Worcester, MA 01602
486 Chandler Street,
Worcester, MA 01602
About the LEI
The Latino Education Institute (LEI) at Worcester State University (WSU) has its roots in The Worcester Working Coalition for Latino Students (WWCLS), which was born in 1999 out of a sense of urgency regarding educational achievement of Latinx students in the City of Worcester. The coalition, a grassroots organization representing community and elected leaders, concerned parents and educators, published a call to action outlining strategies to improve educational outcomes for Latinx students.
One of the central recommendations was the establishment of a university-based institute focused on shedding light on the status of education for Latinx students and taking concrete action to improve their educational outcomes. As a result, in the year 2000, the Latino Education Institute (LEI) was founded through a collaboration with Worcester State University, with a mission to enhance the educational success and well-being of Latinx students, from elementary school to college.
20 years, 20 storiesIn celebration of its 20-year anniversary in 2020, the LEI published 20 stories of achievement by LEI students. These stories reflect only a fraction of the hundreds of families and students who have benefited from LEI programs.Every year, the LEI impacts more than 2, 500 families and 500 youth with a wide range of programs supporting literacy, STEM, socio-emotional learning and growth, leadership, civic engagement and healthy living. This collection of stories highlights the positive outcomes experienced by a small group of individuals who have been assisted by LEI. |
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About the LEI TeamWe are here to help Latinx students succeed from elementary school to college and in their future careers.
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Our Foundation and Support
- As LEI celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2020, the organization engaged with community and WSU stakeholders in a strategic planning process. This strategic planning process represented a timely response to important sociocultural and political realities that have been impacting LEI’s work:
• the growing Latinx 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’s new directions.
LEI’s strategic planning process required open and rigorous deliberation of these contexts and consideration of paradigm shifts in its thinking and working.
Following the strategic goals established in the 2020 Strategic Plan, for 2023-2025 the LEI is focusing on the following strategic goals:
1. Sustainability and strength
Our most important strategic goal focuses on strengthening the capacity of LEI to meet its goals for the years to come. It includes priority areas such as (1) redefining the Community Advisory Board (CAB) role; (2) increasing staff to meet growing demand; and (3) developing and implementing a strategic fundraising plan.
2. Telling our story
This strategic goal emphasizes sharing the power and uniqueness of LEI’s model as an organization of WSU dedicated to serving the Latinx community. Our plans will include updating and enhancing our brand so that the community and other stakeholders understand who we are and what we have accomplished. - The mission of the LEI Community Advisory Board (CAB) is to offer guidance to the executive director, WSU's president, and the university’s provost/vice president for academic affairs concerning strategic direction, technical expertise for our programs and initiatives, and fundraising activities.
We extend our gratitude to all the CAB members whose unwavering dedication and contributions of volunteer time and talent significantly impacts our mission to enhance the lives of Worcester's Latinx youth and their families.
Community Advisory Board
Barry Maloney, 2012-2024, President, Worcester State University
Lucia Alfaro, 2019-2024, Staff Associate, Counseling Services, Worcester State University
Dr. Mariana Calle, 2021-2024, Associate Professor, Chairperson, Sociology, Worcester State University
German Chiriboga, Program Director, Health Equity and Storytelling Research, UMass Chan Medical School
Dr. Thomas Conroy, 2014-2024, Assistant Professor, Chairperson, Urban Studies, Worcester State University
Dr. Siri Colom, 2021-2024, Faculty, Sociology, Worcester State University
Joseph Corazzini, 2021-2024, Vice President for Government and Community Affairs, Clark University
Elizabeth Cruz, 2023-2024, President, Latin America Business Organization (LABO)
Caleb Encarnacion-Rivera, 2021-2024, Regional School District of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Norfolk, Wrentham, Plainville, and King Philip School Districts
Dr. Antonio Guijarro-Donadios, 2021-2024, Assistant Professor, World Language, Worcester State University
Mary Jo Marion, 2008-2024, Associate Vice President for University and Community Engagement, Worcester State University
Dr. Rachel Monárrez, 2023-2024, Superintendent, Worcester Public Schools
Dr. Timothy Murphy, 2022-2024, Assistant Professor, Urban Studies, Worcester State University
Leopoldo Negrón-Cruz, 2005-2024, Program Coordinator, Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center
Dr. Luis Pedraja, 2017-2024, President, Quinsigamond Community College
David Quiroa, 2023-2024, Community & Intergovernmental Affairs Manager, Office of City Manager
Dr. Sarai Rivera, 2009-2024, City Councilor, Worcester Fourth District
Gladys Rodriguez Parker, 2000-2006 * 2009-2024, Constituent Services Director, Congressman James P. McGovern’s Office
Jaime F. Vallejo, 2021-2024, Assistant Professor, Health Sciences, Worcester State University
Dr. Francisco Vivoni, 2022-2024, Associate Professor, Sociology, Worcester State University
Dr. Lois Wims, 2015-2024, Provost/Vice President for Academic Affair, Worcester State University
Alex Zequeira, 2012-2024, Headmaster, St. John’s High School
* Honorary Members
Congressman James P. McGovern
State Senator Michael Moore
Timothy Murray, President and CEO, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce - LEI depends on the generous support of funders and sponsors to fulfill its mission. We deeply appreciate the contributions of these generous donors, as their support enables us to provide a diverse array of programs to our community.
Current funders and sponsors
City of Worcester
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
Department of Higher Education (DHE)
Fred Harris Daniels Foundation
Greater Worcester Community Foundation
Massachusetts Biomedical Initiative (BMI)
Nellie Mae Education Foundation
Pursuit of Equity, Accountability and Success (PEAS)
Springfield Empowerment Zone
UMASS Memorial Health
UniBank
United Way of Central Massachusetts
Women’s Initiative of the United Way of Central Massachusetts
Worcester Public Schools (WPS)
Worcester State Foundation/Worcester State University
Early sponsors
We acknowledge the support and generosity of those funders and sponsors who helped to successfully spearhead the LEI: Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the George and Sybil H. Fuller Foundation, the Hiatt Center for Urban Education at Clark University, the Hoche-Schofield Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Worcester/Fitchburg Labor Trades Union.
![Viana Mercedes‘ | LEI and WSU Alum 2016](https://webcdn.worcester.edu/latino-education-institute/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2022/04/viana.png)
Worcester, MA 01602
486 Chandler Street,
Worcester, MA 01602