Latino Endowment Fund at the Hartford Foundation Approves Grants to Support Post Secondary Education Programs

Members of the Latino Endowment Fund (LEF) at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving (to be renamed Greater Hartford Gives Foundation in January) have approved grants totaling $50,000 to support Greater Hartford students pursuing post-secondary education and career advancement.   The UConn School of Social Work (SSW) received a $37,000 grant to support its Connecticut ¡Adelante! Program, and Future Forward CT has been awarded a $12,500 grant.

“We are proud to invest in programs that remove barriers and expand pathways to post-secondary education and career advancement for Latine learners across Greater Hartford,” said LEF steering committee chair Jacqueline Santiago Nazario. “Both the ¡Adelante! program and Future Forward CT exemplify the transformative power of culturally responsive, accessible education. These grants reflect our collective commitment to strengthening bilingual talent, supporting adult and first-generation students, and building a more equitable future for our community through education and opportunity. “

The Connecticut ¡Adelante! curriculum is designed for bilingual Spanish-speaking MSW students. The program aims to enhance students' linguistic and socio-cultural competencies, preparing them to meet the behavioral health needs of the Latine community, especially among children and youth. Providing equitable access to social work education for bilingual students may advance social and economic justice for Latino communities who are underserved and underrepresented. The program will be administered in a non-discriminatory manner and is open to all UConn students who have met the program’s qualifications. 

Connecticut ¡Adelante! offers four specialized English/Spanish bilingual courses in the SSW’s Individuals, Groups, and Families concentration. In addition, students engage in two 480-hour practicums in community agencies, schools, or Connecticut state agencies working with diverse Latines. Connecticut ¡Adelante! courses are included as part of the overall MSW curriculum with no additional cost for participating in the program. 

Students admitted to the program are named Connecticut ¡Adelante! Scholars. Through the rigorous program, the scholars learn to strengthen their linguistic and socio-cultural competencies, gain practical experience serving Spanish-speaking populations, and prepare for a career serving the mental health needs of Spanish-speaking populations in Connecticut.

“The UConn School of Social Work is deeply grateful to receive support from the Latino Endowment Fund to provide scholarships for our bilingual MSW students participating in our Connecticut ¡Adelante! program,” said Milagros Marrero-Johnson, UConn SSW senior director of Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement. “This funding comes at a critical moment, as our current source of support is nearing its end. These scholarships will help offset educational costs and ease the financial burden on our students."

Future Forward CT’s grant will advance its mission of making college a degree accessible and achievable for adult learners, including working adults, parents, and first-generation college students. This grant will support the program’s ability to reduce financial barriers for motivated adult learners and fund opportunities that will allow learners to enhance their skills, credentials, and networking to advance their careers. 

Through its partnership with Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), Future Forward CT offers flexible, self-paced, competency-based online degree programs designed for today’s adult learners. Students receive support from a dedicated coach who provides motivation, accountability, and personalized guidance to keep learners on track to earn their degree. This model is reinforced by engagement in ongoing virtual and in person events related to academic, career, and personal success and comprehensive wraparound support, including peer support, mentorship, and referrals to community resources. 

“This grant directly strengthens our ability to remove financial barriers that too often force adult learners to pause or abandon their education,” said Felecia Edwards-Smith, Founding Executive Director of Future Forward CT. “By reducing out-of-pocket tuition costs and supporting real-world, career-connected learning opportunities, this funding helps our students persist, complete their degrees, and move toward the economic mobility that supports long-term stability and growth." 

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. Members examine issues affecting the Latino community and recommend grants from the fund to address those issues.

In 2021, the Hartford Foundation established two five-year, $250,000 flex-funds to support the Foundation’s Latino Endowment Fund and Black Giving Circle Fund. These additional resources are intended to empower the two giving circles to increase their grantmaking capacity by up to $50,000 per year over five years and/or contribute up to $50,000 per year to their endowment to increase their perpetual grantmaking capacity.

For more information on the Latino Endowment Fund, contact Ramonita Garcia at rgarcia@hfpg.org or go to www.hfpg.org/latino.

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the community foundation for Hartford and 28 surrounding towns. Through partnerships, the Foundation seeks to strengthen communities in Greater Hartford by putting philanthropy in action to dismantle structural racism and achieve equity in social and economic mobility. Made possible by the gifts of generous individuals, families and organizations, the Foundation has awarded grants of more than $1 billion since its founding in 1925. For more information, visit www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.