Oregon State University Extension Service’s Juntos program helps Latinx youth and their families build pathways to higher education. “Juntos,” which means “together” in Spanish, creates partnerships between families and schools through a series of bilingual workshops focused on academic success, college preparation and community connection.
With renewed energy and leadership, the Juntos program in Wasco County continues to open doors for Latinx students and families.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the program in Wasco County. All local Juntos facilitators resigned, and early attempts to relaunch in 2022 struggled to gain traction. A middle school workshop offered in the spring had low turnout, prompting program staff to reassess and reconnect with the community.
Andrea Flores-Reyna, Juntos coordinator in Hood River and Wasco counties, led efforts to reimagine the program. She recruited three former Juntos students — Jaimie Esiquio, Jasmin Huila and Yesenia Aguilar — to serve as new facilitators. All three are OSU graduates and now working professionals in the region.
To better meet families’ needs, Flores-Reyna conducted a local survey of rising ninth graders and their caregivers. Based on the feedback, she adjusted the workshop schedule and expanded outreach. With support from North Wasco County School District 21, Juntos was promoted on The Dalles High School website and through a district-wide message to parents. The Columbia Gorge Education Service District’s Migrant Education Program also helped by sharing the opportunity through its networks.
As a result, 10 families consistently participated in the high school Juntos workshop — the highest level of engagement since Flores-Reyna became coordinator in 2018. The former students-turned-facilitators played a key role in the program’s success and spoke about the impact of giving back to their community.
Esiquio, a 2017 high school graduate and 2020 OSU alum, now teaches second grade in a dual language classroom.
“I feel very thankful that I get to give back to my home community and help other students succeed,” she said. “My biggest hope is to move parents to believe in their students and support them every step of the way.”
Huila, a 2015 Juntos participant and 2020 OSU graduate, works as a community outreach coordinator at Mid-Columbia Medical Center.
“Juntos made me feel welcomed, included and safe to show my identity as a Latina,” she said. “Family engagement is high, which makes the experience a good one.”
Aguilar, who joined Juntos in 2015 and graduated from OSU in 2021, now works as a community health worker.
“Facilitating Juntos has been a great experience,” she said. “I hope to encourage families to pursue higher education — whether it’s community college, university, trade school or another certification — so students can get to where they want to be.”
With renewed energy and leadership, the Juntos program in Wasco County continues to open doors for Latinx students and families — and now, it’s being led by those who walked through those doors themselves.