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Celebrating Achievements:
A Year in Review
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¡Saludos! Welcome to our first e-newsletter for this fall semester and fiscal year!
We are excited to share with you a snapshot of LEI’s recent activities, including the inspiring accomplishments of our students and staff and our plans for the near future. Our staff is small but mighty, and their passion and dedication for more than fifteen years have improved life opportunities for countless families. The numbers below speak for themselves. Scroll down for a synopsis of these activities, successes, and upcoming events to watch for.
—Maria A. Juncos-Gautier, Executive Director
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Exhilarating WooSox Game!
Under the beautiful September skies, LEI had its first WooSox Fundraising Game and was recognized for 23 years of service to the community this past Saturday, September 16, at Polar Park. The park was full and Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty, along with members of the City Council, turned out to honor our achievements. What a thrill for the LEI team!
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Come and celebrate with us our Hispanic heritage!
Come celebrate Hispanic culture and achievements on Monday, October 2. Learn about and discuss in community the City of Worcester's plans to invest in education for leadership and entrepreneurship with the City Manager and in collaboration with Latin American Business Organization (LABO).
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LEI still going strong!
In 2022-23, we continued offering all our programs successfully thanks to our committed staff and the enthusiasm of students! Learn more about our successful year next under “LEI continues strong!” and “We had a busy summer!”
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Thank you for your trust and support!
For this new fiscal year, we are in a strong position to provide the needed services and programs for our youth and families.
We renewed 100 percent of our grants! Thank you for your trust and continued support!
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New grant for mental health education!
We received a new grant from UMASS Memorial to develop age-sensitive mental health educational modules to integrate into our K-12 after-school programs curricula as well as a workshop for parents. It is vital to address the mental health crisis among our youth, especially since the pandemic. Thank you to Dr. Mariana Calle and Dr. Alexandra Burgess, two Worcester State University professors, for their excellent work creating the modules!
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Taking our funding wishes to a new level!
We have hired Magic Lamp Consulting, Inc. to develop our FY24 Fundraising Strategic Plan that we are ready to implement in the fall. We have branched out in programs and services for the community, but we still need to strengthen the trunk that supports all those new branches to ensure sustainability and strength, one of our 2020 Strategic Plan’s goals.
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COMING SOON!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our renovated webpages that tell our story in a new and refreshing way for a stronger, unified branding and marketing strategy! Explore the essence of our journey and programs on a revamped digital home page on Worcester State University’s website soon!
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In 2023, LEI had plenty to celebrate as we marked another year of success in our programs thanks to our dedicated staff, partners and funders.
Together, our youth education, family engagement and health programs reached over 2,600 families in Worcester!
For our K-12 youth education programs, we couldn't be prouder of our remarkable and sustained attendance and retention rates, averaging 80 percent and 87 percent, respectively! These figures showcase our steadfast commitment to empowering Latinx/BIPOC students and nurturing their educational journeys toward success.
In Club Educación or Club E, we have a remarkable enrollment of 222 adult students, with a 79 percent attendance rate and an 88 percent graduation rate!
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"This was one of the best classes I have ever been to. The ladies were awesome, and I had a blast! Everyone was so kind. I made new friends! Thank you!!"
—One Circle Participant
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"I believe being out of your comfort zone is a way to experience something new, making new memories and connections. That’s what I learned from being out of my comfort zone, and so did others.”
—YCU Participant
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“I feel that I can defend myself more here in this country because I can read better and I understand more when listening”
—Club E Participant
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Smoothing the path to college! | |
We are extraordinarily proud to have been part of the journey of these three BIPOC young women who participated in LIDER, and have enrolled in college! They were all phenomenal and they were perfect examples of the program’s namesake, LIDER! | |
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Tam Phan was a role model for the other students and was awarded the “Role Model” award for her consistent and excellent attitude and participation throughout the program. Tam will attend Worcester State University!
Welhemina Gansa showed a big heart. She helped assist the students who sometimes needed support during the program workshops. Welhemina will attend Framingham State University.
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Christal Page (above) was never afraid to let her voice be heard. During LIDER’s Sociology early college course, she gave the group wonderful insights into her culture and lived experiences. Christal will also attend Framingham State University.
Seventeen youths participated in the LIDER program in 2022-23: the three seniors listed above, seven juniors, four sophomores, and three freshmen from Worcester public high schools.
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"The glue that holds all relationships together is trust and loyalty."
—Quote attributed to Og Mandino
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There is no better quote than the one above to describe Josephine Falero, and we are excited to announce her well-deserved promotion from Clerk to Administrative Assistant! | |
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Over the last 20 years, Josephine has shown integrity and commitment to LEI’s mission. She started as a young volunteer in 2003 and has grown with LEI since then. She has become a highly valuable staff member, always willing to help everyone unconditionally, without the need for the limelight, and facilitating a caring team environment. Josephine ensures that things flow smoothly, including supporting new employees' onboarding and training.
Her reliability and diligent professional skills in navigating WSU's administrative system are indispensable to LEI. She is also consummately friendly and supportive to all. Thank you, Josephine, for your dedication to the LEI’s mission, students, families, and staff!
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“Working with Josephine for the last 20 years has been like embarking on an epic journey together. This journey has not only been about working together, but it’s also been about growing together, supporting and respecting one another through thick and thin, and becoming a part of each other’s lives. Congratulations on your well-deserved promotion!”
—Kathy Orengo, Program Manager, LEI's K-12 Programs
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During this past summer, Michelle Santana joined the Promotoras as the REACH Liaison. "It's truly an honor to join the Promotoras. I'm amazed at the level of dedication, commitment, and passion they have for working in the community. Their work could not have been possible without the symbiotic partnership between the Worcester Division of Public Health and the LEI.” In the photo, right to left: Arianny González, Paola Uribe, Clarisse Natal, Michelle Santana, and Sonia Jiménez. | |
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LEI-REACH Promotoras/Health Ambassadors had a very busy summer! Since July they have participated in a total of 103 events!
Between fitness in the park, community fairs, farmers markets, and food pantries, the Promotoras have reached hundreds of community members this summer to educate them about healthy living and habits.
Some of the most significant projects they worked on included surveying the community regarding healthy food choices at the pantries and conducting community audits on the walkability of the city of Worcester. The healthy food choice survey aimed to empower individuals and families to prepare healthy meals based on culturally appropriate food items and expand on their healthy habits.
More exciting initiatives are on the horizon from the Promotoras! Mark your calendar for September 23 and join the Promotoras for a community walk through the beautiful Mass Audubon Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary!
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Let's all rise together
for the students we serve!
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We are committed to continually enhancing our services for the Worcester community. To achieve this, we rely on your ongoing sponsorship, collaboration, and commitment to help us excel.
The LEI Team
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We appreciate the commitment of our donors whose generous financial support has made it possible for us to carry out our mission!
Balfour Foundation * City of Worcester * Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) * Department of Higher Education (DHE)* Fred Harris Daniels Foundation * Greater Worcester Community Foundation * Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI) * Nellie Mae Education Foundation * Reliant Foundation * Springfield Empowerment Zone* United Way of Central Massachusetts * United Way of Central MA - Women's Initiative * Worcester Division of Public Health * Worcester Public Schools
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Latino Education Institute at Worcester State University
Visit our website at worcester.edu/LEI
Contact us at 508-798-6507 or at LEI@worcester.edu
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