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.
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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 and Latin America Programs for the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. He held senior positions at several major Boston banks for nearly twenty years. Nader serves on various advisory and governing boards and is the recipient of numerous community service awards.
Aguilera, Cristina
Organizing Director | MIRA Coalition
Cristina Aguilera advocates for humane policies to integrate immigrants and refugees in Massachusetts and New Hampshire as Director of Organizing at the MIRA Coalition and NHAIR. She also consults for her husband’s immigration and human rights law firm: Law Offices of Julio Henríquez, and together they have advocated for the rights of Venezuelans as co-founders of VotoBoston. After graduating from Venezuela’s Universidad de Carabobo (2006), Cristina worked on campaigns for labor rights across the U.S. (New York, Arizona, Michigan and North Carolina) and then earned a Master’s in Public Administration at the National University of Singapore. In 2010, she and her husband moved to Boston, and today they live in Jamaica Plain with their toddler Marcelo and baby daughter Amanda.
Apple, Linda
Director of Volunteer and Community Programs | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA)
Linda Apple is responsible for the MFA’s community engagement activities and overall management of volunteer, intern, and teen programs. She provides leadership for the Museum-wide Diversity and Multicultural Audience Development Initiatives and many community partnerships. The recent focus of her work has been to strengthen neighborhood relations by increasing awareness of the Museum as a resource, expanding community events to increase attendance and serving emerging audiences through cultural celebrations, growing teen programming. Her programs position the MFA as a destination for teen audiences, highlight and communicate the MFA’s community engagement efforts through media partners such as El Planeta.
Arroyo, Félix D.
Register of Probate & Family Court | Suffolk County
Felix 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, 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 that Friday, October 28, 2011 as “Felix 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. He was a candidate for Mayor of Boston in 2013 elections. At the beginning of2014, he was named Chief of Health & Human Services in Boston by Mayor Martin Walsh.
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 26 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
Chief Executive Officer | Conexión
Phyllis is the Chief Executive Officer of Conexión and a lifelong Latina activist and social entrepreneur committed to developing and advancing Latino leadership. She served as the first Latina assistant dean for human resources at Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She is a former deputy assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Education offices of elementary, secondary and bilingual education appointed by President Clinton. She serves on numerous non-profit boards and is a trustee of Eastern Bank. She is the first Latina trustee since the bank’s founding in 1818. Phillys is originally from Omaha, Nebraska and a proud daughter of Mexican immigrants.
Barriga, José
Founder and Director | Boston Latino International Film Festival (BLIFF)
After 10 years as a network TV producer in Los Angeles, José arrived in Boston in 2001 to work for a communitybased organization. He founded the Boston Latino International Film Festival (BLIFF) in 2001 with a small budget, a group of volunteers and the support of the City of Cambridge. After 14 years BLIFF became one of the most important film festivals in MA. He is a social psychologist by training, with graduate studies from UCLA, and specializes in Latino media in the U.S. Jose has worked with Telemundo Network, Fox Latin America, La Opinion newspaper and Enigma Entertainment. Besides directing BLIFF he is a marketing and media production consultant that focus on the U.S. Latino market
Barros, John
Director of Economic Development | City of Boston
Barros is the Director of Economic Development for the City of Boston and former school committee ex member and nonprofit executive. Barros is the son of Cape Verdean immigrants. He grew up off Dudley Street and rose from Roxbury to the Ivy League, attending Dartmouth College. After working in big business in Manhattan, Barros returned to the streets of his youth and helped run the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, a well-known nonprofit.
Benzan, Dennis
Vice-Mayor | City of Cambridge
On November of 2013, Dennis A. Benzan was elected as the first Latino to serve on the City Council for Cambridge, Massachusetts. During City Council’s first session Benzan was also unanimously voted as the Vice Mayor of Cambridge. As Vice Mayor, Benzan has organized the largest and most comprehensive job fair in the city’s history and spearheaded several initiatives towards improving education and equal opportunity for all. One of his strongest initiatives has been the development of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) workforce training programs for the young and old. His goal is to lead the way for Cambridge to be a world class STEAM city for all its residents, especially for communities of color. Additionally, the Vice Mayor has made helping the Latino Community in Cambridge one of his priorities, and his goal is to increase the number to Latino businesses around the area.
Betancourt, Joseph
Director | MGH’s Disparities Solution Center
Dr. Betancourt directs the Disparities Solutions Center, which works with healthcare organizations to improve quality of care, address racial and ethnic disparities, and achieve equity. He is Director of Multicultural Education for Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and an expert in cross-cultural care and communication. Dr. Betancourt is also a co-founder of Quality Interactions, an industry-leading company that has created and deployed a portfolio of e-learning programs in the area of crosscultural care and communication. He is a practicing internist, and sits on the Boston Board of Health.
Bilello, Brian
President | New England Revolution
Brian Bilello is in his fourth season as President of the New England Revolution. He oversees all aspects of the club’s operations, including both its business activities and soccer operations. He also oversees all international soccer at Gillette Stadium for events such as the CONCACAF Gold Cup, U.S. National Team matches, Mexican National Team matches and other international friendlies. In addition to his role with the Revolution, Bilello also supports a number of urban youth focused community organizations, serving on the Board of Directors for America Scores Boston and the Corporate Advisory Council of Cradles to Crayons.
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)
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
Calvo, Alberto
President | Stop and Compare Supermarket
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, and BIDMC, and others. He graduated from Northeastern and MIT with engineering degrees. 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, Massachusetts.
Cardona, Diana y Angélica
Entrepreneurs | “Las Parceritas”
Better known as “Las Parceritas” the sisters Diana and Angélica are both community leaders in East Boston. Originally from Colombia, they came to the U.S. in 1993 and since then, they have developed an intense volunteer activity in Massachusetts and New York where they have become popular among Latinos. They produced and hosted a radio program at 1600 AM and a television show called “Las Parceritas” that aired on MasTV and continues in the internet with episodes. In addition, Las Parceritas are currently engaged in producing and marketing “Chocolaffee” (Colombian Coffee Beans covered in Chocolate) and Maninuts (Roasted peanuts with sesame seeds), that can be found in Compare supermarkets, America’s Food Baskets, and more than 50 convenience stores.
Castillo, Rafael
Owner | Castillo Liquors
Rafael Castillo is an entrepreneur, businessman and community leader who came to America with his wife and three children to pursue the American Dream. He is the owner of Good Gas in Somerville and Castillo Liquors in East Boston, and was one of the first people to support the Colombian Festival in Boston. Not only does Castillo help other entrepreneurs to pursue their goals, he also supports local artists and encourages their growth. Rafael Castillo is a visionary and a friend of the community who helps immigrants to set their goals and achieve them no matter what.
Cintron, Ileana | Co-Chair | Massachusetts Democratic Latino Caucus
Cintrón, Ileana
Co-Chair | Massachusetts Democratic Latino Caucus
Ileana Cintrón is a community activist and nonprofit leader committed to social and economic justice. From 2013-2014, she was the Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Latino Democratic Caucus, a committee that activates Latino political participation and organizing within the Massachusetts Democratic Party. She has also worked for the Jobin-Leeds Partnership for Democracy and Education and Access Strategies Fund, where she managed the Women’s Pipeline for Change, a coalition that supports women of color to navigate and move up the pipeline of public leadership. Ileana was also Executive Director of a nonprofit in her native Puerto Rico focused on community development, school reform and civic engagement. Ileana is a 2013 National Hispana Leadership Institute Fellow and a member of Neighbors United for a Better East Boston (NUBE). She holds a B.A. from Yale University and a master’s from Harvard University’s School of Government.
Cintrón, Jenny
Community Activist
Jenny has been a community activist for over 25 years. She also worked for Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) for 27 years. Her vision is to educate and empower the Latino community in Massachusetts. Jenny is involved in different community efforts such as Civic engagement, social justice, Dream Act, Immigration Reform, Mother Walk for peace, Boston Children Hospital Walk and the Massachusetts Latino Caucus. Cintron is also the Vice President of Casa Nueva Vida (a shelter for homeless families and children) and is an active member of the Christmas Toy Drive for lowincome families.
Conley, Daniel F.
District Attorney | Suffolk County
Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley is the chief law enforcement officer for Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Appointed to the office in February 2002, Conley was elected in his own right on Nov. 5, 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. Conley has revolutionized the prosecutor’s role in Massachusetts’ criminal justice system. In an ongoing effort to avoid wrongful convictions, he implemented sweeping changes in the way eyewitness identifications were gathered and used, putting Suffolk County “at the forefront of the country,” according to Barry Scheck of the Innocence Project. Prior to taking office as Suffolk County District Attorney, Conley served for eight years on the Boston City Council. He has been honored with the Boston Bar Association’s Distinguished Public Servant Award for his efforts to identify, correct, and prevent wrongful convictions.
Cuenca, Peter | Founder and CEO | CUENCAVISION
Cuenca, Peter
Founder and CEO | Cuencavision WCEA
Cuenca has made the Powermeter list several times, first appearing in 2005. He owns Cuencavisión, a Spanish television channel in Boston, and La Semana, a Spanishlanguage weekly. He is a pioneer in the Hispanic TV and radio industry in New England. Cuenca has a TV show in which he discusses the content featured on his newspaper. This year, the Boston City Council awarded him a special recognition for his work after 28 years of broadcasting, and proclaimed January 15, 2015 as the “Day of Cuencavisión”.
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 hundred healthcare workers. Last year, 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. He was recently nominated for Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards for business growth by the Immigrant Learning Center.
De los Reyes, Eileen
Deputy Superintendent of Academics | Boston Public Schools
Eileen de los Reyes is the Deputy Superintendent for Academics at the Boston Public Schools. Previously she served as the Assistant Superintendent for English Language Learners since 2009. Prior to working with the Boston Public Schools, she was a Research Associate at the Mauricio Gaston Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and published the work “If our Students Fail, We Fail. If they Succeed, We Succeed: Case Studies of Five Boston Public Schools” (June 2008). Her book “Pockets of Hope: How Students and Teachers Change the World” (2002) focuses on the creation of democratic classrooms where students are educated in the practice of social and political change.
Díaz, Migdalia
COO | ALPFA
Last year, Migdalia became the COO for ALPFA. Prior to joining ALPFA, she was the Priority Projects Manager for AIRINC, a leader in workforce globalization. She spent ten years in the International Assignment Solutions Group of Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Migdalia served in the Connecticut Army National Guard for eight years and graduated with a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Connecticut. She joined the ALPFA Boston board leading Marquee Events in 2012 and became President in October 2013. Under her leadership the Boston Chapter was recognized in 2014 as the Leading Chapter of the Year by ALPFA.
Díaz, Junot | Contemporary Pulitzer Prize Writer
Díaz, Junot
Contemporary Pulitzer Prize Writer
Junot Díaz was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New Jersey. He is the author of the critically acclaimed Drown; The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, which won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award; and This Is How You Lose Her, a New York Times bestseller. A recipient literary and artistic awards, Díaz is currently Professor of Writing at MIT. Díaz has been active in a number of community organizations and the immigrant experience has been central to his work. At MIT, he is on the board of Freedom University and is co-founder of Voices of Our Nation Workshop.
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.
Faría, Alexander
Entertainer
Alexander Faría is an artist specializing in different genres of Latin music. Born in Venezuela, he has been singing and playing instruments since childhood. He moved to Boston in 1995 and has been active in the Latin music scene ever since. He currently has a television show that airs on Cuencavision called “Los Artistas De Boston”, as well as a radio program on WUNR 1600 AM—the first Spanish radio in Boston. Alexander likes to say that “Music is my passion, and it’s a pleasure to have so many people dancing to my music and enjoying it.”
Figueroa, Christian
Tenor | Handel and Haydn Society
Puerto Rican singer, actor, and educator Christian Figueroa has been living in Boston since 2001 when he received a scholarship to study opera at the prestigious New England Conservatory. Since receiving his Masters in music, Christian has performed at Carnegie Hall on numerous occasions, and has been the tenor soloist for 12 seasons with the Handel & Haydn Educational Quartet. Christian was asked to sing the National Anthem in the Peace Corps 50th Anniversary Celebrations at Fenway Park, and can be heard on the BMOP Sound record label. As an educator, Christian presents interactive, educational music workshops with the Handel and Haydn Society. He visits over 10,000 students a year in under served communities of Boston.
Francisco, Paul | VP, Workforce Development Programs & Global Inclusion | State Street Corporation
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, Marcela
Editorial and opinion Writer The Boston Globe
Marcela García writes opinion columns and editorials, which are the unsigned essays representing the official view of the Boston Globe as a community institution. She is also part of the paper’s editorial board, which meets internally to discuss ideas and come to a consensus on the Globe’s editorial viewpoint. The board also gathers occasionally for briefings with policy makers, elected officials, advocates, or academic experts. García, originally from Mexico, has been contributing to the Globe’s opinion section for the past two years. She received a graduate degree in journalism from the Harvard Extension School in 2005, and also holds a B.S. degree in Economics.
García, Nobel | Owner | Oriental de Cuba Restaurant
García, Nobel
Owner | El Oriental de Cuba
Nobel García is a beloved figure in the local Latino community. Many of his Jamaica Plain neighbors, as well as people from all over Massachusetts, visit El Oriental de Cuba, which is by now something of a fixture in Boston. Charismatic and welcoming, García has always been determined to keep his business thriving. This Cuban is a fighter who has consistently supported various Latino causes in Boston.
García, Yvonne
SVP Global Head of Clients Solutions Group and PMO | State Street Corporation
Ms. Garcia is a Senior Vice President and Global Head of Client Solutions and PMO of the Investment Manager Services group for State Street Corporation. 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.
García, Marleni, Sandra, José, Juan Carlos, Rigoberto and Adolfo
Entrepreneurs | Bluefin, Cafe Mami, Ebi Sushi, Ittoku, Ittyo and Sapporo
While most Latino immigrants in Massachusetts who decide to open a restaurant or bar will choose to serve Latin foods, each sibling in the Garcia family owns, or is involved as a partner of, a Japanese restaurant, cafe or bar. Siblings Marleni, Sandra, José, Juan Carlos and Rigoberto, together with their uncle Adolfo, are originally from Guatemala but learned about Japanese gastronomy by working their way up in some of the most popular Japanese restaurants in the Boston area. Today, this family of entrepreneurs has built a solid reputation with their different offerings that range from sushi-specialized businesses to a ramen noodles shop and a Japanese-tapas style bar.
Gerena, Digna
Founder and PR/Marketing Consultant | Boston Latino Media
Ms. Gerena is the founder and PR/Marketing Consultant for Boston Latino Media. Her clients include the MGH/ Foundation for Neurologic Diseases to help promote the A4 memory study created to prevent Alzheimer’s Disease; Runway for Mom, proceeds going towards the American Cancer Society and Social Media Specialist for the Massachusetts Democratic Party. In 2014 she co-produced the Boston Latino Heritage Project a DVD made available to BPL teachers and administrators to assist in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. She is also the creator and Managing Editor of the online, monthly publication, Boston Latino Magazine. Ms. Gerena is a graduate of Boston University/COM/B.S.
Glynn, Thomas P.
CEO | Massachusetts Port Authority
Since becoming the CEO of the Massachusetts Port Authority in 2012, Thomas P. Glynn has worked to build bridges with the Hispanic community both far and near. On June 1, Aeromexico started nonstop service between Mexico City and Boston. In July 2013, Copa Airlines started nonstop service between Boston and Panama, with easy connections to dozens of destinations in Latin America. More locally, Massport, under Glynn’s leadership, has helped fund neighborhood health programs in East Boston and other communities which helps expand asthma testing and makes home health kits available to residents.
Gómez, Juan
President and CEO | Centro Las Américas
Juan Gomez has spent over 25 years serving his community in many civic events and social causes. This Includes the Marine Corps Reserves, government, and as the Vice Mayor of Worcester. Mr. Gomez greatest sense of accomplishment has been leading Centro Las Americas to be the best and fastest growing multilingual, multicultural, minority-lead human services provider in Central Massachusetts. During his tenure, Centro has gone from 23 employees and an operating budget of $1.1 million in 2011; to 85 employees and $5.6 million operating budget today.
Gómez, Carmen
Chief Probation Officer | Chelsea District Court
Carmen Gomez is originally from Rhode Island and has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a PhD in Law, Policy and Society. Carmen has worked for the Probation Department of the Massachusetts Trial Court for almost two decades. She is currently the Chief Probation Officer of the Chelsea District Court. Carmen also had the opportunity of teaching Criminal Justice at several colleges in MA. Both academically and professionally, Carmen has studied legislation regarding sex offenders with the goal of reducing recidivism.
Gonzalez, Jay
President and CEO | CeltiCare Health Plan of Massachusetts
Mr. Gonzalez leads two health insurance companies, CeltiCare Health and New Hampshire Healthy Families (NHHF). CeltiCare Health and NHHF are welcoming new members every day. During this time of growth, Mr. Gonzalez is focused on providing the highest quality health care coverage to over 80,000 members in New England. Previously Mr. Gonzalez served as CeltiCare Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer and as Massachusetts Secretary of Administration and Finance under Deval Patrick Administration.
González, Regla
National Women’s Commissioner | Lulac
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 $158,000 in scholarship for Latino youth entering College.
González, Ive
Vice President, Talent Acquisition and Inclusion Director | Eastern Bank
Ive Peña Gonzalez, is an accomplished Human Resources professional with more than 20 years of achieving success in the development and delivery of Human Resources programs. Ive joined Eastern Bank in 2004. At Eastern Bank she is responsible for implementing and managing diversity recruitment and sponsorship activity with diverse, civic, professional and nonprofit organizations. In addition, she is responsible for identifying and addressing strategic HR issues that impact business performance, delivering HR expertise by consulting with management in varied discipline areas and leading critical workforce planning. She serves on the board of Family and Children’s Services of Greater Lynn, Lynn Business Education Foundation and she is a Mentor with Raw Arts Works.
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 seven 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 Albuixech, María
Director of Communications and Marketing | Health Care For All
María R. González Albuixech is originally from Valencia, Spain. Since 2012, she is the Director of Communications and Marketing of Health Care For All, where she also supervises outreach and organizing efforts. Recently, she managed the largest ethnic media buy implemented in the state to help minorities connect with health insurance options. Before joining HCFA, she was the Community Education Manager for DPH, a reporter, producer and anchor for Noticias Univision Nueva Inglaterra and the associate editor of El Mundo Newspaper. María holds degrees in Political Science and International Relations, Journalism, German Studies and Communications and Broadcasting from universities in the US, Spain and Germany.
Gruner, Max
Executive Director | East Boston Main Streets
Max Gruner is a nonprofit leader working in community and economic development as the Executive Director of East Boston Main Streets. Max views community development through the prism of micro- and smallbusiness development by fostering strong and resilient public-private partnerships and collaborations. His work is based on two simple presuppositions: one, for many of our families, particularly immigrant families, small business truly is the path into the American Dream; two, by providing specific, relevant, and local capacity-building in the form of support, advocacy, training, and technical assistance to small and micro businesses we can greatly and positively affect our gateway neighborhoods in Boston, and our gateway cities throughout Massachusetts.
Hammock, Ana
Vice President of Lending | Acción East
Ana is committed to the mission of Accion– she believes in growing small businesses through access to capital and financial education. Since 2011, Ana has managed the New York, New England, Miami and internet lending and financial education programs of Accion East as Vice President of Lending. Previously, Ana oversaw Accion’s New England Program for five years and built a $2.6 million microlending portfolio while establishing key corporate relationships and raising over $250,000 for the organization. Ana received a Master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy de Tufts University and a Bachelor’s degree in Latin American Studies with a minor in Spanish from Earlham College.
Healey, Maura
Attorney General | Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Prior to her swearing in as Attorney General this year, Maura Healey helped lead the Office as head of two major bureaus. She was the architect of the state’s successful challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, helped defend the Massachusetts buffer zone law and took on predatory lenders. Since taking office, Healey has launched a Community Engagement Division to reach out to neighborhoods across the state. Her office is also working to crack down on opioid and substance abuse. Prior to the AG’s Office, Healey served as a litigator and as a Special Assistant District Attorney.
Hernández, Camilo
Senior Director of Constituents Services District 1 | City of Boston
Camilo Hernandez, a proud resident of East Boston, has spent the last 12 years building strong community-based relationships and promoting a strong local economy. He has organized and participated in programs at the Piers Park Sailing Club, Zumix, Mario Umana Academy, and the Tenacity program. As a Colombian-American, Camilo has dedicated himself to improving the quality of life of all of East Boston’s residents and hopes to use his personal experience as a Latino, as well as his professional experience serving as a liaison for Councilor Sal LaMattina since 2010, to move East Boston forward as a Community of Hope.
Jackson, Deborah | President | Cambridge College
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
Councilor District 7 | City of Boston
As the District 7 City Councilor, 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 75% of 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.
Jaimes, Rafael
President | Audio Spectrum
Rafael Jaimes is President of Audio Spectrum, a 15-yearold sound reinforcement company located in Boston. Under Jaimes’s wing, Audio Spectrum has become one of the largest and best-equipped sound companies in the Northeast and the region’s leader in concert sound. Jaimes and his team are responsible for the sound of many largescale concerts and shows that visit renowned venues such as the Madison Square Garden in New York City.
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.
Lopera, Juan
Director of Health Care Services | Tufts Health Plan
Juan is the Director of Health Care Services at Tufts Health Plan and is responsible for creating strategies to make quality health care more affordable for members. He also leads marketplace diversity efforts in order to expand the company’s footprint within diverse communities. He previously worked with Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA and Deloitte Consulting. Juan serves on the Corporate Advisory Board for ALPFA Boston and is also on the board of the Dimock Center. Originally from Colombia, he is a graduate of Boston College and lives with his beautiful wife in Waltham.
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 mid-career 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 / Executive Producer | Boston City Council / Política Entre Amigos
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—and is President of the Massachusetts Latino Democratic Caucus.
López, Lázaro O.
Area Manager Installation & Maintenance / Construction | Verizon Communications
Lazaro Lopez is Area Manager Installation & Maintenance / Construction for Verizon’s Massachusetts Southeast, Plymouth, and Cape & Islands region. He leads a team of 200 employees responsible for the Customer Care and Service delivery of FiOS (voice, video and data), Fiber, Hi Speed Data and Voice services to 400,000 residence, small and large business customers. In addition to his work with Verizon, Lopez is President of the Verizon Hispanic Support Organization and serves on the Children’s Hospital Community Advisory Board, the Joslin Diabetes Center Latino Diabetes Initiative Board and the Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce Board. He is also a member of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development Committee and serve as an advisor to El Centro Cultural Cubano.
Isabel, López
Founder | Original Living Magazine
Isabel Lopez is the founder of Original Living Magazine. Now entering its sixth year of production, the publication reaches across cultures and expands Isabel’s vision of providing a platform for all people to showcase their accomplishments. Isabel continues to collaborate with Cuban artist Floyd, a partnership that has resulted in a great visual dynamic with his artwork and her designs displayed in fashion events world-wide. Lopez participated in the inaugural M.I.T. DeScience Competition combining fashion design and scientific research, and many celebrities have chosen her designs for the red carpet at events around the world.
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 recently won a special election 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 | C.a.f.e. (Colombian Association Of Folkloric Exchange)
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 non-profit 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.
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. 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. Recently, 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.
Matías, Rosa
Treasurer | Massachusetts Latino Democratic Caucus
Rosa Matías is the treasurer of the Latino Democratic Caucus, and has supported many Democratic electoral campaigns. She actively supports the efforts of other organizations such as Alternative Environmental Community Service and other environmental alternatives for low-income neighborhoods and communities of color to achieve social justice.
McKinney, Fred
Former President / Managing Director of Minority Business Programs | GNEMSDC / Tuck Executive Education at Dartmouth
Dr. Fred McKinney is the former President of GNEMSDC and the Managing Director of Minority Business Programs at Tuck Executive Education at Darmouth. The GNEMSDC’s mission is to significantly increase procurement opportunities for certified minority business enterprises. Under Dr. McKinney’s leadership the Council budget has grown five fold and now covers six New England states. In March 2012, Dr. McKinney was named “Minority Business Champion for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts” by the United States Small Business Administration. Dr. McKinney is a prolific writer and publishes a monthly column for the Bay State Banner, Diversity Plus and Inner City News.
McNeil, Jaimie
General Agent | UNITE HERE Local 26
Jaimie McNeil is the General Agent for the Bostonarea 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 as the hospitality industry grows in Boston; family-sustaining jobs grow with it.
Méndez, Cecilia
Director | Center of Art and Community Partnerships/ Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Cecilia (Ceci) Méndez directs MassArt’s Center for Art and Community Partnerships (CACP), where she collaboratively fulfills CACP’s mission to cultivate innovative, sustainable relationships with the broader community to explore and expand the relevance of art and design in public life. She has worked as an art-based museum educator at the Addison Gallery of American Art in partnership with youth, families, and educators in Lawrence, MA; and as a teaching artist at Dorchester Academy. Ceci currently serves on the Board of Governors of Sociedad Latina in Mission Hill. Her bilingual animations have screened in Mexico, Japan, and across the U.S.
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 the past year alone 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.
Moquete, Reinier
CEO | Advocate Technology Group
Reinier Moquete is CEO of Advocate Technology Group, an IT consulting firm focused on Hybrid Cloud Computing & Cybersecurity including the people, process, and technology that enable adoption. Reinier is Co-Founder of Latino STEM Alliance, an initiative that engages youth in hands-on activities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM), as well as Founder for Diversity IT Network, a community of multicultural IT professionals that serve as a resource to one another for personal growth and career advancement. Reinier is a Committee Member at TBF’s Latino Legacy Fund and a Member of the Massachusetts Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.
Morales, William
Executive Director | Egleston YMCA
William Morales is the Executive Director of Boston YMCA Achievers and the Egleston Square Youth Teen Center. He oversees the growth of both programs, which address the needs of teens within Roxbury and surrounding communities by offering a variety of programming: discussion groups, sports, recreation, arts, and educational enrichment opportunities. He is the first Latino to hold this position and was for years until recently the only senior Latino executive in the YMCA of Greater Boston. He has done youth work in four continents Brazil, Ireland, Columbia, and various Cities in the USA. He was also the 1999 Winner of the Do Something Emerging Leader Award, for his work on youth and police relations. He was also featured on the 2006 documentary produced by the Discovery Channel The Monastery.
Nova-Salcedo, Yadires y Ángel Salcedo
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.
O’Berg Figueroa, Michelle
Journalist |Univision National News / CNN / FUSION
Michelle is a Colombian American journalist for Univision National News; Fusion (the ABC News joint venture); CNN and CNN en Español. She also works as a consultant for Entravision Communications, has contributed to WGBH (PBS), Despierta America and HuffPost. Michelle has interviewed a widerange of newsmakers: From the Colombian and Dominican Presidents, The Dalai Lama to Placido Domingo, Shakira and recently Pedro Martínez. She loves connecting with her Latino community, using her national platforms to project their voices! She was commissioned by the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to produce mini documentaries on programs that help disenfranchised children-one of her passions. Michelle enjoys spending time with her husband tenor Christian Figueroa and their son.
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 international. Gladys was a member of the Arts & Cultural Transition Team for the Mayor Marty Walsh. For the last four 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 the Latino Community Liaison and the go to person for Political Campaign support.
Ortez, Rudis and Saúl
Entrepreneurs | Pollo Royal
The Ortez brothers are the owners of Pollo Royal, a grilled and fried chicken chain that specializes in Latin style chicken. Saúl and Rudis moved to the USA from El Salvador more than 20 years ago and transformed the American Dream into a reality with their successful restaurants. Pollo Royal attracts a diverse clientele. The Ortezes say that the secret behind their success is the recipe for the chicken developed over years of planning in order to find a taste that could be liked by everyone. In the next five years the entrepreneurs want to open a new restaurant every year and by 2030 they plan to expand Pollo Royal to other cities.
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.
Ortiz, David
Baseball Player | Boston Red Sox
David Ortiz, A Dominican- American baseball player. He is a 3-time World Series Champion (2004, 2007, 2013) all with Boston. 2013 World Series MVP. Veteran of 18 Major League Seasons (Minnesota Twins 1997-2002) and Boston Red Sox (2003-present). Ortiz Won the 2011 Roberto Clemente Award (Major League Baseball’s highest honor for those who best represent the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field). Ortiz created the David Ortiz Children’s Fund, a nonprofit organization committed to providing critical pediatric services to children in New England and the Dominican Republic.
Piña, Héctor y Nivia
Owners | Merengue & Vejigantes Restaurants
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. The couple is well known in the Latino community for their constant collaboration and involvement.
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.
Ramos, Teresita
Attorney and Equal Justice Works fellow | Disability Law Center
At the Disability Law Center, Ms. Ramos work focuses on access to special education for Hispanic children in Massachusetts, especially in Lawrence, with a focus on improving the education outcomes of the Hispanic community. She provides direct legal representation and Spanish language training in education rights to families. Ms. Ramos began her career as a special education advocate and community organizer for parents of children with special needs. Realizing the lack of Latino lawyers focusing on education rights, Ms. Ramos returned to school and earned her law degree. Elected to the Wellesley School Committee, 2012-2015 is currently the Co-Chair of the Department of Education’s Special Education Advisory Committee.
Reif, Rafael
President | MIT
Rafael Reif has served as the 17th President of MIT since July 2012. In October 2013, to enhance MIT’s own innovation ecosystem and foster education, research and policy, he launched the MIT Innovation Initiative; its preliminary report came out in December 2014. In that same spirit, in the spring of 2014 MIT began work on “MIT. nano,” a major new facility at the heart of campus that will accelerate research and innovation at the nanoscale. In May 2014, Dr. Reif also launched an environment initiative to drive progress towards solutions around environment, climate and how to construct a sustainable human society. Dr. Reif is the inventor or co-inventor on 15 patents and has edited or co-edited five books.
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 returned to school to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree at UMass, Amherst and a 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 Councilor and was elected Vice President of the Council during his second term.
Rivera, Reinelda (Chickie)
President | Massachusetts Puerto Rican Festival
Reinelda Rivera is better known in the community as “Chikie” and she is the President of The Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts one of the most successful and far reaching festivals in New England. Through this event, Chikie seeks to promote a sense of belonging and cultural affirmation within the State. Chikie is well-known as a community activist who advocates and support the Puerto Rican people and the general Latino community in Massachusetts. She has managed to attract big crowds to the event, providing a community celebration that exhibits the vitality and commitment of the Latinos of Massachusetts.
Rivers, Robert F.
President and Chief Operating Officer | Eastern Bank
Mr. Rivers is Vice Chairman of Eastern Bank Corporation and President and Chief Operating Officer of Eastern Bank, the largest independent bank headquartered in Massachusetts. 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. Bob has been recognized by The Boston Globe, The Partnership, Get Konnected!, Color Magazine, the Massachusetts Immigration & Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) and others for his work in championing greater board diversity and for immigrant social justice.
Rizzuto, Saritin
Avp Community Relations & Business Development | Metro Credit Union
At Metro Credit Union Saritin takes on the traditional role of her job as only she can, finding the time to incorporate community organizing and building partnerships to benefit low income and emerging populations. She is a board member of Casa Myrna, North Suffolk Mental Health, The East Boston Social Center, The Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, Bunker Hill Community College Adult Education Advisory Board and the Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce. Her effort to organize Latino businesses to join and have a voice in the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce is proving highly successful.
Robles, Verónica y Willy López
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.
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.
Rosa, Jesús
Chairman of the Board | Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce
Jesus Rosa is a first generation US citizen with Dominican roots who rose in Harlem New York. He puts his experience with community organizing to good use as a volunteer with the Hispanic- American Chamber of Commerce (HACC) where he has served as the Chairman of the Board since 2012. Rosa’s goal is to spread a healthy financial decision-making by individuals and business owners. He currently works as the Director of Sales for KaBloom Flowers. Rosa was also the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Business Service during the Menino administration. Jesus lives in Boston with his wife Tracy and is the proud father of two young boys.
Rueda, Maribel
Founder | Autism Geniuses of the World
Maribel Rueda is the President/Founder of (AGW) Autism Geniuses of The World, a non-profit organization run by active members in the United States and Latin America devoted to raising awareness about the autism spectrum through different programs in over 13 countries. The organization strives to educate parents and families of children with autism to create an environment conducive to their development within a family and social nucleus. Internationally, Maribel and her team are focusing on building schools for children with autism in Latin America in places where special education is not offered. Maribel moved to the United States in 1980 and her son Esteban has become her inspiration for her advocacy work in the Latino community.
Sacchetti, Maria
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.
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 in 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.
St. Guillén, Alejandra
Executive Director | Mayor’s Office of New Bostonians
Alejandra St. Guillen was appointed by Mayor Martin J. Walsh in 2014 as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of New Bostonians (MONB) 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 16 months, MONB has launched an Immigrant Integration & Empowerment process; organized the first ever Citizenship Day in Boston; led a coalition of non-profits in the organization of a very successful DACA/DAPA day assisting 300 immigrants prepare for their application for deportation relief.
Tolay, Claudia
Founder and President | Healthy & Happy Kids. INC
Claudia Tolay is the Founder and President of Healthy and Happy Kids. This organization’s mission is to help some of the world’s neediest children living in poverty and victims of several medical conditions either due to lack of funding or lack of medical resources. Under Claudia’s wing, this organization is also in charge of training diverse health professionals from Latin America with the goal of not having to relocate their patients in the future. After seeing Claudia’s work, the Bolivian government decided to work on the development of the health sector through infrastructure and technology. Claudia is originally from Bolivia and resides in Boston; she is married and is the happy mother of 5 children.
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 pre– trial 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.
Troncoso Lama, Magalis
Executive Director | Network of Women in Solidarity / Dominican Center
Magalis is the founder and Executive Director of the Dominican Development Center and the Network of Women in Solidarity. Troncoso is also a Lead Organizer for the Boston Tenant Coalition. Recently, she has been devoted to fighting in favor of domestic workers rights in the state of Massachusetts. During the past 25 years, Magalis has been working for a variety of Non-profits focused on the matters of immigration, housing and domestic abuse. Ms. Troncoso is originally from the Dominican Republic and holds a BS in Journalism, Community Service and a Master Degree in Business Administration. She is married with two daughters.
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.
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.
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 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 trillion-dollar 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.
Wasserman, Mike
Executive Director | Bottom Line
Mike Wasserman is the Massachusetts Executive Director of Bottom Line, an organization that provides guidance and support to low-income, first-generationto-college students as they get into college, graduate, and start a successful career. Under Mike’s leadership, Bottom Line has doubled their impact in Massachusetts in less than three years, expanding to serve more than 3,000 students in this coming year alone. Mike also serves as a member of the Lewis Family Foundation’s Community Advisory Group, and is the co-founder of the Marathon Coalition, which has helped more than 20 youth-serving organizations to rise almost $5 million through the Boston Marathon.
