La Voz Hispana De Connecticut Fund

LaVoz Hispana is not only the largest Spanish-language newspaper in Connecticut. It’s also one of few remaining print-based local news organizations in the country. Covering New Haven, Bridgeport, Hartford, Waterbury, Stamford and Norwalk, the weekly paper is  a vitally important resource for Connecticut’s Spanish-speaking communities.

When founded in 1993 by Abelardo King, the paper was primarily focused on New Haven and relied on contributed stories from people who volunteered for the love of it. After a few years, King formed business partnership with Norma Rodríguez, who became the president and publisher. The partnership took the paper to the next level. Advertising revenue grew, helping the paper add staff to support coverage across the state. 

LaVoz has grown to a circulation of 135,000 and remained dedicated to print, “because of the continued influx of immigrants from 21 Spanish-speaking countries into Connecticut,” Rodríguez said. “In their countries, they are accustomed to having morning and evening print newspapers.” 

Having succeeded in media themselves, Rodríguez and King are now using their philanthropy to help the next generation. The two established LaVoz Hispana Fund at The Community Foundation to provide scholarships to Latine students from Greater New Haven who have a passion for journalism or communications. They hope the fund will inspire students to pursue print journalism, online journalism, podcasting, social media, television and radio. 

“The Community Foundation as an organization has credibility, seriousness and integrity. The help it provides to nonprofits and organizations in Greater New Haven is so strong,” Rodríguez said. “We want our fund to be part of The Foundation because it is run by intentional, focused, giving people who know the communities they serve.” 

Rodríguez envisions the scholarships benefitting Latine students who are involved or interested in student journalism and communications, including those who, "might not have the A and B grades, but they have talent; they have this interest,” Rodríguez said. “They might not have had the opportunities that led them to have A and B grades, but we want them to have this opportunity.”

King said he is proud that they have built LaVoz into a must-read for Latine people across the state and “for members of the mainstream media because of the paper’s political impact and content,” King said. 

Both said they have found great purpose and joy working in the field of journalism. “I love journalism,” said King. “LaVoz is the love of his life,” Rodríguez added.

“We are excited about encouraging the next generation,” she said.