The Latinx Education Collaborative is a nonprofit organization based in Kansas City working to increase the number of Latino educators in public schools. The organization aims to add 50 Latino educators to the Kansas City metro area by 2027. 1
Programs
The Latinx Education Collaborative (LEC) offers several programs, one of which is the “Expresion Storytelling Fellowship.” Co-led with Storytellers for Change, the fellowship is an initiative that helps participants craft storytelling skills. Participants engage in virtual workshops, individual coaching sessions, recorded interviews, and reading activities. 1
The “Futuros” program seeks to address the underrepresentation of Latino educators by adding 50 new Latino educators to the Kansas City metro area by 2027. The program targets aspiring Latino educators through in-school presentations, “partnerships with local organizations, scholarship opportunities, summer camps, mentorship, and certification support.” 1
The LEC also has a political arm, “Revolucion Educativa,” that “pushes for policies that help Latinx teachers and families participate more fully in the education system.” 2
In 2024, the organization contributed to the “2024 KC Voter Guide.” Other contributors included the Kauffman Foundation, the Health Forward Foundation, and the League of Women Voters of Kansas City/Jackson-Clay-Platte Counties. 3
In March 2025, the Latinx Education Collaborative created the Adelante Fund, which is funded through community contributions and donations. The fund aims to assist immigrant families with legal matters, housing, and food expenses and is available to illegal immigrants, asylum seekers, and DACA recipients, among others. 4
Events and Awards
The organization hosts “Evolucion,” an annual fall conference for educators to engage in professional development sessions and network. 1
The LEC also hosts the annual Latinx Educator Awards. Individuals are nominated “by a peer or member of the community after showcasing one or more LEC core values.” During the 2024 awards cycle, 115 individuals were nominated, six of which received an award. 5
Financials
In 2022, the organization reported total revenue of more than $900,000, total expenses of about $593,000, and net assets just shy of $600,000. In 2021, the organization reported total revenue of about $657,000, total expenses of more than $487,000, and net assets of about $289,000. 6
Leadership
Edgar Palacios is a founder of the Latinx Education Collaborative and is the board president at Scuola Vita Nuova Charter School. Previously, he was the president of the Young Latino Professionals of Greater Kansas City and the Kansas City chapter of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, and was also on the national Latino Educator Advisory Council through the left-of-center advocacy group Latinos for Education. He earned an MBA from Rockhurst University and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. 7
Tricia McGhee is the director of communications for the Latinx Education Collaborative and Revolucion Educativa. She is a member of the Family Leadership Council for the National Council for Learning Disabilities and the Leaders Council for Assessment and Accountability with UnidosUS and National Parents Union. 7 In 2025, McGhee ran unopposed in the Kansas City school board elections for the Subdistrict 3 seat. 8
References
- “Programs.” LEC, March 25, 2021. https://latinxedco.org/programs-2/.
- Wallington, Natalie. “How a KC Nonprofit Is Helping Latinx Educators across US: ‘We Want to Build Community.’” Kansas City Star, March 10, 2024. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/education/article286453090.html.
- “Meet the Organizations behind the 2024 KC Voter Guide.” KCUR. Accessed April 4, 2025. https://www.kcur.org/kcvoterguide2024/aboutus.
- Galloway, Carter. “Latino Education Organization Creates Mutual Aid Fund to Assist Kansas City Immigrant Families – Northeast News.” Northeast News – A non-profit news organization, bringing coverage to underserved communities since 1932, March 5, 2025. https://northeastnews.net/pages/latino-education-organization-creates-mutual-aid-fund-to-assist-kansas-city-immigrant-families/.
- Montoya, Daisy Garcia. “Latinx Education Collaborative Celebrates the 2024 Latinx Educator Awards – Northeast News.” Northeast News – A non-profit news organization, bringing coverage to underserved communities since 1932, March 12, 2024. https://northeastnews.net/pages/latinx-education-collaborative-celebrates-the-2024-latinx-educator-awards/.
- Latinx Education Collaborative, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2022.
- “Who We Are.” LEC, September 6, 2021. https://latinxedco.org/who-we-are/.
- Benevento, Maria. “Meet the Kansas City Public Schools Board Candidates for the April 2025 Election.” Beacon, March 20, 2025. https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/03/10/kansas-city-school-board-elections/.