Diane Cantor became the new executive director of Centro Campesino Farmworker Center on March 24.
Q. What did you do before you came to Centro?
A. Most recently I was the executive director of Brit Tzedek v`Shalom -- the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace. It's a national organization working to convince American Jews to support a negotiated two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. For 18 years my career spanned a lot of nonprofit work in senior management. Before the Alliance job I was the executive director of Habitat for Humanity in Savannah, and I also served four years as president of the Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education, an elected position.
The Alliance work involved political advocacy. I decided I wanted to return to the area of affordable housing. That and education have been my career interests. I believe that affordable housing -- whether you rent or own it -- can change people's lives for the better. One of Centro's services is building affordable housing.
Q. Tell us more about Centro.
A. It began in Florida 35 years ago to improve the lives of immigrant farmworkers. But its mission has expanded to work to improve the lives all poor people. We have three offices -- here in Florida City, in South Bay in Palm Beach County and in Bowling Green in Hardee County.
I am replacing Steve Mainster, who has been with Centro for 35 years. He is staying on for six months as housing director to help bring some big projects to completion. I told Steve I feel that he is really entrusting his legacy to me, which is an honor.
Q. Besides building affordable housing what are some other agency services?
A. Well, there is Jobs Plus. We recruit farmworkers who want to finish their education and get better-paying jobs. We help them earn their GED through classes, computer training and the like. We offer them job training, and when they are finished and are certified by the state we help them get jobs.
We offer literacy education, after-school and summer programs for children and, as part of our housing programs, we help people prepare for home ownership. We help them gather the documents necessary for obtaining a mortgage, teach them how to manage money. And we offer help on how to avoid foreclosure.
We have this wonderful center here in Florida City that is surrounded by homes we built. The center is a gathering place, a place for learning and improving lives.
Q. Your website is under construction. How can people get in touch with the agency?
A. Getting the website going is the next project. We want to be very 21st century. I'm hoping we can offer information in Spanish and maybe Creole as well as English. But you can call 305-245-7738. If someone is interested in applying for an affordable-housing program they should speak to Rennatta Delgado. We're taking applications now. For after-school and summer programs and such, speak to Dianna Daley. We also need volunteers and contributions, and if you want to help you should speak to Marguerite Schantz.
Q. So what do you think of South Florida so far?
A. I like the Everglades. I think I could go there every weekend. I'm a dog walker, and I love all the new flora and fauna I see on our walks. But the traffic here is scary. I told that to someone who lives here, and he said, ``You're smart to be scared by it.''
Editorial Board member Kathleen Krog prepared this report.
