马塞诸斯州大学波士顿

A heartfelt celebration of the 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿 Latino 领导 Opportunity Program’s 35 years of impact ended with a $3 million surprise.

“这是一个重大事件, 重要的场合,” said 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿 Chancellor Suárez-Orozco to an excited crowd of more than 80 students, 教师, 和校友在4月1日. They had gathered at the 马塞诸斯州大学的 Club in downtown Boston to celebrate the 35th anniversary of a beloved 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿 program: the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development & Public Policy’s Latino 领导 Opportunity Program.

Suárez-Orozco had more than one milestone in mind. 在活动中, he also announced a $3 million gift to the Gastón Institute—the largest donation in its history—from Boston philanthropists 鲍勃·H的22 还有黛安·希尔德雷思.

The centerpiece of the celebration was the panel discussion “Latino 领导 for Social Justice,” featuring three Latino 领导 Opportunity Program (LLOP) alumni. LLOP, which trains 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿 undergraduates in research 和 policy analysis, as well as in leadership skills like teambuilding 和 public speaking, was launched in 1993 as a core education initiative for the Gastón Institute.

专家 塔莉安娜，12岁，17岁, 我是2011届lop班的一员, said that the institute’s emphasis on information sharing had shaped her own approach to social justice. “What the institute does is truth telling. It’s using research 和 data to be able to move policy 和 to move the community into the future,利特尔说, 现在是Em愿景 Productions的首席执行官, a media production agency that helps organizations use communications to advance their justice missions.

After graduation, “I thought, well…what's the power within me? And what can I bring to those spaces that’s unique? 对我来说, 这不一定是研究, it was a different form of truth-telling, 通过通信,利特尔说. “As we all find our form of truth telling, then we can really have social impact.”

小组成员 卡洛斯·梅纳德，99年，03年，15年 和 Joel Mora， 1999届llp毕业生, emphasized 如何 the program supported their success 和 modeled for them 如何 to support others. 今天, both work directly with undergraduates—Maynard as a professor of social 和 behavioral sciences at Bunker Hill Community College 和 Mora as assistant director of student success programs at 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿.

“It’s in the name: Latino 领导 OPPORTUNITY Program,莫拉说, who credits LLOP with teaching him to navigate higher education, 当, as a first-generation college student, “我不知道该去哪里, 怎么做?.”

“That's what I’m trying to do now with our students. And that's why I'm working where I'm working now for first-gen students,” he said. “And that’s what I’m hoping that our students will continue to learn 和 take from 和 give back. The key thing about LLOP is giving back.”

The theme of giving back was reemphasized after the panel concluded, 当 Suárez-Orozco rose to announce the Hildreths’ “transformational” gift. Their donation will permanently name 和 endow the directorship of the Gastón Institute, currently held by Associate Professor Lorna Rivera, 和 provide funding to support the institute’s work.

The announcement was met with an extended ovation—“so much love, I couldn’t finish the sentence!” quipped Suárez-Orozco, who added heartfelt commendation of his own. “Bob 还有黛安·希尔德雷思 have for decades been among the most generous philanthropists supporting Latinx communities in Greater Boston. Their generosity continues to make such a difference in so many lives. Bob 和 Diane, todo corazón, desde lo más profundo de mi alma, muchas gracias.”

A former economist for the International Monetary Fund 和 president 和 founder of International Bank Services, Bob Hildreth has also launched three nonprofits aimed at increasing access to college for lower-income Bostonians. The Hildreths are long-time supporters of the Gastón Institute, 他们创造了, 在其他倡议中, the Robert Hildreth Latin America Internship Award to fund student travel 和 research in Latin American 和 Caribbean nations.

鲍勃赞扬了研究所的工作, particularly in inventorying the Commonwealth’s services for Latino immigrants 和 quantifying “如何 well the immigrants over the last 50 years from Latin America have done in the Commonwealth, 如何 至关重要的 they have been in our economy,” he said. “真的, the ‘thank you’ should be from us to you, for creating such important work 和 institutions for the Commonwealth, especially so now that we have a surge in immigration coming from Latin America. And our institutions are ready for them, with open arms.”

“As a first-generation college student, 移民的女儿, 和 an LLOP alumnae (当 it was a national program), I know that Bob 还有黛安·希尔德雷思’s support for the 加斯顿学院’s programs is truly transformational for 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿 students,里维拉说. “Words cannot express our gratitude for their generosity.”