About Us

Formerly an anti-deportation activist organization known as New Sanctuary Network Tulsa (www.NewSanctuaryTulsa.org), we have expanded our mission and impact, filing with the state of Oklahoma to become a 501c(3) in summer 2021. Our new name is New Sanctuary Empowerment Center or more commonly: El Centro. El Centro is a community center, a learning center, and a workers’ center. While the focus is on offering programs and services to assist immigrants principally from Latin America, all people regardless of nation of origin and legal status are welcome to join, become members and participate in the activities at El Centro. Beyond our work as a service provider, we seek to develop a space for learning and community organizing where community members bring solutions, ideas, plans and strategies to tackle personal, work-related and community obstacles. The key to our work is to actively engage in social responsibility and empowerment.

We offer pro-bono legal consultations through a partnership with the Tulsa Immigrant Resource Center at University of Tulsa, as well as a range of workshops and learning opportunities including adult literacy, digital literacy classes, Know-Your-Rights, workplace workshops, and other programming. We embrace a membership model. Our objective is to create a sense of belonging and community modeled after solidarity efforts in Latinx/Latin American experiences. 

El Centro is led by Executive Director Linda Allegro.

Our Board

Pastor Alvaro Nova - Board Co-Chair
Barbara Prose - Board Co-Chair
Jessica Vazquez - Secretary
Rick Barr - Treasurer
Ana Barros
Cynthia Jasso
Dewayne Messenger
Jackie Meza
Maria Elena Kuykendall
Robin Sherman
Zenia Kish