HISPANICS / LATINOS OF CENTRAL MASSACHUSSETTS

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Artist Showcase: JOSE CASTILLO

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ADELANTE Worcester is an advocacy group which aims to promote, empower, and advocate on behalf of the Hispanic/Latino community in Worcester and Central MA. We strive to honor the legacy of those who have paved the way for the many successes of the Hispanic/Latino community.
The composer and educator José Castillo discovered his musical talent at a very young age. By the age of 17 he was performing and recording with some of the top musicians from Puerto Rico. After receiving a first place at an instrumental competition, José continued to polish his many skills by, studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston MA earning two music scholarships and graduating Magna Cum Laude. The experience acquired through the years has granted José with qualifications that allowed him to be knowledgeable in different genre of music therefore making him a much requested musician, arranger, producer, and educator. José has performed with Grammy winners artists of the standing of Ruben Blades, Antonio Sanchez, and Keith Harris. He has also participated with Christian artist such as René Gonzales, Julissa, Mike Rivera, Wiso Aponte and Marcos Barrientos among others. Because of his merits, versatility as a performer and music collaborator José’s work has received great reviews in some of the top music magazines in the industry such as Guitar Player, Guitar Magazine, and Modern Drummer. José’s compositions, production, and performance can be found on CDs, DVDs, Cable TV shows, theaters, as well as multiple commercial ads (jingles).Besides being a performer and a composer, José has also gathered 13 years of experience as a music instructor. He has been involved in music lecture, clinics and as a professor’s aid during Berklee College of Music summer program. Currently José is a Music Professor at Quinsigamond Community College, in Worcester, MA and has released his first “Christian Latin Pop” album titled “Por tu Sangre.”

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If you are planning to attend our Christmas Celebration or any other ADELANTE Event and need to purchase tickets, simply click on the link below and follow the instructions.

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Please Mail Checks to 35 May St Worcester MA 01610. Make Checks Payable to: ADELANTE WORCESTER

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WHO WE ARE

OUR BOARD

Miguel Lopez is the Youth Program Director for the Worcester Police Department. Mr. Lopez is Police Sergeant, and the first Latino to achieve such rank in the City of Worcester. He has devoted his skills and talent to advocating for the Educational and Juvenile detention reforms. Mr. Lopez holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Clark University and a Bachelors in Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts; Mr. Lopez currently serves as the Chair for the Latino Educational Institute; Serves as a Governor appointed Trustee to Quinsigamond Community College. He also serves a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Worcester; Worcester County Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative, and the Central Mass Employment Board Youth Council Mr. Lopez is the recipient of the 2010 Loman Rutherford Award for Leadership in Community Policing.Currently he is the Grant Program Director of the Charles E. Shannon CSI Grant - Anti-Gang Initiative.Mr. Lopez was born in New York, but grew up Worcester, MA. His father is from Puerto Rico and mother is from Costa Rica.

Iris J. Cotto is a children’s librarian at the Worcester Public Library and has worked there for the past 30 years. She has a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science, an undergraduate degree in Communications, and at times freelances as a graphic designer. Originally from Puerto Rico, she’s been living in Worcester for over 30 years. As a Latina public librarian in the city, she feels the responsibility to represent the Library to the Hispanic/Latino community and others so that no one misses out on anything that the Library has to offer. Her work with children, families, cultures, literacy, and education has involved her in many community events, board member in advocacy groups, as a panel speaker at conferences; she’s a partner in the Worcester Public Schools, and many community groups. Working with others for the well being of a community has become a pattern of her life.
No Frame

Ivette Olmeda is the program manager of Center for Women & Enterprise of the Central Massachusetts office. The Center for Women & Enterprise is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and empowering women and men to become economically self-sufficient through entrepreneurship. Prior to coming to the Center for Women and Enterprise, Ivette was Senior Fund Accountant for PFPC, Inc. in Westborough, MA. She brings strong analytical and problem solving skills to CWE that are extremely beneficial to the organization and its clients. Her ability to understand and communicate effectively with a diverse client base has been invaluable in her role as training specialist. In her many years as supervisor she has demonstrated proven methods of balancing time and resources within defined projects and deadlines. Ivette received her personal fitness certification from the American Fitness Association and is now a fitness instructor, allowing her to help her clients to stay healthy and fit as they enjoy an active life. Currently she teach at the YMCA Central in Worcester where she enjoying teaching and doing her own workout.Ivette has been a volunteer treasurer at a local church for the last 20 years where she maintains the bookkeeping. Also, as a member of the church board, she contributes to the yearly budget and the planning of the financial forecast. Ivette OlmedaCenter for Women & EnterpriseProgram Manager
Maritza Cruz is an Independent Consultant with over 30 years of successful experience working with public/government, and not-for-profit entities, with emphasis on social justice, and ethnic/racial health disparities. Ms. Cruz has demonstrated history of program development organizations, with the focus being to promote and effect change to the social determinants and outcomes within ethnic and racial populations supporting and fostering community mobilization as a catalyst for equity. MS. Cruz is also a successful entrepreneur being the co-founder/owner of a multi million dollar business, she is also an advocate, community organizer with a proven track record in leadership, strategic planning, fundraising, organizational, and cultural/ethnic management which she has applied to a diverse array of institutions/organizations such as City of Worcester Department of Public Health & Human Services, YMCA of Central Mass- National YMCA/USA, she served as a Director of Public Housing /Worcester Housing Authority, Director of Latino Leaders of the Future-United Way of Central Ma, and City Managers Office Employment-Training.Maritza Cruz has an extensive history of Civic Community Service having served on many Boards, Coalitions, Commissions locally, Statewide, and National.Presently she serves on the YMCA Central Branch Board of Governance, League of United Latino American Citizens-Worcester Chapter, Mosaic Cultural Complex, Peoples Institute for Survival & Beyond-Ant Racist Alliance, Greater Worcester Community Foundation-Board of Corporaters. She has served as an Assistant Commissioner-Worcester Election Commission, Trustee of Quninsigamond Community College, Worcester All American City-Delegate. She is also co-founder/organizer of Worcester Festival Latino, Worcester Latino Voter Education/Registration Project, and El Jolgorio under the National Congress for Puerto Ricans-Massachusetts Chapter. Ms. Cruz has been a candidate for Public elected Office, having the distinction of being the 1st Latina to do so in the City of Worcester. Maritza Cruz has been recognized for her Community Service being an Award recipient of the; YMCA Central Massachusetts 2010 Diversity and Inclusion Award, Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys-Outstanding Community Service Award, Massachusetts Jolgorio Inc,-Outstanding Contribution Award, Worcester Dollar for Scholars-Community Service Award, and the Worcester Business Journal-Business of the Year. Ms Cruz is a lifelong resident of the city of Worcester, Ma. graduating from North High School, a graduate of Worcester State University, and a diverse array of certifications from various institutions, including the Center for International Mediation of Harvard University. Maritza Cruz is Puerto Rican American.

WORKING COMMITTEES

Education Subcommittee

Professional Development Subcommittee

Political Subcommittee

Economic Subcommittee

Ms. Hilda Ramirez is the Executive Director of the Worcester Youth Center, a non-profit organization serving youth ages 14-24 in the City of Worcester. Prior to her current assignment, Ms. Ramirez started her own social enterprise called Ritmos Academy, a cultural performing arts program. Ms. Ramirez spent 16 years at John Hancock Financial Services as a Senior Conference Manager and Manager of the John Hancock Observatory. Ms. Ramirez holds a Master in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Bachelors in Business from Lesley University. She was born in the Dominican Republic but raised in New York City. Ms. Ramirez has participated in the National Hispana Leadership Institute, The Center for Creative Leadership in Colorado and the Executive Leadership Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. She has recently joined the Advisory Committee for the Latino Education Institute and is a Corporator for the Greater Worcester Community Foundation and the Ecotarium. Ms. Ramirez was the recipient of the Katherine Forbes Erskine Award in 2009 for Arts and Humanities.
hilda

SERVICES

Here is a look at the Amazing People in our Adelante Network

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TESTIMONIALS

Ritmos Academy

City of Worcester Directory of appointive Boards and Commissions

ASPIRA
A cultural performing arts school with a focus on the Latino culture. We serve children and youth ages 5-18. Our programs include Primero Pasos (Ages 5-7) Cultural Power Program (Ages 8-14) an after school component and Hispania Dance Company.
The ASPIRA Association is the only national Hispanic organization dedicated exclusively to developing the educational and leadership capacity of Hispanic youth. Since 1961, ASPIRA has been working at the grass-roots level to provide programs that encourage Hispanic students to stay in school, prepare them to succeed in the educational arena, develop their leadership skills, and to serve their community.
The directory is intended to make it easier for residents to become knowledgeable about the many appointive boards and commissions which exist within the local government of the City of Worcester. Each board, commission and committee is listed with its official title, the legal source of its existence and authority, its term of office and number of members. Most importantly, each entry gives a brief description of the expected duties of a member, as well as some idea of what board members actually do and what kind of background might be desirable of a candidate.

Worcester Public Library

Census 2010

National Institute for Latino Policy
The Worcester Public Library serves as a gathering place that actively promotes the free exchange of ideas in our democratic society. The Library makes information and services available to all people while fostering intellectual freedom, protecting privacy, encouraging personal growth and enrichment, and celebrating our diverse community heritage.
The 2010 Census a count of everyone living in the United States is fast approaching! Census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to every household in the United States in March 2010. Be counted! Adelante Worcester is a partner of local efforts to count the Latino community.
The National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP) is a nonprofit and nonpartisan policy center established in 1982. One of the leading think tanks in the Latino community utilizing an action research model, NiLP is involved in a wide range of policy issues affecting the Latino community

Pew Hispanic Research Center

National Council of La Raza

Latino Educational Institute
Founded in 2001, the Pew Hispanic Center is a nonpartisan research organization that seeks to improve understanding of the U.S. Hispanic population and to chronicle Latinos' growing impact on the nation. The Center does not take positions on policy issues. It is a project of the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan "fact tank" in Washington, DC that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. Through its network of nearly 300 affiliated community-based organizations (CBOs), NCLR reaches millions of Hispanics each year in 41 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. To achieve its mission, NCLR conducts applied research, policy analysis, and advocacy, providing a Latino perspective in five key areas assets/investments, civil rights/immigration, education, employment and economic status, and health.
The Latino Education Institute (LEI) at Worcester State College seeks to improve academic achievement and the general well-being of Latino individuals and families in the Worcester area.

Centro Las Americas

Mauricio Gaston Institute
Centro Las Americas was established in 1977, as a multi-service, non-profit Latino organization whose primary purpose is to serve, empower, and advocate in the Greater Worcester Community
The mission of the Gastón Institute is to inform policy makers about issues vital to the state’s growing Latino community and to provide this community with the information and analysis necessary for effective participation in public policy development.

IMPORTANT ISSUES

JOIN-CONTACT US

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CONTACT FORM:

AdelanteWorcester_gmail.com

Adelante Worcester would like to invite every one interested in the Latino community to attend our community networking events.

Mailing Address: 35 May Street Worcester MA 01610

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