Saturday, November 8, 2025
After more than four decades of dedicated service to Rockville Centre’s Hispanic community, Margarita Grasing has retired as executive director of the Hispanic Brotherhood, leaving behind a legacy of advocacy, resilience and compassion.
Grasing, who began her work as a Hispanic outreach coordinator for the village in 1979, helped establish the Hispanic Brotherhood in 1984 in response to the growing needs of Dominican and Latino immigrants settling in the area.
“There was a large community moving in the area, very Dominican, and they needed help with housing, employment,” Grasing said. “The kids in the school were a whole new crowd in there that they didn’t understand because they didn’t speak English.”
What began as a grassroots initiative has evolved into a comprehensive social service organization, supporting seniors, families and youth across the area. From helping families navigate housing laws to feeding hundreds of seniors each year, she said that the organization became a cornerstone of support in Rockville Centre — thanks in large part to Grasing’s leadership. Today, she said the Brotherhood, located at 59 Clinton Ave., serves over 400 seniors and distributes more than 1,700 meals annually.
During the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Grasing and her team delivered meals directly to homebound seniors. The agency also distributed 1,500 air filtration units to seniors in Rockville Centre and nearby areas, provided through a grant from United Way. The Brotherhood worked with local mayors and community centers to ensure older residents had access to clean indoor air.
“I really think it helped because it at least put their minds at ease, because nobody knew what to do,” she said.
Beyond emergency response, the Brotherhood has been an advocate for fair housing, supporting tenants facing eviction. The organization has helped take local landlords and even housing authorities to court in the past.
“The biggest achievement, as far as I’m concerned, is that we helped a lot of families that would have never survived in this area, and we did it by going to court in many cases,” Grasing said. “We had to just go by the law and make sure they were respecting the law for everybody, not only a few.”
Among the organization’s most notable success stories are the students who receive homework help, support and mentorship from Brotherhood staff.
“They did their homework because that’s very important to be at the same level with the other kids,” Grasing said of the importance of the homework help program. “You have to pay attention to that homework, otherwise the school starts looking at (the students) in a different way.”
While funding remains a big challenges, particularly in light of grant cuts to mental health and research services nationwide, Grasing remains hopeful. The organization recently received a $10,000 donation from the Hispanic Federation to provide grocery store vouchers to families during the holiday season.
Grasing also emphasized the importance of evolving to meet new community needs. Under her guidance, the Brotherhood recently launched a job training program in Hempstead for young adults interested in airport employment, which is a viable alternative for those not pursuing college.
Grasing immigrated to the U.S. from Havana, Cuba in 1961, and her influence has extended far beyond Rockville Centre through her leadership roles with Nassau County, New York State and Molloy University. Her work earned her honors, including the Governor’s Award of Excellence and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award.
Now officially retired after 41 years and having passed the reins to her daughter, Marguerite Keller, Grasing is enjoying the chance to reflect and reconnect with the community she helped shape.
“The best time is knowing people,” she said. “I know so many people in this community, and the community itself in Rockville Centre helped us so much.”
Grasing was also honored by Mayor Francis X. Murray, Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley, and the village trustees at the Sept. 8 board of trustees meeting.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude and best wishes for a joyful and fulfilling retirement, which she so very much deserves,” Baxley said at the meeting.
For more information about the Hispanic Brotherhood, visit HispanicBrotherhood.org.
