KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — East Tennessee's Hispanic community is growing along with the demand for services. Centro Hispano has helped thousands of neighbors within the last year.
The nonprofit has teamed up with a local church to expand its outreach and has tripled its center space. The new center is more than a building with rooms and offices for Karla Mejia, a small business owner.
It became home for Mejia when she immigrated to Knoxville from Honduras in 2017.
"You feel like family — you feel like you can trust them," Mejia said.
Centro Hispano equips neighbors like Mejia with resources, including English classes and workforce development.
"I've received mentorship and networking opportunities," Mejia said.
Like Mejia, Januaria Perez shares a similar story, arriving in Knoxville from Venezuela in 2019.
"They teach how you can successfully start a business in the U.S. — specifically in Tennessee," said Perez.
Centro Hispano leaders said the demand for help by the East Tennessee Hispanic community is growing. From 2023 to 2024, the group helped more than 2,462 people through phone calls and walk-ins. During that same time period, more than 644 people attended their English as a second language classes and more than 457 teens and kids received guidance for higher education.
Leaders also said the new community space will help to extend their reach even more. Within the last three days of opening its doors, around 500 people have already entered the new building.