|
|
| Business Resources Career Resources Information Request |
Established in 1967, CHARO Community Development Corporation is a 501(c)(3) community-based nonprofit
organization. CHARO's mission is to be an economic catalyst, providing quality services and innovative
programs for the economic advancement of the underserved Los Angeles Latino community. All services
are provided in a bilingual/bicultural environment.
Today, CHARO proudly ranks as one of the top Latino nonprofit organizations in the United States. |
CONTENTS
Mission and Vision
Operating Divisions
Collaborative Partners
Awards and Recognition
CHARO President & CEO
CHARO Historical Development
Employment Opportunities |
|
CHARO MISSION AND VISION
The CHARO mission is to be an economic advocate and catalyst to the community; to provide community
empowerment opportunities; to provide quality services and to contribute toward the economic and social
improvement of our minority community. To achieve this, CHARO promotes economic growth, to meet the
needs of businesses and job seekers by providing continuous, high-quality, personalized customer service
and leadership in establishing socioeconomic improvement.
The vision of CHARO is to make a positive difference in people's lives by providing high-quality resources
to achieve self-esteem and financial independence.
CHARO programs are designed with three primary goals in mind to create access to capital to create jobs
and harness resources and economic opportunities for the low-income communities in which we serve.
Top |
|
|
CHARO OPERATING DIVISIONS
Top |
|
|
CHARO Business & Financial Center- The CHARO BFC offers fully integrated multifaceted solutions to
new business owners, entrepreneurs, corporations and the community. The BFC is one of the leading
SBA-certified intermediaries successfully packaging bank loans for Southern California business owners.
CHARO Business Incubator - The CHARO Business Incubator is a 36,000 sq. ft. shared services facility
that promotes business enterprise development within our community by helping young firms survive and
grow during the startup period. The Business Incubator will house approximately 40 businesses, including
build to suit spaces. 20 spaces are available now.
CHARO Riverside-SBA Women's Center - Opening a second Women's Business Center in January of 2006. This second Center offers the same biligual services to assist and benefit small business. Located in the City of Riverside at 1825Chicago Ave., Riverside, CA
Inland Empire Minority Business Development Center - The Inland Empire MBDC, located in Riverside,
is a Federally Funded Program by the Minority Business Development Agency U.S. Department of Commerce.
The Inland Empire MBDC (Minority Business Development Center) serves as an economic catalyst, providing
quality technical assistance, training and loan packaging services to high growth minority business owners
in the Inland Empire, Orange County and San Diego areas. All services are provided in a bilingual/bicultural
environment.
California Institute of Business Management- Offers skilled business professionals the NxLevel Entrepreneur
Training Program. The Program is offered in both English and Spanish. Small business owners learn to prepare a
business plan, develop a marketing plan, and complete a financial plan.Two courses are available, one for startup entrepreneurs and an advanced course for entrepreneurs in business 5 or more years.
|
 |
CHARO Child Development Centers - The Child Development Centers are committed to providing quality childcare for all children, regardless of socioeconomic background or ethnicity. All staff is qualified according to state law, and have education and experience in Early Childhood Education and Child Development. The Whittier facility is licensed for 186 children, ages 2-5, from working and low-income families. Staff is bilingual English/Spanish.
|
|
 |
CHARO Research & Development Institute-
Serves as a resource bank for CHARO's operating divisions and CHARO's small business clients, with emphasis on the minority business sector. It was created to study economics and demographics of the local business community, and to develop successful methodologies for economic solutions and formulas to enhance business growth.
|
|
|
CHARO Mortgage Center - Launched Spring 2003, the Mortgage Center offers loan packaging assistance
to individuals seeking to buy a home, refinance an existing mortgage or in need of a home equity line of credit.
Services are offered in both English and Spanish.
The Center also coordinates a series of Home Ownership Expos en Español, especially designed for first
time home buyers with a focus on financial literacy.
CHARO Environmental Services - CES, in collaboration with the Department of Water and Power
and the Neighborhood Bill Reduction Service, provides products and services to the community to help
conserve water and energy.
Facilities Management Division- Established in 2002, FMD is responsible for facility operations,
including rent collections and tenant improvements for the Business Incubator.
CHARO Career Center - Weekly, the Center receives over 1,000 new job listings with salaries ranging
to $110,000. Jobseekers may access the high-speed Internet computers, fax and copier through the
Business Technology lab.
Top |
|
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS
Top |
|
|
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
2004 MBDA - Award for Innovation
CHARO's Inland Empire-MBDC was nationally recognized for its innovation in
promoting International trade by National Minority Director, Ronald Langston
at the National Minority Business Development Administration National Conference.
2004 Advocate of the Year Award
CHARO President & CEO Cynthia Amador, was presented the Advocate of the Year Award by the
National Association of Women Business Owners-Los Angeles (NAWBO).Cynthia Amador was
recognized by NAWBO as a influential advocate who has established a legacy
of entrepreneurial excellence and contributed significantly to the community of Los Angeles.
2004 CRA Tiger Award
CHARO was awarded the Community Reinvestment Award by the Community Reinvestment Coalition.
2004 Congressional Recognition Certificate for Community Service
CHARO was recognized for its outstanding community service by Congresswoman Hilda Solis
2003 CALED
Award of Merit Presented by California Association for Local Economic Development 2003 Award
of Merit for the CHARO - SBA Women's Center Launch.
2003 CARAT Certification
CHARO was recognized by CARAT (California Resources and Training) as one of California's first
Certified Technical Assistance Intermediaries, providing an independent third party evaluation and
validation of CHARO's quality services. No other East Los Angeles agency providing services to
the County of Los Angeles was awarded this prestigious honor.
2003 MBDA Lifetime Achievement Award
CHARO Founder, Richard Amador (retired) for Outstanding Achievements in serving the minority
business community.
2002 Lifetime Achievement Award
CHARO Founder, Richard S. Amador was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award at
the California Vision & Leadership Award Gala.
2002 CALED Award of Merit Presented by California Association for Local Economic
Development 2002 Award of Merit for outstanding One-Stop performance.
2002 Art Goodman Award CHARO President & Founder, Richard S. Amador was presented
the First Annual Lifetime Achievement
Art Goodman Community Enhancement Award.
2000 Community Vision Award Presented by Latin Heat Magazine & Latino Entertainment
Media Institute
2000 Award of Excellence & Grand Prize for Economic Development Presented by
California Association for Local Economic Development
Top |
|
|
CHARO PRESIDENT & CEO
Ms. Amador has over 20 years of economic development experience and is nationally recognized for her program design expertise. Her recent economic development projects include: Inland Empire Minority Development Center, SBA Women's Center, CHARO Home Mortgage Center, Business Incubator, Community Entrepreneur Center and Entrepreneur Training Program.0000
At CHARO, Ms. Amador has authored, initiated and negotiated over $18.1 million in new contracts. She has extensive experience in designing and recruiting new management team members to implement new initiatives, e.g. CHARO-SBA Women's Center, Inland Empire Minority Development Center, CHARO Banking and Financial Center, Business Incubator,
Energy Conservation Programs, and Commercial Development. In doing so, she has led the team in developing CHARO as an economic development expert and destination for small businesses and job creation opportunities.
|
Her expertise also include preparing feasibility studies and implementing plans and strategies for community
based economic development endeavors, designed to create access to capital and economic growth. Ms.
Amador has been instrumental in negotiating new business resources through her work with Greenlining and
Community Reinvestment Coalition, as well as local, state and federal funding entities for the benefit of the
small business community.
Through her leadership CHARO was recently awarded Award of Merit by CALED for Economic Development
Promotion and was certified by CARAT (California Resources and Training) as a Technical Assistance
Intermediary. Ms. Amador employs outcomes based management techniques to ensure adherence to
contract goals and organizational development.
A graduate of the University of Southern California, Ms. Amador has been a volunteer board member of
Women at Work, Latin Business Foundation, and is a member of the Southern California Edison Consumer
Advisory Council.. She was recently awarded the Advocate of the Year by Los Angeles - NAWBO -
National Association of Women Business Owners.
Top |
|
CHARO HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
1967 MITAS (Manpower Information & Technical Assistance)
1969 Project Heart (Hospital Related Training Project)
1970 Instant Job-OJT (On-the-job training)
1971 Institute for Leadership Development
1972 Voc ESL (Vocational Training with English as a Second Language)
1972 CHARO Industries for the Disabled
1973 CHARO Career Center (Employment & Training Services)
1978 CHARO Child Development Center
1984 CHARO Housing Development Corporation
1989 CHARO Extended Day Care Center
1990 CHARO Industrial Park
1992 CHARO Environmental Services
1993 Mid-City Management
1994 California Institute of Business Management
1995 CHARO Multi-Service One-Stop Center
1996 East Los Angeles Business Assistance Center
2001 CHARO Business Incubator
2001 CHARO Small Business Contract Procurement Center
2003 CHARO Home Mortgage Center
2003 CHARO-SBA Women's Center - Los Angeles
2004 CHARO Inland Empire Minority Business Development Center (MBDC)
2006 CHARO Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
2006 CHARO-SBA Women's Center - Riverside
Top |
|
All materials copyright 2000-2007 CHARO Community Development Corporation. All rights reserved. Updated 02-16-07 |
