PEABODY — The Latina Center Maria hosted a gala Friday evening to fundraise for, as well as distribute scholarships and laptops to, Latina mothers studying English as a second language (ESL).
Latina Center Maria presented three $500 scholarships for home health aide classes to Sonia Torres, Alma Lemus and Miriam Hernández. In addition, five Chromebooks were raffled off to ESL students.
The Lynn non-profit’s event at Spinelli’s also celebrated Latina Center Maria’s seventh anniversary. Since its launch in 2016, the non-profit has provided ESL courses to hundreds at the Lynn YMCA and other organizations. Dr. Magalie Torres-Rowe, the organization’s founder and executive director, also teaches Spanish at Breed Middle School. She said her work there inspires her work at the center.
“All my students get A’s and B’s because I talk to parents,” Torres-Rowe said. “When moms know English, they can help their kids with homework and they can talk with teachers to prevent the kids from failing the class.”
The courses are provided thanks to countless hours of donated time from volunteers, whom the non-profit also honored at the event Friday.
Justice Promoter for the Sisters of St. Joseph Betty Cawley, Sisters of St. Joseph Leadership Team member Betsy Conway, Mayor Jared Nicholson, and state Senator Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) received special recognition for their advocacy and support of the Latino community.
“It is a wonderful ceremony that brings folks from across the community together, as well as a wide range of community leaders,” Crighton said. “I’m very privileged to be here tonight to honor these community members and thankful to Center Maria. They’ve been doing such great work for so long.”
Additionally, 26 others were presented “Inspirational Woman and Mother” awards in seven subcategories.
Dr. Susana Castañeda Otsu, Elisa Yepes, Mariely Nicasio, Bella diGrazia and Marcela Garcia were recognized as “outstanding professionals.”
Joanna Pena, Natali Echeverry and Paola Vargas were recognized as “outstanding entrepreneurs.”
Dr. Jennifer Mezquita, Dr. Maria del Pila Silveira and Dr. Lis Fitzgerald were recognized as “outstanding professors.”
Kendwy Valdez and Audrey Jimenez were recognized as “outstanding educators.”
A Dominacan immigrant, Valdez came to the U.S. at the age of 6. One of the first dual language educators in Lynn Public Schools, she now serves as the principal at Tracy Elementary School.
“The Maria Center has been very supportive with our families being able to connect them so that they can go to the center and learn English, which in turn supports our students,” Valdez said.
Cecy del Carmen, Mercedes Cuellar, Erika Arevalo,Natasha Megie-Maddrey, Marta Montes de Rentas and Lisa Pressman were recognized as “outstanding community leaders.”
Lynn Classical High School valedictorian Leilani Eth and St. Mary’s senior Yocilin Solis were recognized as the “new generation.”
Gloria Bran, Jenny Torre, Rosa Murillo, Maribel Ramirez Matul and Estela Nieves were recognized as “inspirational mothers.”
Torres-Rowe noted the positive impact the center’s classes have on its students. She said one mother came into the center’s class as a dishwasher who worked hours that made her unable to spend as much time with her children as she would like. Following completion of the center’s course, Torres-Rowe said, that mother was able to become a home health aid and work hours more suitable to her family’s needs.
“A blind mom cannot guide blind children,” Torres-Rowe said. “When you study English, you are not blind anymore.”
