📢 Your voice matters, and your vote is powerful! 🗳️ To all our Scholars, Students, and LUCA Familia - This is more than just a ballot; it's your opportunity to make an impact, support what you believe in, and shape a better future for yourself and your family. 🔹 Vote early or vote on Tuesday—let your voice be heard! 💬 💥 Remember, when we vote, change happens. Check out your ballot and learn about the issues at www.ballotready.org #YourVoteMatters #StudentVoice #SiSePuede #FirstGen #YourVoiceMatters #Empowerment #Changemakers #Change
Latino U College Access (LUCA)
Higher Education
White Plains, NY 1,854 followers
Making College Dreams a Reality!
About us
Latino U College Access (LUCA) is a nonprofit organization that transforms lives by making college dreams a reality for first generation college students. LUCA supports high school students from college exploration through college graduation. The organization seeks to advance educational equity by providing college preparatory resources to ensure students fulfill their academic and life potential. LUCA is committed to enhancing the quality and intensity of support low-income Latino students receive to apply, enter, and succeed in college. Partnering with Westchester County school districts, post-secondary institutions, corporations, and community volunteers, LUCA delivers culturally relevant, bilingual, family-centered programming directly to the Latino community. Our Mission: Increase college enrollment and completion among Latino youth who are the first in their family to attend college by providing guidance and access to opportunity through education, advocacy, and collaboration. Our Vision: While talent is universal, opportunity is not. We envision a world where low-income, first-generation college students have equal access to higher education that will open doors to professional positions of influence where they can be representatives of and advocates for the Latino community in spaces where they have not been seen or heard before.
- Website
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http://www.latinou.org/
External link for Latino U College Access (LUCA)
- Industry
- Higher Education
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- White Plains, NY
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 2012
- Specialties
- Community Programs and Outreach, Collaboration, Education, Advocacy, Non-Profit, College Access, College Success, Volunteers, Financial Aid, and Higher Education
Locations
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Primary
75 Virginia Road
2nd Floor
White Plains, NY 10603, US
Employees at Latino U College Access (LUCA)
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Shirley Acevedo Buontempo, MPA
Founder | Executive Director Latino U College Access (LUCA) | Change Maker | Nonprofit Executive | Advocate & Community Leader |
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Danielle Alberi Casas
Independant Educational Consultant
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Catherine Maroney
Community Outreach | Nonprofit Senior Manager | Writer | Adjunct Professor | Corporate Communications | Media Relations
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Scott Silverstein
Business Executive
Updates
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🎃 Happy Halloween from the LUCA team! Today, we celebrated by dressing up as icons—legendary Latino/Latina superstars, poets, athletes, and changemakers who inspire us. Have a fun and safe night! Who do you think had the best costume? Comment below! ⬇️ #HappyHalloween #Workhardplayhard #FirstGen
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We are truly grateful for our entire LUCA Familia, who made Visiones Gala: Inspired by Purpose a night to remember! A huge thank you to our LUCA Scholars, Alumni, Parents, Coaches, Board of Directors, LUCA Team, Benefit Committee, Sponsors, Donors, Guests, and Community Partners—you brought our 12th Annual Gala to life with your energy, passion, and unwavering support. Whether you joined us in person or from afar, you made our mission shine as we celebrated our Scholars and the transformative power of education. Because of your generosity, we can continue empowering first-generation Latino students to reach their dreams, build brighter futures, and leave a lasting impact. We’re beyond proud to have each of you as part of our LUCA Familia! 📸 Our complete Facebook Album is now live! Please tag us when you share any photos! Click on the link below ⬇️ https://loom.ly/dx39ywc Photo Credits: Lynda Shenkman #SiSePuede #LUCAFamilia #VisionesGala #InspiredByPurpose #LUCA12thAnnualGala #EmpoweringDreams #BuildingBrightFutures #LatinoScholars #FirstGenSuccess
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Latino U College Access (LUCA) reposted this
So humbled to be working for entrepreneurs with a focus on giving back to their community! Congratulations Peter Herrero Jr and Karen Herrero for your award from Latino U College Access (LUCA) https://lnkd.in/eZ2nphVJ
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Latino U College Access (LUCA) reposted this
Founder | Executive Director Latino U College Access (LUCA) | Change Maker | Nonprofit Executive | Advocate & Community Leader |
Thank you Mutual of America Financial Group for inviting our phenomenal Scholar Alondra A. Vallejo and me to participate in your Hispanic Heritage Celebration and webinar. We are so grateful to partner with you and highlight the incredible talent and potential of Latino youth. At Latino U College Access (LUCA) we are dedicated to empowering Latino youth to reach their remarkable academic and life potential!
From September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and honor the significant contributions of Hispanic and Latino American cultures. To commemorate this occasion, we held a Company-wide webinar, “Pathways to Success: Empowering Latino Youth through Education,” featuring guest speakers, Shirley Acevedo Buontempo, MPA, Founder and Executive Director of Latino U College Access (LUCA) and Alondra A. Vallejo, LUCA Scholar, and a senior at the George Washington University School of Business. LUCA is transforming lives by working to close the college-degree gap by helping Latino students overcome systemic barriers on their journeys to and through college. Thank you, Shirley, for your dedication and leadership in creating opportunities that empower young scholars to make their college dreams a reality. And thank you, Alondra, for sharing your amazing journey, demonstrating how determination and support can lead to success. Your inspirational stories remind us of the importance of uplifting the next generation of leaders. Watch the webinar replay here https://ow.ly/Itbf50TL337 #HispanicHeritageMonth #HispanicHeritage #HHM2024
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We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the legislators and government officials who joined us at this year's LUCA’s Visiones Gala: Inspired by Purpose. Your presence and support make a profound impact in advancing educational equity and empowering the next generation of Latino leaders. A special thank you to: ✨ Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins/President Pro Tempore NYS Senate ✨ Chris Burdick/NYS Assemblyman District 93 ✨ Ken Jenkins/Westchester County Deputy Executive ✨ Dr. DaMia Harris Madden, MBA, MSHRM/NY Commissioner for the Office of Children and Family Services ✨ Martha Lopez-Hanratty/Westchester County Director of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development ✨ @Jewell F. Williams Johnson/Representative, Board of Legislature, District No. 8 ✨ Ernest L. McFadden/Executive Director of the Westchester County Youth Bureau We are grateful for your commitment and partnership in creating opportunities for our students and community. Thank you for standing with LUCA! #SiSePuede #FirstGen #EducationEquity #InspiredByPurpose
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✨ What an inspirational night! ✨ Thank you to all of our guests who joined us for our Annual Visiones Gala: “Inspired by Purpose!” With heartfelt gratitude, we thank our honorees: Cynthia Rivera Weissblum, President & CEO of EGF Accelerator, for the Founder’s Award; Peter Herrero Jr & Karen Herrero of NY Hospitality Group for the Community Advocate Award; and Valley Bank for the Corporate Partner Award, accepted by Joe McCoy. Your dedication strengthens our mission of empowering first-generation Latino students to pursue higher education and achieve their dreams! A special shoutout to our LUCA Scholar Speakers: Keven Victoria (Stanford University ‘24) and Dayanara Naranjo (Binghamton University ‘28), whose journeys remind us why we do this work. #SiSePuede Thank you to everyone who joined us or supported from afar. Together, we’re building brighter futures! 🌟 Stay tuned for the full Facebook album release! Photo Credits 📸: Lynda Shenkman #VisionesGala #Visiones2024 #SiSePuede #FirstGen #EmpowerLatinoYouth #HigherEdDreams #LUCAFamily #LatinoExcellence #FutureLeaders #BrighterFutures #ScholarSuccess
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LUCA hosted its first College Panel on Saturday, October 12, at the White Plains Public Library! This event provided our Scholars with a valuable opportunity to learn firsthand about various opportunities, admissions requirements, and available resources from the colleges represented. We were fortunate to have 12 college representatives, including those from Lehigh University, Boston University, Hamilton College, and Syracuse University, among others. More than 40 Scholars and parents attended the event. Thanks to LUCA team members Jennifer Polanco-Calderon, M.Ed, Jailine Batista Estevez, Selena Drinks Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez and Stephanie Palacios for putting together this important event. #FirstGen #SiSePued #LUCA #CollegePanel #LUCACollegePanel #CollegeAccess #CollegeBound #HigherEducation #LatinoScholars
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Introducing our Visiones 2024 Alumni Keynote Speaker Keven Victoria 🎓 Keven, a first-gen Latino college graduate, is our first Scholar to graduate from Stanford University, and his journey is nothing short of inspiring. At this year's gala, Keven will share his powerful story about overcoming challenges and embracing uncertainty to shape his own future. You won’t want to miss this! Join us for a night filled with purpose and inspiration! ✨ Purchase your tickets today. Click on the link below ⬇️ https://loom.ly/LQ2UOtU #VisionesGala #InspiredByPurpose #LUCA #StanfordGrad #FirstGen #LUCAAlumni #SiSePuede
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Latino U College Access (LUCA) reposted this
✨ Our Visiones Gala: Inspired by Purpose Live Auction is now open! ✨ Bid on one-of-a-kind experiences, like: 🚤 Set Sail in Style: Exclusive yacht day on Long Island Sound 🍽️ Chef’s Dinner for Eight by Chef Rafael Palomino 🎉 Fiesta de Sabores: Latin-inspired dinner for 25! Don't Miss Out! Purchase your tickets today! ⬇️ https://loom.ly/LQ2UOtU Can’t join us on October 24th? The Silent Auction is also live! Score incredible items like: 🏝️ 3-night getaway to Club Med in Guadeloupe 🏎️ Autographed Formula One jersey 🏒 VIP NY Islanders experience Silent Auction Items: BID NOW! ⬇️ https://loom.ly/FxQ9sUQ ... #VisionesGala #SiSePuede #LiveAuction #SilentAuction #SupportEducation #LatinoUCollegeAccess #OneOfAKindExperiences #GalaSeason #NonProfit #Gala2024 #FundraisingGala
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