This is a unique sought-after list of the 100 most influential people for the state’s current Hispanic community. The Powermeter 100 list is a testimony of the influence that these 100 powerful individuals have had in the Hispanic community and the community at large. In order to select the 100 individuals that comprise the list, El Planeta holds a nomination process open to the public. With more than 600 nominees collected each year, a panel of judges from the community and the paper’s editorial council selected those, whom based on their merits throughout 2014-2015, deserve to be called “one of the 100”. The Powermeter 100 list is presented in alphabetical order by last name.
ACEVEDO, NADER
Excecutive Vice President.
Hispanic-American Institute
Nader Acevedo, a leader in Boston banking, business, and community development, is the Executive Vice President of the Hispanic-American Institute and leads the organization’s initiatives in the Northeast U.S. and Latin America. Nader served as President of the Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce and Director of Latin American Programs for the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. He held senior positions at several major Boston banks for nearly twenty years. More recently, he was appointed by MA Gaming Commission to its Access and Opportunity Committee and is the recipient of numerous community service awards.
ALDAZ-MATOS, MARCELA
Director of Diversity & Inclusion.
MassMutual
Marcela is focused on harnessing the business value of diversity and inclusion to yield high business impact. She is responsible for designing sustainable culture change, integrated with overall business growth strategy. Marcela has worked for various financial services organizations managing numerous U.S. and international teams in the areas of business development and service delivery. Earlier this year, she received the 2016 Diversity, Leadership & Service Award by ALPFA Boston. In 2015, the World Women Leadership Congress presented Marcela the Women Leadership Achievement Award. Marcela is a member of ALPFA’s National Board of Directors and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Advisory Board. She earned an MBA from Simmons College in Boston.
ALMEIDA, MARCONY
Chief, Community Engagement Division.
Office of Massachusetts Attorney General
Marcony Almeida serves as Director of Community Engagement for the Office of Attorney General Maura Healey. Prior to join the AGO, he was the Chief of Staff and Acting Executive Director for the state’s Office for Refugees and Immigrants (ORI). At the Attorney General’s Office, he leads a new initiative to bring the resources of the “People’s Law Firm” to immigrant and other communities at times and places where working people are available. His efforts to improve the lives of Latinos in Massachusetts have led him to be the recipient of the New Bostonian of the Year Award, for his significant contribution to the immigrant community in Boston.
ALMIEDA, GREG
Founder and Principal.
Global View Communications
Greg Almieda is Founder & CEO of Global View Communications (GVC), the industry leading inclusion business strategy firm. GVC helps their partners align diversity and inclusion initiatives to contribute and enable corporate strategy. GVC works across the five diversity platforms: enterprise, consumer, workplace/workforce, supplier inclusion and corporate citizenship. Greg has over 20 years of strategy, consulting, marketing, business development and management experience.
ÁLVAREZ, MARIELISA & MARIESTHER
Founders and Directors.
Boston String Academy
Venezuelan violinists Marielisa and Mariesther Alvarez are founders and directors of the Boston String Academy, a non-profit organization inspired by El Sistema that provides a vibrant string orchestra program for inner-city young students, forging social integration through music by creating a path for them to become sensitive, responsible and creative human beings. The Academy has received grants and recognition from important organizations, such as the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Boston Cultural Council, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, and Harvard University. Marielisa and Mariesther hold graduate degrees from The Boston Conservatory, and are also faculty members at Longy School of Music of Bard College. They collaborate regularly with El Sistema in Venezuela, as well as other Sistemainspired programs in the U.S. and abroad.
ARCE, PEDRO
Vice President of Business Banking.
Eastern Bank
Pedro Arce has worked in the banking arena for 25 years and has focused his attention on helping the residents of low to moderate income communities achieve financial success. Through his efforts as a Community Development Manager and Lender, he has facilitated over $1 billion in commercial, consumer and Real Estate loans throughout New England. Over half of his Loan Portfolio consists of immigrant borrowers. Pedro has also been very active in the community. He is a Founding Board Member of Lawrence Community Works CDC, the Merrimack Valley Economic Development Corporation and the Adelante Youth Center. He currently sits on several boards, most notably Cambridge College, the ICA Group and Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council. He is also Part Time Professor of Strategy and International Business at Suffolk University.
ARROYO, FÉLIX D.
Register.
Probate & Family Court, Suffolk County
Félix D. Arroyo is the Register for the Suffolk County Probate and Family Court. He is the first Latino elected for this position in the state of Massachusetts. His county includes the city of Boston, Revere, Chelsea and Winthrop. A long-time resident of Boston, he taught at Springfield College, UMass Boston, Roxbury Community College, Boston University, and Emmanuel College. For more than 25 years, former Councillor Arroyo has worked to promote peace and justice on a local and global level. Locally, he has sought to curtail domestic violence, gang violence, and hate crimes and was a vocal advocate against the War in Iraq. The City of Boston has proclaimed Friday, October 28, 2011 as “Félix D. Arroyo Day”.
ARROYO, FÉLIX G.
Chief of Health and Human Services.
City of Boston
Félix G. Arroyo has dedicated over a decade of his life to public service and community organizing. Félix is a lifelong Bostonian, born in the South End, raised in Hyde Park, and a proud graduate of the Boston Public Schools. He is the son of Puerto Rican immigrants, and his father has a successful career as politician in Massachusetts. Felix G. Arroyo was appointed Chief of Health and Human Services on January 6th, 2014 by Mayor Martin J. Walsh. Prior to his appointment, Chief Arroyo served as an At-Large member of the Boston City Council where he was elected in November of 2009 and re-elected for a second term in 2011. As a City Councillor At-Large, Felix G. Arroyo Chaired the Council’s Committee on Labor, Youth Affairs and Health and Vice Chaired the Council’s Committee on Housing.
ARROYO, ERNESTO
Educator, Youth Worker, Community Activist
Ernesto “Eroc” Arroyo-Montano is an educator, artist, organizer, community activist and a proud father of three. Known for his leadership in a range of initiatives from urban youth program development and intersectional movements building, he has shown his dedication to racial, gender, economic and environmental justice. His contagious passion, warmth and laughter are perhaps his trademark qualities; qualities that he hopes inspires those around him to join the ever evolving movement for peace and justice. A founding member of the critically acclaimed and award winning Hip Hop duo, Foundation Movement, Eroc recently accepted the position of Popular Education Coordinator at United For A Fair Economy.
AVELLANEDA, ROY
Councillor At-Large.
City of Chelsea
Chelsea City Councillor At-Large Roy Avellaneda, the son of Argentine immigrants, has been a public servant for the city for nearly 20 years. After graduating from Babson College, Avellaneda has served on the planning board, licensing board, elected District Councillor, and Councillor At-Large. Avellaneda was the first Latino in Chelsea history to top the ballot in the City-wide At-Large race. His recent return to the City Council marked the first time in Chelsea history of majority minority composition. In just the first four months in session, Avellaneda has sponsored and helped pass with his colleagues an increase in the residential tax break for homeowners and an anti-wage theft ordinance that protects the salaries of workers in Chelsea and prohibits companies that commit wage fraud.
BAKER, CHARLIE
Governor.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Charles Duane Baker Jr. is the 72nd and current Governor of Massachusetts. Raised in Needham, Massachusetts, he graduated from Harvard College and obtained an MBA from Northwestern University. In 1992, he was appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services of Massachusetts. He later served as Secretary of Administration and Finance. After working in government for eight years, Baker left to become CEO of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates and later Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, a non-profit health benefits company. A former member of the Massachusetts Board of Education, Baker advocated increasing the number of charter, magnet, and alternative schools. Believing that education is a “civil right”, he also aimed to close the educational achievement gap among underprivileged and minority students.
BALDWIN, MOLLY
Founder and Chief Executive Officer.
Roca
Molly Baldwin, Founder & CEO of Roca would tell you with great candor that it took 16 of the last 28 years to get Roca’s Model right. But that work has paid off. Today, Roca has become a nationally recognized leader in high-risk youth intervention, and Baldwin has become one of the country’s strongest voices on addressing the crises of over-incarceration, violence and poverty reduction among young men of color. Roca now serves over 21 communities in Boston, Chelsea and Springfield, and is one of the first agencies in the world to be funded through a Social Impact Bond: the MA Juvenile Justice Pay-for-Success pilot, a $27 million partnership with the Commonwealth that leverages private capital to help reduce incarceration rates and increase employment among young men at high-risk for recidivism.
BARAJAS, PHYLLIS
CEO.
Conexión
Phyllis Barajas is the CEO of Conexión, an executive mentoring and leadership experience for mid career Hispanic professionals. In 1994, President Clinton appointed Barajas as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Department of Education. Her career includes being the first Latina Trustee of Eastern Bank since the bank’s founding in 1818, and the first Hispanic Assistant Dean for HR at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Earlier this year, Barajas was selected as one of the 31 Latinas leaders across the U.S. by Hispanic Lifestyle magazine.
BARRERA, JOEL
Deputy Chief of Staff for Cabinet Relations.
Office of the Governor Charlie Baker
Joel Barrera is Deputy Chief of Staff for Cabinet Relations for Governor Charlie Baker. He has direct responsibility to work with the secretaries of Transportation, Housing and Economic Development, Energy and Environment, and Public Safety on their policy and program initiatives. Previously, Barrera worked for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council as Deputy Director and as a senior staff member in the Massachusetts Senate. Barrera began his career as a community organizer along the Texas-Mexico border. Barrera has degrees from Princeton University, Worcester College and Oxford University. He is married to Mari Brennan Barrera and they have two children.
BENZAN, VIRGINIA
Asylum Officer.
U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
Virginia Benzan, a Dominican American attorney, specializes in immigration law. In 2015, she successfully argued a First Circuit appeal, which resulted in a significant change to immigration law that now benefits immigrants nationwide. A graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and Northeastern University Law School, Virginia has devoted much of her career to immigrants’ rights. She directed the Immigration Clinic at Suffolk University Law School and now works for the Department of Homeland Security. Virginia also worked as a Massachusetts Law Reform Institute staff attorney and an aide for Congressman Ed Markey. Virginia resides in Dorchester with her children.
BLANCO, MARÍA CHRISTINA
Community Organizer.
City Life – Vida Urbana
Maria Christina is a community organizer at City Life/Vida Urbana, where since 2011 she has helped hundreds of her neighbors resist displacement due to predatory lending and profit-driven evictions. Her passion for the fight for community control of land and homes comes from understanding firsthand the impact of stable housing on people’s health and lives. For over a decade before entering the community organizing field, Maria Christina was a maternal-child community health worker, and helped develop Boston Medical Center’s “Birth Sisters” program.
CABALLERO, ENRIQUE
Director.
Joslin Latino Diabetes Initiative
The Latino Diabetes Initiative at Joslin Diabetes Center, founded and directed by Dr. Caballero, is a comprehensive effort to improve the lives of Latinos who have or are at risk of developing diabetes. This initiative integrates culturally competent clinical care and patient education program, community outreach activities, professional education programs and a clinical research program. Dr. Caballero and his team have studied the impact of multiple medical, psychological, socioeconomic and cultural factors on diabetes care among Latinos.
CALDERÓN ROSADO, VANESSA
Chief Executive Officer.
Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA)
Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, Ph.D., is the Chief Executive Officer of IBA-Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción, an organization dedicated to empower individuals through education, workforce development and arts programs, and to create vibrant affordable housing communities. Through her leadership, IBA has become the largest Latino-led nonprofit organization in Greater Boston. In 2009, Dr. Calderón- Rosado was selected for the prestigious Barr Foundation Fellowship. In 2010, she became the first Latina ever to be appointed to the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. She is a Founding Board member of the Margarita Muñiz Academy, the first dual-language innovation high school in Massachusetts.
CALVO, ALBERTO
President. Stop and Compare Supermarket Vice President.
Chelsea Chamber of Commerce
Alberto Calvo is an engineer and entrepreneur. He worked in the Defense industry for over 35 years. Now retired, he serves as President of Stop and Compare Supermarkets, a family business operating in New England since 1996. With stores in Chelsea, Lynn and Providence, the Company employs over 120 people, and has gained a reputation for quality service, affordable prices and for being a socially responsible company. Mr. Calvo serves in various non-profit boards: SCI, Wheelock College, BIDMC, and others. He graduated from Northeastern and MIT with engineering degrees. Most recently he was appointed Executive Vice President of the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce. A native of Cuba, Mr. Calvo resides in Newton along with his wife Betty.
CAMARGO, NURYS
Founder.
Chica Project
Ms. Camargo is the Founder of Chica Project, a social enterprise dedicated to closing the opportunity divide for young Latinas in Boston, Lawrence, Lynn, Springfield and Holyoke by empowering them with the skills, confidence, and network necessary to thrive personally and professionally. Nurys is also the Regional Director of External Affairs for AT&T Massachusetts. She graduated from Baruch College in 2008 with a Masters in Public Administration from the National Urban Fellows Program. In 1997 she received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Mount Ida College in Newton, MA.
CHACÓN, RICHARD
Executive Director of News Content.
WBUR
Richard Chacón oversees all aspects of local radio and digital news content for WBUR Boston. His career includes more than 20 years of experience in journalism, politics and government. Richard has worked at The Boston Globe, where he covered Boston City Hall and higher education and was the Latin America bureau chief, based in Mexico City. In addition, he has worked at New York Newsday, WCVB-TV and KTSM in his native El Paso, Texas. He served as Director of Communications for Deval Patrick’s gubernatorial campaign in 2006, and served in the Governor’s Office as Director of Policy and then as Executive Director of the Mass. Office for Refugees and Immigrants. Richard received a Nieman Fellowship from Harvard (2004) and an Eisenhower Fellowship in Brazil and Germany (2008). He holds a master’s degrees in public administration and journalism from Columbia University.
CHANG, TOMMY
Superintendent.
Boston Public Schools
Tommy Chang, PhD, was selected in 2015 as Superintendent of Public Schools in Boston, which currently educates about 57,000 students in 128 schools. In recent years, the Boston school system has seen a rising graduation rate and improved MCAS scores, but several kinds of minorities have noticed stubborn achievement gaps when studying across the school system, and Chang faces big challenges. He formerly oversaw 135 schools and approximately 95,000 students in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
CORDERO, MICHELLE
Online Marketing Manager.
Staples
Michelle Cordero is an Online Marketing Manager at Staples, where she has directed the online and demand generation initiatives for the contract business of Staples for the past 5 years. She has introduced new technology that moved Staples to a modern marketing infrastructure. She is also the face of Staples’ internal communications and brings a video broadcast to the entire Staples organization with a series of Monday messages where she communicates events in the organization, financials and industry news. Michelle served as co-chair for HOLA (affinity group for Hispanic or Latino employees) from 2012 to 2015 and led numerous events such as MBA fairs to professionally develop associates and help to educate other associates about the Latino community.
CRUZ, MILAGROS
CEO. MC Professional Services.
Council 12113 Member. LULAC
Born in the Dominican Republic, Milagros is a self motivated entrepreneur, philanthropist and community activist who fight for human and immigration rights. Milagros currently manages her own business, MC Professional Services, where she offers immigration services, legal advice and representation, in collaboration with local attorneys. Milagros has also worked in the financial industry for well known companies. She volunteers for nonprofit organizations and is a member of several boards: Lions Clubs, Big Brother Big Sister Associations, City Life Vida Urbana, Women’s In Solidarity, The Dominican Development Organization, Dominican Festival, Sacred Heart Church, Project Hope, Pine St. Inn, Boston Food Bank and LULAC. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources from Bentley College.
CRUZ, YASMIN
Senior Manager, Corporate Responsibility.
John Hancock
Yasmin earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Babson College and is an MBA Candidate at Boston College. Currently in her ninth year at John Hancock, her responsibilities as Senior Manager, Corporate Responsibility focus on John Hancock’s community investment strategy. Prior to her work in corporate philanthropy, Ms. Cruz served as an equity and fixed income analyst. Ms. Cruz currently serves as Board Director at the Lenny Zakim Fund and City Awake; as Corporator at Eastern Bank; as Steering Committee Member at the John F. Kennedy Library & Museum; and as External Relations Advisor at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
CURTATONE, JOSEPH
Mayor.
City of Somerville
First elected in 2003, Joseph Curtatone began his seventh term as Mayor of Somerville on January 4, 2016. He had previously served for eight years as an Alderman At-Large. As Mayor, he has successfully implemented a wide range of reforms and new programs that have earned Somerville many distinctions by regional and national organizations, including the designation by Boston Globe Magazine as “the best-run city in Massachusetts,” by America’s Promise Alliance as one of the “100 Best Communities for Youth,” and a winner of the 2009 “All America City” award. Curtatone became the first mayor of Massachusetts who prohibited the Police to arrest undocumented immigrants with no criminal records.
DANESH, MARCELA
Chief Financial Officer.
Sycamore Property Management
Marcela is the CFO of Sycamore Property Management, a full service property management firm. Previously, she had a successful career with Colgate-Palmolive. She currently serves on the board of Directors of the GSEM (Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts) and as the Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of NEACOL (New England Association for Colombian Children). She has served on several other non-profit organizations such as School the World, Friendship Works and Women of ALPFA Boston. Marcela has a Business Administration degree with concentration in Finance from Universidad ICESI in Colombia, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Babson’s MBA program.
DE LA ROSA, JOSÉ
CEO.
Guardian Healthcare, LLC
Jose de la Rosa came to Boston in 1989 and earned a finance degree from Northeastern University. After working with major local and national banks, he became an entrepreneur. He launched Guardian Healthcare, a home care agency that provides healthcare services for elderly and disabled individuals in their homes throughout the state of Massachusetts, currently employing over 200 healthcare workers. In 2014, Jose introduced Family Caregivers, an adult family care program that provides training and support to family members taking care of elder or disabled adult relatives. Jose also graduated from Suffolk University’s Moakley Center for Public Health Management Emerging Leaders Program, and Babson College GS 10,000 Small Business Program certificate of entrepreneurship.
DÍAZ, ROBERTO
Director of Community Based Services.
CENTRO
Roberto Díaz has spent over fifteen years doing non profit community work in Worcester, with numerous at risk youth. Born in Guayama, Puerto Rico he came to the U.S. in the late 1980’s. Roberto earned his Master’s Degree from Clark University in Community Development and Planning in 2012. Mr. Diaz greatest sense of accomplishment has been leading several programs at CENTRO as the Director of Community Based Services which serves over 12,000 Latinos in Worcester and the Merrimack County.
EMERSON, TAM
Eli J. Segal Citizen Leadership Program Director.
Center for Youth and Communities at Brandeis University
Tam Emerson is the Eli J. Segal Citizen Leadership Program Director at the Center for Youth and Communities in Brandeis University. The Segal Program continues the legacy of Eli Segal by enabling citizen leaders, currently 85 lifelong Segal Fellows spanning 17 states and 3 continents, to break down silos to create change in communities. Tam became a Fellow after winning the 2008 City Year Bridge Builder AmeriCorps Member of the Year for her work in the Roxbury community. In 2010, she helped start-up City Year London. As a Colombian adoptee, Tam believes in the importance of mentoring and educating the next generation of leaders.
EVANS, WILLIAM
Commissioner.
Boston Police Department
In January 2014, Mayor Martin Walsh named William –Bill– Evans permanent Boston Police Commissioner. The officer, who has been captain of two districts, was one of the first commanders to reach the Boston Marathon scene after the tragedy in 2013. Evans also played a role in the manhunt and capture of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Evans joined the Boston Police Department in 1970 as a street patrol officer. He holds degrees in political science and law. In his brilliant career as Police officer, he has received numerous awards for outstanding contributions in the field of law and public safety.
FRANCISCO, PAUL
VP Workforce Development Programs & Global Inclusion.
State Street Corporation
Mr. Francisco is Managing Director and Head of the Diversity Consulting and Sourcing Office as well as the Head of Workforce Development Programs at State Street Corporation. Mr. Francisco is responsible for overseeing State Street’s diversity recruitment strategies and State Street’s community recruitment programs. His responsibilities also include providing diversity and inclusion consulting services to the various State Street businesses. He is currently serving or has served on a number of non-profit boards including the National Board of ALPFA, Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre, LIFT, and is one of the founding members of Boston Children’s Hospital Milagros Para Niños Latino Advisory Council.
GARCÍA, YVONNE
SVP Global Head of Clients Solutions Group and PMO.
State Street Corporation. National Chairwoman. ALPFA
As the Global Head of Client Solutions and PMO at State Street Corporation, Yvonne develops solutions for Fortune 100 companies in the financial sector by deploying cutting-edge technology and operational processes, and delivering complex consulting engagements for existing and potential State Street clients. Prior to State Street, Yvonne served as Director in Marketing and Distribution Strategy for Liberty Mutual’s Agency Corporation. Yvonne serves as the Chairwoman for the largest Latino Professional Organization in the country, ALPFA. She is also the co-founding Chair of Milagros para Niños, a board at Children’s Hospital in Boston, which has raised more than $4 million in funds for Hispanic children who can’t afford medical care. Yvonne also actively served on former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s Latino-American Advisory Commission Board.
GONZÁLEZ, REGLA
LULAC Council 12113 Member.
Community Activist
Ms. Gonzalez has been a LULAC Council #12113 President, State Director, Deputy State Director in Massachusetts, National VP for the Northeast, National VP for Women, and Scholarship Chair with in the LNESC National Board. She has been involved with our community for the past 40 years, she has changed the lives of those that she has touched and acted with justice, love and the deepest of pride in her culture. Her commitment to the youth has made her a youth advisor for the past 18 years, raising over $190,000 in scholarship for Latino youth entering College. As a community activist she was recently organizing the community in order to keep open the Clínica Hispana, founded in 1972 by Dr. Guillermo Herrera-Aceña at Brigham & Women’s Hospital. Thanks to Regla and other members of the community the Clínica Hispana is still in operation and is currently looking for patients.
GONZÁLEZ, YANY
Owner, Director, Editor.
Candela Magazine
Yany González is a Salvadoran journalist. She moved to Boston in 2008 and founded Candela Magazine, a Hispanic publication distributed free of charge that just celebrated eight years on the market. González manages, edits and publishes Candela, which focuses on diverse aspects of Hispanic lifestyles. She has also worked for Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra since 2008, and is the official talent of Telemundo’s Telecam, the “Línea de Ayuda” (Helpline) and special programming for the TV station.
GONZÁLEZ, CRISTINA
VP, Associate General Counsel.
Staples
Cristina Gonzalez is responsible for advising senior executives and Board members on corporate and finance matters in Staples. She manages a team in charge of intellectual property, technology and privacy matters. Cristina was a founding co-Chair of HOLA, Staples’ employee affinity group for Hispanic or Latino employees. She served on Staples’ Global Diversity Committee, a group of senior business leaders driving diversity and inclusion efforts. She has spoken at several ALPFA and Minority Corporate Counsel Association events and spoken to students at local universities. She serves as a mentor in ALPFA Boston’s Mentoring Program.
GONZÁLEZ, ROSY
Vice President of Northwind Strategies
President of Oportunidad Justa – Fair Shot for All
Rosy Gonzalez, Vice President at Northwind Strategies and President for Fair Shot for All, is a senior strategy and development professional. The former finance and political director for Governor Deval Patrick has created a reputation as a strong leader and effective political fundraiser that propelled her into senior management positions in both public and private sectors. At Northwind Strategies, Rosy manages several projects ranging from non-profit initiatives, political campaigns, and development. In all of her projects, Rosy ensures that social responsibility is a cornerstone. Her new project, Fair Shot for All, is an organization working to level the playing field, grow the middle class and give us all a Fair Shot at the American Dream.
HEALEY, MAURA
Attorney General.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Since taking office in 2015, Healey has tackled issues touching the lives of residents across Massachusetts including the heroin and prescription drug abuse epidemic, escalating health care costs, worker’s rights and student loan costs. She has focused on strengthening consumer protections and on improving our criminal justice system. Building on her promise to run an office that serves people across the state, Healey launched the Community Engagement Division in May 2015. The first-of-its-kind division brings the Attorney General’s Office and its work into neighborhoods and communities across the state. The Division has launched community office hours and has assisted with the rollout of several policy initiatives including the Earned Sick Time law and Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights.
HENRÍQUEZ, JULIO
Immigration Attorney.
Law Offices of Julio Henríquez
Julio Henríquez is a passionate immigration and human rights attorney. He came to the US from Venezuela in 2006 and attended NYU Law School, where he focused on human rights. He also studied international law in Singapore. Prior to starting an immigration law practice, he worked at SEIU 32BJ in Boston. Besides conducting presentations with community organizations such as LUMA, Centro Presente, ECHO and Brazilian Women’s Group, he is the founder and Director of Refugee Freedom Program, an organization focused on asylum and representation of Venezuelan political prisoners. He lives in JP with his wife, Cristina Aguilera, and his two children.
JACKSON, DEBORAH
President.
Cambridge College
Deborah C. Jackson is the President of Cambridge College and an accomplished civic and non-profit leader. Her work has proven effective on local, national and global issues involving public policy research, workforce development, education, health care, urban policy and community services. She has established the College’s position as an innovative force in educating the underserved. She has been the recipient of numerous awards and was featured in the Boston Magazine’s “100 Most Influential Women in Boston”. She is a frequent speaker on issues including social justice and access, women’s leadership, and leadership in the non-profit sector.
JACKSON, TITO
Councillor District 7.
City of Boston
As the District 7 City Councillor, Tito Jackson currently represents all of Roxbury and parts of the South End, Dorchester and Fenway neighborhoods. First elected to the Boston City Council in March of 2011 during a special election, voters re-elected Councilor Jackson the following November for a full two-year term. In November of 2013 and 2015 the electorate once again called upon Councilor Jackson to serve the people of District 7 and represent them in City Hall. His agenda supports education at all levels as an effort to improve the quality of life for all of Boston’s residents, whether it be primary, vocational, secondary or higher education.
JIMÉNEZ, ENNA
Vice President, Manager, Quality Assurance.
Wellington Management
Ms. Jimenez is a Senior IT and Business Professional with expertise in Quality Assurance Management and Team Restructuring and Transformation. Her career spans over 25 years of working in multiple industries. She is skilled at creating standards and procedures to increase efficiency, vendor management, managing complex, cross-functional teams, and hiring, developing and retaining talent. She spearheaded and instituted a Latino employer resource group at Wellington Management which resulted in a recruiting event that yielded 200 Latino professionals. She joined ALPFA Boston Board as SVP, Chief Administration Office leading efforts on Program Management; she is President of the Simmons College Alumnae Association, and serves on the Commonwealth Corporation Board of Directors, Simmons College Board of Trustees and the Beaver Country Day School Board of Trustees.
KENNEDY III, JOSEPH
US Representative for Massachusetts 4th Congressional District.
United States House of Representatives
Congressman Joe Kennedy III has emerged as a leading voice for economic opportunity and social justice in Washington. From fighting to raise the minimum wage to supporting our small businesses and innovators, he has dedicated his time in office to ensuring hard work in this country pays off. He is the proud author of the STEM Gateways Act, which would increase access to STEM education for Latinos and other minority communities, as well as women. An outspoken advocate for comprehensive immigration reform, Rep. Kennedy has called for an end to the controversial Secure Communities program, urged for immediate implementation of President Obama’s DAPA program, and worked to support immigrant-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in Massachusetts and beyond.
LONGORIA, ROXANNE
Network Coordinator.
Boston Youth Service Network (BYSN)
In her role at BYSN, Roxanne supports fifteen community-based organizations that collectively improve the quality and diversity of services for youth who have not found success in traditional education systems. Prior to joining the Network, Roxanne worked in higher education for over 10 years. In 2014, Roxanne founded URevolution, a cultural competency consulting business and digital storytelling website highlighting success stories of young adults of color making change in communities of color. In 2015, she cofounded BREAD, Boston’s Racial Economic Activated Dialogue. BREAD believes that local urban communities are sufficient and capable of becoming economically prosperous, by serving and acting to benefit others. She is currently a member of Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s Diversity Task Force.
LOPERA, JUAN
Vice President of Business Diversity.
Tufts Health Plan
In his role as VP of Business Diversity, Lopera works in close collaboration with leadership across the company’s three principal business divisions – Commercial products, Senior products, and Medicaid/subsidized plans – to implement strategies to increase Tufts Health Plan’s presence in diverse communities. He is currently expanding Tufts Health Plan efforts to address consumer needs based on race, ethnicity, language preference, sexual orientation, disability status and veteran status, just to provide a few examples. As the Executive Vice President of the Boston chapter of ALPFA, Lopera initiated a new focus on the healthcare industry and created the ALPFA Health Care group in Boston, designed to support Latino professionals in the industry.
LOPES, MANNY
CEO.
East Boston Neighborhood Health Center
More than two decades ago, Manny Lopes joined the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBHC) as an 18-year-old researcher before working in Human Resources and Operations. After a midcareer stint as a business consultant for Fortune 1,000 companies, Manny returned to EBNHC as Vice President and Chief Information Officer and earned his MBA at Northeastern University. In 2010, Manny became Deputy CEO and in 2012, CEO. Manny’s breadth of experience gives him an unparalleled understanding of the health center, our vibrant, largely Latino community, and the vital importance of providing high-quality health care and education.
LÓPEZ, JUAN AURELIO
Research And Policy Director at Boston City Council
National VP for the North East at LULAC
Juan Aurelio Lopez is a public servant who has served for more than three decades at Boston City Hall. He has worked in the Executive Branch with Mayors White, Flynn and Menino and in the Legislative Branch of the City Council as both Central Liaison of the Legislative Committees and as Director of Policy and Research. In addition to his public service, he is the Executive Producer of the TV show “Política Entre Amigos” on WCEA TV Cuenca Visión—a space that celebrates democracy and promotes freedom of speech. Recently López was appointed National VP for the North East for LULAC.
LÓPEZ BURKE, SANDRA
Vice President and Executive Director.
City Year
Sandra López Burke has more than two decades of experience building public-private partnerships that have successfully helped youth reach their full potential in both the academic and sports sectors. In 1998, Sandra joined Mayor Menino’s millennial celebration committee as the Vice President of Boston 2000. After the turn of the millennium, Sandra joined City Year, Inc. and in 2007, was named Vice President and Executive Director of City Year Boston, the organization’s founding site. City Year Boston currently partners with 21 Boston Public Schools, where 265 full-time AmeriCorps members serve as tutors, mentors and role models to more than 10,000 students before, during and after the school day.
LORENZO RODRÍGUES, KERI
Executive Director.
Families for Excellent Schools MA
Keri is the Massachusetts State Director of Families for Excellent Schools. She brings her passion as a proud mom to her advocacy on education for kids across the Commonwealth and has spent her entire career fighting on behalf of women, children and hard working families. Keri serves At Large on the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee and is the Co-Chair of the Women’s Caucus of the Mass Dems. She was previously the Vice President of MassNOW and a City Commissioner in Somerville where she currently serves as a Justice of the Peace. Keri is the mother of three little boys. A Secular Franciscan, Keri devotes much of her free time to volunteer work at Saint Anthony’s Shrine in Boston.
LUGO VÉLEZ, TITO
Director of Hispanic Writers Week and Director of Talented and Gifted Latino Program.
UMass, Institute for Learning and Teaching
Tito Lugo Vélez was born in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico. He is a professional musician and music educator with a distinguished career that encompasses more than 25 years both in his native Puerto Rico and in Boston, where he moved to in 2009. After holding various teaching positions, including Resident Artist with the Boston Symphony, Tito started to work at the UMass Boston Institute for Learning and Teaching as the Coordinator of the Hispanic Writers Week. Through his leadership and commitment to this project, Tito has achieved support from the Consulate of Mexico, the Consulate of El Salvador, the Instituto Cervantes and BU Voces Hispánicas. Since 2015 Tito also works as a Program Coordinator with the TAG STEM for Latina Youth Program, that promotes science and technology careers among young Latina students from the Boston Public Schools.
MADARO, ADRIAN
State Representative.
1st Suffolk District Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Adrian Madaro is a first generation American, born and raised in East Boston. He is a graduate of Boston Latin School and received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Tufts University. After four years as State Representative Carlo Basile’s Chief of Staff, Adrian won a special election last year for the seat formerly held by Basile, and now proudly serves as the newest State Representative of the 1st Suffolk District.
MAGNO, ALEJANDRO
Entertainer, Cultural Promoter.
Alejandro Magno began performing in the early 2000s, and his voice and charisma made him an excellent choice for the stage, radio and television. He quickly became the voice of many important events, such as the visit of former President of Colombia Alvaro Uribe, multiple beauty pageants, special galas for several nonprofit organizations, festivals, live shows for international artists and many other events. One of his greatest achievements was to rescue the Colombian Festival in 2009 and turn it into a huge success. He has worked in the community for a number of years and continues to make a positive impact through his work for a private investigation firm. Currently he is working on the 2016 edition of the Colombian Festival to take place this Summer at Boston City Hall Plaza.
MARKEY, EDWARD
U.S. Senator for Massachusetts.
Edward “Ed” Markey is a member of the Democratic Party and a junior United States Senator from Massachusetts, in office since 2013. From 1976 to 2013 he served as the U.S. Representative for Massachusetts’s 5th congressional district. He previously served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1973 to 1976. Markey is a liberal who has focused on energy policy and was Chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming from 2007 to 2011. In 2013, he was elected to serve out the balance of Kerry’s sixth Senate term in a 2013 special election. In 2014 Markey was elected to a full six-year Senate term. Senator Markey introduced legislation to change the duration of Daylight Saving Time and to increasing privacy controls over children online.
MASSÓ, JOSÉ
Host and Producer.
WBUR ¡Con Salsa!
José Massó’s career has included prominent positions in education, communications, media, politics, government, entertainment, sports and philanthropy. A few years ago he joined the MassPort Senior Leadership Team as the Director of Community Relations under the direction of CEO & Executive Director Tom Glynn. Massó directs the five-member Community Relations and Charitable Giving staff that serves as the first point of contact for the Authority with community groups and is critical to the success of MassPort in its responsibility to be a good neighbor. José continues his role as announcer/ producer of “¡Con Salsa!” every Saturday night on WBUR 90.9 FM. In 2015 “¡Con Salsa!” celebrated its 40th anniversary.
MCNEIL, JAIMIE
General Agent.
UNITE HERE Local 26
Jaimie McNeil is the General Agent for the Boston area Hospitality Workers Union, UNITE HERE Local 26. Local 26 represents over 7,000 Hotel and food service employees and is one of the most diverse and politically influential organizations in the City of Boston. During his ten years with the union, Local 26 has doubled in size and achieved the highest standard for hotel workers in New England. McNeil ensures that as the hospitality industry grows in Boston; family-sustaining jobs grow with it.
MONDEJAR, OSWALD
Senior Vice President of Mission and Advocacy.
Partners Continuing Care
Oswald “Oz” Mondejar is the Senior Vice President of Mission and Advocacy for Partners Continuing Care (PCC), a division of Partners HealthCare. He is also devoted to the advancement of many constituencies including the LGBT community, people with disabilities and the Latino community. Mondejar works at the intersection of policy, advocacy and media, defining PCC’s core values and leveraging the organization’s resources in order to maximize a positive social impact – locally, nationally and internationally. In recent years Oz was recognized as a White House “Champion of Change” for Disability Rights.
MONTES, PATRICIA
Executive Director.
Centro Presente
Patricia Montes is the Executive Director of Centro Presente, an immigrant rights organization in Massachusetts. Patricia is a recognized immigrant rights leader and a tireless advocate for just economic and social policies, including a just U.S. immigration policy. She serves on the Executive Board of the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities (NALACC), and is a board member of The Boston Women’s Fund and the Women’s Pipeline for Change, a group that is trying to build a sustainable infrastructure to support progressive women of color as they enter, navigate and move up the pipeline to political leadership.
MORALES, WILLIAM
Commissioner of BCYF.
City of Boston
This March, Mayor Martin J. Walsh appointed William Morales Commissioner of Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF). As Commissioner, Morales oversees BCYF’s network of 35 facilities. Founded over 40 years ago, BCYF offers a wide variety of programming for Bostonians of all ages. Prior to joining BCYF, Morales was the Executive Director of the YMCA Achievers Branch of the YMCA of Greater Boston which included oversight of the Egleston Square Youth Teen Center; Senior Director at Wheelock College and Chief Operations Officer of Youth Enrichment Services. A Roxbury native, Morales earned a Bachelor of Science from Springfield College and an MBA from Cambridge College.
MORENO CARGIE, NORA
Vice President of Corporate Citizenship. Tufts Health Plan President.
Tufts Health Plan Foundation
Nora Moreno Cargie is Vice President of Corporate Citizenship for Tufts Health Plan and president of its Foundation. She leads the Foundation’s work which emphasizes age friendly communities and leverages company leadership, business practices, products, services and engagement strategies, including employee volunteerism, to make our communities stronger. Moreno Cargie serves on the boards of Grantmakers in Aging and Associated Grant Makers. She is a mentor through the Conexión leadership development program, a member of the Executive Forum for Boston College’s Center for Corporate Citizenship, and participates on the Elder Stakeholders Group of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs. Moreno Cargie is a 2015 alumni of LeadBoston.
NOVA-SALCEDO, YADIRES / SALCEDO, ÁNGEL
Executive Producer, TV Hosts, Director.
CBS Boston – Encuentro Latino
Yadires is the host and producer of WBZ-TV’s “Centro,” a special news segment that examines issues of importance to the Latino community. She and her husband Angel also run their own Spanish news and entertainment show “Encuentro Latino.” Yadires is on the Board of Governors of the Boston/New England Chapter of the National Television Academy and is a member of the Latino Professional Network and the New England Ad Club. She is a frequent guest speaker at local schools and donates her time to several charitable events throughout New England. Recently Yadires joined Emerson College as affiliated faculty at the Department of Journalism.
OLIVEROS, GLADYS
Community Activist.
Gladys Oliveros is a pillar of the Latino Community and has long been an active ubiquitous presence in cultural and political events within New England, New York, New Jersey as well as outside the USA. Gladys was a member of the Arts & Cultural Transition Team for the Mayor Martin J. Walsh. For several years, Gladys has had the honor to represent Boston Latinos in the annual Flower Festival in New York City. She has aptly grasped the art of building community relationships and is known as s Latino community liaison and an important ally for political campaign support.
O’MALLEY, SEAN
Archbishop of Boston.
Sean Patrick O’Malley, the Archbishop of Boston, is a member of the Order of Capuchins elevated to the cardinalate in 2006. He was considered a contender to succeed Pope Benedict XVI, until Pope Francis was chosen in 2013. On April 2013, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal O’Malley to an advisory board of eight Cardinals to help him govern the Catholic Church and reform its central administration. During his 10 years in Fall River, he was involved with the wider community both within the diocese itself and in the Commonwealth. He was active in the work of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, especially on pro-life issues. O’Malley has been a big supporter of immigrant community in Boston. “Immigration is not primarily a political problem, but rather a deeply human and profoundly moral challenge facing our nation,” O’Malley said in a written statement.
ORTIZ, CARMEN
United States Attorney for Massachusetts.
Carmen M. Ortiz, nominated by President Obama as the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2009. She is the first Hispanic and the first woman to represent Massachusetts as U.S. Attorney. As the chief federal law enforcement officer in Massachusetts, Ms. Ortiz supervises the prosecution of all federal crimes including the prosecution of corrupt Massachusetts Speaker of the House Sal DiMasi, gangster James “Whitey” Bulger, and Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Additionally, she has led the District to some of the largest civil settlements, including that of health care giant GlaxoSmithKline.
PALMARIN, INES
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Senior Program Officer for Communities/Resilient Families
Inés Palmarin works for Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Boston as the Senior Program Officer for Resilient Communities/ Resilient Families. She worked the Boston Redevelopment Authority for over a decade where she was a Senior Planner and managed numerous high profile community planning initiatives in Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, Dorchester, and West Roxbury. In 2013 Inés began consulting and focusing her work on strategic planning, network building, and community investment. Ines recently worked as a consultant for The Boston Foundation. Originally from Hartford, CT, and arrived in Boston 20 years ago to attend Wheelock College. In 1999, she received her Master’s in City Planning from MIT. She is the cofounder of Boston Mothers Care, a nonprofit organization working to eradicate poverty serving children and their families in Haiti and Boston. Ines graduated this month from the Institute for Nonprofit Management and Leadership program at Tufts University.
PASCUAL LEONE, ÁLVARO
Chief of Cognitive Neurology.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Originally from Spain, Alvaro Pascual-Leone, MD, PhD, is Chief of Cognitive Neurology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and a pioneering researcher in the field of brain plasticity, or the brain’s ability to adapt over time. His work has led to advancements in noninvasive brain stimulation. Already FDA-approved for the treatment of depression, Pascual-Leone is also leading research on Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Pascual-Leone is also Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Research at Harvard Medical School and lead investigator for the NFL-sponsored Football Players Health Study at Harvard University, where he is studying and developing more effective diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for football players and others with traumatic brain injury.
PEÑA ORTIZ, GLADYS
Court Advocate Coordinator.
REACH Beyond Domestic Violence
From Bogotá Colombia, Gladys is an influential activist when it comes to immigration issues and human rights. This year her new project is FELVU, Fundacion Esperanza para Los más Vunerables. The goal of this organization is to serve the victims of malnutrition and extreme poverty from La Guajira, Colombia, including indigenous tribes. Gladys is also the Co-Founder of the group Latinas Know Your Rights with the mission to inform and educate women of all ages in regards to their legal rights. Gladys is well known among State Legislators as a fierce advocate of a great number of legislative bills and other support causes that have benefited communities in need, including the Safe Driving Bill, the Fair Housing Bill and the Trust Act. She received the “Person of the Year Award” from MIRA Coalition. Gladys has also worked at Reach Beyond Domestic Violence for almost a decade protecting the rights of female victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
PHAM, NAM
Assistant Secretary of Business Development.
Massachusetts Office of Business Development
Nam Pham currently oversees the International Trade & Investment, Travel & Tourism, Sports Marketing, Film and Business Development. His top priority is to nurture the growth of Massachusetts businesses and welcome out-of-state businesses to support the Baker-Polito Administration’s “Opportunities for All” economic agenda. A commercial banker for 20+ years, Nam was also CEO of Vietnamese American Initiative for Development (VietAID). From 1994 to 2000 he was Commissioner of Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants. Nam earned his BS degree from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, and MPA in Political Economy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
PINEDA, LUCY
Founder and Director.
Latinos United In Massachusetts
Lucy Pineda is a native of El Salvador. She is a leader and social advocate for the Latin community in the Greater Boston Area. Lucy founded Latinos United in Massachusetts (LUMA) in 2002 and is currently the Director of the organization. LUMA defends the rights of every migrant in the community. The organization also provides educational programs such as English as a Second Language, educational forums, history, and civics classes. Lucy is the founder of the Multicultural Festival of Everett.
PIÑA, NIVIA Y HÉCTOR
Owners.
Merengue, Vejigantes and Doña Habana
The local restaurateurs Nivia and Héctor Piña have had a great experience in the culinary industry for around 20 years now. Not only does this pair of successful restaurateurs keep their Dominican restaurant, Merengue, thriving in Roxbury since 1994; they also have expanded in the recent years. In 2012 they opened Vejigantes, an establishment in the South End that that serves traditional Puerto Rican food. This year they will open their newest venture, the Cuban restaurant Doña Habana. The couple is well known in the Latino community for their constant collaboration and involvement.
RIOS, SIMON
Reporter.
WBUR
Simón Ríos is a native of Boston with roots in Uruguay. Rios joined WBUR as a radio reporter in February 2015. He covers a wide range of issues for Boston’s National Public Radio station, including housing and the deep changes taking place in the city’s neighborhoods. Much of his coverage is dedicated to the Latino communities of Massachusetts. As a bilingual reporter, he produces stories in both languages, with the Spanish versions airing on WBUR’s “¡Con Salsa!” Rios joined WBUR after two years at New Bedford’s daily newspaper, The Standard-Times, where he won awards covering beats including immigration and business.
RIVERA, DANIEL
Mayor. City Of Lawrence
Dan Rivera is the Mayor of Lawrence, Massachusetts. He is the son of a single mother who emigrated from the Dominican Republic. After high school, he served as a USA Military Police officer in Germany where he was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait. When he returned home, Dan went back to school to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree at UMass, Amherst and an MBA from Suffolk University. Dan later worked as Economic Development Director for Congressman Marty Meehan before joining the private sector for a career in marketing. He served as an At Large City Councillor and was elected Vice President of the Council during his second term.
RIVERA, ROXANA
Vice President.
32BJ SEIU
For nearly twenty years, Roxana Rivera has dedicated her life to defending the rights of low-wage workers. Roxana also works towards justice for immigrants. She has led hunger strikes in California and New England including the Janitor’s struggle in the 90’s. After nearly a decade working with union Local 615, Rivera was appointed by 32BJ President Hector Figueroa to lead the New England District 615. This organization represents 18,000 janitors, security officers, and workers in higher education across New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Overall, 32BJ has over 145,000 members in eleven states including Washington DC.
RIVERS, ROBERT
Vice Chairman. Eastern Bank Corporation President and COO.
Eastern Bank
Bob is Vice Chairman of Eastern Bank Corporation and President and Chief Operating Officer of Eastern Bank, America’s oldest and largest mutual bank and the largest independent community bank headquartered in Massachusetts, with almost $10 billion in assets and over 120 offices. Bob is involved extensively in the community, serving on the Board of Directors of The Dimock Center, The Lowell Plan, The Lawrence Partnership, The Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and YWCA Boston. He also is a member of the Board of Trustees of Stonehill College and the Northern Essex Community College Foundation, the Board of Corporators of Lowell General Hospital, and is a member of the City of Boston’s Women’s Commission, Environmental League of Massachusetts’ Corporate Council, ALPFA Boston’s Corporate Advisory Board, and Massachusetts Immigration & Refugee Advocacy’s New Americans Integration Institute Advisory Board, in addition to providing support and guidance to numerous other non-profit organizations. He has been recognized by several organizations for advocating for social justice causes and sustainability issues.
ROBLES, VERÓNICA Y LÓPEZ, WILLY
Founders.
Veronica Robles Cultural Center
Veronica & Willy are the founders of the Veronica Robles Cultural Center in East Boston and producers of Orale! Con Veronica TV. Veronica is a cultural influencer and strong advocate for education in the state of Massachusetts. She offers her services as a Mariachi singer for concerts and recitals. With her passion for music she provides educational programs to schools and organizations with the goal of promoting the Latino arts and culture. Willy Lopez is a sound engineer and producer specialized on Latin American music, he is also a composer and musical arranger who currently acts as the President of LTV Production Corp., and Ms. Robles’ music director.
RODRÍGUEZ, MIRTA
Community Activist.
ABCD Jamaica Plain
Mirta Rodríguez, former Operations Manager at Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) in Jamaica Plain Area Planning Action Council (APAC) and the Boston Hispanic Center, started as a client of ABCD at the age of 17. As an Operations Manager, she was involved in providing core ABCD services to low-income Hispanic and Jamaica Plain residents. In addition, she started a teen center with the Boston Housing Authority in Jamaica Plain’s Bromley Heath public housing development as well as offering civics classes and assistance to immigrants applying for citizenship. Now, Ms. Rodríguez’s is focusing on her new steps. She became a Justice of the Peace, and her passion is to continue assisting clients with Immigration Services and hopes to open her own business in the near future.
ROJAS, JABES
Governor’s Office Deputy Chief of Staff for Access & Opportunity.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Jabes Rojas is the Deputy Chief of Staff for Access & Opportunity. There, he leads the strategic diversity efforts for personnel and procurement for the Commonwealth. Jabes has a record of establishing and growing innovative, win-win partnerships between major employers, non-profits and government institutions while convening the investment of millions of dollars in the ventures. Previously, Jabes held various senior management roles at Year Up and ALPFA, where he led both organizations’ transformational revenue growth in millions of dollars. Jabes is a childhood immigrant to the US from Guatemala; he lives in Boston with his wife, Priscilla.
ROMAN, ENEIDA
Roman Law Office.
Principal Attorney
Eneida Roman is the Founder of Roman Law, a boutique law practice in Boston, MA. Ms Roman has been recognized as a local and national leader by various organizations. Ms. Roman’s experience and background include executive work around legal compliance, and diversity and inclusion work. She has experience teaching at college level in psychological assessments. As a result of her work on HNBA’s Board of Governors and its Latina Commission, Eneida co-founded the Latina Circle, a non-profit social venture that hosts quarterly “Cafecitos” and is focused on advancing and championing Latinas into positions of leadership.
ROMERO, JAVIER M.
Director of Ultrasound Services & Director of the R.H. Ackerman Neurovascular Lab.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Javier M. Romero MD is a neurologist and neuroradiologist in the radiology Department of Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Romero has been recognized as a clinical expert and innovator nationally and often internationally as a pioneer in advanced imaging of intracerebral hemorrhage and stroke. Recently, he was awarded the Excellence in Education Award by Harvard Medical School residents in Radiology. Dr. Romero is the founding Chairman of the board of NEACOL, a very successful organization helping Colombian children develop their potential. He has mentored more than 30 Colombian physicians to reach medical practice in the USA. Dr. Romero has been a true guide to many Latinos in health care.
SACCHETTI, MARÍA
Immigration Reporter.
The Boston Globe
Maria Sacchetti covers immigration for The Boston Globe. She covered the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, followed a Boston student to Colombia when his father was deported, and chronicled the disappearance of immigrants along the southern border. Her work has led to the release of several immigrants from immigration detention and the halting of deportation proceedings against others. Prior to the Globe, she investigated the education of Latino schoolchildren, leading to the Latino Educational Initiative, an effort dedicated to improving academic success. She lived in Latin America and has a master’s in Latin American studies.
SALAS, GABRIELA
Market Director – New England.
Aeromexico
Gabriela Salas, born and raised in Mexico City is the proud mom of a 7 year old daughter. Gaby’s passion for her heritage, prompted her to start in Massachusetts The Latin Embassy, an event company targeted to Latino professionals. Since then Gaby has impacted the liquor industry by managing and launching over 65 brands in the United States and Latin America. In 2010 Salas introduced Metro PCS to the New England Region. Last June, Aeromexico, the largest airline in Mexico with over 80 years of service, selected Gaby to run the New England market. She now manages Boston–Mexico route which offers non-stop services from Boston Logan Airport 6 flights a week on top of connecting to over 16 Latin American destinations.
SÁNCHEZ, JEFFREY
State Representative.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Representative Jeffrey Sanchez serves as Massachusetts State Representative for the 15th Suffolk District. His work is concentrated on improving quality and access to health through systematic reforms in the public health and health care systems. Representative Sánchez has recently been named as a Harvard School of Public Health Fellow and serves as the Treasurer for the Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs, as Vice Chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Health Committee, as a member of the NCSL Task Force on Federal Health Reform Implementation, a board member of the MA Health Policy Forum.
SCHULTZ, ERIC H.
President and Chief Executive Officer.
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
Eric H. Schultz, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, which is consistently among America’s highestrated health plans according to an annual ranking by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Eric H. Schultz has made inclusion a core business strategy, believing that Harvard Pilgrim needs to truly understand the diversity of audiences it serves to improve their lives. Eric was recognized as a 2015 Healthcare Hero by the Boston Business Journal, a 2015 HealthCare Hero by the South End Community Health Center and received the Boston Business Journal’s 2014 Leaders in Diversity – Corporate Leadership Award.
SEPULVEDA, ADA
Teacher and Board member for Hispanic Youth Initiatives.
Boston Public Schools
For the last 20 years Ada has dedicated herself to teaching English to immigrant children from all over the globe. Ms. Sepulveda has been able to help graduate more than 120 families from the Boston Public School system, most of which are minorities, through the Technology Goes Home program. Her passion for language and the Hispanic culture has involved her in many different endeavors across the city of Boston, such as: organizing the “Lectores Latinoamericanos” book club in 2011, forming a Parent and Children Spanish Reading Club during school year 2013-14, and volunteering for “Boston’s Hispanic Writer’s Week,” where she received the Lucia Mayerson-David Award in 2015 for her consistent hard work and dedication to her students and the Spanish language.
SIERRA, CLAUDIA
Community Activist
Colombian activist Claudia Sierra has been involved with East Boston community for more than 20 years. She promotes civic engagement and community participation in different decision-making processes, and has served as a volunteer for people that cannot afford Spanish translators for prisons, immigration and government departments. Claudia is also an advocate for families with children with special needs, and assists them to connect with appropriate resources. Currently she serves as President of East Boston Multicultural Neighbors Association, a non-profit organization that seeks to increase minority participation in their community, and Director of Community Central House, Corp., an organization that promotes economic development and entrepreneurs.
SILVA, GISELLE
Sales Director.
Copa Airlines, Boston Area
Giselle Silva is a Brazilian native executive and relationship-driven sales professional with over 15 years of experience and extensive travel background in the USA, Caribbean, Central and South America. In the course of the last three years, Giselle Silva has been performing in a sales executive position at Copa Airlines in Boston, MA. She participated in the inaugural events for the nonstop service between Boston and Panama City with connections to Latin America working directly with Massachusetts Port Authority and Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. Accomplished to create and maintain strong relationships with vendors, tourist boards and business associations. Also coordinated and participated in media and top trade stakeholders in educational trips to promote destinations and to support the traffic growth to/from Latin America.
SILVA, TOM
Medical Director of Pediatrics and Director Developer of the CATCH program
East Boston Neighborhood Health Center
Under the direction of Dr. Tom Silva, the CATCH Program of the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center provides healthcare for families with children with complex medical needs. Most of these families are Latinos living in Boston and the North Shore, many of which have immigrated to the United States to seek the special care they receive from the Program. The CATCH Team provides the highly coordinated services, support, and family activities that are necessary for these children to grow and thrive. Over the years, these much needed services have improved the lives of many children and families, and the program has become an integral part of the community.
ST. GUILLÉN, ALEJANDRA
Executive Director.
Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement
Alejandra St. Guillen was appointed by Mayor Martin J. Walsh in 2014 as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement with the mandate to strengthen the ability of residents from diverse cultural and linguistic communities to fully participate in the social, economic, cultural and civic life of the city. Over the last 3 years, the office has launched an Immigrant Integration & Empowerment process; organized Citizenship Days in Boston; launched immigration corners across the city and led a coalition of nonprofits in the organization of very successful DACA/DAPA days assisting hundred of immigrants prepare for their application for deportation relief.
STECZYNSKI, MADELEINE
Co-Founder & Executive Director.
ZUMIX
Madeleine Steczynski is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of ZUMIX, an East Boston institution founded in 1991, to provide a beacon of hope during the worst year of youth violence in Boston’s history. ZUMIX started with 24 youth, and now serves over 1,000 people per year, through music, audio technology, radio production, and civic engagement projects. In 2016, ZUMIX is celebrating 25 years of service, with the launch of their new low-power broadcast radio station.
STEWART, INEZ
VP Chief Human Resources Officer.
Boston Children’s Hospital
Inez Stewart is currently VP/Chief Human Resources Officer at Boston Children’s Hospital. In the past, she held senior executive positions at Tufts-New England Medical Center, Polaroid Corporation, Arthur D. Little, Lotus Development Corporation, and Bank of Boston. She has served on many non-profit boards and held positions on important executive committees. Recently, she serves as Trustee at Eastern Bank Corporation, was appointed by Governor Baker to Mass. Cultural Council and elected to Board of Directors at Rogerson Communities. She was selected as one of the 20 Hispanic Executives making impact in Boston by Boston Business Journal, and included in GetKonnected’s list of 100 most influential leaders in Massachusetts.
SUAZO, DAVID
Activist, Cultural Promoter and Entertainer.
With over 20 years of experience in the communications area, Dominican David Suazo is a familiar face for Latinos in Boston thanks to his television programs: Boston De Noche TV, El Vacilón de los Sábados, and Divas The Show. Suazo is an advocate for the Latino community. In 2015 he was one of the activists who tried to defend the image of the Dominican Republic against criticism in the conflict with Haiti. Suazo said in interviews that there was a lack of information about what was happening and that criticism of his country harmed its economy. David is a member of the Coalition of Dominican Americans in MA, the Dominican Festival of Boston, and FUNDOARCU.
TOMPKINS, STEVEN
Sheriff.
Suffolk County
Steven Tompkins manages all operations at the Suffolk County House of Correction, the Nashua Street Jail and the Civil Process Division. In addition to providing care, custody and rehabilitative support for inmates and pretrial detainees, Tompkins also oversees a management, security and administrative staff of over 1000. He also oversaw the popular “JailBrake,” a program that directly targets youth at risk for involvement in the criminal justice system. JailBrake is designed to help reduce the rise in violent acts committed by adolescents in Suffolk County.
TORRES, ALCY
Medical Director, Pediatric Neurologist.
Boston Medical Center
Dr. Torres was born in Quito, Ecuador. He obtained his MD degree at Central University of Ecuador where he was first in his class. He completed his residency in pediatrics at Miami Children’s Hospital and Pediatric Neurology at Boston Children’s Hospital at Harvard University where he remained in staff for 12 years. He is currently a member of the Department of Neurology and Director of the International and Hispanic Program at Boston Medical Center. He is Assistant Professor at Boston University. Dr. Torres is a founding member of AENI (Association of Ecuadorians in New England) and is known for his social work and community service. Recently he was recognized as one of the best doctors of Massachusetts by Boston Magazine.
UREÑA, FRANCISCO
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Francisco Ureña is the Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs. He has been a member of the United States Marine Corps, where his passion for helping the community begun. Ureña was also a Tank Commander during the operation Iraqi Freedom. During a fight with insurgents, he was struck by flying glass and debris, including a piece of scrap metal that became stuck in his left cheek. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his injury. In January 2007, ex-Mayor Michael J. Sullivan chose Ureña to serve as Lawrence’s Director of Veterans Services. Ureña was also named Commissioner of Veterans’ Services for the City of Boston by Mayor Thomas Menino. In this position, he oversaw this distribution of over $3.8 million a year in benefits to the city’s 700-plus veterans. He is originally from the Dominican Republic and resides in Lawrence.
VARGAS, JORGE
Executive Board.
Boston Public Schools
While growing up in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Jorge was encouraged to pursue a career in math and science. He studied Marine Engineering at Massachusetts Maritime Academy and currently works at the Boston Public Schools Department of Planning & Engineering. He believes education is the key for lifting our children out of poverty, and investing in repairing America’s school infrastructure will create thriving communities. Vargas also serves on the Board of SEIU Local 888 where he is proud to fight for economic and social justice. He is the Vice-Chair of the Jamaica Plain Community Centers and is part of the executive board of the Martha Eliot Health Center.
VASALLO III, ALBERTO
President & Owner.
El Mundo Newspaper
El Mundo’s President, Alberto Vasallo III, has made his own mark through his work at the paper and on local television and radio. He has also forged his own mutually beneficial relationships including a long running partnership with the Red Sox, which has co sponsored Latino Youth Recognition Day at Fenway Park every year since 1995. El Mundo embraces new and social media, but Vasallo believes growth remains even in the print arena, with the weekly serving as much as a window into the community focused on events and photos of people at them as a news source.
VEGA, GLADYS
Executive Director.
Chelsea Collaborative
Gladys Vega is the Executive Director at the Chelsea Collaborative. She joined this organization in 1990, two years after its inception as the Chelsea Human Services Collaborative. She took on increasing responsibility with each passing year, moving from receptionist to community organizer to the Executive Director in 2006. Ms. Vega has worked as an organizer and an advocate to insure that the Latino community has a role in determining the ways its needs and concerns are addressed. Ms. Vega believes that empowerment of the individual leads to empowerment of the community and that social action can be used to achieve goals.
VIDOT, DAMALI
Councillor At-Large, Vice President.
Chelsea City Council
Raised & educated in Chelsea Public Schools, she is a proud mom, homeowner, former youth worker & an At-Large City Councillor. Having experienced financial hardships & street culture that holds too many hostage, she chose to invest in her community as it had in her. Last November, history was made in Chelsea as she and many residents reignited the political sphere with a spirited grassroots campaign & by being elected to the City Council as a first-time candidate. Today she is the new Vice President of the Chelsea City Council; after driving one of the highest voter turnouts in a municipal election. She continues to be a voice against development without displacement, supportive youth services & transparency.
WALSH, MARTIN J.
Mayor. City of Boston
Mayor Martin J. Walsh, an accomplished advocate for working people and a proud product of the City of Boston, was sworn in as the City’s 54th Mayor on January 6, 2014. With a commitment to community, equality, and opportunity for every resident and neighborhood, Mayor Walsh is putting all his experience, skills, and passion to work in moving Boston forward. A labor leader and an active volunteer in his community as a young man, Mayor Walsh won the election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1997. During his 16 years in the House, Mayor Walsh was a leader on job creation, smart growth, workforce development, addiction services, and civil rights.
WARREN, ELIZABETH
Senior United States Senator from Massachusetts.
Elizabeth Warren is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts. She is widely credited for the original thinking, political courage, and relentless persistence that led to the creation of a new consumer financial protection agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She led the establishment of the agency, building the structure and organization to hold accountable even trilliondollar financial institutions to protect consumers from financial tricks and traps often hidden in mortgages and other financial products. She has written a number of academic and popular works, and is a frequent subject of media interviews regarding the American economy and personal finance.
WU, MICHELLE
City Councilor At-Large, President.
Boston City Council
Michelle Wu was elected to the Boston City Council in November 2013 at the age of 28, and is the first Asian-American woman to serve on the Council. As a former restaurant owner, legal services attorney, and legal guardian of her younger sister, Councilor Wu understands firsthand the barriers that families and communities face. Councilor Wu is focused on providing Pipelines to Opportunity by working to make Boston’s vast resources accessible to Boston residents of all backgrounds. Currently she is promoting an ordinance that would require all City Hall departments to offer their services in many languages, including Spanish, so they are fully accessible for all Boston residents. She have served as Chair of the Committee on Arts and Culture and the Special Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation.
