Friends of the Hernández ⋆ Rafael Hernández School

The Friends of the Rafael Hernández School (FOH) is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit branch of the Hernández School. Its Board of Directors consists of parents, school administration, and community partners.

Since its foundation in 2001, Friends of the Hernández (FOH) has strengthened the Hernández school’s status as an integral “piece” of the Egleston Square puzzle. Founded by a group of dedicated parents, FOH has grown from organizing school yard clean-ups to supporting an after school program for 150+ students.

Our Mission

The Friends of the Hernández (FOH) supports and advocates for the Rafael Hernández K-8 Dual Language School and the surrounding community. In collaboration with school staff, families and partners, FOH promotes quality dual language education, provides enriching After School programming, increases access to the arts, and affords educational opportunities to adults in the community. We undertake these efforts motivated by our vision for a socially just and equitable education for our children and all children in Boston.

Our Vision

We envision the Rafael Hernández School as a community hub filled with happy, healthy, brilliantly bilingual-biliterate, creative and community-oriented students. Through our partnership with the Hernández School, we affirm the dignity of students and families and strive to ensure that each receives what they deserve — a high quality bilingual education, extraordinary learning enrichment opportunities, and the physical and social-emotional well-being necessary to thrive.

Program Areas

Hernández After School Program
Family Supports
Adult Education, including Primeras Maestras Program, training parents as dual language educators
Arts Initiatives
Academics: STEM and Blanca Burgos Spanish Literacy Fund
Wellness

Our Annual Report FY23

Executive Director Johanna Littlewood

We’re so excited to announce that as of October 2024, Johanna Littlewood is serving as the Executive Director of Friends of the Hernández. Johanna can be reached at director(at)friendsofthehernandez.org.

FOH Board 2024-25

Vetto Casado, Director, Shifting Power and Advancing Justice, the Boston Foundation

Elizabeth Cepeda, Treatment Center Coordinator, Boston University Dental School and Hernández parent

Matt Cregor, Board Chair, Staff Attorney at Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee and Hernández parent

Ana Contreras, Board Treasurer, Family Liaison, Rafael Hernández School

Danielle Costello, Hernández School Principal

Erin Glesne-Smith, Grants Compliance Manager at the Glowald Climate Fund

Soo Hong, Professor of Education, Wellesley College

Noelia Lugo, Program Coordinator of Clinical Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Boston Medical Center’s Pediatric Department

Alexandra Oliver-Dávila, Executive Director, Sociedad Latina

Cynthia So-Armah, Medical Director, Brookside Community Health Center and Hernández parent

Click here to subscribe to the monthly Friends of the Hernández Newsletter.

Our History: A Deeper Dive

The Friends of the Hernández (FOH) emerged from broken glass and community activism, much like the Rafael Hernández K-8 Spanish/English Dual Language School whose students and families FOH serves. In the early 1980s, the Hernández took root in Boston’s Egleston Square neighborhood after the growing Latinx community petitioned Boston Public Schools for a school to meet their students’ linguistic needs. As the schoolyard fell into disrepair, in 1995 a dedicated group of parents began clearing broken glass from the playground each Monday. By 2001, the school community’s fierce desire to fight for their students’ education gave rise to the Friends of the Hernández 501(c)3. Today, FOH continues to nurture bilingual, biliterate learners through extracurricular programming, leveraging resources beyond the school budget to enrich students’ education.