Mt. Rainier, Maryland – The Latin American Folk Institute (LAFI) will now be able to offer a more diverse array of programs on Latin American arts and culture, thanks to a grant it recently received. LAFI’s events, classes and workshops educate and engage the public by celebrating the heritage of Latin American arts and culture.

The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation announced that LAFI is the recipient of a $15,000 grant. The grant will be used to pay staff members for the first time in the five years since the 501(c)(3) was founded. "These funds will allow us to meet the rising demand for our programs, so we can continue to reach diverse audiences in the Greater Washington area," says Marietta Ulacia, LAFI’s Executive Director.

New programs planned for 2003 include a Meet the Artists series, an Arts Exhibition Gallery and a Concert Series held in LAFI’s new "El Palenque" Cultural Space. LAFI will also be offering percussion classes to at-risk youth in Maryland and Washington, DC. LAFI currently offers music, dance and visual arts classes; sponsors and hosts performances and workshops; and publishes the quarterly journal, Clave.

The Latin American Folk Institute was founded in 1997 to foster a greater understanding of and interest in Latin American arts, particularly those arts with strong traditional and folkloric roots.

For more information about LAFI, visit http://www.lafi.org