WEST BEND, Wis. – Jan 21, 2019 – Casa Guadalupe Education Center, Inc. will be moving to a new location in 2019. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides education and literacy programs for the Hispanic community in Washington County will soon call the former convent building of Saint Mary’s Immaculate Conception Parish, 419 Roosevelt Drive, its new “casa”. It has occupied its current space in the historic West Bend brewery building for more than 10 years.

 “We are immensely grateful to our current building owner for their continued generosity and support over the years,” said Casa Guadalupe Executive Director Noelle Braun.” It is a space that has served us well and holds many fond memories. In the fall of 2017, serious discussions were had to redevelop our building and reimagine its future. While those plans ultimately did not move forward, it spurred us to take action and be proactive in searching for a new space.

“After having an initial conversation with Saint Mary’s to look at vacant space in their former school, we were also invited to look at the convent building next door, where we saw some great potential to provide our programming,” Braun said. “This decision was all about timing, and we feel this is the right time to start a new chapter for our growing organization. We sincerely appreciate Saint Mary’s support and collaboration with this move, and also thank West Bend Mutual Insurance Company for providing generous funding to support our one-time moving costs.”

Casa Guadalupe’s roots are connected to the local Catholic churches, as it was founded in 2006 by Father Rafael Rodriguez, the bilingual priest in charge of Hispanic Ministry Outreach at the time, and local parishioner and educator Mary Lynn Bennett. Saint Mary’s currently provides a Mass in Spanish for the Spanish-speaking community on Sunday afternoons, and Casa Guadalupe hosts an annual fundraiser and other health programming periodically in their gymnasium.

“Saint Mary’s Immaculate Conception Parish is thrilled to welcome Casa Guadalupe to our grounds for the new location of their Center,” said Father Nathan Reesman, Shared Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish and Saint Frances Cabrini Parish. “This is a great fit - Casa’s mission is a natural extension of the Gospel call to the promotion of human dignity, education and justice. We are grateful for their partnership, and we are grateful to all who have made this move possible.”

Casa Guadalupe looks forward to bringing many businesses, organizations, and individuals together to update and remodel the building so that it is move in ready by July 2019.
 
About Casa Guadalupe Education Center: Founded in 2006, Casa Guadalupe Education Center is the only bilingual and bicultural 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Washington County, Wisconsin with the mission to be the bridge of integration to Hispanics and the communities in which they live through education and community access. With their educational and social services, they work to empower Spanish-speaking Hispanic families to live independent, successful lives, and to build strong families and establish meaningful connections within the community. They dedicate themselves as a community outreach facility and provide a sought-after directorship for public agencies, educational institutions and businesses that are committed to understanding the diverse roles Hispanic people offer to a community.