The Latino Education Institute (LEI) at Worcester State University has its roots in The Worcester Working Coalition for Latino Students (WWCLS), which was born in 1999 out of a sense of urgency regarding Latino educational achievement in the city of Worcester. The coalition, a grassroots group representing community and elected leaders, concerned parents, and educators, published a call to action outlining strategies to improve educational outcomes for Latino students.
The creation of a university-based institute dedicated to illuminating the status of education for Latino students and taking action to improve education outcomes was a core recommended strategy. Through an agreement with Worcester State University in the year 2000, the Latino Education Institute (LEI) was founded with the mission to improve the educational achievement of Latino students from Kindergarten to College.
As LEI approaches its 20th anniversary, and in recognition of the role that LEI stakeholders have played as the stewards of the Institute’s mission and work, beginning in the Spring of 2019, LEI engaged in a strategic planning process that would inform LEI’s. Important to note that LEI strategic planning process is also a timely response to important sociocultural and political realities that have impacted LEI’s work. These include the growing Latino population in the city of Worcester and the state of Massachusetts, changes in the political climate at the national, state, and local level, shifts in LEI’s leadership and programmatic structure, and WSU’s strategic planning. As such, this strategic planning process required that LEI openly and rigorously deliberate these contexts and consider paradigm shifts in their thinking and working, knowing that restructuring and changes in the Institute’s activities were likely to occur.
After a review of these findings, working with initial feedback from the Community Advisory Board, the following three strategic goals have been identified for the future direction of the LEI.
This strategic goal emphasizes on sharing the power and uniqueness of LEI’s model as an Institute of WSU dedicated to serving the Latino Community. The 20th anniversary celebration will be used a tool to enhance our brand so that community and other stakeholders understanding who we are and our story.
This strategic goal focuses on LEI’s programmatic strengths. As part of this planning process, LEI recommits to creating a pipeline from K-12 through post-secondary education, to develop an Advocacy, Research, and Civic Engagement Plan in collaboration with WSU and to Create Fee Based Technical Assistance Services in Collaboration with Graduate Division.
This strategic goal focuses on strength the capacity of LEI to meet its mission and includes priority areas such as (1) Redefining Community Advisory Board, (2) Expanding Staffing Model; and (3) developing and implementing Five-year fundraising plan
The mission of the LEI Board of Advisors is to provide advice to the executive director and Worcester State University’s president and provost/vice president for academic affairs on:
We also thank the Latino Education Institute board of directors, staff, and volunteers. Their tireless work and donations of time and talent enrich the lives of Worcester’s Latino youth and their families.
Senator Harriette Chandler Congressman James P. McGovern State Senator Michael Moore
Dr. Bertha Elena Rojas, Consultant, Humanity Advanced
Mr. Barry Maloney, President, Worcester State University Ms. Lucia Alfaro, College Access Assistant Director, Dynamy Youth Academy, YOU Inc., Mr. Eric D. Batista, Chief of Operations and Project Management Office of the City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. Dr. Thomas Conroy, Assistant Professor, Chairperson, Urban Studies, Worcester State University Mr. Joseph Corazzini, Assistant Superintendent for Equity, Diversity, and Community Engagement, Framingham Public Schools Mr. Caleb Encarnacion-Rivera, Dean of Students, Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School Mr. Antonio Guijarro-Donadios, Assistant Professor, Worcester State University Ms. Carmen J. Melendez-Quintero, Director of English Learner Programs, Worcester Public Schools Honorable Timothy Murray, President and CEO, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce Mr. Leopoldo Negrón-Cruz, Program Coordinator, Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center Dr. Luis Pedraja, President, Quinsigamond Community College Honorable Sarai Rivera, City Councilor, Worcester Fourth District Ms. Gladys Rodriguez Parker, Constituent Services Director, Congressman James P. McGovern’s Office Ms. Karla Travieso, Springfield Liaison, Worcester State University Mr. Jaime F. Vallejos, Assistant Professor, Worcester State University Carmen Veloria, Senior Community Impact Officer, Hartford Foundation Dr. Lois Wims, Provost, Worcester State University Mr. Alex Zequeira, Headmaster, St. John’s High School
LEI relies on the generous support of funders and sponsors to realize our mission to close the achievement gap. We appreciate the support of our generous funders whose contributions enable us to offer a variety of programs
We acknowledge the support and generosity of Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation, City of Worcester, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, George and Sybil H. Fuller Foundation, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Hiatt Center for Urban Education at Clark University, Hoche-Schofield Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Worcester/Fitchburg Labor Trades Union, Worcester Public Schools, and Worcester State University.
