Lowell – Dedicated to the memory of Luis Pedroso, who passed away this past April, Fortaleza’s fifth annual Hispanic Heritage Month Gala brought together elected officials, cultural advocates, relatives, friends, and community members on October 2, 2026, at the Holy Ghost Society in Lowell to honor his legacy and support scholarships for Latino students.
The evening was led by Executive Director Cecilio Hernández and Vice President Vladimir Saldaña, who guided the program throughout the night, bringing together tributes to Pedroso, the introduction of scholarship recipients, and fundraising activities while keeping Fortaleza’s educational mission and the memory of the man who helped inspire its founding at the heart of the gathering.
Fortaleza members and executives participating in the event and its organization included Wadscar Gómez, Rosa Segarra-Morales, Denise Brito, Minerva Palazzo, Milka Ferreras, Rafael A. Svelti, and Ana Duprey Santiago, while guests included State Senator Vanna Howard, who is seeking reelection in the First Middlesex District; Lorena Betts, a candidate for state representative in the 16th Middlesex District; Middlesex Community College President Philip Sisson; and Coalition for a Better Acre Executive Director Dan Rivera, among others.
The evening carried both heartfelt emotion and sadness over Pedroso’s absence, as members of his family, friends, and Fortaleza representatives remembered his dedication to others and the opportunities he created for people who needed support to move forward.
During the gala, it was announced that the scholarship for Latino students would bear Luis Pedroso’s name in tribute to his memory and legacy, connecting his name with Fortaleza’s educational mission and its support for young people pursuing college degrees while honoring his belief that helping one person can inspire that person to help others.
This year’s scholarship recipients were also introduced, highlighting the central purpose of the annual dinner and showing how community support translates into opportunities for Latino students to continue their education.
One of the evening’s personal tributes came from Charlie Luna, owner and president of Charlie’s Auto Village and JCL Realty, who also serves as a pastor and recalled meeting Pedroso approximately 30 years ago during one of the most difficult periods of his life, when he was searching for an opportunity to begin again.
“When others might have seen my past, Luis saw my future,” Luna said, remembering how Pedroso recognized his potential when others were unwilling to give him a chance.
Luna explained that he worked with Pedroso for approximately five years and received far more than a job, finding guidance, encouragement, and the confidence to become an entrepreneur, a contribution he continues to recognize after approximately 25 years of owning his own business.
He also recalled asking Pedroso how he could repay everything he had done for him, only to be told that the best repayment would be to help someone else when the opportunity arose and never forget his roots or the support he had received.
“I am part of Luis’s legacy,” said Luna, who described Pedroso as a friend who became like a father to him and whose lessons remain present in his family, his business, and every opportunity he has to lend a hand to someone in need.
Luna encouraged continued donations to Fortaleza and urged scholarship recipients to support others once they achieve their goals, carrying forward Pedroso’s message of passing along the opportunities and encouragement they themselves received.
Remembering Luis Pedroso
Pedroso’s connection to Fortaleza dates back to 2017, when he brought together Latino community leaders, parents, educators, and faith leaders to address educational disparities affecting Latino students in Lowell, beginning a series of community meetings and discussions that identified advocacy for changes in the educational system as a central priority.
Since its beginnings, Fortaleza has promoted family participation and collective action to advance educational equity, with a mission focused on removing barriers that affect Latino students’ academic outcomes and expanding equitable access to educational resources, advanced courses, and extracurricular activities.
Pedroso’s commitment to education extended to other initiatives, including the Pedroso Tutors program, which he funded to enable UMass Lowell students to provide tutoring, mentoring, and classroom support in Lowell’s public schools.
His interest in the program grew from his own experience as an immigrant student from Portugal who struggled with math homework without someone at home to help him, inspiring him to offer that support to other children and connect them with college students who could help them envision higher education as a possibility for their own futures.
Fortaleza thanked sponsors for their generosity and commitment to its mission, emphasizing that contributions make it possible to continue investing in Latino students and families, expand educational opportunities, and strengthen the community. The celebration also included raffles from various sponsors.
Through the introduction of scholarship recipients and the memories shared by those who knew Pedroso, Fortaleza’s fifth annual gala honored a lesson reflected throughout his life: helping others move forward and passing on the opportunities one has received.
(This article was originally published in Spanish by Lowell Corazon Latino)
