In the 2000 U.S. Census Tennessee had a 278% increase in the Latino population from the 1990 U.S. Census. In statistics from a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau publication there were 39,259 Latinos in the 35 counties comprising East Tennessee. CEDnet works in 14 of these counties at the present that represent about 19,000 Latinos.

The Latino Task Force (LTF) began in 2001 having started by researching the needs of the local Latino Community. Twenty organizations that were Latino-based or Latino Allies met and prioritized the needs that became the guidelines of future activities.

The LTF researched and developed a 5-point program model for banks to address the challenge of undocumented workers’ lack of access to bank accounts, and the underemployment of Latinos in the banking system. The task force negotiated with 4 banks before Sun trust Bank agreed to first initiate the program in East TN and later adopt it nationally. A staff person at the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research said, “I wanted to commend you and your colleagues for being in many ways ahead of California’s financial institutions.”

The LTF established the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of East TN in 2004 that became a separate 501(c)(6) non-profit organization. The Chamber currently has 165 member businesses and regularly includes 60-90 business representatives at its networking meetings.

Centro Hispano was another project that was envisioned by the LTF. It became a separate 501(c)(3) that provided assistance and guidance to services and resources in health, education, legal matters, financial support and social services to Latinos. After partnering with Catholic Charities Office of Immigrant Servicesfor a couple of years, the Centro is back in full swing now with a new dynamic board of 17 directors, functioning committees and work underway to open the CENTRO HISPANO MAGNOLIA at the Magnolia United Methodist Church in Knoxville this summer.

View/Download the LTF Bi-Lingual Legal Rights Manual here (PDF Format).