Letter from our Founder and Executive Director
Letter from our Founder and Executive Director
Dear friends of the Latino Community Center:
It is with great excitement (and relief) that I write this welcome letter from our new home in East Liberty. As I walk through our new space, I see members of our team laughing, talking, exchanging ideas, and interacting with one another. I also see families coming in for their appointments and community members bringing others who are going through difficult situations and need support. Most importantly, I hear the sounds of a center that has come back and is buzzing with life.
It has taken us some time to reach this point. I believe the pandemic changed us (“us” meaning LCC, but also “us” meaning everyone, everything). How could it not? We had to learn new ways of working, to be creative in problem-solving, all while our team grew and we became an organization of over 35 staff members.
So, above all, this past year was about learning who we have become as an organization.
To that end, we went through a strategic planning process with Bonner Consulting and conducted stay interviews with our team. Both processes required vulnerability on our part, but through them, we learned so much. We learned that our work is impactful and that we need to be clearer when communicating what we do — and what we don’t do.
We learned to truly listen to our team and discovered that, internally, we have members who are eager and willing to step up to the plate and lead.
When I look back, I see defining moments. What I mean by that is that there were several instances when decisions needed to be made, and I made them by trusting my gut, my heart, my instinct, and by listening to the team. It didn’t always make sense, and the answers weren’t always the most logical, but when those four elements aligned, I knew it was the right decision to make.
I am also deeply grateful to our Board, especially our Chair, Dr. Belkys Torres, who stepped in to support the organization during my maternity leave. I am grateful to the LCC team for all the hard work they do each and every day, and for trusting me to lead us. As we begin a new fiscal year, I am thrilled to keep bringing life to the Center and continue making it a safe and welcoming place for our community.
Rosamaria Cristello
Executive Director
Impact in numbers
Dear friends of the Latino Community Center:
It is with great excitement (and relief) that I write this welcome letter from our new home in East Liberty. As I walk through our new space, I see members of our team laughing, talking, exchanging ideas, and interacting with one another. I also see families coming in for their appointments and community members bringing others who are going through difficult situations and need support. Most importantly, I hear the sounds of a center that has come back and is buzzing with life.
It has taken us some time to reach this point. I believe the pandemic changed us (“us” meaning LCC, but also “us” meaning everyone, everything). How could it not? We had to learn new ways of working, to be creative in problem-solving, all while our team grew and we became an organization of over 35 staff members.
So, above all, this past year was about learning who we have become as an organization.
To that end, we went through a strategic planning process with Bonner Consulting and conducted stay interviews with our team. Both processes required vulnerability on our part, but through them, we learned so much. We learned that our work is impactful and that we need to be clearer when communicating what we do — and what we don’t do.
We learned to truly listen to our team and discovered that, internally, we have members who are eager and willing to step up to the plate and lead.
When I look back, I see defining moments. What I mean by that is that there were several instances when decisions needed to be made, and I made them by trusting my gut, my heart, my instinct, and by listening to the team. It didn’t always make sense, and the answers weren’t always the most logical, but when those four elements aligned, I knew it was the right decision to make.
I am also deeply grateful to our Board, especially our Chair, Dr. Belkys Torres, who stepped in to support the organization during my maternity leave. I am grateful to the LCC team for all the hard work they do each and every day, and for trusting me to lead us. As we begin a new fiscal year, I am thrilled to keep bringing life to the Center and continue making it a safe and welcoming place for our community.
Rosamaria Cristello
Executive Director
impact in numbers
1578
Families served
416
New families connected through our Welcome Center
939
Early childhood home visits completed
771
Families supported through the Education Support Line
286
Positive Parenting workshops completed
Events and Celebrations
Thanks to Our Partners
The Latino Community Center deeply thanks all the institutions, organizations, and individuals who collaborated during the 2021–2022 period.
Educational Partners
Our educational partners support learning, mentorship, and the holistic development of children, youth, and families.
Schools & Programs
CCAC (Community College of Allegheny County)
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Los Sabrosos Dance Co.
ParentChild+
Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Project Positivity
Open Field
PPS Arsenal 6–8
PPS Beechwood
PPS South Hills 6–8
Sarah Heinz House
Seton Hill University
STEM Coding Lab
Southwest PA Mentoring Partnership
UnidosUS
Venture Outdoors
Family and Community Services Partners
They collaborate in direct assistance, social resources, health, and family well-being.
Allegheny County Department of Human Services
Allegheny County Health Department
CDC Foundation
Triple P: Positive Parenting Program
Hello Baby
Pittsburgh Diaper Bank
UnidosUS
United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania
Latino Connection for Pennie Services
MHP Salud
Referral and Resource Organizations
More than 250 local organizations work with LCC, offering support in family referral and support services.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Housing Development Corporation (PHDC)
United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania
Allegheny Health Network
Consumer Health Coalition
DHS–SNAP
Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS)
Duquesne Light Company
DHS–WIC
Allegheny County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
Energy in Dollars
University of Pittsburgh School of Law
UPMC Mercy
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
“Back-to-School Bash” Event Partners
Thank you for supporting our students and showing how much you value their future.
Amachi Pittsburgh
Mount Ararat Community Activity Center (MONTAR)
CCAC
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Crossroads Foundation
Falk Laboratory School
Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania
La Roche University
The Pittsburgh Promise
Pittsburgh Public Schools Early Childhood Department
Pittsburgh Public Schools ESL Department
PPG Industries
Reading Is Fundamental
Sarah Heinz House
STEM Coding Lab
PEAL Center
UniSound
University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
Thank you to our sponsors!
Thanks to Our Partners
The Latino Community Center deeply thanks all the institutions, organizations, and individuals who collaborated during the 2021–2022 period.
Educational Partners
Our educational partners support learning, mentorship, and the holistic development of children, youth, and families.
Schools & Programs
CCAC (Community College of Allegheny County)
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Los Sabrosos Dance Co.
ParentChild+
Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Project Positivity
Open Field
PPS Arsenal 6–8
PPS Beechwood
PPS South Hills 6–8
Sarah Heinz House
Seton Hill University
STEM Coding Lab
Southwest PA Mentoring Partnership
UnidosUS
Venture Outdoors
Family and Community Services Partners
They collaborate in direct assistance, social resources, health, and family well-being.
Allegheny County Department of Human Services
Allegheny County Health Department
CDC Foundation
Triple P: Positive Parenting Program
Hello Baby
Pittsburgh Diaper Bank
UnidosUS
United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania
Latino Connection for Pennie Services
MHP Salud
Referral and Resource Organizations
More than 250 local organizations work with LCC, offering support in family referral and support services.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Housing Development Corporation (PHDC)
United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania
Allegheny Health Network
Consumer Health Coalition
DHS–SNAP
Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS)
Duquesne Light Company
DHS–WIC
Allegheny County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
Energy in Dollars
University of Pittsburgh School of Law
UPMC Mercy
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
“Back-to-School Bash” Event Partners
Thank you for supporting our students and showing how much you value their future.
Amachi Pittsburgh
Mount Ararat Community Activity Center (MONTAR)
CCAC
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Crossroads Foundation
Falk Laboratory School
Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania
La Roche University
The Pittsburgh Promise
Pittsburgh Public Schools Early Childhood Department
Pittsburgh Public Schools ESL Department
PPG Industries
Reading Is Fundamental
Sarah Heinz House
STEM Coding Lab
PEAL Center
UniSound
University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
community commitment
Income and Expenses
INCOME
EXPENSES
Our vision and next steps
Our vision and next steps
The coming year will be a key one for LCC, marked by the return of in-person activities in our new East Liberty space. We will set in motion the main objectives of our Strategic Plan, strengthening education, communication, and institutional leadership. In addition, we will celebrate our first annual fundraising event, certify our Health Promoters as CHWs in Pennsylvania, and launch Nuestro Futuro, a new internship program for young adults.
