About Us

WHO WE ARE

MCRC provides a variety of educational, social service, child development, housing, and employment programs to

the Latino, Refugee, Immigrant, and New American populations in Erie in a client-first

and focused manner. The service needs of our New American population are of prime
importance. All services promote client self—sufficiency and improved economic,
physical and/or social wellbeing. Additionally, MCRC advocates for the needs of our
clients by supporting increased community awareness and education about our new
neighbors.

Agency History

On April 29, 1975, The Hispanic American Council was incorporated as a nonprofit organization. The Council was first located at the Spanish Apostolate, an Erie Diocesan Mission Office at 611 West 17th Street. The Council started with no administrative funds and operated with volunteers and two paid staff members. In September of 2009, the organization’s name was changed to the Multicultural Community Resource Center to more accurately reflect the diverse and ever-increasing population served. Today the Multicultural Community Resource Center employs more than 50 individuals and is located in the old Penn Schoolhouse at 554 East 10th Street in Erie. Since the building was erected in 1880, it is gradually being refurbished to its original architectural prominence as a center of learning in Erie.

Agency Culture

MCRC is committed to be a welcoming safe-haven to New
Americans. Over the course of the past year, we have reimagined agency culture and its
impact within our community. We believe that agency culture inspires our mission and
values and allows us to provide the highest level of quality of service to our community.

Core Values

We are Welcoming:

MCRC is a welcoming community center and a safe-haven where its clients feel safe, respected, and comfortable in being themselves and expressing all aspects of their identities.

We treat others with Dignity:

We believe that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. As such, every person should be valued and respected for their own sake, and to be treated ethically.

We are Collaborative:

We believe relationships are foundational to our success and the key to creating a better society, both internally, as we work together to drive our mission, and externally, as we seek to maximize the impact of partners.

We promote Opportunity:

MCRC provides all clients the opportunity to live a full, free and enriching life so their dreams can be achieved.

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Katie Kretz
Executive Director

kkretz@mcrcerie.org

Srđan Ninković
Associate Director of Operations

sninkovic@mcrcerie.org

We believe in Diversity:

We know that by embracing differences, all ages, actively including a variety of voices, and joining together we can build a better community – making every tomorrow greater than every yesterday.