Case Management Team Wins

Prince William County Human Rights Award

On Saturday, January 13, 2025, the Prince William County Human Rights Commission recognized the outstanding work of Edu-Futuro’s Prince William case management team — Jessika Bermúdez, Olga Molleja, and Astrid Méndez — with an award presented at the annual Universal Human Rights Day celebration held at the McCoart Government Center. Each year, the Prince William County Human Rights Commission celebrates the signing of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 by honoring individuals and organizations that contribute to the human and civil rights of residents living in the County. The Edu-Futuro case management team was recognized for providing critical emergency assistance to more than 1,000 parents and students in Prince William County throughout 2024. Along with Jessika, Olga, and Astrid, Edu-Futuro’s Executive Director, Jorge Figueredo, accepted the human rights award from Evelyn Brumar, Vice-Chair of the Prince William County Human Rights Commission. “I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of our staff in Prince William,” he said. “I am also very grateful to the Prince William County Human Rights Commission for recognizing the great work of Edu-Futuro and its Prince William County case management team. They work tirelessly every day to meet the needs of our families, and the group has made an important difference in the lives of each and every student and parent they have the opportunity to serve.” During 2024, the Edu-Futuro case management team in Prince William was responsible for coordinating and delivering services to 1,061 students and parents, including the distribution of more than $650,000 in emergency assistance for rent, food, clothing, and medicine. Jessika and Olga recall the case of Carlos B. and his son, also named Carlos. The father was months behind on his rent payments due to serious problems with diabetes, which had caused him to lose four toes, as well as miss several weeks of work. At the same time, his son’s family was in danger of eviction because the younger Carlos could not work because he needed a kidney transplant. The Edu-Futuro team responded to the many needs of the family by helping to arrange support services and rental assistance of $6,000 for the father, and $3,498 for the son. Astrid was deeply moved by the case of Pamela M., a single mother with children aged 15, 6, and 3, who had been operated for a problem with her colon, but was not able to work due to post-operative complications. Thanks to the actions taken by our team, the family was able to prevent eviction, receiving $4,800 to pay much-needed back rent. “Receiving this award is not just a personal honor — it is a testament to the resilience of the families we serve and the collective efforts of our team,” said Astrid. “The recognition motivates me to continue working to ensure that every student and family has access to the opportunities they deserve.” Olga added, “Winning this award is an incredible honor, and I am truly grateful for the recognition. Being able to serve and make a positive impact on the lives of our families fills me with immense happiness.” This year, the annual Universal Human Rights Day celebration commemorated the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act. The event’s Master of Ceremonies was Curtis O. Porter, Chairman of the Prince William County Human Rights Commission, and the Keynote Address was given by civil rights lawyer, Victor M. Glassberg. In addition to Edu-Futuro, the other five individuals and organizations recognized by the Human Rights Commission were: The Coalition for Action; the Virginia Women & Family Support Center; Sandra McLean, Founder of the H.O.P.E. Project; Donnell Johns, Founder of Veterans Growing America; and Tate Jordan, a Gainesville High School senior who was recognized for his advocacy on behalf of disabled students. For more information on Edu-Futuro’s Prince William County Case Management Services, please contact Jessika Bermúdez, Case Management Team Lead, at jessikabermudez@edu-futuro.org.

Edu-Futuro to Celebrate 27th Anniversary Gala on March 21

On behalf of the more than 4,000 students and parents served by Edu-Futuro each year, we cordially invite you to join us on the evening of Friday, March 21, 2025, as we celebrate our 27th Anniversary Gala — Empowering Voices, Transforming Lives. We will be welcoming approximately 300 guests at the event, which will be held at the Falls Church Marriott Fairview Park, from 6:00 p.m. until our dance salsa party ends at midnight. During the Gala, we will be hearing testimonies from Edu-Futuro parents and students, who will talk about how participating in our programs impacted their lives. Last year, we heard the moving stories of students Katerin Quispe and David Ortiz, who worked long hours with their Edu-Futuro mentors to earn invaluable college scholarships that are allowing them to realize their dreams of studying nursing for Katerin, and business administration for David. Today, both students are thriving, Katerin at Simmons University in Massachusetts, and David at the University of Virginia. In addition to our students and parents, Edu-Futuro’s Anniversary Gala will feature elected officials, local education leaders, corporate partners, as well as our remarkable volunteers and individual donors. All of the proceeds from the sale of Gala tickets, corporate sponsorships, and Silent Auction items will be utilized to support Edu-Futuro’s Two-Generation programs for students and parents. Our services are always provided free of charge, and we are very proud to report that the 219 outstanding high school seniors who graduated from our Emerging Leaders Program for youth during the past four years earned a remarkable $29 million in scholarships and financial aid for their four-year education. Over and over, we have seen how just one college graduate can change the financial future of their families. This is how Edu-Futuro breaks the cycle of poverty! We are still searching for new items that can be included in our Gala Silent Auction. Popular past offerings have included gift baskets, restaurant coupons, tickets to sporting events, and hotel accommodations. If you would like to donate an item for the Gala Silent Auction, please use the following link: Edu-Futuro’s Silent Auction Item Donation Signup – GALA 2025. Participating in our Anniversary Gala shows your commitment to supporting our dedicated students and helping them achieve their dreams. Tickets and sponsorship information is available at the following link: Edu-Futuro’s 27th Anniversary Celebration. Please note that when you purchase two tickets before March 7, you can save $50 on the total purchase of both tickets! Here are the key dates for Gala purchasing tickets:

Regular Ticket Sale (February 15- March 7): $200
Late Ticket Registration (March 8- March 21): $250
Bring a partner by March 7 for $350 (save $50)!

In addition to purchasing tickets to the Gala dinner, you can also support Edu-Futuro by purchasing a space in our event program to promote your organization, or to generously send a 100-character message celebrating Edu-Futuro’s mission. Prices are available here. Finally, if you would like to become a Gala sponsor, or know an organization or university that might like to become a sponsor, please email Mariana Balgurevich at volunteer@edu-futuro.org or call her at (202)-709-4895. Please note that sponsorship logos and ads are due by March 7, 2025.

Time is Now to Prepare for Life-Changing ELP-II Program – Slots Still Open in Arlington

Edu-Futuro’s Emerging Leaders Program – Part II, also known as ELP-II, is a life-changing service that matches high school seniors with professional mentors who work closely with their students to help them understand and prepare applications needed for college enrollment, scholarships, and financial aid. ELP-II participants and mentors meet once a week to talk about current challenges facing students, to complete critical applications like the federal FAFSA form, and to provide feedback on required college essays. Edu-Futuro is extremely proud that the 219 high school seniors who graduated from ELP-II during the past four years were collectively offered more than $29 million in scholarships and financial aid for their four-year college education. Our graduates have not only succeeded in starting professional careers, but they have also forever changed the economic future of their families. Our ELP-II program is offered completely free of charge, so the time is now for parents and youth to begin preparing to join our Fall 2025 student cohort. Additionally, we are happy to announce that we have a limited number of ELP-II slots open for high school seniors currently attending Arlington Public Schools (APS). If you are interested in enrolling, please use the following link: 2024-2025 ELP II Student Application. Anyone interested in becoming part of our Fall 2025 ELP-II program needs to know that the first step is completing our six-week ELP-I college readiness course, which is offered three times each year — Fall, Winter, and Spring. ELP-I students participate in training workshops on such topics as resume preparation, job interviews, networking, financial literacy, public speaking, and the college application process. Youth are also matched with mentors and participate in speech and essay competitions that offer thousands of dollars in scholarship prizes. All ELP-I graduates are eligible to apply for ELP-II. Alexandra Arispe, a graduate of West Springfield High School in Fairfax is currently studying nursing at Northern Virginia Community College. She is a graduate of the ELP-II program, as well as a winner of Edu-Futuro’s Dr. Marjorie L. Myers Scholarship. Alexandra had this to say about her experience with ELP-II: “ELP-II is an amazing program that has helped many students who didn’t know how to prepare for college. The program is full of amazing mentors who guide you, step-by-step, so you can understand all the applications you need to submit to different schools. My mentor, Massiel, always had a big smile on her face and was ready to give me any information I needed. She was really supportive — the best mentor ever! I am a first-generation college student, whose parents emigrated to the U.S. from Bolivia so that they could give their children the experience of the American dream. Someday, I want to be a nurse, especially a bilingual nurse who can care for my patients in both English and Spanish. I want to make my family proud of me so that they can see that their sacrifices coming to the U.S. really impacted my future. I want to thank my parents for bringing me to the U.S. at the age of two, and helping me to become a U.S. citizen. Edu-Futuro and the Dr. Myers scholarship are helping me to be a part of the next generation of bilingual nurses in America, and to accomplish my American dream.” In addition to their meetings with mentors, Edu-Futuro offers monthly workshops for our ELP-II students focusing on preparation for college life. The workshops are intended to reduce the anxiety about the transition from high school to college, and provide practical skills that can be helpful for the personal and academic growth of participants. ELP-II students are also encouraged to participate in special events, such as Edu-Futuro’s annual civic engagement trip to the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond. Throughout the day, students and parents have the opportunity to see democracy in action, and meet with local elected officials to ask questions or express concerns about topics affecting their community. For more information on Edu-Futuro’s Emerging Leaders Program, please contact Susana Carpio, Youth Programs Team Lead, at susanacarpio@edu-futuro.org. Edu-Futuro’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is supported in part by a grant from the Verizon Foundation.

ELP-III Students Participate In Career Exploration Panel

On Wednesday, January 22, Edu-Futuro gathered 23 of our ELP-III students, four ELP-II participants, and seven staff members for a special Career Exploration Panel that featured six outstanding professionals: Jasmin Chávez, Former Associate Director for the White House internship Program; Daniel Armando Jones, Legislative Affairs Manager for America’s Essential Hospitals; Stephen A. Leach, Director of Inclusive Content and Engagement, Disney Entertainment/National Geographic; Karina Pérez Molina, Director for Unmanned and Emerging Aviation Technologies at the Aerospace Industries Association; Daniela Delgado, Emmy Award-winning Writer/Producer at National Geographic Partners; and Ruben Rodríguez III, Associate, Programming Strategy & Content Planning at National Geographic. Edu-Futuro’s Emerging Leaders Program – Part III, also called ELP-III, provides support and guidance to Edu-Futuro students currently attending in college. Youth are partnered with mentors who help them navigate the challenges of college life, and develop the skills required to obtain their first professional jobs. The ELP-III Career Exploration panel is a significant event for our students, encouraging them to think beyond what they initially believe they can achieve with their education. During the January discussion, students gained valuable insight into the career paths of the panelists and the journey they took to reach their current positions. “The Career Exploration Panel opens doors to new possibilities, reminding us that education isn’t just about preparing for one path, but about gaining the skills and perspectives that can lead to endless opportunities in the professional world,” said Elisabet Pérez, Edu-Futuro’s College and Career Access Specialist, who helped to organize the Career Exploration event. “Don’t confine yourself to what you already know, stay open to new information, and let it guide you to new possibilities. For many of us, including myself, it was an eye-opening experience. It became clear that what you study in college or learn outside of the classroom can help you develop transferable skills that are valuable across a wide range of careers. These skills include communication, time management, teamwork, and leadership, among others. It’s also important to recognize that you may graduate with a degree that isn’t directly related to your eventual career. However, by not limiting yourself to the traditional expectations of your chosen field, you open yourself up to a vast array of job and career opportunities.” For more information on Edu-Futuro’s Emerging Leaders Program, please contact Susana Carpio, Youth Programs Team Lead, at susanacarpio@edu-futuro.org.

Edu-Futuro Welcomes New Director of Development —

Zachary Hoskins

Edu-Futuro is very proud to welcome Zachary Hoskins to the role of Director of Development. Zach joins the Edu-Futuro team with seven years of prior experience working as a nonprofit development consultant, developing and implementing comprehensive institutional fundraising strategies for clients with budgets ranging from less than $1 million to more than $20 million. A fourth-generation American, he was born and raised in Michigan, where his great-grandparents emigrated from Poland in the early 20th century. With an appreciation for his own family’s immigrant history, he is looking forward to helping Edu-Futuro fulfill its mission of empowering the immigrant community of Northern Virginia. Zach holds a master’s degree in Media Arts from the University of Arizona, as well as bachelor’s degrees in Film & Video Studies and Creative Writing & Literature from the University of Michigan. “I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Edu-Futuro over the past six years in my previous role as a nonprofit fundraising consultant,” said Zach. “I’m honored that they trusted me enough to take me on as Director of Development. The years to come are shaping up to be incredibly challenging, both for the nonprofit sphere and for the communities we serve, but if any organization has what it takes to weather the storm, it’s Edu-Futuro. I am already hard at work helping us build the relationships and secure the resources we need to keep ensuring a safe and trusted community for the young people and families we serve.” For more information about Zach and Edu-Futuro’s Development Department, please contact directorofdevelopment@edu-futuro.org.

VISTA/AmeriCorps Corner – Eh Tha Yooi Lee

This year, Edu-Futuro has been receiving the invaluable help of AmeriCorps VISTA members and members of AmeriCorps State. The AmeriCorps VISTA members play a critical role in a variety of capacity building projects, including the updating of our beneficiary database, conducting research on funding opportunities, and development of brand-new curricula for students and parents. The members of AmeriCorps State play a critical role in the lives of our students and parents by serving as facilitators in the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) and Workforce Development Services (WDS). This is our corner to highlight the great work being done by Edu-Futuro’s VISTAS and AmeriCorps members. Today we feature AmeriCorps member, Eh Tha Yooi Lee. “My name is Eh Tha Yooi Lee, but I go by Ehthy. I was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and moved to the U.S. when I was only seven years old. I grew up in Ithaca, NY, and graduated from Wells College with a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, along with a minor in Anthropology. After graduating, I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where I served as an AmeriCorps VISTA. There, I worked with refugee women from Myanmar, assisting with fundraising and outreach. Since then, I have become a part of the Edu-Futuro family. I have learned many things about the community we serve. As an AmeriCorps member for Edu-Futuro, I was exposed to many students who needed help, and I wanted to be a resource for them. I want to gain the knowledge to understand how I can continue to support them effectively.” For more information on Edu-Futuro’s AmeriCorps VISTA program, please contact Joy Harvey, our VISTA Team Leader, at vistaleader@edu-futuro.org. For more information on Edu-Futuro’s AmeriCorps State program, please contact Susana Carpio, Youth Programs Team Lead, at susanacarpio@edu-futuro.org.

Financial Tip

What is a remittance transfer and what are my rights? Federal law defines “remittance transfers” as electronic transfers of more than $15, sent by consumers in the United States to people or companies in foreign countries through a remittance transfer provider. A remittance transfer is a money transfer sent electronically from the United States to another country by a remittance transfer provider. Common terms may include “international wires,” “international money transfers,” and “remittances.” According to the law, a remittance transfer provider is any entity that provides remittance transfers for a consumer in the normal course of its business. Banks and other types of financial services companies may qualify as “remittance transfer providers.” A company is not a remittance transfer provider if it provided 500 or fewer remittance transfers in the prior calendar year and provides 500 or fewer transfers in the current calendar year. Certain federal protections apply if you send money abroad Generally, the rules on international money transfers protect consumers in the United States who use a remittance transfer provider to transfer more than $15 to a person or company in another country. If you use a company to send a remittance transfer that doesn’t qualify as a remittance transfer provider, then federal law does not require them to provide you with the protections you would otherwise get under federal law. See your rights below: The right to receive certain information about your remittance transfer — Remittance transfer providers must provide you with certain information before and after you pay for a remittance transfer. This includes information about:

Fees and taxes they collect from you.
The exchange rate that applies to the transfer, if applicable.
Fees charged by the company’s agents abroad and certain other institutions involved in the transfer process.
The amount of money expected to be delivered.
If applicable, a statement that additional foreign taxes and fees may be deducted from the remittance transfer.

You also must receive information about when the money will be available, your right to cancel transfers, what to do in case of an error, and how to submit a complaint. In some cases, federal law allows remittance transfer providers to estimate some of the figures on the disclosures they provide to you as long as they are clearly identified as estimates. If you think an estimate is incorrect, ask the provider. The right to have receipts and disclosures in your language — Federal law generally requires remittance transfer providers to use your language on receipts and other disclosures if it uses your language in its advertising, sales, or marketing materials where you made the transfer, or if it made the transfer in your language. The right to cancel a money transfer — After paying, you have up to 30 minutes to cancel the remittance transfer at no charge, unless the transfer has already been picked up or deposited into the recipient’s account. The right to resolve mistakes — You have 180 days to notify the remittance provider of a mistake, starting from the date disclosed by the remittance transfer provider as the date when the money will be available. Remittance transfer providers must investigate notices of error. Even though you have up to 180 days to report the mistake, if you think a mistake was made, contact the company as soon as you can. Remittance transfer providers generally have 90 days to investigate the matter, and they must notify you of the investigation’s results. For certain types of errors, such as if the money never arrives, you may be able to get a refund or have the transfer resent. Other protections may be available to you, depending on how you send the money and the laws in your state. I sent money to someone in a foreign country, but the amount received was less than what I sent. What can I do? When you send a remittance transfer, fees or taxes may be charged or deducted from the total amount sent. Check with your provider regarding any fees they may charge. Federal law gives you the right to dispute errors. In an international money transfer, the amount received may be less than what was sent because certain fees or taxes may be deducted by a third-party company that processes the transfer, separate from your provider. If you used a remittance transfer provider, they must tell you about certain fees charged by the provider or third-party. In most cases, remittance transfer providers must provide you with the exact amount of those fees, but there are certain cases when federal law allows them to provide you with estimates. The recipient’s bank may also deduct additional fees and foreign taxes. If these deductions apply to your transfer, the remittance transfer provider must let you know upfront, but federal law doesn’t require them to provide you with the amount of these deductions. If you’re unsure about whether you have sent enough money to cover the fees, contact the person or business receiving the money. They can tell you whether they have priced in the additional fees and taxes for you. If you believe a mistake was made, or if you have questions, contact the money transfer service right away. You have the right to submit an oral or written notice of error to your remittance transfer provider that it must investigated. If you sent a money transfer through a remittance transfer provider, federal law gives you the right to have errors investigated. The provider also must tell you the results of the investigation. For certain types of errors, such as if the money doesn’t arrive by the date it’s supposed to arrive, you may be able to get a refund or have the transfer sent again.

Health & Wellness

FDA Approves Dangerous Nicotine Pouch Products All parents must be aware that on Thursday, January 16, 2025, the outgoing Biden administration’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the marketing of 20 Zyn nicotine pouches, marking the first time nicotine pouches have received such authorization in the U.S. Produced by Swedish Match, a subsidiary of Philip Morris International, Zyn offers a variety of nicotine strengths, as well as flavors that have historically appealed to teens, including chill, citrus, cool mint and peppermint. According to health advocates across the country, the FDA’s decision is deeply troubling given the extensive scientific evidence that flavored tobacco products appeal to teenagers, and the fact that nicotine pouches were the only category of tobacco product that saw an increase in youth use last year. The FDA is sanctioning a flavored tobacco product that is already increasing in popularity with adolescents, and repeating the mistakes the agency made with Juul that resulted in the youth e-cigarette epidemic. The 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey showed that the number of U.S. teens using nicotine pouch products has more than doubled in recent years, from 200,000 in 2021, to 480,000 in 2024. Rather than taking action to head off further increases and prevent Zyn from becoming the next Juul, the FDA has ignored the warning signs and created serious risk that youth use of nicotine pouch products will continue to increase. Yolonda C. Richardson, President and CEO of the respected Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, was extremely concerned by the approval of Zyn products. “The FDA should not be authorizing the sale of any flavored tobacco products given the tobacco industry’s well-documented history of using flavored products to appeal to and addict kids, and the fact that 87% of youth tobacco users in the U.S. use flavored products. It’s not surprising that youth use of nicotine pouch products like Zyn is on the rise as these products share many of the characteristics of Juul and other e-cigarettes. In addition to being sold in kid-friendly flavors, Zyn and other nicotine pouches are easy to hide, heavily promoted on social media and deliver large amounts of nicotine that can quickly addict kids.” Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association, had a similar reaction to the actions of the FDA regarding Zyn nicotine products. “FDA’s granting of these marketing orders to 20 flavored products is a gift to the tobacco industry,” he said. “Let’s be clear: Zyn is a tobacco product, and no tobacco product is safe. A 2022 study of 44 nicotine pouch products found that 26 of the samples contained cancer-causing chemicals, and several other chemicals such as: ammonia, chromium, formaldehyde, nickel, pH adjusters and nicotine salt. Most concerning, nicotine pouches contain high levels of nicotine, which is incredibly addictive and harmful to young people in any form. Using Zyn at the same time as other tobacco products or dual use is also a serious concern and could cause additional harm to kids and adults.” The U.S. Surgeon General has found that youth use of nicotine in any form is unsafe, and can harm adolescent brain development, particularly the parts of the brain responsible for attention, memory, and learning. Despite the troubling approval of Zyn products, health advocates note that the FDA action does not allow Zyn to be marketed with any claims that their products are FDA-approved or that they offer reduced health risks compared to other tobacco products. For a copy of “Health Taxes,” please click on this link. Edu-Futuro’s Strengthening Families 10-14 Program, which helps teens to reduce such risky behaviors as tobacco use and vaping, is sponsored in part by a generous grant from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY), empowering Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by promoting active, nutritious and tobacco-free living.

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