Page 47 - LIN_February_2024_web-version

R E A L
Making a impact for students,

families in Immokalee

By Dawn Montecalvo
Alejandro Loredo-Turruviates learned the
value of hard work at an early age.
When Alejandro was 8 years old, his father left the family.
Alejandro and his two sisters watched their mother work long
days in the tomato fields of Immokalee, pulling in $400 a week
– barely enough to cover essentials.
The family did not own a car, so they were forced to rely on
others for rides. At times, his mom did not have enough money
for laundry soap, so she improvised with dish soap from the
kitchen.
“I learned to take on responsibilities such as cleaning our
apartment, throwing the trash out to the dumpster down the
street, and even going to the store alone to get food when she
wasn’t home,” Alejandro recalled.
Alejandro’s older sister, Lucero, worked two jobs to help support
the family, buying clothing and food for her little brother. All
the while, Alejandro was enrolled in educational programs at Making a Real difference
Guadalupe Center, first with the Early Childhood Education
Program and then the After-School Tutoring & Summer Since 1984, Guadalupe Center has been a bedrock for
Enrichment Program. His sister later introduced him to thousands of students in Immokalee. Its nationally
Guadalupe Center’s college-preparatory Tutor Corps Program, accredited Early Childhood Education Program lays the
which offers a high-quality education that opens students’ eyes academic, social, behavioral and emotional foundations
to the world of endless possibilities at their fingertips. for students from birth through age 5. The After-school
“Alejandro’s story is common in Immokalee, where many Tutoring & Summer Enrichment Program supplements
children see their parents working long hours doing reading and math instruction for students in kindergarten,
backbreaking work,” said Daniel Martinez, director of Tutor first and second grades. The Tutor Corps Program, which
Corps’ high school program. “This generation of students is empowers college-ready students like Alejandro, has an
poised for success because they’ve witnessed firsthand that astounding 100% success rate with high school graduation
determination, ambition and hard work are important, but and college acceptance.
can only take you so far. Education is the springboard to their As Guadalupe Center celebrates its 40th anniversary,
future.” the organization is recognizing four pillars of its success:
While in elementary school, Alejandro started his own snow Resilience, Empowerment, Achievement and Leadership.
cone business, selling cold treats to friends and neighbors. Guadalupe Center is making a REAL difference in the lives of
Now an 18-year-old senior at Immokalee High School, the students, families and the entire community of Immokalee.
entrepreneur recently launched another venture, a pressure Forty years of being REAL has transformed generations and
washing business, cleaning up homes and driveways across helped every student recognize that possibilities are endless
Immokalee, Lehigh Acres and even Cape Coral. and dreams have no limits. Every individual can write his or
Alejandro credits his mother and sisters for inspiration, along her own success story.
with guidance from Guadalupe Center staff and mentors as he
navigates the college admissions process. About the Author
“Together, they taught me how to manage my time, showed
me that responsibilities in life are not as difficult as they may Dawn Montecalvo is president and CEO
seem, and provided me with the support I needed growing up,” at Guadalupe Center, which provides high-
Alejandro said. quality educational programs for nearly
1,950 students annually in Immokalee.
What’s next for Alejandro? He’ll be graduating from Immokalee
High School this spring and enrolling in college, where he plans
to major in business or accounting.
Alejandro shared his story in January as keynote speaker at
Guadalupe Center’s “Elevate the Journey,” an annual gala
highlighting accomplishments of students while raising
awareness and support for transformational education
programs.

Life in Naples | February 2024 47