Our History

1980’s

In the 1980s, The Leadership Conference of Women Religious, a Catholic faith-based organization, embarked on a mission to provide essential…Read More

1970’s

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious, a Catholic faith-based organization, begin a project to provide health support to farmworker families…Read More

1990’s

ECMHSP extended its Head Start services to reach more farmworker families, with a specific focus on migrant farmworker families engaged…Read More

2000’s

In the early 2000s, Rafael Guerra took the helm as the new Executive Director of ECMHSP. Under his leadership, the…Read More

2010’s

Dr. José S. Villa assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer, succeeding John E. Menditto, who had skillfully guided ECMHSP…Read More

2020’s

Dr. José S. Villa retired, and Maria C. Garza succeeded him as CEO. Maria shared a farmworker-family background with Rafael…Read More

2024

East Coast Migrant Head Start Project celebrates its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of dedicated service to farmworker families. With…Read More

November 2024

In November 2024, ECMHSP’s Board of Directors appointed John E. Menditto, as Interim Chief Executive Officer during a period of…Read More

2025

The ECMHSP Board of Directors appointed Dr. Javier Gonzalez as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Gonzalez brought over thirty…Read More

2026

East Coast Migrant Head Start Project became Grow Early Learning. The new name reflects how the organization has grown beyond…Read More