Padres Latinos is providing support systems for Portuguese and Spanish-speaking Somerville parents in Somerville. — Photo courtesy of Padres Latinos

By Jeffrey Shwom

Uplifters, supporters of youth, skills trainers, information sharers, bridge makers, art exhibit curators and turning moms into superwomen. Those are just some of the terms that scratch the surface of the impact Padres Latinos (Padres) has had on Latino parents and the community.

Padres is a group of more than 300 Portuguese and Spanish-speaking Somerville parents who, as their website states, “have been supporting each other by sharing information, resources on education, housing, health, and community.”

Like many mutual aid organizations, Padres was born during tough times, when there was no plan for opening in-person classes during Covid-19 in 2020. Sonia Conde, one of the three passionate, organized and astute Volunteer Coordinators we spoke to, told us she learned the Somerville School Committee voted against reopening “because they had (state level only) data that African Americans and Latino parents were not going to send their kids to school. I felt like someone (was) making this position on my behalf without asking.” This coming from the granddaughter of a slave in Peru, who has an intimate understanding of the cycle of poverty and how immigrants think and process. “We…started a small group of 10, 12 parents. We started communicating to each other and shared letters to send to the school committee to ask them to reconsider this data.”

Paula Magnelli, one of two Padres’ Community Group Representatives on the School Construction Advisory Group for Winter Hill and Brown Planning, emphasized they use data-driven approaches, methods and observational research. “I had been reading social studies articles about how the more traditional parent organizations associated with American schools did not tend to include Latino parents. I found some studies recommending that groups should be in the language… so I I started collecting names. When I joined Sonia’s group…I brought the experience of working within the community in the school, trying to make it less segregated.”

While early work focused on advocating for school opening, and setting up translation interpretation and internet services for the kids, the current work transcends all.

Through seven coordinators, Padres sets goals for children to go to post-secondary education. They provide resources to make sure the children have a roof over their head, food on the table, money to pay rent, and good welfare. They also provide leadership building for more than 15 mom leaders. Sonia relates, “Once they realize they have this power, they feel super, you know, (like) superwoman. They feel like…they can go against anyone and to get a spot for an afterschool program (for their child). So, we not only create leaders, but we also educate them on the resources.” This includes encouraging financial and English literacy. It includes overcoming ideas of poverty and breaking down the preconceived notions within these moms that their children should, say, only strive for a job at Dunkin Donuts or McDonalds’s, to help pay the bills.

Furthermore, Padres are tireless advocates for the whole wellbeing of the child, their families, and the community. This includes advocating for more Latino school staff, getting children in front of people that look like them, and breaking down stereotypes. The goal in the long term, Sonia says, is that “we have more Latinos at different schools, we have more kids in high school that when they are in 10, 11 grade, they have a path to work for … either college or any other education.”

They provide technical and emotional support to children and especially their moms. Paula explained, “sometimes, we hold the hand. Sometimes we encourage, sometimes we reassure. It is not just, oh, I’ll help you with a form. Sometimes we are a friend, Sometimes we are a cheerleader. So it is more than that because people trust us, right?”

Ivan Abarca, another volunteer coordinator, said Padres are considering transitioning into a non-profit. “We’re seeing the impact that we’re having in the community. So we think that, if we can get access to some independent resources … our impact will be greater.”

Sonia concluded with a strong message of leadership in Somerville. “We are the bridge. We want to connect the east with the west, the English with the Spanish. Padres Latinos is the bridge.”