Local leaders and community members gathered together during a Thursday breakfast fundraiser to support the Latino Educational Training Institute (LETI) in celebrating its work. The nonprofit organization offers over 20 programs to Latino community members, including nutrition assistance, vaccine access, computer literacy training, a children’s choir and occupational safety courses. The hearty breakfast at Lynnwood’s Embassy Suites was accompanied by commentary on struggles the organization faced, its triumphs in the face of adversity and its future plans for a new 16,000-square-foot facility in south Everett.
As a first-generation immigrant from Peru supporting 30 extended family members, LETI founder Rosario Reyes spoke about founding LETI in 1998 as a way to educate and support Latino immigrants. Reyes’s sentiments were echoed by other speakers with lived experiences, including Marisol Bejarano, LETI’s first full-time employee, and State Rep. Julio Cortes, son of agricultural workers from Mexico.
Bejarano was one of many second-generation immigrants whose parents did not speak English, limiting their employment opportunities and access to knowledge.
“Without LETI, I’m not sure if I’d be where I am today,” said Bejarano, who serves as LETI’s director of health & wellness program.
Edmonds School District Family and Community Engagement Coordinator Sally Guzmán spoke about the value of Latinos embracing and preserving their heritage.
“In school, I was never taught to learn and celebrate my culture. I was taught to assimilate,” Guzmán said.
To learn more about LETI or donate to their mission, visit their website.
–Story and photos by Jasmine Contreras-Lewis
Real first and last names — as well as city of residence — are required for all commenters.
This is so we can verify your identity before approving your comment.