Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Reflections from C4C’s Program Director, Jessica Tellez

As we enter Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, it is the opportune time to reflect upon the many achievements and histories of Latinos in the United States. This year’s theme, “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation,” speaks directly to the rich and diverse tapestry of Latino cultures we at Coaching4Change serve. Across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the Latino population increasingly reflects the demographic shifts that are reshaping the entire United States. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Latinos are the largest non-white population in the country and the fastest growing population in both MA and RI. In the past decade the RI Latino population grew by nearly 40 percent and is the second largest racial or ethnic group in both states. Currently, Latinos are concentrated primarily in the Gateway Cities, including Lawrence, New Bedford, Fall River, and Providence, all localities where Coaching4Change maintains school partnerships. According to a new report, school districts with large Latino student populations are among those struggling the most, with many in state receivership or turnaround status. Given the expanding amount of Latino youth in our schools, it has been critical for us to recognize the unique needs of this population in order to effectively serve them.

Over 60% of our college mentors identify as students of color and over a third are multilingual, because we know representation matters. In fact, studies show that Latino students' academic and behavioral outcomes improve when there is shared identity and language with their educators. In the ‘21-’22 school year, C4C successfully piloted our first after-school program serving exclusively English Learners in Attleboro and this year will be expanding our in-school model to provide EL-specific support in Providence’s Newcomer Academy and Lawrence Public Schools. As Coaching4Change rapidly expands its reach, a key focus continues to center a culturally responsive approach to serve even more multilingual learners and newcomers in our schools.  

As a Latina who hails from a Texas border city where my Mexican-American background was the dominant culture, I can speak first-hand to the importance of comunidad. Only after I moved to New England did I realize the immense privilege I had seeing teachers and leaders who looked and sounded like me. My time at Coaching4Change has been an incredibly rewarding and affirming experience. I am proud to be part of an organization that values my Latinidad and seeks to strengthen educational opportunities for our Latino mentors and students.

Jessica joined Coaching4Change in 2021 and serves as Program Director. In this role, she leads the execution and evaluation of the program team and facilitates collaboration across Coaching4Change’s regional hubs. Jessica brings 10+ years of education, youth, and workforce development experience including within the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology and YouthBuild USA. She firmly believes that with equitable access and support, young people can become agents of their own learning and lives. Jessica is a proud first-generation college graduate, with a MA in Urban Education Policy from Brown University, and a BA in Political Science & Chicano Studies from the University of Texas at El Paso.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, we plan to amplify the impact and stories of our C4C Latino mentors and partners. We hope you will follow and support our continued efforts as we invest in the Latino youth of the future.