By Gloria Vazquez Merrick
Gloria Merrick, PennLive edit board, June 13, 2019. Mark Pynes | mp****@pe******.com
Growing up Latina in Allison Hill, Harrisburg, I recall wanting to be a social worker since it seemed to align with what I was doing in the community from a young age. That included wrapping presents for children in preparation for Three Kings Day; helping with catechism classes for children just a few years younger than me; riding along to pick up children from Swatara Street, Allison Hill and taking them for ice cream.
It also included walking dogs for the elderly and running to Green’s Bakery to get their “bear claws” and butter buns! I remember reading books to the children and bringing them back home until next time! Being a social worker, would allow me to do even more! However, after 8 years at St. Francis, I entered Bishop McDevitt, got distracted, and before I knew it – graduation!
Everyone was going off to college, and I was waiting for that to just happen for me – but nothing!
Soon after starting an entry level position in government at age 18, I was fortunate to get the attention of mentors who helped shape my future direction, which ultimately years later led to serving as director of the Leadership Development Institute for Women in Government. This program and my personal experiences growing up is what led to the evolution in 2016 of a leadership Institute – LISTO – for namely Allison Hill Latino youth!
Center executive director Gloria Merrick marches along 13th Street during the rally. A rally of unity and support for the people of Ukraine is held at the Latino Hispanic American Community Center in Harrisburg. March 4, 2022. Dan Gleiter | dg******@pe******.com
As author Grant Cardone quotes: “Never take the position that things just happen to you; rather they happen because of something you did or did not do.” The LISTO leadership institute, focuses on what students do to take charge of their future. These Latino students are in high school — most in 9th and 10th grades. They learn about financial planning; workforce development; career planning; leadership, and much more. They meet after school hours over a two-month period, learning from a faculty of leaders who look like them and share similar stories. It all evolved with grants from The Hershey Company and the Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC).
Thank you to most recent LISTO supporters: Mid Penn Bank, The Hershey Company, Capital Blue Cross, Pennian Bank, PNC Bank, the Harrisburg School Board Foundation, The Giant Company, Riverview Bank and Weis Markets.
LHACC’s LISTO is also proud to have met the criteria to become Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) approved by the Department of Community and Economic Development. These sponsors and EITC donors help sustain the leadership institute – the Latino Center welcomes contributions.
Success stories are too many to mention as the Latino LISTO students graduate high school and move on! They are “breaking the cycle” and taking charge of their lives:
The recent Class of ‘2022 are in high school, prepped and showing signs of a positive future direction! Soon they too will be joining LISTO alumni who are filled with confidence and proudly taking on their lifelong dreams!
Let this LISTO program serve as a reminder to look for opportunities to mentor youth where you work and in the communities, where you live. Help provide hope and guidance that can make a difference!
(Learn more about the Latino Center – LHACC LISTO program at lhacc.org)
Gloria Vazquez Merrick is Executive Director of The Latino Hispanic American Community Center (LHACC)
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