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Salem, OR – On April 17th, Governor Tina Kotek and the First Lady joined local leaders to celebrate the grand opening of La Plaza Esperanza, a community gathering space in the heart of Gresham’s Latino community. La Plaza Esperanza was constructed by Latino Network, an organization that provides a wide range of culturally specific services to the Latino community in the Portland-Metro area.
“This is more than just a preschool or a community center – it’s a homegrown space for culture, identity, language, and pride to flourish,” Governor Kotek said. “It's a place where children will grow up knowing their roots and develop confidence in themselves.”
La Plaza Esperanza is Latino Network’s first in-house preschool, offering free, culturally specific early childhood education. The new 18,000 square-foot community center will provide a variety of services to the growing Rockwood neighborhood, including a community gathering space, housing and rental assistance, and youth programs. In 2021, the State of Oregon committed $4,395,000 in Lottery Funds to support the project. City, county, federal, and community partners also contributed to the project.
There were roughly 200 people present during the grand opening.
"We were so happy to have so many members of our community come together to make the grand opening such a special and joyous event," Juan Martinez, Director of Philanthropy for the Latino Network, said. "We are blessed to have such an incredible space to welcome the many supporters from every part of the state who helped take La Plaza Esperanza from a dream to reality. From preschool children to teenagers to entire families, La Plaza Esperanza is now a place of hope for Rockwood and for our whole community."
Governor Kotek has long supported the creation of the space. She helped secure state support during her time as Speaker of the House, and as Governor visited the site when the construction project broke ground in April 2023. She joined the groundbreaking during a scheduled stop in Multnomah County on her One Oregon Tour where she visited every county across Oregon during her first year in office.