A letter from Jason Good, SLI board chair
Dear SLI community,
This year especially I am grateful for the inspiring determination of SLI scholars, and for their passion about making a positive impact in our communities. They give me hope for the future, and I’m proud to be part of the SLI community of support that stands with them as they pursue their college dreams.
I am also filled with gratitude for each person, business, organization, and foundation that has donated to SLI. Your generosity has enabled SLI’s budget to grow by an average of more than 40% each year since 2016, increasing our capacity to support Latino/a/x students with college access through rigorous academic challenge, leadership development, scholarships, and supportive mentorships.
The foundations of this mission began well before SLI’s first decade as a Virginia nonprofit. The original SLI was founded by Peter Iver Kaufman and others in 2003 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2008 he brought SLI to the University of Richmond, and later to the Shenandoah Valley, where this organization was incorporated in 2012 and became a 501(c)(3) public charity. Peter’s leadership of SLI in Richmond is a continuation of his legacy of service.
SLI’s ongoing efforts are rooted in a vision statement recently articulated by the SLI board of directors: “SLI is a community-based, not-for-profit organization built on partnerships with high schools, universities, communities, students, and parents, and dedicated to advancing Latino/a/x students’ post-high school educational opportunities. SLI advocates for Latino/a/x opportunities and strives for social justice and equity. Scholars are mentored to be leaders that positively contribute to their communities.”
In this 10th anniversary year, please join me in celebrating the successes of SLI scholars and continuing to invest in their access to higher education. Watch for special announcements and opportunities as we ensure that SLI’s next decade will be as remarkable as its first!
Sincerely,
Jason Good
Chair, Board of Directors
Scholars Latino Initiative
