PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — “Nada sobre nosotros sin nosotros” — “Nothing about us without us” — fairly describes the mission of Philadelphia-based nonprofit Latinos Educando Juntos, which is celebrating two years of advocacy.
The pandemic brought to light many gaps in access to services and resources for communities. At community meetings about how to access resources and information, Damaris Alvarado-Rodriguez says she was often the only Hispanic person in the room, and she saw the need for additional support for people like her.
“So I wanted to create a platform where other Hispanic folks could come into small businesses or early childcare programs, or families could come to me once a month, and we can plug in those barriers,” she said.
Equity and inclusion
Alvarado-Rodriguez owns two early learning centers in South Philadelphia called Children’s Playhouse, and she has a consulting business called Innovative Educational Consulting Services.
“My entire mission for 20 years has been to provide equitable practices, respect diversity, have equitable and inclusive services. Children’s Playhouse has always been about this,” she said. “When I moved into South Philadelphia, an Italian and Irish neighborhood, I was the first Hispanic family there and the first business owner who looked like me.”
She says a recent focus on diversity and inclusion in the past couple of years was an opportunity for her to advocate for people who are Latinx, the gender-neutral term her organization prefers.
“I feel like I saw an open door, and I wanted to go through it to do more to expand the work I’ve always done — so more doors will be open for Latinx and Hispanic small businesses. And when I pass my torch, there are more Hispanic leaders. I’m a grandmother of two Afro-Latina granddaughters. What I do now is important, so they have access to opportunities unconditionally. It should be the goal for all children of diversity.”
LEJ provides access to English language coursework, GED completion, Child Development Associate certification, and other higher education opportunities. The nonprofit has expanded workforce development opportunities by reducing language barriers and offering professional development training in Spanish — and by providing funding application assistance for child care providers. They even provide diapers from the Philadelphia Diaper Bank. The website is a hub of resources.
Related
Building future leaders
Now a successful nonprofit, LEJ has made great strides, and Alvarado-Rodriguez says she has noticed a difference as a result of the group’s advocacy.
“Within the past two years, we've noticed a shift in changes like regulations or newsletters being sent by these entities that would never even translate them in Spanish. Now they're in Spanish,” she said.
Now, she says, she’s no longer the only Hispanic in the room when community resources like educational and workforce development opportunities are addressed.
The success of LEJ is also evident in the organization’s growth. Alvarado-Rodriguez says they started off with five to seven providers working together, and now there are 470 providers across Pennsylvania on the platform.
LEJ is having their first conference in June to celebrate their work and honor leaders in the community.
“The goal of that is to bring out more Latin leader representation and celebrate them for the work that they do in their communities, and be able to bring that out of them,” she said, “provide a space where they feel like they're not only heard, they're also celebrated.”
LEJ is not just for the Hispanic community. Allies are invited to LEJ meetings and events — anyone who shares the mission of respecting diversity, Alvarado-Rodriguez said. The Philadelphia-based organization intends to spread out through the commonwealth.
Related
