Kansas Spanish Speakers Earns We Kan! Award
The Kansas Sampler Foundation honored the nonprofit for connecting people across cultures and fostering a sense of belonging.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Hispanic
The Kansas Sampler Foundation presented a We Kan! Award to Kansas Spanish Speakers on Nov. 5, recognizing founder LeLan Dains and team members Luisana Chaida, Ashley Escorcia and Tatiana Espinoza. The award, titled "Creando un lugar para todos," was presented as a surprise coordinated with the organization's board of directors.
Why it matters
The award recognizes work that connects people across cultures and builds a sense of belonging among Kansas residents. It highlights community-based language and cultural programs operating in the state.
The Kansas Sampler Foundation has presented We Kan! Awards annually since 1993, and the honored group began in 2017 as a small club before becoming a nonprofit in 2023. The stub does not report participant numbers or program outcomes.
The players
Kansas Sampler Foundation
An Inman-based nonprofit that has presented annual We Kan! Awards since 1993 to recognize community contributions across Kansas.
Kansas Spanish Speakers
A Kansas nonprofit that grew from a small Spanish-learning club in 2017 into an organization offering language exchanges and cultural programs.
The details
Kansas Spanish Speakers offers language exchanges, Kansas exploration activities, cultural experiences and community connection opportunities. The Inman-based Kansas Sampler Foundation presented the award as a surprise.
Timeline
2017: Kansas Spanish Speakers began as a small club for people interested in learning Spanish.
2023: Kansas Spanish Speakers became a nonprofit.
Nov. 5: The We Kan! Award was presented.
Culture Shift
The We Kan! Awards, presented by the Kansas Sampler Foundation since 1993, have long recognized Kansas community builders. This recognition of a Spanish-language nonprofit reflects the growing role of cultural and language groups in Kansas community life.
Kansas residents interested in learning Spanish or connecting with Spanish-speaking neighbors can participate in the language exchanges and cultural activities Kansas Spanish Speakers offers. The group's community connection opportunities are open to people across the state.
The takeaway
Community organizations that bridge language and culture can strengthen belonging for newcomers and longtime residents alike. Residents looking to connect across cultures can seek out local language exchange groups.
Further reading
Explore more Hispanic culture coverage for context on community organizations serving Spanish speakers.
More information
Browse the list of previous We Kan! Award recipients on the Kansas Sampler Foundation website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Emporia Gazette.
