AHU' History

It wasn’t until July that AHU opened their first office, donatedfrom a church, on the north side of town.  This year was also the first time that AHU secured funding for two consecutive years from the National Council of La Raza, and was able to hire its first part-time employee.   In November, the Hispanic Initiative Network (HIN) was created and funded by a three-year grant.  Four organizations joined to provide needed services, one of these organizations was AHU filling the position of a volunteer coordinator.  The Kentucky Hispanic Chamber of Lexington was also created this year. 

In 2001, the Cardinal Valley Center became a comfortable place for newly arriving immigrants, and it was often an informational center for newcomers to learn about Lexington.  AHU provided an array of services in collaboration with the center, including ESL classes and the first support group for Hispanic women.  In the summer, the first Hispanic newspaper, La Voz, was created.  Members of AHU contributed regularly as columnists for La Voz.  AHU also organized the first Posada during Christmas-time at the Cardinal Valley Center. In the spring of 2002, there was a fire in Lexington where 24 Hispanic people lost their homes, so AHU raised money to help these families.  In May, Partners for Youth, an organization created by Mayor Pam Miller, helped AHU fund the first Biblioteca Hispana.

Page <1> <2> <3> <4> <5>