We are excited to share an important update about the future of Latinitas. As we continue inspiring confidence and empowering community, our mission has evolved to better reflect the transformative work we do alongside the girls and families we serve. After thoughtful reflection and engagement with our community, we’re proud to share our new mission:
“To empower girls and their communities through culturally relevant education.”
This refreshed mission reflects the full scope of the impact we strive to create.
Why the Change?
At Latinitas, we know that when a girl thrives, her community thrives—and when her community thrives, she thrives. This vital connection between the individual and the collective lies at the heart of everything we do.
Over the years, our work has expanded in response to the needs of the families we serve. While we began with a focus on empowering young girls through culturally relevant STEM education, our community looked to us for more. Parents requested digital literacy resources. Hermanos, primas, and tias sought support with workforce readiness and career exploration. These requests revealed something powerful: empowering a girl means uplifting her entire network—her family, her school, and her community.
What Is Culturally Relevant Education?
Culturally relevant education connects learning to the lives, identities, and aspirations of students and their families. Research highlights its transformative impact, especially for Black and Latino communities, by making education meaningful and empowering. It ensures that:
- Students See Themselves in the Curriculum: Students engage with stories, role models, and topics that reflect their lives and communities, helping them connect learning to the societal issues that matter to them.
- STEM Education Connects to Real-World Issues: STEM becomes accessible and relevant by showing students how it’s already part of their lives and how they can use it to create change.
- Relatable Role Models Inspire Success: Meeting professionals with similar backgrounds and interests helps girls envision their own success in fields they may have once thought were out of reach.
- Opportunities Are Multigenerational: Latino households are more likely to be multigenerational than others, making it critical to provide tools and resources that uplift entire families and create lasting economic and educational opportunities.
Inspiring Confidence. Empowering Community.
Each of these efforts reflects our belief that when we inspire confidence in girls and empower their communities, the impact is transformative and far-reaching. By equipping girls with skills, knowledge, and self-belief, we’re also opening doors for their families to thrive economically and socially.
A Vision for the Future
Latinitas envisions a future where Latinas lead with confidence, shaping the communities around them. This updated mission reaffirms our commitment to serving not just girls, but their families and communities, ensuring that everyone benefits from the opportunities we create together.
We are deeply grateful for your continued support as we embark on this new chapter. Together, we are inspiring confidence in girls and empowering their communities, building a brighter future for Latina prosperity.
With appreciation,
Gabriela Kane Guardia
Executive Director