COLUMBUS, Ind. — A Seymour resident is the new executive director of Su Casa, an organization with a mission to increase self-sufficiency, health, economic independence and education for local Latino families, and to ensure they feel safe and welcome here.
Ashley Caceres said she is eager to help the Latino community feel safe, be successful and make a new community feel like home.
“People want someone that is trustworthy to them. I want the Su Casa staff to be that for the people and give them the support they need,” she said.
According to its mission statement, Su Casa believes all residents should have equitable access to the tools and the support needed to be successful regardless of socioeconomic or immigration status, gender identity, sexual orientation, race or beliefs.
Su Casa was founded in 1999 as a response to the increase of Latin American immigrants arriving to the Columbus area. The majority of these immigrants had limited English proficiency.
Su Casa was established to provide a helping hand and remove barriers to make essential services in the community accessible for those families.
Su Casa welcomed Caceres as the new executive director at the end of May, and already after a month in that position, she has seen success with families through the organization’s support.
Caceres was born in 1996 and raised in Seymour after her parents immigrated from Houston, Texas, in 1995. Both were originally from Mexico.
Growing up, Caceres noticed the growth in demographics from the time her parents settled in town to present day.
“It’s very cool to see the transition from prominently Hispanic to now we are seeing families from Central and even South America,” she said.
For the complete story and more photos, see Tuesday’s Republic.
