Hispanic Outreach Center director of community engagement hits career milestone

CLEARWATER, Fla. — For two and a half decades, the Hispanic Outreach Center has been helping people with resources and life skills in Pinellas County.

And Director of Community Engagement Andrea Vendetti has been there since it all began.

“I feel grateful that I had this opportunity because I met so many incredible people, and I was able to help so many people,” said Vendetti.

Vendetti has been working for the nonprofit since it began 25 years ago. 

“God put me here for a reason, I think I should stay. I never thought of leaving after I started working,” she said.

Vendetti started out as a bilingual assistant, helping non-English speakers access resources. She was also an interpreter who worked in partnership with Clearwater Police to help victims of crime work through the legal process.  

“I really like to help the victims because like, they were so helpless. They didn’t know where to go, and they had so much need and were scared.”

The nonprofit started with just three employees in 2000, including Vendetti. The staff has now grown to 17. As the director of community engagement, Vendetti said, they are always finding new needs. The organization recently added a health navigator program. It also coordinates monthly food distributions.

“We’re a key partner in our community to bridge the gap between the Hispanic community and the mainstream, to integrate them into the community and provide access to services,” Vendetti said.

Vendetti said some of the biggest challenges facing the Hispanic community today are immigration, health care navigation, affordable housing and childcare

“We really love our community, and we want to support the Hispanic community. We want it to be successful,” she said.

Vendetti has been there through it all, and after decades of service, she said she is considering retirement. 

“It’s really hard. I can’t imagine myself and not being here and not working with the community. I probably will still be involved, maybe with the Hispanic Leadership Council,” she said.

No matter what her role is, Vendetti will always be a staple in the Pinellas County Hispanic community.

The Hispanic Outreach Center is moving locations in the next several weeks, from Franklin Street to Woodlawn Street in Clearwater.