Latino Community Center
Title: Higher Education Survival Guide – A Resource for College-Bound Students
Student Interns:
Maria-Fe Geissinger
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Alejandra Paredes-Marin
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Betty Braxter, PhD, CNM, RN, FAAN
University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
Community Preceptor:
Mónica Méndez, PhD
Latino Community Center
Geyzel Mendoza
Latino Community Center
Community Site:
The Latino Community Center (LCC) is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering, advocating with, and celebrating Latino families in Allegheny County. Established in 2017, with roots tracing back to the earlier Latino Family Center, the LCC offers critical educational support and family services tailored to community-identified needs. Its core mission is to provide children, youth, and families with the tools and opportunities needed to reach their full potential through educational programming, comprehensive family support, and community-building efforts. Guided by strong values — empathy, inclusivity, innovation, professionalism, passion, and a firm belief in education — the organization envisions a community where everyone is valued and has equitable access to the resources needed to thrive.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns set out to leave something tangible and useful for the students at the Latino Community Center. Given that many of the center’s programs focus on education and access, the interns created a survival guide — a practical, easy-to-understand resource for navigating college and higher education. This project was especially meaningful for the interns as first-generation students or individuals who have personally struggled to understand the American education system. The interns were deeply inspired by the children they met and by the children’s dreams and determination to pursue higher education. Their aspirations motivated the BTG team to create something that could support them on that journey.
Reflections
“Everyone in this room knows that education opens doors that have ripple effects for generations. I am always inspired by the Latino Community Center’s efforts to empower their youth in their education goals, and I hope this project adds to and supports that effort.”
Maria-Fe Geissinger
“It has been amazing to see a community coming together to give its children the future our ancestors dreamed of. From pre-kindergarten to high school, the goal is to provide them with the tools necessary for their future. I hope this small piece can contribute toward that goal.”
Alejandra Paredes-Marin