FA Collegiate Students Honoring Local Latina Community Leaders

Foundation Academies Collegiate students are honoring local Latina community leaders for their achievements and contributions to Trenton in celebration of #HispanicHeritageMonth. 

The event, featuring Latin music, dance, art, and food from local restaurants, has been organized by students in grades 9-12 to honor community leaders for the roles they play and inspiration they provide.

“This is a good way to show students what they can do, and what they can strive for,” said Deena Vincente, a senior and member of National Honor Society.

Honorees include:

• Reverend Karen Hernandez-Granzen, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church 
• Cecilia Jiménez-Weeast, executive director of The Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc.
• Maria Richardson, director of the City of Trenton Department of Recreation, Natural Resources, & Culture
• Berni Nieto, City of Trenton Department of Recreation, Natural Resources, & Culture
• Santa Correa, City of Trenton Department of Recreation, Natural Resources, & Culture
• Isabel Garcia, City of Trenton Department of Administration

Event hosts are members of FA’s National Honor Society, Unity and PODER Clubs. PODER club members focus on sharing and celebrating Latin culture and Unity Club members help build connections between English and Spanish speakers by providing translation and interpretation services. 

The community event is one of several ways FA has been celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month. In September, PODER invited students to paint Frida Khalo inspired pumpkin portraits while sipping on homemade cultural drinks from Latin America, such as Agua Fresca, Agua de Jamaica, a Dominican beverage known as Morir Sonando, and Horchata.

FA CEO Sheria McRae kicked off the celebration with a message to families and staff thanking “our scholars, families, faculty and staff for sharing their rich and vibrant culture every day by just being YOU.”
She also shared a new video, “Empowering Them to Lead” produced by Julio Delgado ’19 and featuring several FA Latino school leaders speaking about the importance of diversity and how Latino culture inspires them as educators and role models.

“At F.A. we’re committed to supporting all our families and delivering on our promise to equip our scholars to excel in learning and empower them to lead purpose-filled lives,” Mrs. McRae said. “National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate – and an opportunity to do the work to provide equity for all our families.”