PITTSBURGH —
Casa San Jose will open a new $6.6 million facility in Pittsburgh’s Beechview neighborhood, marking a new chapter for the nonprofit organization that has served the city’s Hispanic/Latino and immigrant community for over a decade.
“This has been a dream for, like, six years already. It took a very, very long time for us to get off the ground,” said Monica Ruiz, executive director of Casa San Jose.
Before the construction of the new facility, Casa San Jose operated out of church basements and small office spaces. Sister Janice Vanderneck, who founded the organization, says it grew from a calling to a well-oiled machine.
“It was only me and one bilingual volunteer, but we just were on fire with the mission, and it just kept growing,” Vanderneck said.
Ruiz says the new space is answering a need for Pittsburgh.
“Pittsburgh is a major city, and most major cities have a beautiful space for Latinos, and we were lacking that, and that was sort of the inspiration that we deserve nice things as well,” Ruiz said.
The new facility will provide a range of resources, including medical and dental services, ESL classes, caregiver classes and youth programs.
“They are so excited. They’re so ready to have something like this because our other spaces have just been so limited. There was never really a place for them to come and stay, and that’s what we’re really looking forward to here,” Ruiz said.
The opening comes at a time when ICE operations continue across the country. Ruiz believes the building sends a clear message.
“We can’t hide. We’re not hiding again. We deserve nice things,” she said.
Ruiz also sees the new facility as a tribute to Vanderneck’s years of dedication.
“Kind of thought that this was sort of a ‘thank you’ to her, to show her that all of the hard work that she’s put in all these years came to this,” Ruiz said.
“We want this space to belong to the community. We want to find ways to gather here that really promote our neighborliness more than anything,” Vanderneck said.
The grand opening of Casa San Jose’s new facility on Broadway Avenue is scheduled for Oct. 15.