Our Story

The Mission

Our History

Our Team

Board Members

THE MISSION

 
We empower Northeast Ohio Hispanic/Latinx communities to flourish by equipping learners for educational attainment and lifelong success.
Esperanza will be a model of academic and community excellence by
  • Motivating academic achievement
  • Enhancing the quality of economic and community life
  • Promoting continuity of community through leadership
  • Offering enriched educational services and opportunities
  • Providing scholarship assistance

Read our Strategic Plan

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OUR HISTORY

Esperanza, Inc. (meaning “hope”), began in the early 1980s as a community project to improve the educational opportunities for Hispanics by motivating and recognizing academic achievement through scholarships. As Ohio’s only nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and advancement of Hispanic educational achievement, its founders recognized the need to expand the services by adding programs to address more of the educational needs of the community. Esperanza awarded its first college scholarship in 1983. Since awarding just one college scholarship that first year, Esperanza has grown steadily to where it is now able to award over 100 college scholarships every year through the support of corporations, foundations, and individual donors.

In 1988, a permanent office was established, a mentorship program was developed, and the number of scholarships started to increase. In 1989, a dropout prevention program was implemented and endorsed by the Cleveland Municipal School District. The following year, the William Senquiz Endowment Fund was established in memory of Esperanza’s first executive director. In 1991, a strategic plan for the 1990s and beyond was adopted by the Board of Trustees, and the first annual Fiesta of Hope Scholarship Awards Luncheon was held. The retention and graduation of Hispanics in school is of major importance to community leaders, educators, and corporate leaders who recognize the significance of this population in the growth of the community and as an active participant in the nation’s work force.

Esperanza has taken a leadership role in advocating on behalf of Hispanics and developing and assisting in the implementation of educational policy statements. By establishing linkages between community leaders, organizations, and educational institutions, Esperanza, Inc. represents a model for overcoming educational barriers and ensuring quality education through community action.

Our Team

VICTOR RUIZ

Executive Director

216.651.7178 - EXT. 6003

SAMARA McCULLOUGH

Director of Development

216.651.7178 - EXT. 6019

JEFF McKISSICK

Director of Operations

216-651-7178 x6002

ZULAYKA RUIZ

Director of Programs

216.651.7178 - EXT. 6004

CHRISTIAN CISNEROS

Marketing Manager

216-651-7178 X 1002

LOURDES MALDONADO

Office Manager

216.651.7178 - EXT. 6000

GABRIELA MAZZEI

Accounting Manager

216.651.7178 - EXT. 6015

YASIN CUEVAS

Assistant Director of Programs

216.651.7178 - EXT. 6010

ASHLEY RATLIFF

Bookkeeper

BAHKT MOQBEL ZAMAN

Development Associate

1-216-651-7178

ELIZABETH M. SEMIDEI

Development and Marketing Assistant

NYLEISCHA GONZALEZ

OST Manager

216.651.7178

CARLOS ALVARADO

Manager of Adult Learners Programs

(216) 553-4157

RAYSELIS PEDRAZA

Youth Programs Coordinator

KELVIN MATOS

Adult Learners Program Coordinator

(216) 553-4161

XIOMARA HERNANDEZ-MARCELO

Adult Learners Program Coordinator

216-586-3641

GERMAINE PEÑA

Manager of Post-Secondary Initiatives Program

216.651.7178 - EXT. 6007

LUIS RIVAS

Post Secondary Retention Coordinator

JUAN CARLOS CALDERON

College Success Advisor

JOSHUA WHITE

College Success Advisor

SONIA MATIS

OST Site Supervisor

JOHNNY OCASIO

OST Site Supervisor

MIGDALIA MARTINEZ

OST Site Supervisor

Board Members

Esperanza’s Executive Board Officers:

Carmen Castro-Rivera, Baldwin Wallace University – President
Pamela Hobe, PNC – 1st Vice President
Jaime Caraballo, DealerTire- 2nd Vice President
Griselda Rondon, KeyBank – Treasurer
Camila Negret, PwC- Secretary

Directors:

Laura Almazan, Eaton Corporation
Bill McCarron, Huntington Bank
Stephanie Milk-Wade, Masco
Adelaida Mihu, Biogen
Edgar San Jose, The Timken Company
Andres Arsuaga, Clearstead
Leslie Suffredini, Stanley Black & Decker
Manuel Carballo, Oberlin
Jose Cedeño, Sherwin Williams
Nick Mays, Baldwin Wallace University

Presidents Emeriti:

Al López (1944-2014)
Luis Martinez
Felicia Soto

Executive Director:

Victor Ruiz

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