Mónica Vallejo has spent more than two decades serving Latino and immigrant families in Cedar Rapids through education, advocacy, nonprofit leadership and family support.
By Jonathan Turner
For more than two decades, Mónica Vallejo has dedicated her life to serving the Latino community in Cedar Rapids.
Born in Quito, Ecuador, Vallejo immigrated to the United States with her husband and two children, choosing Cedar Rapids because her father and sister had already settled there. As a newcomer, she quickly recognized the challenges many immigrant families faced and felt called to help others navigate their new lives.
Over the past 24 years, that commitment has led her to serve in numerous leadership and volunteer roles throughout Eastern Iowa. She has been involved with the Cedar Rapids Latino Festival, the Cedar Rapids chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission, the Citizen Review Board, the Alliance for Fair Housing Action Plan, the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation’s LAP-AID Inclusion Cohort, HACAP’s former Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, the Iowa Ideas Advisory Council, and the Archdiocese of Dubuque’s Hispanic Ministry in Cedar Rapids.
In 2023, Vallejo co-founded Latinos Unidos for Community Inclusion (LUCI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the well-being, education and inclusion of Latinos in the community. She currently serves as the organization’s president.
“I was part of Festival Latino for many years and helped organize it,” Vallejo said. “I met people from many different countries, and we realized there was a need to do more programs for the Latino community in Cedar Rapids. That’s why we decided to create Latinos Unidos for Community Inclusion.”
Education is one of LUCI’s primary focuses. The organization awards scholarships each year to help students pursue higher education or trade careers. The application deadline for the 2026 scholarships has been extended to Aug. 28.
Editor’s note: The 2026 scholarship application deadline was Aug. 28 and has now passed.
Typically, LUCI awards two $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors planning to attend college or trade school, as well as students already enrolled at accredited two- or four-year institutions in Iowa. Last year, the organization awarded more than $4,000 in scholarships.
“We focus on helping parents understand the school system and how to support their children,” Vallejo said. “Many new families coming from other countries don’t know how to become involved in their children’s education or how schools work here.”
In addition to scholarships, LUCI organizes educational workshops, health clinics and cultural events, including Cedar Rapids’ annual Festival Latino. This year’s festival is scheduled for Sept. 12 at McGrath Amphitheatre.
Related: Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 events in Iowa and Nebraska
Official resource: Festival information and updates are available through Festival Latino of Cedar Rapids.
Professionally, Vallejo has spent the past four years as a family support worker with HACAP’s Head Start program, helping families with children from birth to age 5.
Founded in 1965, the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) provides a wide range of services across nine Eastern Iowa counties. Today, the organization operates 45 programs serving more than 78,000 people annually in Benton, Delaware, Dubuque, Iowa, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington counties.
Vallejo’s community service has earned statewide recognition. She received the 2021 LULAC of Iowa Woman Award, and in 2022, the Iowa International Center honored her for her leadership, inspiration and positive impact on the lives of Iowans.
Now a proud grandmother of seven, Vallejo says serving others continues to be her life’s purpose.
“My work with Head Start allows me to help immigrant families, whether they are Latino, African, Sudanese or from anywhere else,” she said. “We all face many of the same challenges when we come to a new country. I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to help not only immigrants, but all families.”
She believes communities grow stronger when people embrace newcomers.
“Everyone should have the opportunity to meet people from other countries and welcome them,” Vallejo said. “In one way or another, everyone has an immigration story.”
As immigration concerns have intensified in recent years, Vallejo encourages immigrants to learn English and, when possible, pursue U.S. citizenship.
“Don’t be afraid to speak English,” she said. “I didn’t speak English when I arrived, and I was afraid of making mistakes. You’re going to make mistakes—that’s how you learn. Watch the news in English, practice every chance you get, and don’t be afraid.”
Vallejo said her years serving as Hispanic Ministry Director for the Archdiocese of Dubuque opened her eyes to many of the needs facing immigrant families.
“It helped me understand the challenges our community faced—from immigration issues to health care and social justice,” she said. “Serving my community was both a blessing and a learning experience.”
As Cedar Rapids’ Latino population has grown, Vallejo has continued advocating for greater representation in community leadership.
She previously served as president of the Southwest Side Neighborhood Association, representing many low-income and immigrant families.
“I want my community to have a voice,” Vallejo said. “People have told me, ‘Mónica, if you don’t speak, nobody will speak for you.’ That has stayed with me.”
She hopes her work has helped open doors for future generations and encouraged organizations to hire more bilingual staff.
“My goal has always been for organizations to have people who speak the languages of the communities they serve—not only Spanish, but many different languages,” she said. “I believe I’ve helped create some positive change, and today I can see that change happening.”
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