Throughout our Latino Empowerment series, we celebrate individuals whose work demonstrates the power of education, leadership, community engagement, and a commitment to creating opportunities for others. This week, we recognize NHCOA’s Board Member, Alejandro “Alex” Perilla, a mission-driven leader whose career has focused on building bridges between institutions and communities, and creating programs that empower families and students.
Perilla completed a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from American University and later earned a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University. His academic background has complemented his professional commitment to education, public policy, and community engagement, providing a strong foundation for his work connecting institutions and communities.
Alejandro Perilla has spent his career at the intersection of education, public policy, community engagement, and mission-driven innovation. His work with Arizona State University’s American Dream Academy offers a particularly compelling example of Latino empowerment through education. He co-founded the program in 2005, and served as its director. The initiative was designed to help parents become active partners in their children’s education, particularly in underserved and underperforming schools throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area.
The American Dream Academy, now known as WeGrad, grew from a small pilot into a large-scale community engagement initiative. When the program began in 2006, 251 parents graduated from its first classes. By spring 2010, that number had grown to 3,814 graduates. The program offered a 10-week curriculum, in both English and Spanish, covering topics such as navigating the school system, working with teachers and administrators, understanding academic standards, communication and discipline, motivation, and planning for academic success.
Rather than approaching families simply as recipients of services, the program sought to equip parents with knowledge, confidence, and practical tools to engage with their children’s schools. Participants learned how they could play an active role in supporting academic achievement and preparing their children for higher education.
The program also demonstrated the importance of building genuine bridges between institutions and communities. ASU partnered with schools, community volunteers, parents, and other stakeholders to deliver the program. Its volunteer corps included ASU students, faculty, staff, and community members representing more than a dozen nationalities, with many Spanish speakers. This collaborative model helped connect university resources with families and communities that had historically been difficult for educational institutions to reach.
Perilla’s commitment to Latino communities also extends beyond his work in higher education. Before his leadership with WeGrad, he served as vice president of the National Council of La Raza, now known as UnidosUS, where he was responsible for corporate fundraising and events. His career has included work in leadership, systems development, community engagement, fundraising, and public policy—fields that have allowed him to bring institutions and communities together around shared goals.
The National Hispanic Council on Aging is proud to recognize Alejandro Perilla as an example of Latino Empowerment. His career demonstrates the powerful impact of empowering others through education, awareness, and informed engagement.
Congratulations, Alex, on an influential career dedicated to education, community engagement, and creating opportunities for the next generation.
Recent Comments