NOVEMBER 2026

Photos: 1. At The New England Botanical Garden at Tower Hill. 2. Classroom- play rehearsal, Performance in the Fuller Theater at Worcester State University. 3. Creating relics and masks

Message from the Executive Director

Once again, LEI has completed a successful year! All our programs are fully funded throughout the year. 

We also keep strengthening our partnership with Worcester Public Schools (WPS) and established new connections with two important community partners, the Worcester Housing Authority and the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester. 

In September, LEI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Boys & Girls Club to expand educational, leadership, and enrichment opportunities for local youth. We look forward to growing this partnership!

For nearly 138 years, the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester has been a trusted resource for children, teens, and families in our community. Today, they serve approximately 8,000 youth each year, reflecting the rich diversity of Worcester, with 41% of the youth they serve identifying as Latino!

“We are excited to formalize our partnership with the Latino Education Institute. Our missions and programs naturally complement one another, and together we can expand opportunities and provide more comprehensive support for Worcester’s youth and families. By bringing together the strengths, experience, and trusted relationships of both organizations, we can create even stronger pathways for young people from elementary school through college and into the workforce.”

– Liz Hamilton, MSW, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester.

These partnerships will allow us to expand our reach and serve more students and families. The need is significant: 46% of WPS students identify as Latino—approximately 11,500 students—within a district serving nearly 25,000 pre-K–12 students.

We continued to strengthen our college pipeline, with a particular focus on creating pathways to Worcester State University (WSU) through new initiatives supported by our new Associate Director of Youth Programs and Outreach Initiatives, Alex Pizarro

Another major accomplishment was completing LEI's Strategic Plan for 2027–2031, shaped by valuable input from community members. We sincerely thank everyone who contributed to this important process.

With a solid and realistic Strategic Plan in place, we are now developing an implementation plan with specific activities, key performance indicators, and milestones for each objective and strategy. We expect to have the implementation plan ready by January 2027.

We look forward to sharing progress updates through special announcements and our newsletter.

If you would like to read our Strategic Plan, Building Pathways, Strengthening Connections & Advancing Impact, 2027–2031, please email us at lei@worcester.edu to request a PDF copy.



Our FY2026 Annual Report is also available. Please email us at lei@worcester.edu if you would like a PDF copy.

LEI is looking ahead with renewed energy and commitment to keep building pathways, strengthening connections, and making a lasting impact on the community!

Maria A. Juncos-Gautier

LEI Executive Director

ASPIRE Summer Academy

The Summer 2026 ASPIRE Academy welcomed 33 middle school students to Worcester State University for three weeks of creativity, teamwork, and fun!

Through a Reader’s Theater program, students developed and performed their own play, bringing imaginary worlds to life. Participants also enjoyed field trips to the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston.

Photos: 1. United Way Day of Action. 2. Welcome Back family workshop, Tumbao Latin Dance Company. 3. Juan Matos with LEI staff members

Family Engagement Academy: Fall Highlights

This fall, LEI brought families together through a series of workshops focused on student success, parent advocacy, and family engagement. The series kicked off on August 8 with the Back-to-School Community Resources Fair, followed by Welcome Back: Partnering for a Successful School Year on September 19 and Bullying and Conflict Resolution on October 24.

Each event provided families with valuable resources and practical tools to support their children’s education. Thank you to all our families and community partners for their continued participation and support!

United Way Day of Action

On September 11, 2026, LEI staff proudly joined hundreds of volunteers for the United Way of Central Massachusetts’s annual Day of Action. Our team helped clean a local emergency shelter, supporting a community-wide effort to give back and make a difference.

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration!

Photos: 1. Dr Francisco Vivoni. 2. Maria Juncos-Gautier and Juan Matos who received LEI’s Community Champion Recognition. 3. Juan Matos and drummer Victor Mairena. 4. Mass Mambo Kids. 5 Youth Poet Andrea Castillo.

On September 25, LEI celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month at WSU’s Fuller Theater with an evening of music, dance, poetry, and cultural pride! The event featured presentations by Dr. Francisco Vivoni and the Latino History Project of Worcester, performances by Tumbao Latin Dance Company and Mass Mambo Kids, and inspiring poetry by Juan Matos and Andrea Castillo.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this wonderful celebration of culture and community!

Celebrating Cathy's Retirement

After 20 years of dedicated service to WSU, including two and a half years at LEI, Cathy Goodwin just retired! From teaching ESL to supporting events and helping wherever needed, Cathy brought kindness, humor, and dedication to our team. We are grateful for her contributions and the lasting impact she has made on our students and LEI family.

Congratulations, Cathy! We wish you a wonderful retirement filled with happiness and new adventures!

Another Year of Learning and Growth!

LEI’s K-12 after-school programs and Club Educación ESL classes got off to a successful start and are now in full swing!  

We look forward to a successful and rewarding year for everyone!

Save the Date!

Saturday, November 14 - In collaboration with WSU Admissions and Financial Aid Offices, there will be an informative workshop to help ALANA/BIPOC and first-generation students better understand and navigate the college financial aid process.

The event included presentations from Admissions and Financial Aid, a campus tour, and bilingual support in Spanish to help students and families feel informed and supported.

Saturday, December 5 - Taller en español: Cada Niño Merece Apoyo. Comprendiendo el Processo de Apoyo Estudantil (SPP), los IEP y los Planes 504.

In English: Navigating Student Support Process (SSP), 504 Accommodations, and Individualized Education Plan (IEP).



For more information contact:

Alexandra Pizarro, LEI's Associate Director of Youht Programs and Outreach at apizarro@worcester.edu

Carmen Rosado, LEI's Family and Community Engagement Liaison at crosado@worcester.edu

We appreciate the commitment of our funders, whose generous support makes it possible for us to carry out our mission!

City of Worcester * Balfour Foundation * Barr Foundation * Greater Worcester Community Foundation * Hanover Insurance Group Foundation * Massachussetss Department of Public Health * Ruth H. & Warren A. Ellsworth Foundation * UMASS Memorial Health * UniBank * United Way of Central Massachusetts * Women’s Initiative of the United Way of Central Massachusetts * Worcester Public Schools (WPS)

Let's rise together in support of the students we serve!

We are committed to continually enhancing our services for the Worcester community. To achieve this, we rely on your ongoing sponsorship, collaboration, and dedication to help us thrive.

The LEI Team