About Us
Empowering Latino Futures (ELF), formerly Latino Literacy Now, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in North San Diego County. Every day we build on more than 20 years of experience working with the Latino community to bring a combination of innovative, educational, and culturally relevant resources to this diverse community. To address the array of needs, we have developed a variety of programs that focus on lowering barriers by increasing access to education and uplifting Latino voices and talent. ELF believes that an individual’s potential for greatness is only limited by their access to resources and support.
MISSION
Our mission is to remove barriers to educational and professional success for Latinos, Latinas, and other underserved communities by creating products, services, content, partnerships, and programs that lead to equal opportunity for all.
VISION
A world where inclusion and equity principles grant everyone access to educational, community-building, and empowerment programs, as well as opportunities to pursue their professional dreams.
Evolution
The organization started as a collective effort of various individuals seeking equal opportunities for all. Frustrated that no large, public events specifically targeted the needs of the Latino community, actor Edward James Olmos, Kirk Whisler, and other community members created the first Latino Book & Family Festival in 1997 in Los Angeles. The event drew 16,242 attendees and helped open the doors to new kinds of events focused on providing helpful resources for individuals and families in the Latino community. From this event, ELF was founded.
Over the years, ELF has grown to include a range of programs focused on empowering the Latino community. This includes developing and distributing educational resources as well as bringing together community members, experts on educational topics, and authors to promote reading and education and lift up Latino talent. Since 1997, our programs have been utilized by 1.7 million people and have directly impacted the lives of an estimated 7,500 people.
2020 CHALLENGES
This 2020 was a year of many challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a big transition to the digital world. All our physical programs were postponed/cancelled and moved to a virtual setting, but this transition opened the doors to new audiences online and a new way of creating events. Using the learnings from 2020, we believe our programs will strengthen and use this opportunity to provide more opportunities
Empowering Latino Futures Board
Kirk Whisler, Board President
Edward James Olmos, Board Chair
Julia Abrantes, VP of Author Programs
Dr. Julian Nava, VP of Education Programs
Edward Becerra, Education Begins in the Home, Program Director
Board Members: Rene Aguilera, Katharine A. Díaz, Victor Gonzalez, Lisa Montes, Martin Valdez
Our Team
Kirk Whisler, Board President
(760) 579-1696, kirk@whisler.com
Andres Tobar, Director of Development
(202) 841-7988, development@empoweringlatinofutures.org
Edward Becerra, Education Begins in the Home, Program Director
(760) 681-9950, EducationBeginsInTheHome@gmail.com
Yenni Patiño, Award Programs support
(760) 645-3455, awards@empoweringlatinofutures.org
Melanie Slone, Editor, Consultant, Translator
melanie@latinolytics.com
Ericka Benitez, Financial Services Support
Callie Gass, Empowering Latino Students Initiative Grant writer
Thornton Sully, Grants Seeker
Author Programs Committee & Leaders
Nora de Hoyos Comstock, Julia Abrantes, Norma de la Peña, Rosa Hernandez-Allen, Al Gonzalez, Katharine Diaz, Jose Chavez.
Festival Program Committee & Leaders
Alina Gonzalez, Beatriz Palmer, Georgette Baker, Monica Chapa-Domercq, Diana Minuzzi, Gaby Beas, Jonathan Gomez, Lilibeth Resendiz, Lisa Montes, Cesar Caballero.
Empowering Latino Students Support
Andres Tobar, Callie Gass, Karen Arter
EMPOWERING LATINO FUTURES
624 Hillcrest Ln.
Fallbrook, CA 92028
Federal Tax ID #33-0868486
760-645-3455
fax: 760-434-7476
LatinoLiteracy@gmail.com
www.EmpoweringLatinoFutures.org