Latino Professionals Association of N.E.W.

We are thrilled to share our upcoming virtual LPA Lunch & Learn session?with Eloisa Gomez,?a public speaker on the topics of Latino voting rights and early Latina activism in Wisconsin. She is the co-author of?Somos Latinas: Voices of Wisconsin Latina Activists?(WI Historical Society Press).?In 2017, Eloisa helped found and is active with el Comité?por el Voto Latino/Latinx Voter Outreach Committee of the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County and was co-chair of the Community Alliances Committee, a statewide committee of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin for the past 5 years and remains an active member. This interactive session will leave you, informed, empowered and encouraged. All Professional members are invited to join; if you have not yet joined LPA as a Professional member, you can sign-up here:?https://linktr.ee/LPAofNEW To access nonpartisan voter information, we encourage all to visit?League of Women Voters of Wisconsin?(materials are available in English and Spanish)

October means Fall, leaves changing their color, and time for another member spotlight.?Today it is Guadalupe Dorado, read more about her below. My name is Guadalupe Dorado but mi gente knows me as Lupita. I am the Transition Aged Youth (TAY) Coordinator for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Brown County. We are a volunteer-based nonprofit organization that advocates for children and youth who are under court protection. We also provide mentorship to young adults who have aged out of foster care or who at one point in their lives were involved in the child welfare system. My primary role as TAY Coordinator is to oversee the mentor and mentee matches, and case management. I love what I do, and I make it my mission for the teens and young adults that I serve to know that they are so loved and worthy of good and happiness every day. ? I am from Green Bay and have spent all of my life here. I have a beautiful and wild 7-year-old daughter who has been one of my greatest teachers in life. I am the oldest of 4 kids. My parents immigrated from Jalisco, Mexico in 1994 and decided to make Green Bay their home after spending a short period of time in California. Growing up, my parents expected that we would do well in school and that we would try our best. I would consistently hear them tell us that education was key and that a good education would be something that no one could take away from us. My mom was a teacher in Guadalajara and went through so much sacrifice to be able to become a professional in Mexico and so she knew the value of education. I went through the Green Bay Area Public Schools and then attended St. Norbert College where I earned my Bachelor's in Sociology with a concentration?in Human Services. I value equitable education, authentic relationships, and a strong community.? ? Currently, I volunteer as board President for Northeast Wisconsin Latinx Rising 501(c)3. A non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Latinx individuals in education by providing scholarships as well as advocating for equitable policies in education. I am proud to be a leader in my Communidad.? ? I am grateful for LPA, the opportunities it provides, and the connections it fosters. I think there is great power and great energy when a group of Latinos/Latinas get together and share wisdom and experience with one another. I am here for it, and I love it.

We want to thank the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation and Dennis Buehler for hosting our Latino Professionals Association of N.E.W. member meeting this week. Philanthropy work goes beyond grant giving and is also about helping uplift our community. We want to thank all of our members who attended and loved to see the networking and conversations taking place. To join these types of experiences, upgrade your membership level here =>https://lnkd.in/gpcibmwt #LPA #LatinoProfessionals #HispanicHeritageMonth

Happy #HispanicHeritageMonth to all our members, partners and community. We continue to share our rich culture and successes throughout the year and highlight during this month. #LPA #LatinoProfessionals #SiSePuede

September means that kids have returned to school, football season has kicked off and we highlight another member. Today it's Alex Ysquierdo, MSc, learn more about him below. I am currently the State Director for the Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program at the Wisconsin Department of Administration. I work with various businesses across the nation, certifying and supporting minority, women, and disabled veteran-owned enterprises and making them aware of state procurement opportunities. My focus is fostering inclusivity for all businesses throughout WI, leveraging over 25 years of experience in community development, outreach, and community banking. My family is originally from a small town in South Texas called Mercedes, in an area known as the Valley. There were seven of us, and we moved to WI as seasonal farm workers, spending long days picking cucumbers and all sorts of farm work—you name it, we did it. Eventually, we transitioned to working on a massive 10,000-acre potato farm in Nekoosa, WI. Growing up in a large family, I was no stranger to long days and hard work; these were lessons ingrained in me from a young age. I'm proud of my upbringing as it taught me the value of family, perseverance, & resilience. It fueled my commitment to showing other Latinos from similar backgrounds that they, too, can rewrite their narratives, change their lives, & that where we start doesn't dictate where we end up. I hold a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership & Change from Edgewood College and am pursuing my MBA, aiming to complete it by the fall of 2025. My guiding principle is, “I will persist until I succeed.” Those who know me recognize my relentless drive & constant momentum. I'm honored to serve on several distinguished boards: Executive Board of Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc., Board of Directors for Downtown Madison Inc., and the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA). I rejoined the Executive Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce, where I was elected as Vice President. To effectively advocate for the people of WI, I need to be involved in our communities. Serving on these boards allows me to better understand what's happening in our communities and allows me to connect with remarkable individuals who are driving efforts to move our communities forward. LPA plays a vital role in the Latino ecosystem by actively advancing the community through a unique blend of professional development, leadership programs, mentorship, and community engagement. LPA is more than just a networking group; it is a dynamic force fostering growth and leadership within the Latino community. More than maintaining and supporting the status quo, LPA is dedicated to moving and evolving the community forward. Combining cultural pride with professional excellence, LPA catalyzes meaningful, sustainable progress, empowering Latino professionals to achieve both personal and professional success.

There’s a strong entrepreneurial spirit within the Latino community and LPA. Several members are full-time entrepreneurs, providing real estate, skincare, counseling, insurance services and more. Other members are considering launching a “small side business” in the future. Therefore our first LPA Hybrid Workshop for Professional members delved into the reasons and mechanics involved in creating a business in Wisconsin. We want to express our appreciation to both Maria Padilla and Brian Cullen for sharing their insights and expertise in this informative and fun workshop; also to members who attended in-person or virtually. We’re looking forward to continuing to serve our members and the region.

We are thrilled to share our first Member Led Event (MLE) has been launched. MLEs?are initiated by members and further our mission. Many thanks to?Maleny Capetillo and?Cristina M., Professional members, for their leadership and commitment to launching our first Book Club and also to Jeanne Stangel and Curative Connections for hosting us. We look forward to future MLE that further our mission and reflect our member's invaluable contributions. #Latinaprofessional #Libros #LPAofNEW #bookclub

The summer is flying by, however let us take time to spotlight LPA member Cristina M. Hi everyone! My name is Cristina Montejano and I am a bilingual admissions counselor, proudly serving students at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Every day, I get the opportunity to lead students through the admissions process and be a resource as they make important life decisions. I am incredibly grateful for the guidance I received from others as a first-generation student, and I am delighted that I can now be that support for future students. I was born in Coahuila, Mexico, and I immigrated with my family to Green Bay, WI when I was five years old. I remember being excited for my first day of school, ready to make friends in this new country, only to be struck by a language barrier. It made me realize how important communication is. Despite the struggles to adjust in a new environment, my family was always there for me. My parents instilled the importance of education and showed me that through hard work and dedication, came many opportunities. With their encouragement, I realized I could achieve anything through determination and perseverance. With my family’s support, I earned my bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2020. Following that, I earned my master’s in Student Affairs Administration from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse this past May 2024. Through my experience in college, I have come to love higher education and am incredibly proud to be the first person in my family to earn a master’s degree, as well as being part of the 8% of Latinas in America to obtain one. After learning about LPA, I knew in a heartbeat that it was an organization that I wanted to be a part of. Not only is it a space that welcomes experienced and new Latinx professionals, but there is a drive and purpose to give back to the community that I wholly support. I am so excited to see how Latinx professionals within this organization will continue to grow and make a difference within our community.?

Last week, we had an incredible experience of caving at the Ledge View Nature Center. This event brought together professionals from both Latino Professionals Association of N.E.W. and ACEL-Northeast Wisconsin Chapter (ACEL-NEW). Huge thanks to the Inclusion in the Outdoors program a part of Multicultural Coalition, Inc and Kyle Armstrong for coordination, and to New North, Inc. for their donation of flashlights to illuminate our tour. Special appreciation also goes out to the Fund for Lake Michigan for providing crucial funding support for the Inclusion in the Outdoors program. Together, these partnership events are crucial for building community. #Bettertogether #Buildingcommunity

Serving on a nonprofit board provides countless personal and professional benefits including the opportunity to: ? Further a mission near and dear to your heart ? Share your skills, talents and unique perspective ? Expand your network Members of Latino Professionals Association of N.E.W. met with Jeanne Stangel, President and CEO, Curative Connections to learn about the organization's mission, services and to discuss board involvement. Learn more about Curative Connections and Yesteryear Village, "an innovative, cutting-edge and proactive approach to care. Yesteryear Village is a leap forward in reminiscent care to support individuals with memory loss." Many thanks to Jeanne Stangel for her time and hospitality and to our members, Maleny Capetillo, Vicki Villarreal, Selene Alvarez, William L., Jess Arriaga, for their engagement and investment in Northeast Wisconsin.