Each year, United Way of Miami-Dade honors individuals in the community dedicated to building bridges between people so that they can come together in a common goal despite their differences. The 2007 recipient of the Essie Silva Community Builder Award is Steven Mainster, founder and executive director of Centro Campesino Farmworker Center, Inc. This prestigious award honors an individual who exemplifies volunteerism and whose commitment to bringing hope, promise and opportunity into the lives of others has made a lasting, positive impact on a person, group, or community at large.

Mainster was selected in recognition of his extraordinary commitment to improving lives and strengthening his community. Awards were presented June 18th at the 2007 Annual Meeting and Volunteer Awards luncheon in the Ballroom of the Radisson Hotel in Miami.
A member of the NeighborWorks network and the national NeighborWorks Rural Initiative, Centro Campesino Farmworker Center, Inc. is a rural development organization dedicated to improving the quality of life and self sufficiency of migrant and seasonal farmworkers, their children, and other low-income families of all ethnic and racial backgrounds. Centro Campesino works to provide affordable home ownership opportunities to low income families, so they too can own a part of the American Dream.

From left, Harve A. Mogul, president/CEO United Way of Miami-Dade; Andrew Ruiz, Outstanding Youth Award; Phillis Oeters, Dorothy Shula Award for Outstanding Volunteerism; Steve Mainster, Essie Silva Community Builder Award; Miriam Roman, Monsignor Walsh Outstanding Human Services Professional Award; Richard D. Fain, Chair, United Way of Miami-Dade.

Centro Campesino is also a leader in disaster relief response. When Hurricane Andrew hit, a disaster relief center was immediately set up on Centro’s property
in Florida City. Thousands of meals a day were served while a tent city, medicine and emergency items were supplied to
the hundreds of displaced individuals and families. In addition, within days of Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jean wreaking havoc throughout South and South Central Florida, Centro responded with the building of local partnerships, hiring staff and enlisting volunteers to implement hurricane repairs, rebuilding and long term development of single family homes.

To fulfill the organization’s mission to provide better living conditions, two communities have been constructed in South Miami-Dade and another in western Palm Beach County in the rural community of South Bay, Florida. Further development is underway.

In addition to his focus on developing affordable housing for hundreds of farmworkers and other low income residents, Mainster gives them opportunities to learn new skills, trades and gain quality education. This has been the catalyst for many of them to leave agriculture, get a college education, and begin new careers.

In addition, Centro cares for the children of many farm workers in its after school and summer youth programs. Mainster has added academic and creative thinking lessons to the curriculum as well as teaching the children tolerance and understanding of others.

Through the years, Mainster realized that even more was needed to effectively address all the needs of the farmworker community. Centro Campesino focuses its efforts and programs on the following areas: Affordable housing development; Employment and Training; Youth and Family Services; Leadership Development; and Emergency Response. To complement these goals he helped create the Coalition for Florida Farm worker Organizations (COFFO). COFFO is now known as one of the premier social service agencies of South Florida. He also serves on the Board of Everglades Community Association (ECA) which runs the largest farm worker rental housing project in the country.

Mainster’s long standing career, based on professionalism, kindness, compassion, and gentle determination, has helped thousands of farm workers and their families achieve their dreams of a better life.