About the Monument Community

The population of the neighborhood exploded between 1990 and 2000 largely due to an influx of immigrants to the area. As a result, the Monument Community is one of the most densely populated communities in the Bay Area. In fact, nearly a quarter of the Concord's residents live in the Monument area. Thus a large portion of the city's population is under-resourced, and with a little help could contribute to the larger community.

Due to the massive growth of the neighborhood, the needs and image have changed significantly. The Latino community now makes up over half of the population in the Monument Corridor. More than half of these residents do not have a high school diploma and nearly a third of the Monument community speaks little or no English. Thus there is a huge need for education in the area, which the Michael Chavez Center strives to provide to as many of the residents as possible. In addition, Monument residents tend to be significantly younger on average, and thus possess the potential to contribute economically to our city.

Poverty and unemployment in the Monument Corridor are also big issues. In 2000, nearly 63% of the residents live below the poverty line and Monument residents were 1.5 times more likely to be unemployed compared to residentes elsewhere in the County. (These figures are likely to be higher now due to our current economy.) Therefore this community needs resource that enable them to find education and employment so that they can be self-sufficient contributors to their community, city, and economy.