Baltimore

The Baltimore Division honors the Latin American Community Center (LACC)—Delaware’s only full-service social services agency)—for focusing on the needs of the state’s growing Latino population. The LACC offers more than 20 programs dedicated to the healthy development and education of children, youth, and their families. Accepting the award on behalf of the organization is Rafael Castro.

Since 1969, the LACC—a community-based agency located in the city of Wilmington’s Hilltop neighborhood—provides resources and programs for more than 25,000 Latinos and their families each year. The Project PACT (Prevention of Alcohol Consumption in My Teens) program is designed to develop leadership skills as well as provide prevention instructions on alcohol abuse, drug usage, crime, and physical and mental health issues. This is made possible through a combination of storytelling and art projects that help youth make beneficial life choices. Other assistance offered includes education programs for all ages, crime victim services, workforce development classes, family self-sufficiency resources, and helping to ensure that families are living in healthy homes.