Our History

El Sol-

Jupiter’s Neighborhood

Resource Center

Like many municipalities around the country, Jupiter faces a number of issues related to a growing immigrant community. Immigrants from Central America and Mexico make up a growing percent of the total population in Jupiter and represent a majority of the residents in Jupiter’s charter neighborhoods..

In 2001, the Town of Jupiter brought together a group of business and neighborhood leaders, along with representatives of the Police Department and local schools to discuss issues surrounding the growing immigrant community, including the gathering of day laborers on Center Street, overcrowding concerns, public nuisance complaints, public safety issues, and crimes committed against immigrants.

Representatives from that citizen group conducted a needs assessment and began working with town staff to research productive solutions that had a track record of success in other communities. The results of the needs assessment suggested that there was a dire need for job referral services, immigration services, and other health and human services in Jupiter. Research suggested that other communities have successfully adapted to their growing immigrant presence through an integrated approach that includes the formation of a public/private partnership to establish a Neighborhood Resource Center in the area where day laborers are most prevalent.

Making the Center a Reality

El Sol, Jupiter’s Neighborhood Resource Center, opened its doors in September, 2006, after almost four years of planning and organizing by the El Sol partners—the town of Jupiter, Catholic Charities, Corn May and Friends of El Sol. The Town Council of Jupiter decided to support a day labor center for the Town of Jupiter in April, 2005 and authorized the use of its facility next to Town Hall for the center. Early in 2006, Catholic Charities announced receipt of a grant to operate the day labor center for two years. At the end of that grant, El Sol will begin operating the Center. Other services are provided through non-profit groups such as Corn Maya, Inc.

Besides operating a day labor referral center, El Sol now also offers daily ESL (English language) classes, as well as other services such as health care education and special events such as a November, 2006 Thanksgiving dinner for over 250 workers and their families.

Sol Silverman

El Sol is named after the sunshine and Sol Silverman. In February, 2005, Sol spoke to Jupiter's town council to address the situation with day laborers who gathered on Center Street seeking work. He spoke about the plight of the immigrant workers, as well as the concerns of those who opposed a day labor center. He insisted on speaking, even though at the time he was in great pain. He helped the originators of El Sol to meet with political leaders to generate support for the center. A few months later he died at the age of 88. At age 14, Sol went to work to help support his family and his whole life was dedicated to working people. Our county administrator called Sol, "the conscience of the county." Sol was an eloquent and persuasive man, a firebrand for justice, who spoke truth to power his whole life.