Emporia Spanish Speakers has announced a new name and larger vision for the organization that has been years in the works.
Monday, Spanish Speakers announced via a news release that it has changed its name to Kansas Spanish Speakers. Spanish Speakers founder and CEO Lelan Dains began Emporia Spanish Speakers back in 2017 as a community group, noting that he never had plans for it to evolve into the non-profit entity it has become.
While the name change was announced just recently, Dains says the change has been in motion for roughly two years now.
Dains says the name change will not mean a change in location as the agency will remain “Planted” in Emporia; however, the name change does reflect an “Enhanced vision” to increase services on a state level. When asked exactly what that enhanced reach will look like, Dains stated he can’t give specifics at this time, but noting how the agency has grown and evolved over the last eight years, he says, “The sky’s the limit.”
Dains adds that the organization’s expansion to a state level embodies the organization’s core mission of building bridges among individuals from all walks of life.
Dains also noted that the expansion to a state level comes at an “urgent time,” noting the contentious climate surrounding immigration and integration at the national level. That said, Dains noted that while the work they are doing is urgently needed, expanding to this larger level will take time and cannot be rushed.
Dains will join KVOE’s Talk of Emporia on Friday at 11:06 am to further discuss the agency’s expansion efforts.
