Promotores Project
Period: September 2016 – June 2017
Successfully engaged and trained eight members of the Latino community to be Promotors (leaders) and expand their opportunities for education, employment, and professional development.
“Being a Promotores and working on this project has matched my passion for learning and helping my community. I want to stay involved and continue the work.”
– Reflections of a promotor
The Focus
- Authentically engage with the local Latino community through grassroots community outreach to develop local community leaders.
- Have a better understanding of the needs of the community and identify gaps and areas of interest and engagement.
The Work
- September 2016: Identify the eight members through applications
- September – December 2016: 30 hours of training the Promotors in leadership, development, and community outreach. Additionally, in-person Community Surveys conducted and findings prepared
- January – May: 20 hours of training and planning (as a team) to create the community event to share community survey findings.
The Impact
- Promotors
- 8 Community Promotores trained
- Very positive feedback from the 8 Promotors on their personal learning and growth – they continue to be engaged in the community – one of them was hired by a nonprofit partner.
- Community survey and event
- 170 Latino/Hispanic families interviewed
- 100 families attended
- Latino community felt heard through the Community Survey & the Spring Community Event
- Partner organizations deeply interested in the Community Survey findings.
- Desire from the community to continue to support Promotores & Latino community voice.
The Learnings
- Insights
- By building capacities of local community members and linking them to organizations, partners, and community leaders we can make an impact – one child, one adult, and one community at a time.
- Challenges
- Ensure funding to support it as ongoing effort to hear community voice/input. Also “Ownership by the Community” – Ideally have a Latino community organization lead this work.
Next Steps
Have set up a task force with some of Eastside Pathways Partner organizations to explore how to take move forward.
The Team
- Mercedes Cordova-Hakim, the trainer (an independent consultant)
- Cathy Habib, lead facilitator at Eastside Pathways
- Alma Gonzalez, community member
- Eastside Pathways staff and volunteers
- Eastside Pathways partner organizations
- Jubilee REACH
- Bellevue School District
- Bellevue Schools Foundation
- Eastside Latino Leadership Forum
- Bellevue YMCA
- City of Bellevue
- SOAR