Latina Professionals®

We love this video by Eva Mendes! "Mami dice, Mami says" - who can relate? Let us know below if you can relate! 👇✨ #EvaMendes #MamiSays #Relate #FamilyLove #LatinaCulture #LatinaProfessionals

Meet Hezly Rivera! Born on June 4, 2008, in Oradell, New Jersey, to proud parents Henry Rivera and Heidy Ruiz, Hezly has made a name for herself in the world of gymnastics. With both parents hailing from the Dominican Republic, her father's career as an engineer adds to the inspiring story of this talented young athlete. Let's celebrate Hezly's achievements and the incredible support of her family! 🥇🇩🇴 #HezlyRivera #Gymnastics #DominicanPride #YoungAthlete #Inspiration #LatinaProfessionals

While waiting at the airport on my way back from Mexico, I realized that it had been exactly three months ago since the Latino Economic Development Council hosted the spectacular 2nd Annual Adelante Gala...what a fiesta that was! 🪅 More than 400 people came together to honor the outstanding achievements of leaders who have been instrumental in advancing the Latino community in areas such as healthcare, education, business, and politics throughout #Nebraska. Gracias for being part of this year's gala and for your ongoing support of our mission. LEDC’s future is bright and filled with promise 💪🏽 Here’s to many more days of success and community empowerment! https://lnkd.in/gFTMsg2Z Rafael Magaña Dayana Hurtado Marcos Eduardo Mora Barrientos Armando Salgado Yesenia Valenzuela Anayeli M. Lina Traslaviña Stover, Ph.D. Laura Contreras, MPA

A heartfelt thank you to all the incredible speakers and Latina professionals who attended the Latinas Poderosas: Breaking Barriers event at Rustique Winery in Salinas, CA! 🌟 Than you, Anna Velazquez, Mayor of City of Soledad, Alejandra Bologna Zubikarai, Ambassador at Consulado General de México en San José, and Ariana Rodriguez, Mayor Pro-Tem for City of Greenfield. This event was organized and led by Latina Professionals Central Valley. Your powerful stories, insights, and unwavering commitment to breaking barriers have inspired us all. Let’s continue to strive for excellence and make a lasting impact. ¡Juntas somos más fuertes! 💫 #LatinasPoderosas #BreakingBarriers #Empowerment #LatinaProfessionals #CommunityStrength

One of many factors that can make or break a professional's interest in staying with an organization is the work environment. When looking to understand their manager, professionals value a boss who can work with them, not against them, to help them grow in their careers. Jefas, here's our advice on how you can grow into becoming a people-first leader in corporate and entrepreneurship. What would you add to the list when looking for green flags in a manager?

In the 1940s, segregation was prevalent in Orange County, California, where up to 80% of children of Mexican descent attended separate schools from white students. Sylvia Mendez, a young girl, was denied entry to the modern 17th St. Elementary School and was instead directed to the dilapidated Hoover Elementary School. Hoover and similar "Mexican schools" often lacked adequate teachers, basic supplies, and comprehensive educational programs, frequently offering only vocational training or incomplete K-12 education. Students were assigned to these schools based on superficial criteria like skin color and surname, with darker-skinned students and those with more "Mexican" names being disproportionately affected. Refusing to accept this injustice, Gonzalo Mendez, Sylvia’s father, along with four other Chicano families, filed a lawsuit in 1945 against four Orange County school districts. Their goal was to ensure that all children, regardless of race, had the right to attend California schools. During the court proceedings, school officials argued that Mexican American students were unhygienic and disease-ridden, thus posing a risk to white students. They also claimed that Mexican American students, presumed not to speak English, would struggle in English-speaking schools—claims they made without ever administering proficiency tests. One official even stated, "Mexicans are inferior in personal hygiene, ability, and in their economic outlook." However, these discriminatory arguments were dismantled when 14-year-old Carol Torres, a Chicana student, testified in perfect English, demonstrating the intelligence and language proficiency of Mexican students in the district. On February 18, 1947, Judge Paul McCormick ruled that the school districts had discriminated against Mexican American students, violating their constitutional rights. The landmark case, Mendez v. Westminster School District, led to the desegregation of all schools in California. This victory was a significant precursor to the historic Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954, which declared school segregation unconstitutional nationwide. Despite facing discrimination and bigotry in her new school, Sylvia Mendez persevered, eventually becoming a nurse and a civil rights activist. Her contributions were later recognized when she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. We honor and appreciate the trailblazers who fought to open educational opportunities for all. Their courage and determination have left an enduring legacy in the fight for equality and justice.