist
mjones@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext 571
D (616) 246-0574
Belkis Lizarazo
Venezuelan Administrative Assistant hcwmreceptionist@hispanic-center.org T (616) 742-0200 ext 0573 D (616) 246-0573
Alexandra Lopez
Mexican-American
Community Support Navigator
alopez@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext 571
D (616) 246-0571
Olga Martínez
Mexican
Human & Civil Rights Advocate
omartinez@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext 198
D (616) 742-0198
Juan Carlos Pastor
Mexican-Peruvian
Accounting Assistant
HCWMAssistant@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext 571
D (616) 246-0571
Griselda Perez
Mexican
Interpretations Coordinator
interpretations@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext 194
D (616) 742-0194
Celeny Quintino
Mexican
La Escuelita Lead Teacher
cquintino@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 965-9667
D (616) 742-0205
Tracy Ramirez
Mexican
La Escuelita Teacher Assistant
tramirez@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 965-9667
D (616) 742-0205
Rocio Rodriguez
Mexican-American
Housing Navigation Specialist
rrodriguez@hispanic-center.org
T (616) 742-0200 ext 568
D (616) 246-0568
Youth Program Coordinator
T (616) 742-0200 ext 567
D (616) 246-0567
Hispanic Center of Western Michigan Board of Directors
- Attah Obande, Board Chair - Spring GR
- Patrick Lonergan, Trustee - Fifth Third Bank
- Karla Amaya-Leone, Trustee - Home Sweet Homes
- Tony Baker, Trustee - Ferris State University
- Kristin Ekkens, Trustee -Singularity University
- Susan Ledy, Trustee - Grand Rapids Community College
- Javier Cervantes, Trustee- Grand Rapids Public Schools
- Monica Steimle-App, Trustee - Rockford Construction
- Roberto Peña, Trustee -
- Lance Zoerhof, Trustee - Warner Norcross & Judd LLP
- Jessica Podvin, Treasurer - D.K. Weiss Accounting
- Mario Castillo, Trustee - Transnation Title Agency
- Abraham Garcia, Trustee - DTE
- Dante Villareal, Trsutee- Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce
Careers
The success of our organization hinges on our team. We are made up of individuals who are compassionate, mission driven, and are willing to participate in all of our fundraising and awareness efforts.
If you are interested in joining our team, please fill out the career form, upload your resume and cover letter and we'll follow up with you. Make sure to indicate which position you are applying for.
Open Positions
Volunteer Opportunities
We love our volunteers and interns and appreciate their work so much! If you’d like to join us, we have a great office culture where you’ll be welcomed as a valued member of the team.
Whether you’re looking for short term, occasional, or regular opportunities, we’re flexible about getting you involved with something that works for you!
Please fill out the form below for more information.
