Para Los Niños Executive Director Lupita Torrez announced Thursday (Dec. 6) that she is stepping down from the Burien non-profit.
Torrez has led the organization since 2002.
“I am very thankful for all the opportunities that Para Los Niños offered me during these 16 years, and I am humble to call this organization home and the people that I have worked with during these years my family,” she said. “I want to honor the time and the passion that many past and current staff, board members and community members have invested in making the strong organization that exists now. I would like to share with you that I have decided to step down as the Executive Director of Para Los Niños. This decision has been really hard for me, but I believe this is the right thing to do at this moment of my life.”
The organization was named the 2018 ‘Citizen of the Year‘ by the City of Burien.
Para Los Ni̱os is a grassroots community organization founded by members of the community it serves Рthe growing immigrant, Spanish-speaking population in South King County, which makes up around 25% of Burien.
In 2003, a group of Latino parents gathered to talk about education. As a result of this meeting, Para Los Niños was born with the following priorities: to support the education of Latino children, with a focus on early childhood development; to maintain and promote their culture and language; and to teach English as a second language in order to develop leadership and civic engagement for parents in the community.
The strong wave of anti-immigrant sentiment targeting Latinos in the US and resulting deportations and family separations are significantly impacting PLN families. Many report they are afraid to speak out or reach out for resources, which means that as a community we need each other now more than ever.
Para Los Niños​ works for the success of Latino students and families in the Highline School District through four core programs that encompass: early learning and kindergarten readiness; literacy and other academic skills; access to higher education; and parent support, education, and empowerment.
Here’s Torrez full statement, which was emailed out Thursday morning:
Dear Friends,
Sixteen years ago we came together with the dream of advocating for better opportunities for our Latino children so they could reach their full potential and grow up in a healthy community. As of today we have enriched more than 10,000 individuals and supported them in increasing their education, economic, and leadership skills. We also have worked in changing policies in the School District, and we have made valuable contributions to re-shape the political climate in Burien. We have worked to deliver quality programs that embrace the gifts of our community in a positive way. We have worked to position the organization in a strong financial position, and we have been very successful in all these areas. I want to thank you for your unconditional support through all these years.
I am very thankful for all the opportunities that Para Los Niños offered me during these 16 years, and I am humble to call this organization home and the people that I have worked with during these years my family. I want to honor the time and the passion that many past and current staff, board members and community members have invested in making the strong organization that exists now. I would like to share with you that I have decided to step down as the Executive Director of Para Los Niños. This decision has been really hard for me, but I believe this is the right thing to do at this moment of my life.
It is my wish that Para Los Niños continue to be prosperous and to serve more Latino children and their families for many more years to come. I am confident that this organization will be successful because at this moment it is financially strong, it has a foundation built by the community it serves, and it has been surrounded by passionate people that will continue to embrace the legacy and continue to transform the Latino community in Burien.
With love,
Lupita Torrez
Para Los Niños is currently seeking a new E.D. – read the job listing here (PDF file). More info on this non-profit is here: https://plnwa.org]]>
