Americans have long believed that education provides the key to advancement for children and families in poverty. For nearly four decades, Guadalupe Schools has provided disadvantaged children and non-English speaking adult immigrants in Salt Lake City, Utah the educational support they need to improve their lives.

Continuing a Tradition of Service
Our Lady of Guadalupe parish, with leadership from Father Jerald Merrill and Suzanne Weiss, founded The Guadalupe Center on Salt Lake City’s west side in 1966. What began as a gathering place for the Hispanic community evolved into educational programs to serve Salt Lake City’s most vulnerable citizens. Merrill and Weiss opened La Morena Café at the center to provide food, fellowship and job training. Proceeds from the successful restaurant funded further outreach to the illiterate, impoverished, and disenfranchised of the community.

Today, Guadalupe Schools is an independent, non-profit organization that meets the needs of its students through successful research-driven programs. By identifying impediments to academic success, and developing strategies to overcome these obstacles, Guadalupe has helped thousands of children and adults improve their lives and move toward their dreams. By educating productive individuals and providing them the skills necessary to lead fulfilling lives, Guadalupe contributes to the future of the entire
Salt Lake community.

With broad community support, Guadalupe Schools provides quality educational services to disadvantaged children and adult immigrants and refugees through two critically needed programs: the Early Learning Center and the Voluntary Improvement Program.

The Early Learning Center is the only program in the state of Utah that provides a continuum of educational services from birth through age nine.
The Voluntary Improvement Program is one of the oldest programs in Salt Lake City designed to teach non-English speaking adults the language skills necessary to provide for their families and participate in their communities.