Rising Readers: Building Literacy and Resilience in Latino Youth at SOMOS

Ramon Peguero, Manny De Los Santos, Yudelka Tapia, Ingrid Chungata, Kari Kurjiaka, Victor Pichardo, Laura Walsh

On Thursday, November 7, LINC’s Chief Program Officer Laura Walsh and Albania Jimenez, Senior Director of Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives joined thought leaders in education from around the globe at the annual SOMOS Conference in Puerto Rico. 

LINC’s Chief Program Officer Laura Walsh was thrilled to present on the Rising Readers: Building Literacy and Resilience in Latino Youth panel along with esteemed colleagues in the sector. Panelists included Kari Kurjiaka, Director of Literacy and Public Policy, Reach Out and Read of Greater New York, Victor Pichardo, Vice President of Community and Government Affairs, SBH Health System, Ingrid Chungata, Chief Program Officers, Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, (CHCF), and moderator Ramon Peguero, Chief Executive Officer, Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, (CHCF). 

I was honored to have the privilege to present at SOMOS 2024 with a team of esteemed panelists: Kari Kurjiaka, Reach Out and Read of Greater New York, Victor Pichardo, SBH Health System, Ingrid Chungata, Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, (CHCF), and our moderator Ramon Peguero, Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, (CHCF). Somos was a tremendous opportunity for LINC to showcase our groundbreaking community work and our contribution to ending the illiteracy crisis through our community literacy model. Feeling empowered and motivated to roll up our sleeves with our partners in this work in New York State at large.--Laura Walsh, Chief Program Officer, LINC

LINC’s impactful Community Literacy Model (CLM) is a solution to the literacy crisis that city and state officials are excited about, and we are so grateful to have been part of this important dialogue. The conference was a wonderful opportunity to nurture existing partnerships and engender new ones alongside a wide range of advocates, from government officials and small business owners, to other non-profit professionals and union leaders. 

Thank you to all of the panelists for their insight and to our sponsors Assemblymembers Manny de los Santos and Yudelka Tapia for championing our work in early literacy. 

To learn more about LINC’s advocacy efforts or connect with one of our staff, please contact us at communications@lincnyc.org.