LEI Welcomes 2023 With Enthusiasm!

With hope and open hearts, the Latino Education Institute (LEI) welcomes 2023!

Our amazing journey last year would not have been possible without our network of students, families, sponsors, collaborators, colleagues, and community partners! Our success is mainly the result of these meaningful networking relationships built and maintained over 20+ years. Our heartfelt thanks to all of you! You allow us to carry out our core mission to improve the academic achievement and well-being of Latinx students, grades K-16, and their families.

In 2022, we celebrated new beginnings and welcomed our new Executive Director, María Juncos-Gautier

María is eager to bring fresh perspectives to help the LEI make an even larger imprint on our vibrant community. Her management approach is highly participatory and empowering.



LEI's Notable Achievements in 2022

The LEI continues to raise the bar!

In 2022 the LEI provided:



• Academic guidance and social support to over 1,800 families, including 200 adults who participated and benefited from our English as a Second Language program Club Educación, better known as Club E.

• Leadership and employment opportunities for at least 30 BIPOC/Latinx college students. While working at the LEI, the college retention rate of these students has been 95% with GPAs higher than 3.0.

• Diverse educational events and information PPE/kits distribution through our Health Ambassadors who reached out in-person to over 30,000 people, on average more than 500 people per week!

One Circle launch

Our new program One Circle supports BIPOC girls 10-14 years old and their families. This is the eleventh program in our already well-established K-16 program offerings. In partnership with the Heartwell Institute and Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts, it incorporates novel educational sessions for emotional well-being and rich cultural exchange opportunities.

Adopting new software to better serve the community  

With Quickbase, a data tracking software tool, we now have the ability to capture, report, and securely store essential data about the impact of our programs, an important step to centralize the LEI database and keep the community well-informed.

For the first time in 2022, some of our programs had to set up a waiting list!

The overall attendance rate in our programs has been 82.7%, and the overall retention/completion rate has been 78.3%! Our programs to support K-16 BIPOC/Latinx students are definitely a success!

After being accepted at WSU, Mariandy Oguis Santana said: "This is my dream. I first saw the Worcester State campus in 6th grade. I participated in the LASOS program through the Latino Education Institute. I said to myself, If I start here, I will finish here."

"I am grateful for the program and all it did for my family...

...My son is happy and has improved his behavior and grades through the ENLACE program"

Marisol Mauricio, mother of Max Rodríguez

Max Rodríguez, a Worcester East Middle schooler, has been mentored through the ENLACE program by college students with leadership skills hired by the LEI. He has a positive relationship with our program mentors Moises, Augusto and Walter. “I can talk to them and trust them. They never fail me," he says.

To date, 240 students have already enrolled in our 2022-2023 after-school programs!

• We support the creativity and early childhood development of elementary school children through our ISLA (Reader's Theater and Math Tutoring) and LASOS programs. 

• We mentor middle school boys and girls through puberty and transitional years through the ENLACE and One Circle programs.

• We build leadership and post-graduation readiness in high schoolers through YCU. 

LEI's Health Intiatives

Worcester City Council and United Way recognized LEI’s Health Initiatives

In collaboration with the Worcester Division of Public Health, the LEI reached over 60,000 people via social media to educate them about COVID-19, flu and vaccination.



Our Health Ambassadors Team was honored by the Worcester City Council for extensive outreach efforts benefiting thousands of underserved and underrepresented residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. City Mayor Joe Petty presented a proclamation recognizing the LEI’s Heath Ambassadors’ contribution during the April 5 City Council Meeting.

The United Way of Central Massachusetts also recognized the Health Ambassadors and WSU with the United Way Edwin B. Coghlin Award for their dedication and remarkable community education efforts on testing and vaccination.

Our Outstanding Health Ambassadors!

Our Latinx/BIPOC students who worked as Health Ambassadors pursued higher education and careers in the health field, including going to medical school. They were all offered opportunities and full-time positions!

Two Health Ambassadors: Juliann Ngo (left) was accepted to Boston University's Master of Public Health program. Angelica Pizarro was accepted to Medical School at Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Mexico.

Looking Ahead to 2023

2023 looks bright at the LEI with new opportunities for growth and transformation!

In addition to enhancing our K-16 signature programs, we pledge to strengthen our administrative base to sustain our long-term operations and growth through new funding sources and innovative fundraising strategies.

We will strengthen our Health Initiatives Program with practicums and scholarships at WSU for BIPOC/Latinx students interested in the health field.

Enthusiasm and anticipation are already building around these new opportunities.

We seek to continually improve our services to the Worcester community. To do that, we are counting on your continued sponsorship, collaboration, and commitment to help us excel in everything we do.



We look forward to working together for another successful year!

The LEI Team

We appreciate the commitment of our funders whose generous financial support has made it possible for us to carry out our mission through 2022 and beyond.

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