Centro CHA

What Centro CHA does

Centro CHA Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 33-0703131), originally formed in 1992 and incorporated in 1999, headquartered at 200 Pine Ave, Suite 550, Long Beach, California. The organization provides integrated human services to low-income Latino/Hispanic youth, families, immigrants, and small business owners in the Greater Long Beach area through four core service lines: Immigration Legal Services (naturalization/N-400, DACA, Certificate of Citizenship, green card renewal, fee waiver assistance), Youth Development (paid work experience, internships, career and academic counseling for ages 16-24), Workforce Development (job placement, mentoring, GED preparation, reentry and diversion programs for justice-involved individuals), and Business Support (counseling, financial literacy, social media marketing training, KIVA loans, and the Latino Small Business Micro Grant Loan Program). These services are complemented by targeted initiatives including the Safe Passages/Be S.A.F.E. violence prevention program, a Digital Inclusion initiative with the City of Long Beach, the Boys and Men of Color coalition, Immigration Integration services, and the annual Latino Economic Report & Summit produced with California State University, Long Beach.

Centro CHA operates a wraparound delivery model in which clients entering through any single service are cross-referenced into other programs. Distribution is direct: services are delivered at the downtown Long Beach office, through monthly large-scale workshops, and via partnerships with Cerritos Community College (ESL and Civics), Cal State Long Beach (research and summits), the City of Long Beach (digital inclusion), and the Long Beach Violence Prevention Collaborative. Revenue is generated almost entirely through donations and grants from individuals, foundations (Calley Foundation, S. Mark Taper Foundation, Blue Shield Foundation, California Community Foundation, Vanguard Charitable, Munzer Foundation, Gumbiner Foundation, Long Beach Community Foundation), corporate partners (MUFG Union Bank, ILWU Local 13, Baby2Baby, Long Beach Economic Partnership), and government sources (federal DACA/Naturalization filing fee assistance in 2022-2023). Direct program fees are nominal (a $100 one-time business counseling fee, a $10/month small business program participation fee), and immigration legal services are free to eligible community members. Signature events include the annual Nuestra Imagen Latino Leadership Awards Gala (25th anniversary edition scheduled for October 8, 2026).

Leadership is anchored by Executive Director Jessica Quintana (25 years of public service) and a board chaired by Jerry Avila (ILWU Local 13). The organization is currently executing a major facility expansion: the $2.6 million transformation of the former Bank of America building on Long Beach Blvd into the Community Inclusive Workforce & Business Development Center, alongside development of the Latino Cultural Center & El Mercado Long Beach in the Downtown Long Beach Greenbelt. Previously known as Centro de La Raza, Centro CHA has served over 23,000 ex-offenders, high school dropouts, and their families, and is a member of coalitions including Brothers, Sons, Selves and the California Community Foundation Immigrant Integration Task Force.

Name

Centro CHA

Legal name

Centro CHA Inc.

Website

https://centrocha.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Centro CHA is a Long Beach-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1992 that delivers integrated immigration legal, youth, workforce, and small business support services to low-income Latino/Hispanic residents of Greater Long Beach, California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Centro CHA primarily relies on donations from individuals and grants from foundations and government agencies. The organization accepts one-time and recurring donations.
2. Filing Fee Assistance Program: In 2022, Centro CHA was awarded DACA and Naturalization Application Filing Fee (DNAF) funding from the federal government to support payment of USCIS application fees for low-income DACA and Naturalization applicants. This program ran from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023.
3. Event Revenue: The organization generates revenue through signature events such as the annual Nuestra Imagen Latino Leadership Awards Gala, which includes ticket sales and sponsorships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Centro CHA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization that provides free or low-cost wraparound services to low-income Latino/Hispanic youth and families in Long Beach, CA. Its core offerings include Immigration Legal Services (naturalization, DACA, green card renewal, fee waiver assistance), Youth Development (paid work experience, career counseling, GED prep for ages 16-24), Workforce Development (job placement, mentoring, reentry programs), and Business Support (counseling, financial literacy, access to KIVA loans). All services are delivered through case management, workshops, and one-on-one appointments, often underwritten by donations and grants.

Product overview

Centro CHA is a nonprofit community organization (incorporated 1999) offering an integrated suite of services and initiatives serving the Latino/Hispanic community in Long Beach, CA. The organization provides core services including Immigration Legal Services (naturalization, DACA, green card renewal), Youth Development, Workforce Development, and Business Support. These are complemented by targeted initiatives such as Violence Prevention (Safe Passages, Be S.A.F.E.), Digital Inclusion, Boys and Men of Color, and Economic Inclusion programs. Key programs include the annual Latino Economic Report & Summit conducted with Cal State Long Beach, the Long Beach Por Vida Youth Social Enterprise, and the Nuestra Imagen Awards Gala. The organization is also developing major facilities including the Community Inclusive Workforce & Business Development Center and the Latino Cultural Center & El Mercado Long Beach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Long Beach Por Vida: Youth Social Enterprise that supports creative technology and cultural arts
• Latino Economic Report

Products and services

• Immigration Legal Services Free immigration legal services including naturalization (N-400) applications, DACA renewals and new applications, Certificate of Citizenship (N-600), green card renewal, and fee waiver assistance (I-912) for low-income community members. Delivered by appointment at Centro CHA's Long Beach office and through monthly workshops.
• Youth Development Services Empowerment and supportive services for youth and young adults aged 16-24, including paid work experience, internship opportunities, career and academic counseling, paid on-the-job training, GED preparation, and diversion programming for at-risk youth (including ex-offenders and high school dropouts).
• Workforce Development Personalized case management, mentoring, job placement assistance, GED preparation, post-secondary education assistance, and reentry and diversion programs for justice-involved individuals in Long Beach.
• Business Support Services One-on-one business counseling ($100 one-time fee), financial literacy workshops, social media marketing training, strategic growth planning, and access to capital through KIVA loans and the Latino Small Business Micro Grant Loan Program ($10/month participation).
• Safe Passages Program Trains local West Long Beach residents as Safety Guides to observe and report hazardous situations, empowering neighborhoods to take responsibility for their own security.
• Be S.A.F.E. Initiative Violence prevention collaborative that has documented a 50% reduction in crime in activated areas by building a collective impact framework for positive youth development.
• Digital Inclusion Initiative Bilingual digital literacy training, one-on-one tech support workshops, laptop distribution, and free WiFi access for underserved Long Beach residents in partnership with the City of Long Beach.
• Boys and Men of Color Initiative Youth empowerment summits, career panels, and legislator briefings for young men of color, delivered through the Brothers, Sons, Selves Coalition partnership.
• Immigration Integration Services Wraparound immigration support including case management, ESL and civics classes, USCIS interview preparation, and connections to immigration attorneys for the Greater Long Beach community.
• Latino Economic Report & Summit Annual economic report and summit conducted in partnership with California State University, Long Beach that provides strategic data for programming and serves as vital information for partners and government agencies.
• Long Beach Por Vida Youth Social Enterprise Youth social enterprise that supports creative technology and cultural arts programs for young people in Long Beach.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served over 23,000 ex-offenders, high school dropouts, and their families
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Baby2BabyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization listed in Centro CHA's 'Thank You to our Partners' section. Baby2Baby is a nonprofit that provides diapers, wipes, and supplies to families in need.
• Long Beach Economic PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization listed in Centro CHA's 'Thank You to our Partners' section. Economic development organization serving Long Beach area.
• ILWU Local 13minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization with Jerry Avila serving as Chairman of Centro CHA's Board as ILWU Local 13 Crane Operator. Labor union representing Longshore workers.
• California State University, Long BeachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to produce the annual Latino Economic Report. Co-hosted the Boys and Men of Color Summit with over 450 students attending.
• Cerritos Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrust partner providing professors and professionals to teach ESL and Civics classes for naturalization interview preparation.
• City of Long BeachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Digital Inclusion initiative. Centro CHA developed bilingual digital literacy training workshops and distributed laptops and free WiFi in partnership with the City.
• NALEO Educational FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentro CHA belongs to the Immigrant Integration Task Force co-led by NALEO Educational Fund (National Association of Latino Elected Officials).
• Brothers, Sons, Selves CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentro CHA is a proud member of this coalition, a combined effort of The California Endowment and various community organizations working to improve the lives of young men.
• Long Beach Violence Prevention CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative since 2010 to rally community leaders and reframe current systems to build a collective impact framework. Centro CHA supports this collaborative.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Broad incumbents

• UnidosUS (formerly NCLR): Largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., with affiliated community-based organizations across multiple states. Broader-incumbent peer operating at significantly larger scale than Centro CHA.
• Hispanic Federation: National nonprofit supporting Latino communities and member organizations across the U.S. through grantmaking, advocacy, and capacity-building. Larger, broader-incumbent peer with overlapping immigrant rights and community development focus.

Direct peers

• CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights): Los Angeles-based immigrant rights organization providing legal services, advocacy, and community education for immigrant families. Direct overlap with Centro CHA's immigration legal services and immigrant integration mandate.
• Esperanza Community Housing: South Los Angeles community-based organization serving predominantly Latino families with health, housing, and youth services. Comparable in scale, wraparound service model, and community-embedded delivery.
• El Centro de la Raza: Seattle-based community organization serving Latino and other marginalized populations with human services, education, and cultural programming. Comparable integrated service model and long-tenured community trust.
• Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP): Oxnard, CA-based community organization serving indigenous Mexican and Latino communities with health, education, and civic engagement programs. Comparable regional California focus and community-driven service model.
• CARECEN (Central American Resource Center): Los Angeles-based community organization serving Central American and Latino immigrants with legal services, civic engagement, and workforce programs. Highly comparable to Centro CHA in target population, integrated service model, and California footprint.
• CIELO (Comunidades Indigenas en Liderazgo): Los Angeles-based indigenous and Latino community organizing and workforce development organization. Comparable target population, workforce focus, and community-based service delivery in California.
• Centro Legal de la Raza: Oakland-based legal and community services organization serving low-income immigrant and Latino communities with legal aid, youth programs, and economic development. Closely comparable to Centro CHA in mission and integrated services approach.

Regional players

• Latino Community Foundation: California-based foundation investing in Latino-led organizations and community initiatives. Adjacent in mission (Latino community advancement) and overlap in geographic and donor networks.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Centro_CHA
• Facebookfacebook.com/CentroCHA
• Instagraminstagram.com/centro_cha

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centro CHA