When Paty Monterrosa began her role as a Michigan State University Extension educator nearly three years ago, she noticed that information about the organization’s programming and outreach efforts wasn’t reaching everyone it could.

So she decided to do something about it.

“I saw firsthand that many families faced language and systemic barriers that limited access to Extension programs,” Monterrosa said. “I thought I would extend all the existing powers, knowledge and resources of MSU Extension in ways that are culturally and linguistically responsive.”

Monterrosa, who herself has faced similar barriers as a native Spanish speaker, is the driving force behind Chispa 4-H. Part of Michigan 4-H, the youth development arm of MSU Extension and the largest such organization in the state, Chispa 4-H aims to equip youth in culturally distinct communities with the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance and strengthen their educational journeys, as well as educate parents and guardians on the benefits of its programming.

“Chispa means ‘spark’ in Spanish. In our program, we help young people find their spark,” said Monterrosa. “We create culturally responsive spaces where youth, especially those from communities that are not traditionally represented in 4-H, can identify their passions, build confidence and develop leadership skills.”

Right now, Chispa 4-H primarily works with Spanish-speaking populations but has expanded to include communities that speak Arabic and Pashto, an Eastern Iranian language primarily spoken in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The program collaborates with partners in Ingham County, where Monterrosa is based, as well as Genesee, Kent, Barry and Berrien counties.

Growing leaders

In Ingham County, Monterrosa regularly visits with the Latino Club at Lansing Everett High School and leads activities focused on team building, leadership and how students can create opportunities for themselves and others in their communities.

“Paty has really helped me and my peers understand how the decisions we make now can affect our future,” said Everett senior Melany Gonzalez, a board member of the Latino Club.

Many of the students found Monterrosa’s learning activities to be enjoyable and beneficial and joined 4-H to further their personal development.

“Working with Paty has opened doors for me and my fellow Latino Club members,” said Estefani Maldonado, Everett High School junior and Latino Club vice president. “She provides us with tools and resources and offers opportunities to help us grow.”

Alexandra Rodriguez, a bilingual teaching assistant in the Lansing School District and advisor to Everett’s Latino Club, said working with Monterrosa has helped students gain confidence.

“Before Paty’s lessons, a lot of the students in Latino Club were very timid,” she said. “Now, they’re more inclined to lead.”

Rodriguez, an alum of Everett, studied community engagement in MSU’s Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, or RCAH. She said it’s important that her students are learning the value of being involved in their community through Chispa 4-H.

“It’s very beautiful to see young people coming together to make the changes they want to see in their community, their city and their schools,” she said. “I think that’s very powerful at this age.”

From classroom to community

Chispa 4-H is also creating opportunities for learning and community engagement for MSU students through a partnership with the MSU Excel Network and MSU Translation Center, both housed within the College of Arts and Letters. Chispa 4-H offers internships co-coordinated by Monterrossa and Senior MSU Extension Educator Deb Barrett, giving aspiring translators majoring or minoring in Spanish and pursuing a certificate in language translation real-world, hands-on experience.

“It’s important that we don’t keep knowledge to ourselves. Through programs like this partnership, we educate students and create real-world learning opportunities that benefit both the university and the broader community,” said Tony Grubbs, director of the MSU Translation Center. “Sharing what we learn — within MSU and beyond it — is mutually beneficial for everyone involved.”

Ana Dunfee recently completed her third year at MSU studying international relations and Spanish and is pursuing a certificate in translation through the College of Arts and Letters. She interned with Chispa 4-H in fall 2025. She said the internship was a “unique experience that I don’t think you’re going to get anywhere else.”

“I had an excellent mentor in Paty, and even as an experienced Spanish speaker, I still learned new things about the language and how to approach translation for different audiences,” said Dunfee. “I also really enjoyed learning about 4-H and how it engages with the community. I hadn’t realized how connected it is in Michigan or how involved MSU students are with 4-H and MSU Extension. The biggest takeaway was learning about all their resources and programs. It was really fun to be a part of that.”

Dunfee, who aspires to be an immigration lawyer, witnessed how Chispa 4-H is making a real difference in culturally distinct communities — and why it’s so important in supporting programming on topics such as nutrition, leadership and financial literacy. It makes information accessible to those who don’t speak English as a first language.

“When so much else may be unfamiliar, providing information in a language people understand makes a real difference,” she said. “It shows we’re committed to sharing skills and resources directly with the community and that we genuinely care.”