Learn more about our impactful initiatives and how you can be part of the positive change. | |
Elected official and other public partners during our legislative lunch. | |
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The LEI hosted a succesful legislative lunch on February 9th at WSU, attended by legislators and other important public officials. The event aimed to strengthen community-public sector partnerships for funding. The LEI appreciates the support of Representative John Mahoney and Senator Robyn Kennedy in ensuring the success of the lunch.
Established 24 years ago by the Worcester Working Coalition for Latino Students, the LEI was formed as a community-public partnership to tackle challenges Latinx students encountered in public schools, including systemic disparities and academic achievement gaps. This partnership, which included Congressman Jim McGovern, underscores why the LEI was founded within a state university.
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Above: With Congressman Jim McGovern. Below: With Representative John Mahoney. | |
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Congressman McGovern has supported the LEI since its inception. He recently visited in January to discuss our current needs and future plans. We aim to revitalize this partnership with the collaboration of our state delegation to ensure sustained support for our city's vibrant community.
A renewed partnership with the public sector is more crucial than ever, with Latinx students now comprising 46% of Worcester Public Schools and being the fastest-growing college-bound group. In line with these efforts, Senator Robyn Kennedy, Representative John Mahoney, and Representative Daniel Donahue visited the LEI, meeting directly with our staff.
| Above: With Robyn Kennedy. Below: With Representative Daniel Donahue and former City Councilor Sarai Rivera. | | |
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Calling students interested in STEM careers!
Come and join us on April 27th to learn more and have fun at nine hands-on workshops for middle and high schoolers. Don’t miss this chance to explore the amazing fields of science! The following are some workshops at the STEM Expo that are for you!
- how physics is used to figure out some mysteries of the universe
- how to build your own hydraulic box
- how Massachusetts pollinators support our native plants and food systems
- how to become experts in fingerprint analysis
- how circuit networks make cell phones and traffic lights work
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Vibrant energy of K-12 programs | |
LASOS girls field trip to Boston for the musical "Real Women Have Curves." | |
Throughout the winter season, our K-12 programs have been buzzing with vibrant energy with a cohort of 222 students from twenty-four Worcester Public Schools! | |
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ISLA students focused on enhancing confidence and math skills, while middle schoolers from ENLACE and One Circle delved into STEM studies and careers. Middle schoolers also explored identity, culture, self-awareness, and mental health as part of our social-emotional learning, alongside recreational activities and relationship building.
During their recent field trip, the LASOS girls loved the empowering musical "Real Women Have Curves." The story follows Ana, an 18-year-old first-generation Mexican-American from East Los Angeles, as she navigates mainstream goals and cultural traditions to forge her own path. We're confident this experience, with its message of body positivity and self-acceptance, will leave a lasting impression.
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Photos from top left clockwise: ISLA elementary school youth working on their math assignments. ENLACE boys exploring STEM on a field trip to Technocopia. LASOS girls musical adventure. WSU Professor Francisco Vivoni's sociology dual enrollment course at WSU with LIDER students. | |
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This spring, our YCU high school students began their research and educational campaign on gun violence for their Youth Participatory Action Research project. The semester will conclude with a Youth Summit on June 1st, where they'll present their findings to LEI students, families, and community guests.
Fifteen WPS high school students are enrolled in LIDER’s dual enrollment sociology course on Environmental Social Justice, taught by WSU Professor Francisco Vivoni. The course fosters active engagement and critical thinking on sociological and environmental issues, encouraging students to question social structures affecting their identities and inequalities. It also aims to enhance students' literacy and writing skills. Field trips to various colleges and universities in Massachusetts will provide access to higher education and enrich their college learning experience.
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“I have learned things that help me with daily life and for the future. I feel more prepared to be a mature woman, to confront the challenges in life. Also, thank you to the teachers of the program for all the love, positivity, and respect that they have given me!”
—Student in LASOS elementary school program for girls
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“ENLACE has shown me how I can still have a big chance of getting into college one day!”
—Student in ENLACE high-school program
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Club E - UniBank workshop | |
Financial literacy workshop for Club E adult students with Tania Medina from UniBank. | |
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On February 8th, Club E adult students and LEI community parents participated in a financial literacy workshop led by UniBank. Tania Medina, UniBank's AVP Mortgage Consultant, shared valuable insights on banking, client opportunities, and financial security. Through real-world examples, over 20 adult attendees gained a better understanding of the advantages of banking with a reputable institution to safeguard their finances and pursue their financial goals.
Club E looks forward to continuing collaboration with UniBank in the spring semester, delving deeper into specific financial literacy topics. This promises to be a valuable opportunity for all involved, and we're excited for what lies ahead with UniBank!
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The group of mothers and daughters that participated in the Mindfulness Strategies for Stress Reduction workshop. | Exciting developments are happening in our Family Engagement Navigation Services! This semester, 25 parents and 40 girls from our LASOS and One Circle programs attended our workshop on Mindfulness Strategies for Stress Reduction, part of our mental health education series. We also shared important information on local mental health services. Our next workshop, on April 6th, will focus on Empowering Academic Success for parents and students, covering academic goal-setting and career exploration. | |
ESL Professor Catherine Goodwin is working with our Promotoras de Salud to improve their English language proficiency. | The Promotoras de Salud, part of our Community Health Education Program, are deeply involved in community collaborations. They recently joined CENTRO for a Community Resources Fair and supported food distribution and health education at El Buen Samaritano, reaching over sixty people. Thanks to UMASS Chan Medical School's interest and support, they're gearing up for training in patient medical assistance, including blood pressure monitoring, in addition to mental health and nutrition. They are also enhancing their conversational English skills with ESL Professor Catherine Goodwin. | |
Enriching LEI’s ESL education | | |
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We have a new LEI team member, Catherine Goodwill, an English as a Second Language (ESL) expert and professor! She will focus on enhancing ESL programming for Club E, working with the Promotoras de Salud on improving their English conversational skills, and aiding in the assessment of our after-school programs. Catherine holds a B.A. degree in Romance Languages (French and Spanish) from Mount Holyoke College and an M.A. in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from the School for International Training. Catherine comes to LEI with vast experience in the field of ESL, having started her career at WSU in 2006 with the Intensive English Language Institute. Teaching ESL has been her career and passion for the past forty-four years! | |
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April 6th:
Dream Big, Achieve Bigger: Career Exploration. Empowering Academic Success. Parent and daughter workshop.
April 27th:
Avanza STEM Expo for middle and high school students.
Register here!
May 23rd:
Seal of Biliteracy, a collaboration event with Worcester Public Schools where we recognize bilingual and multilingual students.
June 1st:
YCU’s Youth Summit for middle and high schoolers.
September 30th:
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. More information soon!
For times, locations, and more information, contact: Carmen Rosado, Family and Community Engagement Liaison at crosado@worcester.edu
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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 in 2023-2024 has made it possible for us to carry out our mission!
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 * Nouria Energy * Springfield Empowerment Zone* UMASS Memorial Health * UniBank * United Way of Central Massachusetts * Women’s Initiative of United Way of Central MA * 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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