The Office for Catholic Schools recently hosted the 2025 Latino Summit, a transformative two-day workshop dedicated to fostering communities of belonging in our schools for the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. Catholic Church. Sponsored in part by the Fulcrum Foundation, the summit was a collaboration with St. Vincent de Paul Society of Seattle and King County, Centro Rendu of St. Vincent de Paul, the Archdiocese of Seattle’s Hispanic Ministry, and the University of Notre Dame’s ALMA (Advancing Latino and Multilingual Learner Achievement) Team.
Day one, led by Dr. Katy Lichon, Ph.D., and Dr. Jocelyn Smith, Ed.D., from the University of Notre Dame, provided professional development for school and parish staff. The sessions focused on outreach and engagement strategies, best practices for mission-driven, culturally responsive education, and celebrating the unique gifts Latino families bring to our Catholic schools. Day two was dedicated to Catholic school families, offering practical sessions on helping children succeed in school, advocating for their needs, and becoming active participants in the school community. Guests were blessed to have Bishop Eusebio Elizondo celebrate Mass and share a passionate message about the profound value of Catholic education.
The 2025 Latino Summit was an inspiring gathering, reinforcing Fulcrum’s commitment to ensuring that every Latino family feels welcomed, valued, and supported within our Catholic schools.