Hartford Organization's Grants Aid Local Latino Population

Hartford Foundation for Public Giving

HARTFORD, CT — A greater Hartford-area giving foundation has recently doled out $75,000 in grant funding to benefit three organizations whose charge is to help the local Latino community.

Members of the Latino Endowment Fund (LEF) at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving have approved grants to the Capitol Region Educational Council (CREC), Latinas and Power, Inc., and Mustard Seed Outreach Center (MSOC) totaling $75,000.

“This year’s grant awardees were selected for their demonstrated ability to chip away at barriers to leadership success,” said LEF Steering Committee Chair Yvette Martas. “They aligned with the inequity pillars identified by the members of LEF this year.”

A $27,500 LEF grant was provided to continue CREC’s “Empowering Latinas Leadership Alliance (ELLA)” mentoring program that supports chronically absent ninth-grade Latina students attending Greater Hartford Academy of The Arts and Academy of Computer Science & Engineering.

The program hosts Latina speakers to address participating youth with an emphasis on issues related to mental health, post-secondary choices, community advocacy, voting, and other topics impacting Latinas. Participating students will meet bi-weekly after school.

LEF supported the initial launch of the ELLA program with a $20,000 grant in 2023.

“On behalf of ELLA, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the members of the Latino Endowment Fund for awarding us the grant to continue our mentoring program for Latina students for the second consecutive year. We are deeply honored by your continued support and belief in the impact of our work,” said Katherine Nazario LMSW, CREC’s Family & Community Engagement Supervisor.

Latinas and Power, Inc. received a $27,500 grant to support its Latinas in Leadership Institute (LiLi), a six-month hybrid certificate program designed to work with bicultural and biracial Latinas in the early to mid-career stage of their workplace or entrepreneurial journey.

The certificate program is comprised of two phases focused on leadership and advocacy.

“Our institute is dedicated to cultivating leaders, champions, and advocates within our community,” said Latinas & Power Corp. CEO Marilyn Alverio. "The women who participate not only embark on a journey of personal growth but also raise awareness about critical issues affecting the Latino community through a capstone project. This grant will enable us to deliver our curriculum in a culturally relevant way while also identifying and empowering local leaders from the Hartford region.”

Mustard Seed Outreach Center (MSOC) received a $20,000 LEF grant to support its MSOC Community Support Initiative, centered on two key objectives: enhancing food security and promoting educational engagement, both through a bilingual lens.

The MSOC Dinner Program will take place quarterly, serving 50 meals per event, to reach 200 homeless individuals by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, MSOC's Summer Enrichment Program will be held in July, engaging 50 children in a full week of bilingual educational and recreational activities.

“This grant awarded by the Latino Endowment Fund is a transformative step for Mustard Seed Outreach Center, which will help expand the bilingual programming and provide essential support to underserved individuals and families in the Hartford region,” said MSOC Board Member Yesenia Fuentes.

The Latino Endowment Fund was founded in 2003 by Latino leaders in Greater Hartford to increase philanthropy in their community and to strengthen nonprofits working to improve the quality of life for Latino residents.

For more information on the Latino Endowment Fund, contact Ramonita Garcia at rgarcia@hfpg.org or go to www.hfpg.org/latino. For more information on the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, visit www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.