Progreso Latino

Progreso Latino was founded in 1977 to serve Rhode Island’s Latino and immigrant communities. Local Hispanic leaders saw that the state’s existing infrastructure did not adequately meet the needs of the rapidly growing Latino immigrant population. A small group of community leaders came together to form a multi-cultural, multi-service agency with a mission of helping to build a stronger, more self-sufficient Latino community. Since then, PL has grown into the state’s largest Latino community organization, serving thousands of people each year through over a dozen core programs and services. We have moved from our original storefront office staffed by a few committed activists to a four-story building in the heart of the city that houses over 50 employees.

Progreso Latino’s mission is to empower Rhode Island’s Latino and immigrant communities to achieve greater self-sufficiency and socio-economic progress by providing transformational programs that support personal growth and social change. For over 40 years, Progreso Latino has been providing programs crucial for immigrants facing poverty, experiencing health inequities, earning minimum wages and suffering food insecurity.

In March of 2020, Progreso Latino developed and implemented its COVID-19 Response Plan comprised of the remote continuation of 12 core programs (social services, domestic violence program, early childhood and school age education, senior services, youth development, adult education, workforce development, health & wellness, immigration services, financial literacy, policy & advocacy and public radio education) and the expansion of the onsite food pantry.

Progreso Latino has seen the impact of the pandemic on immigrant families and a significant increase in households served by the CF Food Pantry. The households served include immigrants, pregnant women, parents with children, domestic violence survivors, homeless clients, seniors, adults with disabilities, students, unemployed workers and individuals without transportation. In addition, the CF Food Pantry provides delivery of emergency food to COVID-19 positive households and homebound seniors.