The Remarkable Story of Adelante Mujeres’ Growth

Written by Cassie Buckroyd, SVP Partner

The impact that SVP Portland makes through our capacity building partnerships with our  Community Partners continues long after SVP Partners have finished their last commitment, final reports are written, and teams have come together to celebrate and reflect on what we accomplished together. Almost five years after our investment with Adelante Mujeres (Adelante) ended, we are thrilled to announce the opening of their new Early Childhood Education classrooms in Forest Grove.The 2012–2015 partnership with Adelante laid the groundwork for their new facility in Forest Grove. The culmination of our three-year investment was a five-year strategic plan, which set the stage for Adelante’s capital campaign and facility expansion. In the years following our partnership, Adelante embarked on a capital campaign with a goal of raising $3.25 million to fund expansion of its programs and facilities, including early learning classrooms, adult-education spaces, and a commercial kitchen. After several years of fundraising, planning, and construction, Adelante has opened its newest early childhood education classrooms. Founded in 2002, Adelante envisions a community where all families thrive. The organization has an impressive and comprehensive set of programs to provide Latina women with education, resources, and confidence to start their own business, complete their education, and become active and influential members of their community. To do this, their children needed an early learning program to attend during the day. Adelante’s preschool is a bilingual program that teaches early literacy skills and builds kindergarten readiness among Latino immigrant children of women participating in their Adult Education program. When we began our partnership in 2012, approximately 35 women were participating in Adelante’s Adult Education Program and, of those women, 20 had children in the program. In 2019, 69 preschoolers successfully transitioned to kindergarten, and 102 children ages 6 months to 4 years were served through this high quality, culturally specific early learning  program. While some of the children’s parents are migrant farmworkers and working mothers, 72 mothers enrolled attended the Adult Education Programs. Additionally, Adelante provides parenting workshops so families can learn and grow together. Last year, 30 women participated in this two-generational program. Angelica, a mother of two, was able to enroll her children in Adelante’s program while she took classes to learn English and earn her GED. Reflecting on her experience, Angelica said, “We know we have potential,” says Angelica, “and education helps us go higher. We are empowered when we have education because we are the voice of our children, and we are voices for other women.” You can read Angelica’s story here. We look forward to visiting Adelante’s new facility in Forest Grove when it is safe for Partners, children, and staff to gather. In the meantime, you can learn more about how to support this amazing organization at adelantemujeres.org.