News
Karen Iglesia to be Honored at the City of Rochester’s Black Heritage Gala
January 26, 2011
Karen Iglesia has been selected as a recipient of the 9th Annual Pioneer Award, at the City of Rochester’s Black Heritage Gala.
The theme for this year’s event is,
“Salute to Youth.”
The Iglesia’s Summer of Opportunity and Engineering programs, the All-Star basketball camps, and the Iglesia Educational Centers, continue to impact thousands of Rochester area youth annually.
Her belief in the power of education, discipline, fun and hard work, and her love of all students, make Karen Iglesia a worthy recipient of this award, and a true community leader.
Congratulations Karen! Rochester area students thank you for your tireless efforts, and for leading the way to a better future for us all!
The Black Heritage Gala will take place on Saturday, February 26, 2011, at 6:00 pm, at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom, 125 E. Main Street, Rochester, NY 14604.
If you wish to attend, tickets may be purchased by calling 428-6426. Please note that tickets will not be sold at the door.
Woman To Watch: Karen Iglesia
January 4, 2011
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE
Leah Stacy • January 3, 2011
Karen Iglesia was born into a line of remarkable women.
Almost 50 years ago, Iglesia’s grandmother left the Jamaican Islands and came to Rochester, where she cleaned hotels for four years before she could save enough money to bring her daughter, Cecile Lewis — Iglesia’s mother — to the United States.
Lewis came to Rochester, working at Eastman Kodak Co. and attending vocational school, leaving Iglesia with her aunt for 10 long years before she could bring her to Rochester. Iglesia eventually graduated from Wilson High School.
Iglesia and her mother — who is just 14 years older — began college the same year, Iglesia for chemical engineering and Lewis for pharmacy. Iglesia went on to the University of Rochester for a dual degree in integrated sciences, and Lewis became one of the first African-American pharmacists in Rochester, working at Wegmans and Rite-Aid.
Though Iglesia had a job at Bausch + Lomb as a chemist, she missed working with people on a daily basis.
As Iglesia volunteered with her husband’s school-age basketball team, she realized she loved working with kids and began to tutor in her basement. Fourteen years later, she runs Iglesia Educational Services, the largest urban tutoring company in New York state.
Personal: 38, of Rochester; married to Gerard; mother to Anthony, 10, and Allen, 6.
Occupation: Founder, president and CEO of Iglesia Educational Services.
Community activities: Urban League Black Scholars Committee, National Society of Black Engineers, Mind, Body and Soul board of directors.
Favorite thing to do in Rochester: Summer engineering projects with Rochester School District students.
