CARECEN SF’s founders were active in the resistance movement that arose in El Salvador in the 1970s to fight against the grave political and economic injustices that characterized the country.
They were ultimately forced to flee El Salvador during the civil war and established CARECEN SF in San Francisco in 1986 to address the needs of Salvadorans and other Central Americans who fled the region amid civil war, political repression, and counter-insurgencies of the 1980s. One of our founders, Ricardo Calderon, is still working with us as one of our senior paralegals. Establishing the organization was no easy task. With little or no resources Ricardo and his colleagues persevered in breaking through great obstacles and establishing an organization that would prove to be critical for Central Americans and other Latinos in the SF Bay Area. Other Salvadoran exiles established CARECEN SF offices in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Houston, and New York City.
CARECEN SF’s founders worked with and were inspired by Monsignor Oscar Romero, archbishop of San Salvador.
Monsignor Romero witnessed brutal violations of human rights and spoke out on behalf of the poor and victims of the country’s civil war. He was brutally assasinated by members of the Salvadoran military in 1980. During his lifetime, Monsignor Romero was at the forefront of the Salvadoran social justice struggle. Today, his example continues to provide inspiration and guidance as we work to build a more just and equitable world. The beatification of Monsignor Romero by the Catholic Church took place in May of 2015 in San Salvador at the Plaza Salvador del Mundo. An estimated 250,000 people attended the service. In March 2018, Pope Francis signed the drecree of miracle for the intercession of Monsignor Romero with which he will be proclaimed saint. The canonization of Monsignor Romero is expected to take place in late October of 2018.
Because recently-arrived people who migrate required low-cost legal services to help them establish residency or obtain work permits, CARECEN SF originally focused on providing immigration legal services and advocacy.
As CARECEN SF and our community became more established, our clientele requested additional types of services, with a focus on health and wellness and family support. Because we (the staff) are part of the community we serve, our path has always closely followed the needs of Central American and other Latin American people who migrate. Throughout our history, we have always addressed social justice and fairness issues through a combination of direct services and advocacy.